Delete comment from: Boston 1775
This is a fascinating subject that I've been mulling over as well while watching. I think the show's creators are right to avoid the cliche of down-to-earth "Amurcan" vs. foofy Brits. But the problem (if it's a problem) is that even highly elevated British speech, I believe, was far from BBC back in the 18th C. -- so when some of the American characters go high-tone "Brit," to avoid the cliche, the accent sounds like generic costume drama. I've always wondered -- and certainly do not know the answer -- whether we'd easily understand John Adams if he suddenly appeared here and started speaking to us. I think some elderly deep-Southerners, downeast Mainers, and Chesapeake watermen sound closer to what both John Adams and George III might have sounded like than anything we're lilely to find in historical TV drama. Not sure, though. I like Giamatti's choice, in which I discern touches of Edward Everett Horton, and wish Linney's Abigail sounded a bit more "country." Really enjoying the whole discussion of the show.
Mar 28, 2008, 7:03:00 PM
Posted to Accents in John Adams