Is the G rating dead?
10-19-18, 05:58 AM
#26
Re: Is the G rating dead?
Now that is really fascinating. I had no idea of the history of the ratings system. So when they created the R rating it basically gave film makers the freedom to make movies that were more "extreme" So that's why all the classic war movies were so tame. It really wasn't until Saving Private Ryan did they really go for a really realistic portrayal of what actual combat was like.
10-19-18, 06:51 AM
#27
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: Is the G rating dead?
Sam Peckinpah wouldn't have been able to make THE WILD BUNCH (1969), with its streams of blood flying from every gunshot, without an "R" rating. Yet production was begun months before the ratings system was instituted. Did Peckinpah and his producers know the ratings system was coming or were they just taking a big chance? I wonder if any book or documentary about the film has ever addressed this. THE WILD BUNCH wasn't the first R-rated film I saw back in 1969, but it was the first that had such extreme violence and it generated a lot of controversy. I remember my father being mad at me for going to see it. (I was 16.)
WB would never have released the film as it is pre-ratings. There was no gamble.
R movies didn't happen by accident. Filmmakers knew they were making an R movie from day one. That's why there aren't movies from the few years before ratings that rate an R.
Ratings were created to deal with the PG stuff. They created the R also, and then people began making R movies, on purpose. Studios wouldn't have released a movie with R content before the rating, they would have edited it.
10-19-18, 07:16 AM
#28
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: Is the G rating dead?
Originally they wanted the human females topless in POTA, but figured they wouldn't be allowed to release it that way.
The biggest movie of 1966, Hawaii, has topless female natives. It's never been submitted and remains unrated.
I believe it's about the sexual nature of the nudity.
Cool Hand Luke is pre-ratings. It was later submitted for re-release and got the PG, probably because of the scene with the girl washing the car. Without that scene it probably would have gotten a G.
Barbarella was before ratings. The uncut version could not be released in the US as is.
It was edited and then released.
The 1968 US version that was released was submitted for a rating in the late 70s and received an R. So it was further cut to get a PG.
Video versions are the complete uncut European version.
10-19-18, 09:14 AM
#29
DVD Talk Hero
Re: Is the G rating dead?
The MPAA was largely created by the Hollywood studios to avoid having Washington regulate the industry's content.
The ratings have always been a marketing tool for the large studios, nothing more and nothing less. Most studios would tell the MPAA what rating they wanted on a movie. Studios quickly figured out that certain ratings can increase the box office for certain genres.
The ratings have always been a marketing tool for the large studios, nothing more and nothing less. Most studios would tell the MPAA what rating they wanted on a movie. Studios quickly figured out that certain ratings can increase the box office for certain genres.
10-19-18, 10:03 AM
#30
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: Is the G rating dead?
He was so pissed his grandkids saw the ending ambush that he got congress to start hearings into motion picture violence and sexuality.
These hearings were identical to those had previously been held for comic books, and subsequently for music, video games, and tv content.
In each instance the particular industry struck a deal to police themselves to avoid government regulation with the comics code or ratings systems.
That's why I pick Bonnie and Clyde as the most influential movie ever made. It created the ratings system, so any influence the rating system has on filmmaking can be traced to Bonnie and Clyde.
In an earlier post I said that no R worthy movies were made until the rating was created. I was wrong. Bonnie and Clyde was submitted to ratings board for re-release and received an R rating.
It's the only pre-ratings movie I can think of later given an R.
Pre-ratings independent horror stuff like Night of The Living Dead or Herschell Gordon gore films would probably have gotten an X if submitted.
10-19-18, 10:54 AM
#31
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Re: Is the G rating dead?
Spoken like someone who doesn't get SARCASM. Forgive me for not putting a
on my post. I wrongly assumed the "filth flarn filth" part would be a huge hint... That said, I do in fact have a 3yo son. And my wife and i are conscious of what he watches.
And newsflash but the ratings system is part of that due diligence. Especially in the pre internet days what else were parents supposed to use, what other resources were there?
Last edited by Giantrobo; 10-19-18 at 11:13 AM.
10-19-18, 11:01 AM
#32
Moderator
Re: Is the G rating dead?
I think one of the factors to think about for kids and film content is how intense something is and how sustained it is. I think a "Boo!" moment can be scary, but most kids can handle that. But a sustained scene that's pretty intense, that can build a sense of dread and fear in a child. That said, the junkyard scene in Toy Story 3 is sustained intensity and I'm genuinely surprised it's G like the other two.
10-19-18, 11:09 AM
#33
DVD Talk Legend & 2021 TOTY Winner
Re: Is the G rating dead?
