Sybil said >>One thing that has puzzled me that I haven't seen explained completely is why the name change from the U.K. to the States? Does the word philosopher have some different connotation to the British that Americans just wouldn't get? I know there are enough British listmembers that surely someone can explain it to me.<<
Colin thought it was that >>quite simply the American distributers/makers/producers or whatever assume the American public is stupid and wouldn't understand the word Philosopher.<< I don't think it's that simple. I don't think there is anything different between the British and American meaning of 'philospher' but the expression 'philosophers' stone' doesn't refer to a stone that a philosopher might happen to have, but it is a thing in itself. According to Websters' Dictionary it is (quote) 'an imaginary substance or preparation believed capable of transforming baser metals into gold or silver, and of prolonging life'. I imagine the context of the film would make that clear. There's a big controversy here in Catalonia because Warner Bros refuse to dub it into Catalan despite the Catalan Government's offer to pay for it. I think they dubbed it into French for Quebec only but not for France. Strange goings on, and a boycott is taking place here. Needless to say, I speak as an expert despite not having read the books or seeing the film. mike NP Brad Mehldau 'Blackbird'
