John Ford + Western + one of his favorite actors Henry Fonda + the story of settling scores at the OK Corral, this is the guarantee of a successful Western. The Infernal Pursuit is a great film of the genre and regularly appears in the rankings of the best westerns of all time. But in France it is not obvious.
“See you in Tomboy!”
Henry Fonda
This western tells the story of the historical events that took place in the town of Tombstone, Arizona in 1881. Sheriff Wyatt Earp, his brothers, and their friend Doc Holliday confront an outlaw group during a shootout at the OK Corral ranch and the McLaury families. The story has been the subject of a number of film adaptations (sometimes too many at once), including The Infernal Pursuit.
The film was released in France on April 30, 1947, and during the French dubbing it was apparently decided to translate and/or Frenchize all the proper names. The result: the film loses a lot of credibility because we no longer feel like we’re in the Wild West. Here are some translations heard in the film:
“Grandpa Clanton!”
Walter Brennan
- Wyatt Earp > William Earp
- Morgan > Morgant
- James Earp > “Jamie”
- Dr. John Holliday > Dr. Jean Holliday
- Doc (alias Doc Holliday) > Doctor
- Old Clanton (pronounced Clannetonne) > Grandpa Clanton
- tombstone > grave
- Tucson > Teucsont
- Boston > Boston
This can lead to dialogue like “Grandpa Clanton is coming to Tomboy!” If it’s not the only western to Frenchize place names (Denver is often pronounced “Dent-verre” or Los Angeles “Los Ange-Laisse” in westerns), La Pursuit infernale is one of those where it’s so strong that it’s very It is strong. a lot. And nothing better than giving the film a huge look of age!
This makes the dialogues quite pathetic, especially since they are hammered out – and this is another big problem with this dub – without any emotion or real tone to give them some life. A disaster on every level.
Fortunately, The Infernal Pursuit isn’t just any Western. John Ford offers the wonders of framing and the story skillfully oscillates between western and melodrama. AlloCiné viewers who discovered it weren’t wrong when they gave the film an average rating of 3.9 out of 5. The film was a success when it was released in France, with a total of almost 1.3 million admissions and became a classic of the genre. In the original version!
Source: Allocine
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
