EbonyandBathory 5 | 249 16 Feb 2008 / #1Have you ever noticed that in American movies people with a "Ski" surname (Zalinski, Kowalski) they are always some sort of side character or comic relief. Like a clumsly scientist or mooseheaded strongman. I understand that "Bondski, James Bondski" just doesn't sound as cool and I'm not accusing Hollywood of some anit-Polish agenda, but isn't that interesting? I know, in "The Break Up" Vince Vaughn is constantly wearing Polish stuff and has the last name Grobowski but that may be the sole exception, and that's a comedy, he's not an action hero or a spy or anything. Maybe Anglo-Saxon names like Bruce Wayne and Indiana Jones are just more pleasing to American ears. Plus could you imagine this line of dialogue: "You know it's strange, Superman is never in the same room as Clark Kentowski?"
osiol 55 | 3,922 16 Feb 2008 / #2What about the Big Lebowski?I've never seen it by the way.JonesWelsh, even though there is no J in Welsh.
OP EbonyandBathory 5 | 249 16 Feb 2008 / #3Oh, yeah, I forgot about Lebowski. But that isn't a heroic character either. Thanks.
Dice 15 | 452 17 Feb 2008 / #4There was Stanley Kowalski in "A Streetcar Named Desire" played by young Marlon Brando. Stellaaaaaa!PS. Big Lebowski rulz!
OP EbonyandBathory 5 | 249 17 Feb 2008 / #5Another good point. I had forgotten about that as well. Thanks.
Eagle20 16 | 119 17 Feb 2008 / #6The 'ski' I remember most is 'Kowalski' in 'Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea'. (Not sure if he was in the movie version)
osiol 55 | 3,922 17 Feb 2008 / #7'Kowalski'A name also used in Vanishing Point. I only know of this film from the Primal Scream song named after it.
FISZ 24 | 2,116 17 Feb 2008 / #8Have you ever noticed that in American movies people with a "Ski" surname (Zalinski, Kowalski) they are always some sort of side character or comic relief. Like a clumsly scientist or mooseheaded strongman.No. What movie?
isthatu 3 | 1,164 17 Feb 2008 / #12Hurumph,James Bond...American Movie....Hurumph pish and piffle :)Must admit though ,youve reminded me of the old BBC sketch show,"the fast show",they had a running skit,parodied hollywood crime movies of the 30s/40s, " The Unpronouncables" loads of cops,never getting to the end of each others or barkeep/newsboys/whatevers names because they were all long zcisziezyzchiekszowoskii type names :)
plk123 8 | 4,148 17 Feb 2008 / #13there was also Warszawski name unsed in a show but i can't recall what it was.. it was a chick's name. also the main characters in the deer hunter have polish last names.What about the Big Lebowski?I've never seen it by the way.you should.. it's good..
isthatu 3 | 1,164 17 Feb 2008 / #17also the main characters in the deer hunter have polish last namesRussian names,hence the big onion domed churches and katusya being played at the wedding
OP EbonyandBathory 5 | 249 17 Feb 2008 / #19The dimwitted Rick Moranis character in "Honey I shrunk the kids" is named Wayne Szalinski.
kioko - | 84 18 Feb 2008 / #20"Hack" - tv series - main character named Mike Olshansky played by David Morse
davidpeake 14 | 451 18 Feb 2008 / #21my wife always points out that in some American sit-coms or movies the bad guys always seem to have Polish surnames, whats with that?
