Dambusters ****** Renamed to Digger

[LordCrumb]

One of the big questions hanging over Sir Peter Jackson's Dambusters film has finally been answered - the dog ****** will be renamed Digger as it might offend Americans.

The film's script writer, actor Stephen Fry, revealed the change to British newspaper The Daily Mail.

In the original 1955 film the name of pilot Guy Gibson's black Labrador is spoken 12 times as a code word to report successful dam breaches to the RAF's bomber command, The Daily Mail reported.

Fry said: "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 - you just can't got back, which is unfortunate ... Digger seems OK, I reckon".

However some historians and aviation enthusiasts were unhappy with the name change.

The dog is buried at RAF Scampton in Britain, where the Dambusters 617 squadron was based. Curator of the RAF Scampton museum accused Fry of trying to "rewrite history".

"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," said Mervyn Hallam.

"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."

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."

But Aviation Heritage Lincolnshire spokesman Phil Bonner told The Daily Mail the dog's name was emotive. "In some respects it's a reflection of the changes that have happened across the generations."

Jackson first announced plans for the film, to be directed by his protege Christian Rivers, in 2006. Fry, who also has a small part in The Hobbit, joined as script writer in 2007.

As of last year, Jackson was fine tuning Fry's script, with no set date for shooting. It is understood some pre-production work has been underway for some time, including full scale replicas of Lancaster bombers, some of which were made in China.

Ok, can't even say ****** on a forum lol.

[Offender_Mullet]

If people crapped about this, just wait until Tarantino's slavery film. Me thinks there will be more than a few n-bombs thrown about. It'll probably make an episode of the Dave Chapelle Show look like Sesame Street.

[vegeta88]

I understand the change and I really don't care too much about changing the name of a dog in a movie. In the grand scheme, it won't hurt the story. I don't think The Elephant Man is a worse film for Joseph Carey Merrick being called John Merrick.

On the other hand:

[Show spoiler]

Nobody, NOBODY should be offended by the dog's name. Either you are going to be fake offended because you think you should be or you need to reevaluate what is offensive to you.

[LordCrumb]

Originally Posted by vegeta88

I understand the change and I really don't care too much about changing the name of a dog in a movie. In the grand scheme, it won't hurt the story. I don't think The Elephant Man is a worse film for Joseph Carey Merrick being called John Merrick.

On the other hand:

[Show spoiler]

Nobody, NOBODY should be offended by the dog's name. Either you are going to be fake offended because you think you should be or you need to reevaluate what is offensive to you.

Thats a widely known error though, a lot of people still think his name was John, not because of the movie, but because of documentation errors.

The thing with the dog though is his name was also a codeword.

Originally Posted by Offender_Mullet

If people crapped about this, just wait until Tarantino's slavery film. Me thinks there will be more than a few n-bombs thrown about. It'll probably make an episode of the Dave Chapelle Show look like Sesame Street.

Yeah Tarantino will get away with it though, even though his film will use it in derogatory terms.

[Mandalorian]

I'm glad they changed it. Now more people can enjoy the film without squirming in their seats everythime someone calls the dog's name. This is 2011, and he's a dog. It's not a big enough deal to make or break the film for any diehard fans.

Originally Posted by vegeta88

Nobody, NOBODY should be offended by the dog's name. Either you are going to be fake offended because you think you should be or you need to reevaluate what is offensive to you.

I wouldn't tell an entire race that they shouldn't be offended by a dog's name being a derogatory name that's used in reference to them. I agree that it's stupid to get offended by every use of the word in film, but not in this case. It's just a silly situation. I don't get pissy every time I hear the word in a movie, but this is just a dog.

[formula_nebula]

They should have renamed the dog Blacky. It would be more appropriate and less likely to offend anyone. Now, we have a dog named Digger, which there will be 12 yr. old boys making nose picking jokes.

[L-Rouge]

I can understand the move., but I have to laugh because I whipped out "Blazing Saddles" a few weeks back and was stumped at the amount of N-Bombs that were in it. HAHA, I sure have become gun-shy on such things.