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04-13-2009, 07:39 AM | #1 |
Ghost Prince of Cardolan
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Voice of Smaug?
Over at TORN they've got a thread speculating on
casting possibilities for TH movie(s?). One speculation is on Smaug's voice. Personally, I think Rowan Atkinson (think Black Adder ) would do well. Their list is: Smaug (voice) Clancy Brown James Caan George Clooney Brian Cox Marton Csokas Tim Curry Vin Diesel Sam Elliott Jonathan Freeman Morgan Freeman Bruno Ganz Terry Gilliam Mark Hamill Djimon Hounsou Anthony Hopkins John Hurt Jeremy Irons Jason Isaacs Tommy Lee Jones Ben Kingsley Robert Lindsay Meat Loaf Ulrich Matthes Alfred Molina John Noble Peter O’Toole Edward James Elmos Leslie Phillips Wayne Pygram Alan Rickman Geoffrey Rush Rodrigo Santoro Andy Serkis Martin Shaw Stellan Skarsgard Patrick Stewart Kathleen Turner Nichol Williamson Michael Wincott What do you think? Alan Rickman might be a good choice.
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04-13-2009, 11:04 AM | #2 |
Late Istar
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I think Christopher Lee would have been perfect if his voice hadn't already been associated with Saruman. Similarly, John Rhys-Davies's voice strikes me as quite appropriate for Smaug.
Patrick Stewart would probably be good in principle, but I'm afraid I just couldn't take Smaug seriously if he had the voice of Captain Picard. There are some odd suggestions on that list, though. Mark Hamill? Terry Gilliam? Surely it should at least be someone with an authentic English accent (I can't imagine Smaug talking like an American). |
04-13-2009, 11:09 AM | #3 |
Shade with a Blade
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Jeremy Irons. No contest.
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04-13-2009, 02:09 PM | #4 |
Cryptic Aura
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If they did pick him, I'd have a hard time not thinking of a huge mane of hair for Smaug.
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04-13-2009, 04:58 PM | #5 | |
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I don't like dragons so obviously I wouldn't want a dragon to have Scar's voice. Tim Curry or Bruno Ganz might be good.
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04-13-2009, 06:25 PM | #6 | |
Dead Serious
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Maybe if Jeremy Irons were Smaug's voice, this fact would cause you to like dragons. Personally, Jeremy Irons as Smaug would be considered an awesome thing.
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04-13-2009, 06:51 PM | #7 | ||
Woman of Secret Shadow
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But yeah Jeremy Irons' voice anywhere is an awesome thing.
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04-13-2009, 07:36 PM | #8 |
Curmudgeonly Wordwraith
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Tuor, you skipped my suggestion on TORn:
Pee-wee Herman. That would throw everyone off.
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04-13-2009, 08:07 PM | #10 |
Cryptic Aura
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Yeah, Irons was magnificent as Scar--as suave as George Sanders' Shere Khan in the Jungle Book. But someone will have to make Smaug be, well, authentically Smaug.
John Hurt's already done a dragon, but I haven't heard how he did in Merlin. He's also, um, played a rabbit and a wizard. Ah, this raises an interesting question, above and beyond the actor's identity. Just which kind of English accent would be appropriate for Smaug? EDIT: This would effectively exclude Pee-Wee Herman.
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I’ll sing his roots off. I’ll sing a wind up and blow leaf and branch away. Last edited by Bêthberry; 04-13-2009 at 08:10 PM. |
04-13-2009, 08:15 PM | #11 |
Curmudgeonly Wordwraith
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*Casually wipes Mnemo's splattered gray matter off his shirt*
Ummm...sorry about that. I hope you didn't need that brain. I simply suggested Pee-wee Herman because most people are suggesting folks like Jeremy Irons, Ian McShane, Sean Connery, Tim Curry, John Hurt, Geoffrey Rush, Liam Neeson, Patrick Stewart and the like to voice Smaug, and these individuals, fine actors one and all, have each done very recognizable voice-overs for notable cartoon/CGI characters. Personally, I would prefer an unrecognizable, ominous voice for Smaug, rather than watching the movie and saying, "Hey, that's [fill in the blank] doing Smaug's voice!" The cameo superstar voice/appearance in movies has been so overdone that it is past cliche. Besides, the voice of a many-ton talking dragon would be distorted, loud and would reverberate about the cavern. Such large vocal chords amplified in such a vast hall would be more of a rumbling growl at its quietest and a bellow of a herd of hefalumps at its loudest.
