Черная орхидея?

[giantantattack.livejournal.com]

I'm currently spending a few months in Nizhny Novgorod for school, and recently I've been seeing signs and commercials for the film Черная орхидея everywhere. But I'm confused; In English, the film is called "The Black Dahlia", while the Russian title means "[The] Black Orchid". Why wasn't the title simply translated as Черная георгина? Is it just a poor translation, or is there a reason behind the flower switch?

Comments

[bruja-aprendiza.livejournal.com]

because the commonly used form in russian is георгин, which is masculine. i think there also is a feminine георгина, but it's either outdated or rare. so георгин would not be associated with a woman.

[sashka-vyshka.livejournal.com]

1. "Черный георгин"
2. Russian translators sometimes translate the name of the movie in the way that only they can understand. (For example, "Shark tale" was translated as "Подводная братва" ~ "Underwater bandits"). Maybe they think that orchid is more romantic :)

[sashka-vyshka.livejournal.com]

There is no such feminine :)

[bruja-aprendiza.livejournal.com]

«ГРАМОТА.РУ»: Орфографический словарь георгин, -а и георгина, -ы
Словарь трудностей ГЕОРГИН, м., род. мн. георгинов и устаревающее и в профессиональной речи георгина, ж., род. мн. георгин.

[dixi.livejournal.com]

It's common situation, when film got on Russian market wrong, but "more attractive" title.
It's just marketing way.

[sashka-vyshka.livejournal.com]

OK. But it's still "устаревающее и в профессиональной речи" :)
I, personallu, see this word for the first time :)

[khathi.livejournal.com]

It's because there's no such word as "георгина". "Георгин", which is "dahlia" indeed, is strictly masculine, and this doesn't sit well with story of the movie.

[bruja-aprendiza.livejournal.com]

that's what i said: the commonly used form is георгин, георгина is outdated/rare :)

[pacifik.livejournal.com]

I suppose "георгин" reffers to flowerpots in soviet shared appartments. Nothing romantic and "noir".
While "Orchid" reffers to "Wild orchid" movie and (may be) store chain selling elite undies.

i read an article about this film

[taniatom.livejournal.com]

It's because the book which the movie is based on was already translated into Russian before, as Black Orchid. So, they had to translate the movie the same way in order for the viewer to be able to identify...

Generally the titles are re-named rather then translated, BTW.

[wolk-off.livejournal.com]

"Подводная братва" strikes right on, while "Сказка об акулах" doesn't sound too promising :)

[lantse.livejournal.com]

There is a German name Georgine (in Russian: Георгина) and the English Georgina and even Georgiana may be transliterated as Георгина, especially in old translations. Moreover, a Russian woman may also be named Георгина. But Георгина as a lady's name in Russian makes a strange and slightly outmodish impression; perhaps they preferred to change the name to avoid this association.

And remember that the "Wild Orchid" was a hudge hit in Russia and they evidently also wished to associate the new movie with this one.

[bs-chvstvnn.livejournal.com]

I wish you to get used for such "switchings".
"Sharks tales" -> "Полдводная братва"
"Over the hedge" -> "Лесная братва"
"Village" -> "Таинственный лес"
My favourite is "Дорогой Гюнтер" from the old "video" times when russian translators translated films at home three films per day.

[wolk-off.livejournal.com]

How about "Биоволк" ("Beowulf," obvously)? :)

[bs-chvstvnn.livejournal.com]

Also "broad translation" is very funny.
Constantine -> "Константин: Повелитель тьмы"
Break-up -> "Развод по-американски"
Fun with Dick and Jane -> Аферисты Дик и Джейн развлекаются
The Core -> Земное ядро. Бросок в преисподнюю
Saw -> Пила: игра на выживание
Click -> Клик: с пультом по жизни

[oryx_and_crake]

Those are not translations, they are entirely new titles that the copyright holders decided will make the movies more marketable. Therefore there is nothing funny in them.

[bs-chvstvnn.livejournal.com]

I'm not idiot and clearly know why those films were renamed. "There is nothing funny" in this for people whо haven't enough sense of humour (did you notice inverted commas?) and for people who didn't watch some of this movies.
Did you see "Constantine"? Was he really Lord Of Darkness or smth? You are very smart but sometimes boring and haughty.