"His place is in a museum", "You don't leave a baby in a corner", "Zeus's name!": the French version, despite the displeasure of fans of the original version, sometimes has its good points. Besides, ten years ago, there were quite a few of you who were chauvinistic, as this survey proves...And these ten cult films from our childhood might change your mind, fans of the original version!
#1 Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade(1989)
Richard Darbois dubs Harrison Ford in the French version, and we love his way of conveying the charm nonchalant character. Through other films like Blade Runner (1982), Witness (1985), The Fugitive (1993) and Sabrina (1995), he has established his diction in the star's filmography.
#2 Die Hard (1988)
Patrick Poivey, the French voice of Bruce Willis, is instantly recognizable, and after growing up with his unique dubbing, it's hard to imagine another voice for John McClane... He has the perfect touch of humor that fits the character so well!
#3 Back Towards the Future (1985)
Don't tell us that for you, Doc Brown doesn't have Pierre Hatet's voice? While Marty may only have a teenage voice in the French version, the old professor is even crazier and more colorful thanks to the magic of French.
#4 Princess Bride (1987)
"Buenos Dias, my name is Indigo Montoya, you killed my father, prepare to die": the Spaniard's cult line at the end of the film, during the duel, owes everything to François Leccia's well-forced accent. The little rolling of the "R"s is a treat!
#5 Dirty Dancing (1987)
A guilty pleasure for our chilled evenings at home, this romantic comedy that smells of vacation is absolutely kitsch, and that's what we love. The lines in the French version are on the verge of making us shiver with embarrassment, and yet, it works. Here's to "Don't leave baby in a corner" and "Frédérique... For me, it's the name of a real woman" spoken by Richard Darbois, who, if you remember, already dubbed Harrison Ford in Indiana Jones!
#6 The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966)
Of course, most of us weren't born in 1966, but this great spaghetti western classic still rocked our childhood with reruns on television. Not only are the lines incredible, but Jacques Deschamps, who voices Clint Eastwood throughout Sergio Leone's Dollar Trilogy, adds to the character's rogue side.
#7 The Harry Potter (2001-2011)
We're sorry for the voice purists of the original version cast, which we love, but the French voices are awesome. Draco Malfoy's punchlines, delivered with a weasel-like voice, Hermione's pestilent voice, and Ron and Harry's thin voices are gems.
#8 Rocky (1976)
One of the films we've seen the most in our lives, probably because TF1 and M6 replay it several times a year so we don't forget it. Alain Dorval IS Sylvester Stallone, with his drawn-out accent and his mumbled words, his difficult diction, and his very particular phrasing. It's hard to imagine a more iconic interpretation...
#9 Home Alone (1990)
Given the current heat, it's hard to imagine a Christmas movie, but this great holiday classic is much nicer in French. The story behind the dubbing is much less fun: little Boris Roatta, who voices Kevin, dies at 14 in a traffic accident...
#10 Top Gun (1986)
Patrick Poivey, who already voiced Bruce Willis in Die Hard (yes, it's a small world!), fits perfectly with Tom Cruise's cocky side in the film. And generally speaking, the French lines are much funnier.
And if you liked it, here are our top 8 reasons why it's better to watch films and series in their original version than in their French version.
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