American Accents in 1930s
Sat, 22 Oct 2005, 07:30 pmWalter Plinge2 posts in thread
American Accents in 1930s
Sat, 22 Oct 2005, 07:30 pmhi I take drama in high school and one of my asignments at the moment is to create a soap opera performance for theatre. My 5 friends and I have decided to do something different so we are having our play set in 1939 during the war between america and Japan. Rather than it being about the men at war it is about the women's lives and how they are affected by the men being away and dying, at this time they are working in a munitions factory (making weapons and bombs).
Our characters are all different but we all speak american in the 1930 to 1940s style (i have also heard there were a lot of immigrants living in america mainly from ireland and england, would this affect the accent of our characters?). Does anyone know how to do these accents? how and does anyone know any films that are on video/dvd that show the accents? HELP! I have no idea how to do these accents.
Our characters are all different but we all speak american in the 1930 to 1940s style (i have also heard there were a lot of immigrants living in america mainly from ireland and england, would this affect the accent of our characters?). Does anyone know how to do these accents? how and does anyone know any films that are on video/dvd that show the accents? HELP! I have no idea how to do these accents.
Walter PlingeSat, 22 Oct 2005, 07:30 pm
hi I take drama in high school and one of my asignments at the moment is to create a soap opera performance for theatre. My 5 friends and I have decided to do something different so we are having our play set in 1939 during the war between america and Japan. Rather than it being about the men at war it is about the women's lives and how they are affected by the men being away and dying, at this time they are working in a munitions factory (making weapons and bombs).
Our characters are all different but we all speak american in the 1930 to 1940s style (i have also heard there were a lot of immigrants living in america mainly from ireland and england, would this affect the accent of our characters?). Does anyone know how to do these accents? how and does anyone know any films that are on video/dvd that show the accents? HELP! I have no idea how to do these accents.
Our characters are all different but we all speak american in the 1930 to 1940s style (i have also heard there were a lot of immigrants living in america mainly from ireland and england, would this affect the accent of our characters?). Does anyone know how to do these accents? how and does anyone know any films that are on video/dvd that show the accents? HELP! I have no idea how to do these accents.
Walter PlingeMon, 31 Oct 2005, 02:09 pm
Re: American Accents in 1930s
Don't know that accents can belong to a time, as opposed to a region, but I think I know what you mean. Yes, the Irish influence is prominent, particularly in north-eastern USA (Boston and New York). If this is the accent you require some starting points would be:
Brooklyn accent- Popeye and Bugs Bunny. Also any old movie with James Cagney. The female variant would be Adelaide (Vivian Blaine) from 'Guys & Dolls'. The gangster films of the period are a good source of Brooklynese. For a less harsh accent try Mae West- similar representation of ordinary speech but with a little more class. 'Chicago' also contains some authentic accents, especially Renee Zellwegger's character.
New York accent- Hunphrey Bogart (Maltese Falcon), Rod Steiger.
New Jersey (mild): Frank Sinatra
Philadelphia- Sylvester Stallone (Rocky)
Massachussets accent- any speech by John F Kennedy, and one of the most accessible Boston accents is Mayor Quimby ('The Simpsons'). Similarly some of the characters in 'The Perfect Storm' express themselves in pure New England dialect.
War films set in the 1940's- try Deborah Kerr in 'From Here To Eternity'.
There are a huge range of accents in the US- these are just north east.
good luck
Brooklyn accent- Popeye and Bugs Bunny. Also any old movie with James Cagney. The female variant would be Adelaide (Vivian Blaine) from 'Guys & Dolls'. The gangster films of the period are a good source of Brooklynese. For a less harsh accent try Mae West- similar representation of ordinary speech but with a little more class. 'Chicago' also contains some authentic accents, especially Renee Zellwegger's character.
New York accent- Hunphrey Bogart (Maltese Falcon), Rod Steiger.
New Jersey (mild): Frank Sinatra
Philadelphia- Sylvester Stallone (Rocky)
Massachussets accent- any speech by John F Kennedy, and one of the most accessible Boston accents is Mayor Quimby ('The Simpsons'). Similarly some of the characters in 'The Perfect Storm' express themselves in pure New England dialect.
War films set in the 1940's- try Deborah Kerr in 'From Here To Eternity'.
There are a huge range of accents in the US- these are just north east.
good luck