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04-13-2009, 08:44 PM | #12 |
Wight
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Djimon Honsou would be interesting, but I would like to see Derek Jacobi considered.
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04-13-2009, 09:12 PM | #13 |
Loremaster of Annúminas
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Jacobi's voice is just a little light. But at the same time the deep, booming Darth Vader thing is a pitfall to be avoided. Smaug should be an *aristocrat*- a sneering, cynical, supercilious villain, which is why Irons comes to mind (think of his von Bulow). Alan Rickman maybe. Tom Wilkinson might be good (he's a voice chameleon). But I'm leaning toward Jason Isaacs (who hasn't as distinctive a voice as Rickman and wouldn't carry as much Harry Potter baggage).
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04-13-2009, 10:08 PM | #14 |
Shade with a Blade
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I like the idea of Irons voicing Smaug because of the gravelly quality of his voice. Someone who breathes fire is likely to be a bit rough-throated.
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04-13-2009, 10:18 PM | #15 |
Estelo dagnir, Melo ring
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If only Orson Welles were somehow still alive.
I love Alan Rickman but I know I'd just be cracking up. Isaacs is too sniveling in the Potter movies at least...I don't remember him well enough from other roles to really comment though. Liam Neeson can't because he's the Jesus-Lion. Sean Connery already got to be dragon. Patrick Stewart...yeah, I'd also be cracking up. I love his voice (who doesn't?) but... As long as Jeremy Irons can be less of a fruitcake than he was as Scar...no, still, not feeling it. Too weak. Christopher Lee would be a safe choice, but regardless might not agree to it anyway. That is such a horrible list from ToRN, though...no offense. Seems mostly like a joke list...I mean, Morgan Freeman? Hmm...actually I bet Mark Hamill could pull off a pretty good Smaug voice, haha. So, a couple more hilarious Smaug ideas: Peter Ustinov. O.m.g. So terribly terribly hilarious (though also dead ). Also, CaptainofDespair just suggested they just get Christian Bale to do his *Batman voice*...much lolz. Last edited by Durelin; 04-13-2009 at 10:28 PM. |
04-13-2009, 10:20 PM | #16 |
Shade with a Blade
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Jeremy Irons weak?! Have you SEEN Die Hard 3? Just the right combination of smooth-talker/tough-guy/sarcasm.
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04-13-2009, 10:29 PM | #17 |
Ghost Prince of Cardolan
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Eek, NO Orson Welles! That guy exudes "I am Orson Welles" with every syllable. The fact that he'd be playing an egomaniac only partially ameliorates the problem: I don't think he could make it from "I am Orson Welles" to "I am Smaug."
Wish I could say something constructive for the topic, but I honestly can't think of anything. I would, however, like him to be a guy that I wouldn't recognize until the credits and then go "D'oh!" Which wouldn't be terribly difficult for me. As it is, I thought I heard GDT already had a "dream actor" for the role. I'd like some input from people who have listened to enough contemporary radio drama to give some input on good voice actors from that field. Unfortunately the art is all but dead in America so I cannot comment.
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04-13-2009, 10:34 PM | #18 |
Shade with a Blade
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I'd have trouble getting Robin Masters from "Magnum PI" out of my head, I think, with Orson Welles.
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04-14-2009, 05:45 AM | #19 | |
Wight
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I also remember him in Black Hawk Down, but he played a hard-nosed Captain and had a bit of a southern drawl. Funny thing is Mark Hamill is doing a lot of voice over work, but ugh he's just too bland. If we want someone with a lot of voice over work and a very entertaining, might as well make it Adam West.
