When did commentary stop being in English?

[wsn03]

When I've watched older footage of the LM 24, and the Steve McQueen film, there always seemed to be English commentary. Often wondered when did that change? I know they have English updates, but I presume once upon a time the whole event was covered in English.

[gt6]

The english updates were around in 1985 when i first went, there was no full english at that time until radio le mans started a few years later but that was radio only

[wsn03]

gt6 said:

The english updates were around in 1985 when i first went, there was no full english at that time until radio le mans started a few years later but that was radio only

The coverage I have seen in English is late 60s and into the early 1970s (I think) - so at least by the mid 80s we know it was French with English updates only

[//j17]

wsn03 said:

When I've watched older footage of the LM 24, and the Steve McQueen film, there always seemed to be English commentary. Often wondered when did that change? I know they have English updates, but I presume once upon a time the whole event was covered in English.

Let me guess, you watch these on English language TV, or having search in English for clips on YouTube, etc? Oddly if you're watching films made in English for an English speaking audience they tend to be in English. Try searching in French and I'm sure you'll find the same films with French commentary.

Even in the 15-odd years I've been going, other than RLM the only English commentary is the 60 seconds an hour they let the unbelievably English guy on the tannoy. The rest of the time the tonnoy is in the hands of the French commentator who likes to drag out driver's names on the podium (Tom Krrrrriiiiiisssss-tttttteeeeeennnnn-ssssseeeeennnnn!, Frank Biiiiiiieeeeee-llllllaaaaaa!, etc).

And this is France, so do you REALLY beleive they would have done the circuit race commentary in anything but French back in the day?!?

[Truckosaurus]

wsn03 said:

...and the Steve McQueen film, there always seemed to be English commentary...

NotSureIfSerious.gif

[wsn03]

//j17 said:

wsn03 said:

When I've watched older footage of the LM 24, and the Steve McQueen film, there always seemed to be English commentary. Often wondered when did that change? I know they have English updates, but I presume once upon a time the whole event was covered in English.

Let me guess, you watch these on English language TV, or having search in English for clips on YouTube, etc? Oddly if you're watching films made in English for an English speaking audience they tend to be in English. Try searching in French and I'm sure you'll find the same films with French commentary.

Even in the 15-odd years I've been going, other than RLM the only English commentary is the 60 seconds an hour they let the unbelievably English guy on the tannoy. The rest of the time the tonnoy is in the hands of the French commentator who likes to drag out driver's names on the podium (Tom Krrrrriiiiiisssss-tttttteeeeeennnnn-ssssseeeeennnnn!, Frank Biiiiiiieeeeee-llllllaaaaaa!, etc).

And this is France, so do you REALLY beleive they would have done the circuit race commentary in anything but French back in the day?!?

2 things- that documentary about the Ford vs Ferrari battles im sure had grandstand commentary in English, as I think did the one showing the great disaster in the fifties.
Im going to look at both of them again when I get some time. Im convinced the tannoys are coming out with English.

[anonymous-user]

The English chap they give 30 seconds to sounds like he is from 1950's BBC

[JT3K]

I've never actually been able to hear the trackside commentary apart from the ridiculous name-stretching. Didn't know there was a Brit on there on occasion. Why bother when Radio Le Mans is possibly the greatest commentary available for anything?

[//j17]

wsn03 said:

2 things- that documentary about the Ford vs Ferrari battles im sure had grandstand commentary in English, as I think did the one showing the great disaster in the fifties.
Im going to look at both of them again when I get some time. Im convinced the tannoys are coming out with English.

Are those documentaries actually using 'live' sound+picture recordings though, or Pathe newsreel pictures+ post-live commentary? Certainly for the 1950's I'd guess most of the images would have been recorded picture-only, with the voice and background sounds added later. On a lot of the older films if you listen the can noises don't actually match the pictures and are random car sounds added in for atmosphear.

[Genuine Barn Find]

Grahamdub said:

The English chap they give 30 seconds to sounds like he is from 1950's BBC

Incredibly English English Chap will forever be imprinted on my mind when he announced that the ‘British Car has taken the American Car” on the last lap back in 2017. All very matter of fact. I doubt that stiff upper lip moved at all.

[wsn03]

//j17 said:

wsn03 said:

2 things- that documentary about the Ford vs Ferrari battles im sure had grandstand commentary in English, as I think did the one showing the great disaster in the fifties.
Im going to look at both of them again when I get some time. Im convinced the tannoys are coming out with English.

Are those documentaries actually using 'live' sound+picture recordings though, or Pathe newsreel pictures+ post-live commentary? Certainly for the 1950's I'd guess most of the images would have been recorded picture-only, with the voice and background sounds added later. On a lot of the older films if you listen the can noises don't actually match the pictures and are random car sounds added in for atmosphear.

It's really hard to tell - it seemed like real sound because it was incorporated with all the pit sounds - however could have just been for effect.

I know one or two posters on here were at Le Mans in the 60s, wonder if they can shed any light?!? No doubt its just in my imagination.

[lowdrag]

My first time was 1969, and I now speak very good french! I certainly do not remember the commentary being in english at all, until, as aforesaid, Radio Le Mans came along, and even then (was it Janice?) I tried to avoid it.

"Who's that coming into the pits Janice?"

"I dunno, but he has Shoei written on his helmet!"

It has thankfully got better.

[gt6]

Well i was there when a certain German raced before going to the dark side, but in those days no one called him shoei.

i do however remember Janice from the early RLM days and yes it has improved

[eastlmark]

when I first went the English would gather around the tannoy's for the hourly update from Bob Costenduris. (possibly spelt wrong)

[leyorkie]

My favourite from 1988, remember the Jaguar win, was regarding a Renault 5 support race
Basically “it’s a French series’s with some dodgy celebs so no interest for us, don’t bother “
Brilliant

[A10ARF]

As someone said earlier ' The English chap they give 30 seconds to sounds like he is from 1950's BBC' ..

I've been attending 'only' since 2002 but the ' Chumley Warner ' black & white TV era voice that has his 1 or 2 minute hourly stint, has never seemed to change over the years whatever happens on track...how long has he been going I wonder....?

[wsn03]

eastlmark said:

when I first went the English would gather around the tannoy's for the hourly update from Bob Costenduris. (possibly spelt wrong)

What year was that? I can't imagine life without Radio Le Mans or live timing.

Got to admit it totally takes the edge off Moto 24, however with all the timing screens and giant screen information at least you know what's going on, but its not the same.

[lowdrag]

A10ARF said:

' Chumley Warner '

I say dear chap, please spell my name correctly, what what! Cholmondeley Walker is the name. Just like people writing Fanshaw. Just not on; not on at all. Mutter mutter.

[Tyre Smoke]

lowdrag said:

A10ARF said:

' Chumley Warner '

I say dear chap, please spell my name correctly, what what! Cholmondeley Walker is the name. Just like people writing Fanshaw. Just not on; not on at all. Mutter mutter.

Sorry dear chap, but you must get that hearing aid fixed. Its definitely Warner. But I agree, one must keep up standards, Chumley indeed!!

[eastlmark]

wsn03 said:

What year was that? I can't imagine life without Radio Le Mans or live timing.

Got to admit it totally takes the edge off Moto 24, however with all the timing screens and giant screen information at least you know what's going on, but its not the same.

1979 first time.... but was like that for a good few years after.