Please help me make out what Helen Mirren is saying.
March 17, 2013 5:10 AM   Subscribe

I'm translating David Mamet's new movie about Phil Spector. My dialog list is substandard, so I basically have to guess what they're saying. In this audio clip, Helen Mirren and Jeffrey Tambor are discussing the evidence against Spector and cite precedents that sound like "Caitlin" and... something. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
posted by Silky Slim to Media & Arts (20 answers total) 1 user marked this as a favorite
 
"I say the judge allows it under Caitlin"
"In which case it's reversible"
posted by pompomtom at 5:46 AM on March 17, 2013


"We'll exclude the woman
How on ?Ewol?
You bet.
No, I say the judge allows in under Caitlin
In which case it's reversible."
posted by prentiz at 5:52 AM on March 17, 2013


Response by poster: Yup, it's that "ewol" (?) that befuddles me.
I can just write what it sounds like, but I'd like to know what it means.
posted by Silky Slim at 6:06 AM on March 17, 2013


Could it be a last name? It could be "Ewald" which pops up as the Plaintiff in a few cases (in Google), one of which might work?
posted by Lucinda at 6:48 AM on March 17, 2013




Also going to guess that it's a last name, and referring to a case. There's another Ewald decision that pops up in Google that deals with someone dying intestate. Both names could be bogus, too. Here's hoping one of MeFi's legal eagles weighs in.
posted by jquinby at 6:54 AM on March 17, 2013 [1 favorite]


I suspect they are both just made up case names. But some California attorney would know.
posted by interplanetjanet at 7:01 AM on March 17, 2013


Response by poster: "Ewald" seems like a promising lead, thanks.
Having finished translating this teleplay save for one line, there doesn't seem to be a single fake name in it; every throwaway line seems to refer to something from the actual case. Mamet did his homework.
posted by Silky Slim at 7:05 AM on March 17, 2013


Response by poster: Maybe this has something to do with it...?
posted by Silky Slim at 7:09 AM on March 17, 2013


Response by poster: The plot thickens - Linda Kenney Baden (portrayed in the movie by Helen Mirren) is apparently on twitter. Maybe she can help...
posted by Silky Slim at 7:13 AM on March 17, 2013


Have you considered contacting Mamet? He appears to be on Twitter.
posted by musofire at 7:39 AM on March 17, 2013


Alternately, how about contacting the production company and asking for the shooting script?
posted by musofire at 7:40 AM on March 17, 2013


Response by poster: Mamet isn't on twitter. Linda Kenney Baden was a consultant to the production as well as being the real deal, so if she answers, I'm sure she'll have the goods.
posted by Silky Slim at 7:44 AM on March 17, 2013


I think they are discussing cases involving introduction of character evidence pertaining to prior bad acts under FRE 608. I know admission of evidence of Spector's prior bad acts involving women and guns was an issue in this case.

Could she be saying "Abel"? That would be a reference to United States v. Abel, 469 U.S. 45 (1984)
posted by Dr. Zira at 8:46 AM on March 17, 2013


Best answer: I think it's Ewoldt, from People v. Ewoldt 7 Cal.4th 380 (1994).

This criminal law blog references the case in the context of a discussion of the Spector trial.
posted by Dr. Zira at 8:59 AM on March 17, 2013 [4 favorites]


Response by poster: "Admitting Evidence of an Accused's Uncharged Misconduct" is exactly right! This must be it!
Thank you, Dr. Zira.
posted by Silky Slim at 9:05 AM on March 17, 2013


Best answer: The other reference appears to be to People v. Catlin (2001) 26 Cal.4th 81.
Here's the 2011 opinion in People v. Spector, which has the references to these cases.
[There's a link at the bottom of the page that allows you to click to go to the unpaginated view of the opinion.]
posted by Dr. Zira at 9:09 AM on March 17, 2013 [2 favorites]


Response by poster: The unpaginated view link doesn't work for me, but sounds legit :^)
Excellent work, Thanks!
posted by Silky Slim at 9:53 AM on March 17, 2013


How could I doubt David Mamet? I'm glad we Dr Zira found the answer!
posted by interplanetjanet at 2:10 PM on March 17, 2013 [1 favorite]


Mamet did his homework.

How could I doubt David Mamet?


Yet the movie reportedly (I haven't seen it) has a disclaimer that it's a work of fiction, as Mark Evanier points out.
posted by pmurray63 at 5:20 AM on March 18, 2013


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