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04-14-2009, 10:19 AM | #20 | |
Estelo dagnir, Melo ring
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Orson Welles is Unicron in my head, that's it.
"Your bargaining posture is highly dubious..." Quote:
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04-14-2009, 10:28 AM | #21 |
Messenger of Hope
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May I make a suggestion? Paul McGann. I know he won't be picked, but all the same....
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04-14-2009, 11:41 AM | #22 | |
Pilgrim Soul
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"It was in the Autumn of TA 2941 when I first met Sebastian... I mean Bilbo Baggins..." Leslie Phillips would be hilarious...Ding dong!!!
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04-14-2009, 12:03 PM | #23 |
Estelo dagnir, Melo ring
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Since my Jeremy Irons comment is apparently so shocking, I'll at least point out that I'm talking about the nature of his voice and not the characters he is capable of portraying... I don't find his voice strong or striking enough. I don't know what kind of voice acting he is capable of...don't with most of the actors recommended!
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04-14-2009, 07:15 PM | #24 | |
Wight
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Geoffrey Rush - as Captain Barbossa in PoTC - I think he made this movie even with Johnny Depp, I can't imagine Pirates being that good without Geoffrey Rush. Jason Isaacs and Tom Wilkinson in The Patriot. I think they both have done better movies, but at least you can get an idea of their voices. I prefer Wilkinson's because as WCH said he's got a range of voices where as Tavington, or Hook, or Lucius Malfoy, Isaacs' voices are almost identitical. John Noble has been in Fox's TV Show Fringe and he's been getting good reviews. Its an interesting show. Here is a bit and also the promo trailer. The thing about Noble is he can slip in and out of character. At the Fellowship Festival in 2004, Noble would go back and forth from his Denethor voice, griping about Faramir, and then suddenly switch to passionately arguing Faramir's charge as the most emotional scene in the movies. This is a long one, but in the recent TV version of Pratchett's Colour of Magic, you can hear a lot of different voices. Brian Cox is the narrator. Sean Astin plays Twoflower, also Tim Curry, James Cosmo, Jeremy Irons (the Patrician), and Chris Lee (voice of Death) are in the TV series I also enjoy Jonathan Pryce (Governor Swann in PoTC), but here's a video of him as Fagin in the musical Oliver.
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an eye for an eye leaves everyone blind Last edited by Kent2010; 04-14-2009 at 07:22 PM. |
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04-14-2009, 07:45 PM | #25 | |
Ghost Prince of Cardolan
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I like John Noble. Not only, I think, a voice and acting ability
able to get the nuances of Smaug, but it would also make up for PJ's trashing of Denethor's character in RoTK. Paraphrasing Madelaine in one of the children's books series: Quote:
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04-14-2009, 08:06 PM | #26 |
Shade with a Blade
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What a great miniseries! (Megaseries?)
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04-14-2009, 09:42 PM | #27 |
Newly Deceased
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Best voice for Smaug - Nick Nolte or Michael Wincott. Both guys sounds like they gargle broken glass for breakfast.
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04-14-2009, 09:57 PM | #28 |
Wight
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Here's a good of Jeremy Irons as The Patrician and he's carrying an adorable puppy.
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04-15-2009, 10:03 AM | #29 | ||
Doubting Dwimmerlaik
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And that said, must we exclude female voices a priori? Is Smaug male? What does 'male' mean in dragon form? Could not a woman's voice work as well?
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04-15-2009, 11:37 AM | #30 | |
Estelo dagnir, Melo ring
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Leonard Nimoy.
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That aside -- no, there's nothing saying Smaug need sound typically 'masculine'...though I must admit I want him to. Well, not *typically* masculine but...yeah. |
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04-15-2009, 01:23 PM | #31 | ||
Cryptic Aura
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In our house, we quite often, after watching an episode of House, watch an episode of Blackadder, just to marvel at Laurie's marvellous range and talents. Yet voices and accents have traditionally been a strong point amongst English thespians. I'm not so sure that an American equivalent of Laurie could be named. Can anyone identify an American actor who has done a credible English accent--there have been several lamentable ones.
