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What's the original title of 'The Fifth Element'?
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DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorT!M
Profiling since Dec. 2000
Registered: March 13, 2007
Reputation: Highest Rating
Netherlands Posts: 8,665
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Here's a fun question: what's the original title of 'The Fifth Element'? In the database, this is done in many different ways. Most profiles seem to use 'The Fifth Element', while others use 'Le Cinquieme element', or variations on that with various accents, like 'Le Cinquième elément' or 'Le Cinquième élément'.

It is, of course, worth noting that this film's sole country origin is France. While this was distributed in certain territories by Columbia Pictures, it's sole production company is French company Gaumont, and to determine the CoO, we only look at production companies, not at the theatrical release studio. So it's purely a French film, which makes 'Le Cinquieme element', or variations on that, the likely original title. It is, however, obviously an English-language film, for which it makes sense to use an English-language title, and it was always intended for a world-wide release, under the title 'The Fifth Element'. Many external sources name 'The Fifth Element' as the film's original title, pointing out that it was only marketed as 'Le Cinquieme Element' in Frence-language countries, and referring to that as an "alternative" title.

My copies - I happen to own this film on several different formats - all have 'The Fifth Element' on the front cover, in the credits block on the back cover, and in the actual film credits. No sign of 'Le Cinquieme element' anywhere. French home video releases have "LE CINQUIEME ELEMENT" (no accents, and Invelos has explicitly stated that, when we're converting ALL-CAPS to mixed case for DVD Profiler purposes, "E=e and É=é") on the cover and in the credits block - but I don't know what those film credits show.

So what should we list as original title for this film, and why? I have no real preference, but I wanted to see if a consensus can be found. For the record, I've randomized the poll's option order.
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorObiKen
Registered: October 22, 2015
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The film was originally released in France on 07-May-1997.

I voted for The Fifth Element as the original title based on the following two references:

== > The French film magazine Première lists original title as The Fifth Element with original release date 07-May-1997:
        •  https://www.premiere.fr/film/Le-Cinquieme-Element

        NOTE: Theatrical distributor GBVI (Gaumont Buena Vista International) is listed for the 07-May-1997 release in France.

==>  Cannes Film Festival (07-18 May, 1997) also shows The Fifth Element under the French title:
        •  https://www.festival-cannes.com/en/73-editions/retrospective/1997/selection/out-of-competition
        •  https://www.festival-cannes.com/en/films/le-cinquieme-element
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorCorne
Registered: Nov. 1, 2000
Registered: April 5, 2007
Netherlands Posts: 1,059
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I only have the Australian DVD of The Fifth Element in my collection. The credits are in French and the title is in fact in French too. No mention of The Fifth Element in the actual credits. On the DVD cover only.

References like https://www.festival-cannes.com/en/films/le-cinquieme-element points LE CINQUIEME ELEMENT as the main title with the English translation between brackets. On the other hand https://www.premiere.fr/film/Le-Cinquieme-Element mentions The Fifth Element as original title (Titre original).

Wikipedia and IMDb name both titles as being the original title.

Being a French production I tend to use Le Cinquième élément as the original title. Moreover in the country of origin, France in this case, it is titled as Le Cinquième élément. Internationally the title has been adapted to The Fifth Element or in the local language. It's not that different from an American production being released under a French title in Francophone countries.
Cor
 Last edited: by Corne
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