(2006) The history of movies having a code followed a scandal involving the death of a young woman associated with comedian Fatty Arbuckle, who though acquitted of responsibility had his cinema career ruined, in 1921. As a public-relations ploy, the following year William H. Hays Sr became the president of the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America (MPPDA), which took responsibility for "moral and artistic standards" in films shown in theaters to the public. In the 1930s the Hays Code of censorship began taking effect, remaining in force until replaced in 1968 by a voluntary ratings system based on age of the moviegoer. This documentary is the work of Kirby Dick, produced by the BBC and Netflix.

Scenes from various films with blacked out portions of nudity and/or sexual acts (later the same scenes and others are shown without the black outs) lead into interviews with scores of people involved in filmmaking, legal representation, or academia. Director Kimberly Peirce describes how her picture Boys Don't Cry received from the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) an NC-17 rating (no children 17 or under allowed to watch under any circumstances), which unlike PG-13 or R, restricts advertising and distribution (no large chains will carry the title): cum on a woman's cheek, a scene of anal rape, and a woman's lengthy orgasm.

Since the seven largest film studios control 95% of the business, their "voluntary" adherence to the MPAA's ratings constitute a monopoly. As many of those interviewed attest, the MPAA's decisions often appear to be puzzling, even capricious. Violence (sans blood) gets very liberal treatment compared with sexual acts or obscene language.

Who are the people who serve on the shadowy MPAA? Simply asking produced no names. Dick hired a female private investigator to find out. The MPAA's building - gated, locked, and secure - is located in Encino, California. Observing cars entering and exiting the facility, the PI recorded license plates; an unguarded instance left a security booth open to a camera shot of a list of names and telephone extensions; garbage collection revealed documents.

Clips of former MPAA chairman (for over 30 years) Jack Valenti, who's been behind laws requiring high fines and prison terms for piracy, making self-serving statements - the MPAA is composed of "average American parents" who are "normal human beings" - are contrasted by interviews with the only two MPAA board members to break silence, Jay Landers and Stephen Farber, who comment on the confidentiality agreement members are required to sign. According to Landers and Farber the decisions are largely subjective since there is no clear set of standards for determining a film's rating; members receive no training.

Other interviewees expressing their thoughts include Jon Lewis ("form of censorship" to "control flow of information"), attorney Martin Garbus ("one of the last vestiges of a censorship system"), David Ansen (supposed rationale of parents protecting children is a "convenient fiction"), actress Maria Bello ("desexualized sex … because we're so afraid of it"), Allison Anders ("denial of female pleasure … all pleasure"), Bingham Ray ("I'm going to say the F-word. This is fascism …"), Mary Harron (fear that "unleashed sex will take society apart"). Using comparisons of scenes from various films, gay sex appears to receive harsher ratings than straight sex.

Michael Tucker did manage to win an appeal of an R rating for his documentary of real soldiers in combat using unscripted foul language and drugs: "You can't rate reality." If you're not willing to allow people to see this, he says, then "don't send people to war." Additionally the military has a say on film projects requiring its advice and consent, resulting in censorship of that which is disapproved and brainwashing of the public from what does get onto screens.

The current chairperson Joan Graves, a Republican with two children, spoke with Dick over the phone, though she was unwilling to divulge much useful information. Her position is that the board needs to be anonymous as protection from undue influence, even though the film industry has access to them. The names of the eight MPAA board members, in addition to the chairperson, are at last exposed, some of whom are married, others divorced, some of whom have children under the age of 20 (a supposed requirement of becoming a board member), others don't, none of whom is a gay or lesbian. Also the 14 members of the appeals board, which includes a Catholic and an Episcopalian priest (moral censors?), are revealed.

The objective is to permit artistic freedom, says the Catholic priest, but not too free.

Actually this documentary, in arguing that a public-policy board should be known and accountable, has been rated NC-17.

Click here for links to places to buy or rent this movie in video and/or DVD format, or to buy the soundtrack, posters, books, even used videos, games, electronics and lots of other stuff. I suggest you shop at least two of these places before buying anything. Prices seem to vary continuously. For more information on this film, click on this link to The Internet Movie Database. Type in the name of the movie in the search box and press enter. You will be able to find background information on the film, the actors, and links to much more information.

Copyright © 2008 Patrick Ivers. All rights reserved.
Reproduced with the permission of the copyright holder.

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