Basic HTML Version
February 1972
Movíe ratings today follow subjective
classifications, rather than the specifK
guidelines as in thc oldcr code. There
are no clear boundary lines between
each rating gradation.
There is now
110 fof111tll set of reslric-
tionr 011 movie co111enl.
Almost
tlllJ·
thing
can be shown in a theatre today
- the only stipulatíon is to protect
those under
l7
from those "anrthings."
Any major restraints - or lack of them
- are now largcly governed by the
ecooomic considerations of the movie–
makers themselves.
In spite of the restriction on audiencc
admission, legitimate producers usually
submit to the current classifications. In
general, movie producers try to caro the
"GP" or "R" rating, while including .1s
many borderline "speci.tl attraction"
scenes as possiblc as a form of audience
"insurance" for their. own investments.
Such borderlinc films as these must
C'-'d!le Ptctutts.
tnc.
The
PLAlN TRUTH
takc more caution in presenting sceoes
of sex, violence, or deviant beha,•ior.
But what is "too much" explicit sex,
violence, or bad language, will always
be subject to argument and debate. "R"–
and "X"-rated ftlms have smaller au–
diences, but are still more profttable
than "G" movies because of their rela–
tively smaller budgets and higher profit
r<ltios.
A Guide for Parents
Much of the confusion in the rating
S}stem stems from the double standard
accepted generally by the bulk of the
populace and movie-makers. It is ex·
pressed in the belief that adults should
havc the freedom to sec whatever they
want, but that rounger children should
have supervision and guidance when
films containing scxuaily explicit sccnes
33
or dcviant beha,·ior are involved.
Dr. Stern points out that the ratings
do not represent a judgment of the
moral or social values of movies. What
is "undesírable" for either children or
adults is subject to vast diffcrences of
opinion and interpretation. Various so–
cial authorities claim there is no abso–
lute proof of harm for either children
or adults, while others daim nearly all
movies are harmful to nearly all people.
The ratings are a feeblc attempt by the
movie industry to daim some "moral"
responsibility, yct the ratings pcrmit
complete freedom for movie producers.
The MPAA knows al! parents will
not agree with the rating given a ftlm
"becausc parents are human and have
their own ideas about what is 'right' for