Why isn't the movie called Dido since she is referred to by that name for the whole flick? A lovely period piece with terrific cast. I believe costumes may be Oscar worthy.
shareI believe costumes may be Oscar worthy.
Perhaps because the word "belle" means beautiful in French, so that gives a lot more meaning to the title.
As for her first name being Belle but her English family calling her Dido, it might have more to do with anti-French sentiments in England than with denying the girl her name because of her mother.
I think the main reason the movie isn't called Dido is fairly obvious: that name would look way too much like Dildo. People with a touch or more of dyslexia would actually tend to misread it that way, and some dyslexic young movie theater employees might even misspell it that way on marquees at theaters that still use traditional marquee lettering. Even people with no dyslexia would tend to laugh about the title internally and/or joke about it. Movie posters and other signage would be liable to be defaced by mischievous people who couldn't resist writing in an "l" with a marker or spray paint. Obviously a serious-minded movie like this one--even if many of its serious plot points are largely fictitious--doesn't want to expose itself to that kind of silliness.
And in case you think that people wouldn't really be likely to indulge in such a tasteless joke, note that students in music schools all around the English-speaking world routinely jokingly refer to Henry Purcell's late-seventeenth-century opera Dido and Aeneas as Dildo and Anus.
The name "Dido", by the way, comes from a possibly mythical North African queen of antiquity. Giving Dido Elizabeth Belle that name was a way of recognizing her African roots. Note, though, that it's possible that she was originally only named "Elizabeth"--it seems that's what her father generally called her--and that the name "Dido" was given to her by Lord Mansfield and his wife, in order to avoid confusion with her cousin Elizabeth Murray.
Your comment is absurd, adolescent and says nothing about why the movie was not named "Dido" and says everything about your level of (im)maturity. If you want to make childish jokes about words, go to some site for pre-teens -- don't do it here.
Since there is a fairly popular singer in the U.K. named Dido, it was most probably named "Belle" to avoid confusion with the singer or because that was how her father introduced her to his aunt & uncle.
I don't work in the movie industry so I suppose I'm no expert, but since Gugu is featured prominently on the poster, why would someone think the movie is about Dido the singer?
shareYou obviously did not read the entire post. Read the whole thing and you'll see the poster dgb555 does not hold with those views him/herself but was pointing out how many times others lapse into childish innuendo wordplay.
Personally, I think the title Belle is perfect for this film. While it does not take place in the southern States of the U.S., the word calls to mind the southern "belles" of that world. Along with its meaning of beautiful, it fits Dido as a cherished daughter of a family. Note: I have not seen the movie and am basing that on the film's description.
You're referring to GDS555? It was hardly an immature post.
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Darling, nothing is final 'til you're dead, and even then, I'm sure God negotiates. -EverAfter
Since there is a fairly popular singer in the U.K. named Dido
It may seem an absurd suggestion, but he may also be on to something. Dido is just an ugly, unfamiliar name, whereas Belle sounds and literally means "beautiful". I suspect he's right that it was a business decision, and yes, I bet the name of the sex toy was a factor in the discussion and decision. Of course maybe they never even considered naming it Dido. That seems very possible too.
shareIn "The Aeneid" by Vergil, Dido was the Queen of Carthage who had an affair with Aeneas after he fled Troy and before he conquered Italy. When Aeneas dumped Dido to continue his journey, she cursed him and killed herself. Belle is a much better name for Belle than Dido!
shareI would love to hear from someone who selects these movie names full time.
Speaking to the point that it is 'obvious'...
Yes...
I have no doubt that a professional contemplating the name " DIDO " would pass on that name.
Note that I used capital letters. That is how they are displayed.
With the two vertical lines right next to each other for I and D, there will probably be lighting conditions where shadows from streetlamps or from the Sun will make another vertical line in between. Voila, " D IlD O "!
There is a long history of problems with movie names and such on marqees. Not too many have the word " FLICK " in them, because even clean-mind folks can easily misread that one.
The movie industry is now expert in these kinds of things, and gds555 is perceptive in having seen it. There are lot of examples of backlash for "what I thought it said" in place of "what it really said".
No ...
I don't think it is 'obvious'. Most people don't think about how something like "Dido" could be misinterpreted. I know I didn't. But that is how folks like me can get in trouble.
As for the poster who thought this sounded immature and silly, yes, you are right. Because the whole thing is immature and silly and we share a planet with a lot of immaturity and silliness. Sometimes it is necessary to talk about it and deal with it. The studios deal with it by avoiding the problem.
Belle was the name of Dido's mother and a name given to her, as well. As Dido herself recognized, her mother Belle's skin color and status as a slave were the core reasons Dido's life was so challenging yet gave her identity during a period in History when skin color defined a person. It also gave her purpose to be involved in the Zong case, which helped end the slave trade business in Great Britain.
shareI think it's probably to avoid confusion with the short film Dido Belle, on the same character. But that's just me assuming it.
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