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04-15-2009, 01:37 PM | #32 |
Pilgrim Soul
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Gwyneth Paltrow and Renee Zellweger made a decent fist of it in Sliding Doors and Bridget Jones but I am struggling to think of any American men who have been as convincing and some have been spectacularly (deliberately?) bad - though of course I am sure many Brits fail woefully at doing American, I just wouldn't necessarily notice.
Bethberry - I occasionally catch old episodes of Jeeves and Wooster and that really is a shock now I have got used to Laurie as House... and that WAS a shock.. since on the surface you couldn't find a more English Englishman... Eton, and not only Cambridge Footlights but Cambridge Boat Race...... Anyway I think George Irving would make a fabulous Smaug...
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04-16-2009, 04:50 AM | #33 | ||
Doubting Dwimmerlaik
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And as Mith said, can't believe that 'House' is the same guy that was in "The Young Ones." Quote:
Or what of Kevin Kline in "A Fish Called Wanda?" Anyway, I'm not sure we need to have a (1) British accent or (2) male voice. And that said, do we even know that Smaug will actually speak?
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04-16-2009, 06:21 AM | #34 |
Shady She-Penguin
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I would prefer Smaug to have an evil, sneering and amused voice, and not any macho masculine stuff. A woman could do Smaug as well as a man - but surely not anyone with a girly voice or an overtly feminine one. Also, his voice should not be a distinctively old voice, for even though he is old, there is something very youthfully playful in him. British accent would be nice but not necessary - as long as Smaug doesn't have a very strong American accent!
I don't have any particular actors or actresses in mind because I'm terrible at remembering their voices. Of the suggestions this far, Geoffrey Rush, Jason Isaacs, Derek Jacobi and Kathleen Turner sound quite good, but none of them is exactly what I'd like to hear.
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04-16-2009, 09:59 AM | #35 |
shadow of a doubt
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There's been a lot of talk about Hugh Laurie without anyone nominating him for the part. Perhaps not a bad choice at all, he's got the posh accent down and can surely sound sneering and menacing too.
And how about John Malkovich? Wouldn't it be a hoot if he Frenched him up too, like in Johnny English? Seems fitting too, given JRRTs legendary Frenchyfobia. But seriously, Malkovich might do a good Smaug methinks...
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04-16-2009, 11:23 AM | #36 | |
Pilgrim Soul
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Robin Hood...well it was years before I could watch that beyond the ludicrous opening sequence when KC announces , at Dover, "tonight we dine at my father's house in Nardingham", the realities of 12th century transportation being overlooked along with basic geography since they went via Hadrian's wall - about as scenic route as you could get while remaining on the same island. Even Shadowfax couldn' t have done that... George Irving is best known here for playing the consultant heart surgeon, Anton Meyer, in the series Holby City. His voice is deep, authoratative with a seductive quality that means some of us could listen to him read the telephone directory...
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Christopher Tolkien, Requiescat in pace Last edited by Mithalwen; 04-16-2009 at 11:37 AM. |
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04-16-2009, 11:48 AM | #37 | ||
Doubting Dwimmerlaik
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Surely Andy Serkis could pull something out of his throat for Smaug.
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04-16-2009, 02:11 PM | #38 | ||
Ghost Prince of Cardolan
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Can't you picture him calling after Bilbo as he runs up the tunnel to the dwarves: Quote:
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04-16-2009, 03:35 PM | #39 |
Ghost Prince of Cardolan
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I tend to be with those who think the voice should be an unknown, since having one that is too recognizable brings along potentially unwanted baggage. But that said, the one voice I can think of that I would've liked to hear do Smaug belongs to an actor who, alas, is now dead: Andreas Katsulas. Regardless of accent, I think the quality of his voice would have been wonderful (somehow, I keep thinking of G'Kar in the lift on Babylon 5, holding out a blood-dripping hand, chanting "Dead... dead... dead...").
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04-21-2009, 03:55 AM | #40 |
Shade of Carn Dûm
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Exactly!A "quiet" voice,with a really cunning note...
Shhh,makes my hair go up!
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