I barely noticed, but yeah, it seems like the only G Rated stuff to come out in wide release the last several years are Disneynature documentaries, Peanuts, and Cars 3.
10-19-18, 11:19 AM
#34
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Re: Is the G rating dead?
In an earlier post I said that no R worthy movies were made until the rating was created. I was wrong. Bonnie and Clyde was submitted to ratings board for re-release and received an R rating.
It's the only pre-ratings movie I can think of later given an R.
Pre-ratings independent horror stuff like Night of The Living Dead or Herschell Gordon gore films would probably have gotten an X if submitted.
It's the only pre-ratings movie I can think of later given an R.
Pre-ratings independent horror stuff like Night of The Living Dead or Herschell Gordon gore films would probably have gotten an X if submitted.
I remember seeing photos of some theater marquees, even in 1960, that listed it as 'M' For Mature, despite the lack of a rating system.
10-19-18, 11:41 AM
#35
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Re: Is the G rating dead?
There were many R worthy movies made before the MPAA took effect, especially films that were pre-code.
While the code was still in effect movies would slip through.
Famously, The Outlaw
Beach Red
Psycho
The Birds
John Casavettie’s films like Faces
Peckenpaugh’s Major Dundee had been an earlier stab at making a really violent western. Some of its gore remains.
While the code was still in effect movies would slip through.
Famously, The Outlaw
Beach Red
Psycho
The Birds
John Casavettie’s films like Faces
Peckenpaugh’s Major Dundee had been an earlier stab at making a really violent western. Some of its gore remains.
Last edited by Mabuse; 10-19-18 at 01:25 PM.
10-19-18, 12:16 PM
#36
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Is the G rating dead?
Wikipedia mentions that the MPAA deployed a "Suggested for Mature Audiences" advisory some time after Jack Valenti became president of the MPAA in May 1966
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motion...system#History
This 1966 Film History page notes that the film Georgy Girl, was one of the first films to carry the label "suggested for mature audiences" only a month after the Production Code was revised. Georgy Girl was released on October 17, 1966 in the US.
http://www.filmsite.org/1966-filmhistory.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgy_Girl
Two for the Road also got a SMA advisory in 1967:
https://www.filmcomment.com/blog/cin...ited-two-road/
Here's the revised Production Code from September 1966:
https://productioncode.dhwritings.com/Code_1966.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motion...system#History
This 1966 Film History page notes that the film Georgy Girl, was one of the first films to carry the label "suggested for mature audiences" only a month after the Production Code was revised. Georgy Girl was released on October 17, 1966 in the US.
http://www.filmsite.org/1966-filmhistory.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgy_Girl
Two for the Road also got a SMA advisory in 1967:
https://www.filmcomment.com/blog/cin...ited-two-road/
Here's the revised Production Code from September 1966:
https://productioncode.dhwritings.com/Code_1966.html
The creators of motion pictures undertake a responsibility to make available pertinent information about their pictures which will enable parents to fulfill their function.
An important addition is now being made to the information already provided to the public in order to enable parents better to choose which motion pictures their children should see.
As part of the revised Code, there is a provision that producers in cooperation with the Code Administration, will identify certain pictures as SUGGESTED FOR MATURE AUDIENCES.
Such information will be conveyed by advertising, by displays at the theatre and by other means.
Thus parents will be alerted and informed so that they may decide for themselves whether a particular picture because of theme, content or treatment, will be one which their children should or should not see, or may not understand or enjoy.
An important addition is now being made to the information already provided to the public in order to enable parents better to choose which motion pictures their children should see.
As part of the revised Code, there is a provision that producers in cooperation with the Code Administration, will identify certain pictures as SUGGESTED FOR MATURE AUDIENCES.
Such information will be conveyed by advertising, by displays at the theatre and by other means.
Thus parents will be alerted and informed so that they may decide for themselves whether a particular picture because of theme, content or treatment, will be one which their children should or should not see, or may not understand or enjoy.
10-19-18, 04:43 PM
#37
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: Is the G rating dead?
There were many R worthy movies made before the MPAA took effect, especially films that were pre-code.
While the code was still in effect movies would slip through.
Famously, The Outlaw
Beach Red
Psycho
The Birds
John Casavettie’s films like Faces
Peckenpaugh’s Major Dundee had been an earlier stab at making a really violent western. Some of its gore remains.
While the code was still in effect movies would slip through.
Famously, The Outlaw
Beach Red
Psycho
The Birds
John Casavettie’s films like Faces
Peckenpaugh’s Major Dundee had been an earlier stab at making a really violent western. Some of its gore remains.
