Film, February 9, 2004 12:54 PM 6 comments
Eugene Levy's Accent
Was having trouble pinning down the source of Eugene Levy's accent in A Mighty Wind (2003) last night. Thought I'd nailed it as Dieter from Sprockets, Mike Myers' regular SNL sketch featuring a German-accented, 80s avant garde talk show host. But that wasn't quite as stilted as Levy's portrayal of a mentally unstable, recovering 60s folk singer. Who Levy really sounded like is Canadian journalist and commentator Rex Murphy.
Highlight of A Mighty Wind: Levy's post-folk solo album covers A Cry for Help and Calling it Quits. What would possibly get me watching Christopher Guest's other mockumentaries, Waiting for Guffman and Best in Show, is Fred Willard, who plays the talent manager in A Mighty Wind. Related news: Levy won a Grammy for the A Mighty Wind's self-titled theme song, accepting the award saying: "This is really a shock. The songs aren't real."
6 comments on Eugene Levy's Accent
1. Felicity | April 11, 2005 12:27 AM
I noticed his voice reminded me of things too, but in my case it was a combination of Dennis Hopper and Mike Myers’ “Theatre Stories” character.
2. Joanna | September 12, 2005 6:30 AM
I thought he sounded like the father on that dorky 80s sitcom "Alf".
3. Jeff Werner | September 12, 2005 9:13 AM
Oh my god you are so right. The father from Alf. Thanks!
4. Hamm I Am | November 16, 2006 5:13 PM
I thought he was imitating Darrell Hammond imitating Jessie Jackson. Especially because occassionally he would bulge his eyes out.
5. saloua | March 31, 2008 6:19 AM
levy is my grand father in hearchy tree i wish your health could be good sooner i send you my love from morocco .
with love
saloua mean law and the soul .
6. Dan Kuchar | February 9, 2009 4:56 AM
I thought Levy's accent in "A Mighty Wind" was borrowed from Bob Dylan's speech patterns in "No Direction Home." Think about it. Dylan's slightly raspy highly stilted speech patterns sound like a worn out Captain Kirk.
When a thing is funny, search it carefully for a hidden truth.—George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950)
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