Posted on 05/13/2004 6:42:49 PM PDT by wagglebee
WASHINGTON — Chief movie lobbyist Jack Valenti defended smoking in Hollywood films, but senators insisted the industry must do more to stop the practice.
"I don't believe that whatever the director does ought to incite the intervention of the government in any form," Valenti, head of the Motion Picture Association of America, told a Senate Commerce Committee hearing yesterday. "I've got to tell you I believe it is his right to tell the story as he chooses to tell it."
Some lawmakers were dissatisfied by his answers.
A study last year found that teens who watch movies with smoking in them are much more likely to start smoking themselves. The issue has heated up in the wake of those findings, and senators from both parties said Hollywood must take more responsibility.
They urged Valenti to consider measures to decrease smoking in movies, warn parents about it by amending the rating system or run public-service announcements about the risks.
Most said they were reluctant to pass a law forcing Hollywood to take such steps, but Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., said that would happen if the movie industry didn't act.
"I think the ball is in your court, Mr. Valenti," he said. "I guarantee you if something isn't done by the industry, there's certainly going to be efforts" by lawmakers.
Anti-smoking activists who testified, including Maryland Attorney General Joseph Curran, said they wanted films with smoking in them to be given an 'R' rating.
Lawmakers said they'd be satisfied with a measure short of that. Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., asked Valenti why movie ratings include advisory information about foul language, sexual content and violence, but can't be expanded to offer parents information about smoking in films.
Valenti cited the First Amendment and the demands of artistic freedom in opposing non-voluntary limits on smoking in movies. He also said he opposed any change to the ratings system he devised in 1968.
The information given in ratings corresponds to what the Motion Picture Association's surveys have found that parents are concerned about. If the MPAA added smoking, Valenti said, environmentalists, animal activists and other groups would want their concerns addressed in ratings, too.
Lawmakers won't get many more chances to grill the 82-year-old MPA chief, who is preparing to retire after 38 years in the job.
The old Hollywood Production Code of 1930 will be back, in slightly amended form. Sex and violence, no problem, but smoking, "homophobia", "hate speech", "racism", etc. will be banned from the screen.
It is not the responsiblity of the movie industry to set the moral standard for the country. Until people demand better, they will keep getting the same crap.
There's an interesting SF novel by Connie Willis, "Remake," in which Hollywood is no longer making any more live movies. Instead, they just fiddle with old films, changing them around and putting in animations of old movie stars.
The hero's job is to go through all the old movies and remove all the cigarettes and alcohol, so as to make them politically correct. Edit the cigarette out of the star's fingers, and so forth.
He has a hell of a time with "Casablanca," especially when his boss tells him it needs a happy ending.
Well, you know, all those images of second-hand smoke could, um, cause eye damage.
I HATE SMOKING.
However.
This is just plain stupid.
John Wayne is turning over in his grave about now...
So, if a movie is supposed to be in a NYC restaurant, does the actor smoke?
Its not even about smoking, its about censorship. What's next nobody can be married because gays are deprived the right.
Must get that book,sounds hilarious.
Unfortunately his foot is being mistaken for another apendage and its not attracting any attention.
FYI he had his lung removed at MassGeneral Hospital.
What are they gonna do when some leftist wants to make a movie about FDR and how the New Deal saved America? Have him in a wheelchair with a lollypop in his mouth?
I thought the ending of Casablanca WAS a happy ending.
Cool... so if he never smoked he would never die?
Groovy.
Jack Valenti is the man who has presided over the long and ugly descent into the present state of affairs with regard to Hollywood movies.
Last week's Star magazine cover had Briteny Spears shown in a piggy back position with her new boyfriend. Both were holding cigarettes. So much for Mr. Valenti's outrage.
I think movies should reflect real life: Some people should be smoking and only 3% should be using Apple computers.
That's the problem. Do you kill off Claude Raines so Bogart can marry his wife? Probably if Hollywood did a remake they'd do something of the sort.
I'll second that.
It's good, all right. But "Bellwether" is even better. In fact I'd recommend all Connie Willis's novels.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.