Dale v. Fry

[Pam Hugonnet]

No: HPFGUIDX 6836



Penny wrote:

Anyone else besides Michelle (anti-Jim Dale) and Heidi (pro-Jim Dale)

> who has heard both the Dale & Fry versions?  I've not heard the Fry
> versions -- I own the cassettes & the CDs of all 4 books and can't
> really justify springing for another whole set in any format.  I seem to
> recall that some of the British members who had heard both versions also
> expressed a preference for Jim Dale, but I could be remembering
> incorrectly.
>
> I enjoy the Dale versions enormously.  My only real complaint is I don't
> care for his interpretation of Hermione (and it still doesn't sound to
> my ear as though he's pronouncing it as Her-my-uh-nee with 4
> syllables).  I would say that her voice still comes off fairly whiny in
> my mind even in GoF (Heidi said she thought the whininess had pretty
> much been eliminated by GoF).  But, I enjoy every other aspect of his
> interpretation so much that I'm willing to forgive him on the Hermione
> issue, even though she *is* my favorite character!  <g>

I've listened to all 4 books with Jim Dale, but I've to hear the Fry versions.  Tried
looking them up via Napster but came up with nothing each time.  Guess I know what I'll
be doing on Boxing Day.

I think Jim Dale is ok.  My complaint is that his range of emotion is fairly constricted
and his version of Hermione is entirely too whiny.  I cringe every time he has Hermione
say "HAH-reeeee."   Having said that, I think his renditions of Voldemort (with a 't',
thank you), Ron and Dumbledore are first rate.  And his Fudge is priceless.

My husband and I heard (read?) somewhere that Dale came up with close to one hundred
voices to get through the series.  Each time we listen to the books (which is often with
a 7 year old Potter-maniac in the house), hubby can be heard making sacrcastic remarks
about Jim Dale's vocal differentiation (eg. "Oh, he's got a new voice there!")

Has anybody been able to find those Every Flavor Beans at the WBStore?  Anywhere else?
They'd make great kid gifts.

drpam