MovieChat Forums > Le corbeau (1943) Discussion > 1st letter

1st letter

posted 16 years ago by pb-2
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In the first letter from The Raven there is the phrase "J'ai l'oeil Americain," which is translated in the subtitles as "I see everything." Can someone familiar with French idioms elaborate on the "American eye?"

[–] didierfort 16 years ago

I'm going to disappoint you... But, while familiar with French language, I wasn't able to source the origin of that expression. Nevertheless, it was very common at the time when "Le Corbeau" was shot (and you'd hear the same expression said by Jean Tissier in the precedent Clouzot's opus, "L'Assassin habite au 21"). But it wasn't an early 20th century creation because you would read it in French popular novels in the mid-19th century!

I'll try to find out and make you know if I can.

[–] didierfort 16 years ago

Well, I'm back. With some convincing clues (and probably the right answer) and one example of the use of this expression in French literature.

It seems that "avoir l'œil américain" (to be able to see acutely anything of importance) was a made-up expression based on the abilities of Fenimore Cooper's "Last of the Mohicans" heroe (1826). The heroe, Leatherstockings (Bas-de-cuir) or "Hawkeye" (œil de faucon) was very popular in France, an immediate hit as soon as the book was translated. From him, the expression became of regular use, and could soon be read in French novels, Balzac's "Père Goriot" (1834) for instance.

Still we have to check if "œil américain" was in the French translation (not likely) or if it was a rapid appropriation/transformation of "œil de faucon" (more probable).

I found this by... googling and reading an article in a French popular scientific magazine.

[–] pb-2 16 years ago

Interesting, and many thanks for your research. Could you clarify which words are in Pere Goriot, "l'oeil americain" or "oeil de faucon?" // Your input is American eye-opening for me, in the sense that this derivation would carry a positive implication for having l'oeil americain; I automatically took the meaning to be more on the negative side, along the lines of something Big-Brotherish, and was wondering why America would have been viewed in that light then.

[–] didierfort 15 years ago

« Ai-je dans la figure un trait qui vous déplaise, que vous me faites l’œil américain ? »

[–] pb-2 15 years ago

After my last post, it finally occured to me that I too could Google "l'oeil americain" instead of waiting to be spoonfed. Here's an alternate derivation, I'm sure one of many, from a glossary of French expressions by L.E. Kastner: "To have a very sharp eye.....from the old use of the word americain among(French)apaches to designate a swindler who pretends to come from America with a mint of money." I suspect the phrase's connotation has changed with the times, and the varying regard of the French for America; it would be interesting to know how it was taken when the film was made(during the Occupation) and, if it is still in use, what the connotation is nowadays.

[–] didierfort 15 years ago

pb-2, I really do think "your" (Kastner's) explanation is less effective. First, mentions of "oeil américain" are older (about 20 years) than the existence of a city-limits faune called "apaches". And second, the meaning - "sharp eye for very accute observations" - not only to organize a swindle - is found in both popular novels of the mid-XIXth and in the Corbeau's letter.
The expression had still this meaning and was at use when the movie was made. Nowadays, most of the youngsters wouldn't have a clue about it. It's only used as a reference to old parliance. As far as I know, naturally.