Even if a Hungarian pretends to speak impeccable English they are often given away by their accent, which is due to the following reasons:

• in Hungarian letters correspond sounds and pronounced clearly (’What’ will/may sound ’vaht’)
• in Hungarian stress is always on the first syllable (A’merica will sound ’amerika)
• some sounds are pronounced the Hungarian way like ’r’ ’th’ and no differentiation between ’e’ and ’a’ (Carl: ’’ so I brought the good brandy”)

In Casablanca, the waiter Carl is played by a Hungarian actor S.Z. Sakall (Szőke Szakáll born as Gerő Jenő) and the way he speaks is typical of Hungarian pronunciation. However, one of the film’s most popular quotes is:

• What watch?
• Ten watch.
• Such much?

It’s pretty nonsensical to English-speaking people but not to Hungarians. The pun is the double meaning of “óra” in Hungarian (both “watch” and “hour”).

• Hány óra?
• Tíz óra.
• Olyan sok?

Watch the clip and see the dialogue below.

The international cast of Casablanca was dominated by Hungarians including director Michael Curtiz (Kertész Mihály born as Kaminer Manó). He was notorious for his Hungarian accent which often caused confusion on the set. He asked a prop man for a “poodle” to appear in one scene. The prop man searched high and low for a poodle while the entire crew waited. He found one and presented it to Curtiz, who screamed:
“A poodle! A poodle of water!”

Here is the dialogue of the clip:

Mr. Leuchtag: Come sit down. Have a brandy with us.
Mrs. Leuchtag: To celebrate our leaving for America tomorrow.
Carl: Oh, thank you very much. I thought you would ask me, so I brought the good brandy. And – a third glass!
Mrs. Leuchtag: At last the day is came!
Mr. Leuchtag: Mareichtag and I are speaking nothing but English now.
Mrs. Leuchtag: So we should feel at home when we get to America.
Carl: Very nice idea, mm-hmm.
Mr. Leuchtag: [toasting] To America!
Mrs. Leuchtag: To America!
Carl: To America!
Mr. Leuchtag: Liebchen – sweetnessheart, what watch?
Mrs. Leuchtag: Ten watch.
Mr. Leuchtag: Such much?
Carl: Hm. You will get along beautiful in America, mm-hmm.