'Brokeback' screening lands prison officer in hot water (Prison: Sex scenes made film inappropriate)

CNN ^ | Saturday, April 8, 2006 | Reuters

[MinorityRepublican]

BOSTON, Massachusetts (Reuters) -- A Massachusetts correctional officer is being disciplined for showing the gay cowboy movie "Brokeback Mountain" to inmates at the state's largest prison because his boss determined that the film includes content inappropriate for a prison setting.

Massachusetts Department of Correction spokeswoman Diane Wiffin said Saturday that the action was not related to the critically acclaimed film's plot involving a gay love affair.

"It was not the subject matter. It was the graphic nature of sexually explicit scenes," Wiffin said.

She said the officer, whom she declined to identify, failed to follow prison guidelines that require staff who schedule films to review them in advance for excessive violence, nudity or sex, as well as scenes involving assaults on correctional staff.

The officer showed the film Thursday afternoon, two days after its American release on DVD, to inmates at a prison in Norfolk, Massachusetts, about 25 miles southwest of Boston.

Wiffin declined to discuss his punishment.

Based on Annie Proulx's short story, "Brokeback Mountain" is about two men who meet and fall in love while wrangling sheep in Wyoming in 1963. It won raves from critics and garnered three Oscars last month, including one for director Ang Lee.

[MinorityRepublican]

A correctional officer was disciplined for showing prisoners "Brokeback Mountain," seen here.

[socal_parrot]

Wouldn't "Brokeback Mountain" be deemed an instructional film in prison?

[soycd]

They did mention staff

[sgtbono2002]

Just what prisoners need . A picture showing queers swapping spit. Makes you want to gag.

[redlenses]

I hear ya! I'd have figured An(al)g Lee would have visited some prisons to research his "film." This is like putting the cart before the horse.

[Roscoe Karns]

Brokeback Mountain 2: "For the rest of us."

(credit: http://thirdwavedave.blogspot.com/2006/04/in-theaters-soon.html)

[redlenses]

Then again...it is prison. If I was going to be punished, one of the things at the top of the list would be a viewing of "Brokeback Mountain..."

[Bob]

Subtitled "The Fur Traders"??? That's the first I've noticed that line. LOL!

[gov_bean_ counter]

Oh Buddy. Some prisoners star in Brokeback every night.

[cyborg]

Most every freeper guy would go see it too.

[operation clinton cleanup]

BBM2/The Fur Traders.. LOL! Now were talkin! The Oscar for best supporting actress would probably be a 3-way tie.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

BOSTON, Massachusetts (Reuters) -- A Massachusetts correctional officer is being disciplined for showing the gay cowboy movie "Brokeback Mountain" to inmates at the state's largest prison because his boss determined that the film includes content inappropriate for a prison setting.

They're right; the film is inappropriate. After all, no man-on-man rape took place.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Most every freeper guy would go see it too.

You got that right! );-)

[cyborg]

I know my FR men *LOL*

[Petronski]

OMG, that does not say "The Fur Traders!"

ROTFLOL

[marajade]

Its rated R most prisons have a policy against showing R rated movies.

How did he get in with it? Doesn't their Security staff search them before they report to the unit?

[bdfromlv]

The recreation/education department in most prisons schedule movies sometimes 3 times a week but they use special lists that have been pg rated for TV viewing. Swank is one of the services. Sometimes they just go to blockbuster and havent previewed the movie and thats where they get in trouble for even showing a breast.

[spetznaz]

Let me tell you something Roscoe. I know I would TRY to stop myself, but THAT is one BrokeBack Mountain movie I would watch! Sorry to say this, but the cast list would be mighty hard to resist ....actually the two women on the cover (Halle Berry and Jessica Alba) would be more than sufficient. If only it was a real movie .........sigh .........

[spetznaz]

I know I'd see it several times! And then several more. And then ....

[melt]

It's just not right to display "Brokeback Mountain" in front of hardened criminals.