MovieChat Forums > Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) Discussion > This title translation to portuguese is ...

This title translation to portuguese is absurd

posted 13 years ago by foka_12
1 reply | jump to latest

This movie title was completely ruined when translated to my language.
They changed it to (translating it back to english) "The Woman Does the Man".

'Does' is that context meaning that the man is nothing without a woman.

My guess is that it was probably translated by some feminist who tried to focus the movie on the Clarissa character. I was revolted when I found out, it's just ridiculous what they've done to the title of this movie I love.
It's not the first time I see completely changed titles when translated, but this one was just too much for me. I refuse to buy a DVD with that title printed on it. What is the problem with "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" anyways?

What do you people think of this? Do they completely change movie titles when translating to your native language too?

[–] Danusha_Goska 12 years ago

In this instance, esp given the parallel to "Debbie Does Dallas," "The Woman Does the Man" sounds like "The Woman f---s the Man," or a film about a woman who likes to be on top, or to penetrate, or whatever.

A more colloquial title to convey the meaning you think they wanted would be something like "Behind Every Successful Man," and everyone would know the rest of that phrase -- "there is a woman."

http://www.amazon.com/Save-Send-Delete-Danusha-Goska/dp/1846949866