It was Rainer Brandt who first gave the Italians Bud Spencer and Terence Hill the sayings: The actor and speaker – he was the German voice of Jean-Paul Belmondo and Tony Curtis – has died.
This artist shaped humor in the Federal Republic of Germany in the 1970s and 1980s like no other: the actor, speaker, author and dubbing director Rainer Brandt has died. This was confirmed to the German Press Agency by radio play producer Heikedine Körting from the audio label Europa in Hamburg.
“With Rainer Brandt, one of the greatest actors and wonderful voice artists has left us. We are immensely sad and are thinking of his wonderful family,” said Körting, who worked with Brandt on the radio play series “TKKG” and “Fünf Freunde”. The actor was 88 years old.
Terence Hill mourns
The Berliner was one of the most important figures in the post-war dubbing industry. The German dubbing file lists more than 800 speaking roles. He lent his voice to Jean-Paul Belmondo, Tony Curtis, Marcello Mastroianni and Elvis Presley, among others.
Brandt, who studied theater at the Max Reinhardt School, made the Italian acting duo Bud Spencer and Terence Hill socially acceptable in West Germany – he contributed the witty sayings for the German version. Sentences like: “It’s too loud here, I can’t chew properly!” Brandt’s dialogue direction also shaped the snappy wit of many films with Louis de Funès, Adriano Celentano, and Pierre Richard.
Terence Hill told the “Bild” newspaper: “Rainer, as well as Thomas Danneberg and Wolfgang Hess as our German voices, played a huge part in making the successful films even more successful here.” Hill stressed: “I am very grateful to everyone and sad that Rainer is gone. His wit was brilliant and connected many people.”
“Your Lordship pleases to hurt”
As a dialogue writer and director in the dubbing studio, he refined countless dull and unimaginative dialogues from foreign crime films and westerns into linguistic pearls, some of which became catchphrases for entire generations, such as “From today on, there will be no more drinking, but no less either” or “Your Lordship will be pleased to hurt.” Brandt had overheard many of the jokes in everyday life from West Berliners, who were never at a loss for a quip.
His masterpiece is the British crime series “The Two” (1970/71) with Tony Curtis as US playboy Danny Wilde and Roger Moore as a stiff British aristocrat. Many industry insiders are convinced that it owes its popularity in Germany solely to the completely new text by Brandt. For example: the simple thank you “Thanks, Sir Louis, for using the plane.” became “And bring the little bird back to the nest safe and sound!” Another classic: “You have to speak a little faster now, sir, otherwise you won’t be in sync!”
Source: Stern
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
