Tuesday, September 1, 2020

Learn To Speak English With An English Accent Easily from The Ladykillers:1955 version



I was asked by an Italian in Singapore how he could improve his English Accent. I told him. Watch The Ladykillers. You can see the traileron YouTube.

The stars include Alec Guinness, Peter Sellers, Herbert Lom. The little old lady was here at her heyday and never appeared anywhere else.

A masterpiece scene. Alec Guiness as the mastermind of the crooks. The other felons are forced to make up heart-rending stories to support his excuses.  When the appeals to sympathy fail to convince the old lady. Then the subtle threats.

They speak so slowly. (Unlike modern films where conversations are muffled and muttered.) Why? Because that was the fashion. Because they are speaking to an old lady who is hard of hearing and cannot comprehend. Because they have to pause to make up, improvise, their lies.

All of this means that the film is perfect for learning English.

Another trailer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MD5r1CG0HmY
Where the old lady knows of the robbery and the crooks try to convince her that she cannot return the money.

A discussion of the movie
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rMn7ZHEwBc

Alec Guinness Interviewed On Becoming 'Sir'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSsHA8ctxtE
The best line is about his wife becoming 'a lady - at last'.

About the Author
Angela Lasnbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker. Speech trainer. Member of Toastmasters International - five clubs in the UK and Singapore.







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