Psycho and Faces later received an R. That's three confirmed.
The Birds received a PG-13.
Beach Red and Major Dundee have never been rated so we don't really know about them.
10-19-18, 05:59 PM
#38
Banned
10-20-18, 02:24 AM
#40
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Thread Starter
Re: Is the G rating dead?
Spoken like someone who doesn't get SARCASM. Forgive me for not putting a on my post. I wrongly assumed the "filth flarn filth" part would be a huge hint... That said, I do in fact have a 3yo son. And my wife and i are conscious of what he watches.
Of course they are. But it's just a start. CLEARLY these days the ratings can be inaccurate. I've heard enough stories of parents who expected a particular rating to NOT include some questionable/offensives stuff but it did. As far as what parents are supposed to do... I've notice the most effective thing to do is ACTUALLY ask their friends with kids who've seen the media in question to make that judgment.
on my post. I wrongly assumed the "filth flarn filth" part would be a huge hint... That said, I do in fact have a 3yo son. And my wife and i are conscious of what he watches.Of course they are. But it's just a start. CLEARLY these days the ratings can be inaccurate. I've heard enough stories of parents who expected a particular rating to NOT include some questionable/offensives stuff but it did. As far as what parents are supposed to do... I've notice the most effective thing to do is ACTUALLY ask their friends with kids who've seen the media in question to make that judgment.
10-24-18, 03:46 AM
#41
Re: Is the G rating dead?
I will go to my grave still completely baffled as to why anyone thinks nudity, sexual innuendo and cursing are somehow more to damaging to kids than the extreme violence we see in movies today. Take TWD on TV. Somehow extremely graphic violence, beheadings and just general depictions of evil is fine, but dont show a boobie or say the F word. I would rather my kid watch hard core porn than something like TWD,
10-24-18, 06:44 AM
#42
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Is the G rating dead?
I will go to my grave still completely baffled as to why anyone thinks nudity, sexual innuendo and cursing are somehow more to damaging to kids than the extreme violence we see in movies today. Take TWD on TV. Somehow extremely graphic violence, beheadings and just general depictions of evil is fine, but dont show a boobie or say the F word. I would rather my kid watch hard core porn than something like TWD,
Basic cable is looking like it's relaxing its standards though. A few basic cable shows have dropped the f-bomb in recent years.
http://www.newser.com/story/220743/f...e-cursing.html
http://screencrush.com/tv-f-word-uncensored-usa-syfy/
Incidentally, looking it up, I'm amazed AMC tried to get away with a TV-14 rating for TWD at first:
https://www.eonline.com/news/371249/...lence-and-gore
But of course, even with a TV-MA rating, some people still complain:
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/li...esponds-940874
"This certainly raises question of if there should be an even more severe rating than TV-MA."
10-30-18, 01:10 AM
#43
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Thread Starter
Re: Is the G rating dead?
I will go to my grave still completely baffled as to why anyone thinks nudity, sexual innuendo and cursing are somehow more to damaging to kids than the extreme violence we see in movies today. Take TWD on TV. Somehow extremely graphic violence, beheadings and just general depictions of evil is fine, but dont show a boobie or say the F word. I would rather my kid watch hard core porn than something like TWD,
Well, TWD is rated TV-MA, so it's not intended for kids anyway. That said, it is somewhat silly that the equivalent of an R rating on TV on cable shies away from cursing and nudity. It seems down to ad revenue, since HBO and other ad-free networks don't have the same issues with nudity and cursing.
Basic cable is looking like it's relaxing its standards though. A few basic cable shows have dropped the f-bomb in recent years.
http://www.newser.com/story/220743/f...e-cursing.html
http://screencrush.com/tv-f-word-uncensored-usa-syfy/
Incidentally, looking it up, I'm amazed AMC tried to get away with a TV-14 rating for TWD at first:
https://www.eonline.com/news/371249/...lence-and-gore
But of course, even with a TV-MA rating, some people still complain:
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/li...esponds-940874
Basic cable is looking like it's relaxing its standards though. A few basic cable shows have dropped the f-bomb in recent years.
http://www.newser.com/story/220743/f...e-cursing.html
http://screencrush.com/tv-f-word-uncensored-usa-syfy/
Incidentally, looking it up, I'm amazed AMC tried to get away with a TV-14 rating for TWD at first:
https://www.eonline.com/news/371249/...lence-and-gore
But of course, even with a TV-MA rating, some people still complain:
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/li...esponds-940874
