I was reading on stuff.co.nz yesterday that a decision had finally been made to change the name of the dog in Sir Peter Jackson‘s remake of The Dam Busters to ‘Digger’. “So what?”, I hear you say. Well, for those unfamiliar with the original story or film, the dog’s actual name is ‘Nigger’. And yes, he’s a black labrador. Hmm, probably a very wise call me thinks. However, it has caused great debate, even in these more politcally correct times.
The Dam Busters’ script writer, and well-known actor, Stephen Fry revealed the change in an interview with UK paper The Daily Mail, saying: “There is no question in America that you could ever have a dog called the N-word. It’s no good saying that it is the Latin word for black or that it didn’t have the meaning that it does now,” explained Fry. “In the (original) film, you’re constantly hearing ‘n-word, n-word, n-word, hurray’ and Barnes Wallis is punching the air. But obviously that’s not going to happen now. So Digger seems okay, I reckon.”
However, many historian are upset by the change. Curator of the RAF Scampton museum, Mervyn Hallam, said “It’s not a problem with coloured people, it’s the people in power creating the problem. Sod their political correctness and sod human rights”. Hallam continues, “They should keep the dog’s name the same – it’s ridiculous that they are trying to rewrite history. His grave is still here with his name on it.”
Refraining from using the word ‘sod’, Dambusters historian Jim Shortland said it was sacrificing historical accuracy for political correctness. “One wonders what else the film might get wrong. Once you know something is incorrect, you’re going to be suspicious.” Mr Shortland proclaimed.
This isn’t the first time this same debate has raged. In 1999, according to Wikipedia, British television network ITV broadcast a censored version of the film, removing all mentions of the N-word. An inquest was subsequently held into who ordered the cuts, with eventual blame being placed on a junior member of staff at the regional broadcaster London Weekend Television (umm… really?). When ITV again showed a censored version in June 2001, it was condemned as “unnecessary and ridiculous” and because the edits introduced continuity errors.
So what do you think? A good idea to drop the name? Or should they’ve just dropped ‘the N-bomb’ and not messed with history?
Even the rights to the film have had a colourful history – no pun intended. Funnily enough, Mel Gibson owned the rights to The Dam Busters during the mid 1990’s when Sir Peter was first interested in the project. In 2005, the rights were bought by Sir David Frost, the well-know journalist, who agreed to let Peter use them for his remake.
After announcing his plans for the film in 2006, Sir Peter Jackson’s production has never quite got underway. However pre-production has apparently commenced with 10 full-scale Lancaster bombers having been built in China. 10!?! Wow, I like the sound of that! Lets hope the film doesn’t get left stuck behind the dam for too long now that production on ‘The Hobbit’ is underway.
