NC-17 rating.

During some of the extras on the bonus disc it is said that GF Part III was originally given an NC-17 rating by the MPAA. This was due to the large blood spurt from Don Luccessi's neck which was originally put in but then edited out in order to avoid the NC-17 rating. My question is this - what is this NC-17 rating and why is it so dreadfull for a movie to get it? I've read it described as both "the kiss of death" and as a "useless" rating. I've also read that when a film was given this rating (Requiem for a dream) the theaters were "encouraged" to only allow adults in. It would appear that movies with this rating are not banned. Is it that only people over 17 can see the film? Why would that be the kiss of death? Sorry if the answer to this is obvious to any American people but i'm from the UK and we only have the following ratings:
U = Universal
PG = Parental Guidance
12
15 (Godfather Part III)
18 (Godfather Parts I & II).

I've been visiting this board (and the old one) using my firm's PC since february and it looks like i'm finally a made guy!

That's a very good question and I would like to know it too. I'm German.

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"I gonna make him an offer he won't refuse"

Corleone, Vito

An NC-17 rating prevents kids younger than 17 from being admitted to the theater. Being that teenagers make up a large portion of the American theater-going public, that rating translates to lower revenues, something the studios try very hard to avoid.

I remember you from the old days (and the old board). Congratulations on being made!

less adults would go to the movie too, if they could not drag their kids with them to that picture.

Are you telling me kids don't even try and get in for 18's. We used to brag at school because we got into adult (Clean) films at about 14/15. Ok we were stupid and young. But I thought that was reletive around everywhere. Same with beer and pubs etc.

Well, yeah kids do sneak into movies when they are a rated R which is Restricted Viewing. Now for an NC-17, I don't even think most theatres would carry a movie with that rating. It's notorious for representing a lot of strong violence and sexual content that people won't see it for fear it will be too extreme for them. Then again I could be wrong.

Yeah, NC-17 movies do terribly at the box office. Networks won't buy commercials, and they carry a negative stigma that they're pornographic, even if the rating is due to violence instead of nudity. And they're harder to sneak into because there are people checking IDs all over the place.

Here's the rating system, as copied from the Motion Picture Association's site:


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G GENERAL AUDIENCES All ages admitted.


PG PARENTAL GUIDANCE SUGGESTED Some material may not be suitable for children.


PG-13 PARENTS STRONGLY CAUTIONED Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.


R RESTRICTED Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

NC-17 NO ONE 17 AND UNDER ADMITTED

[ November 09, 2001: Message edited by: SC ]

That all sounds a bit stupid with the age restrictions. Even stupider when your young and not allowed to even enter with an adult. Like Don Andolini said earlier these are the only ones we have.....

U = Universal
PG = Parental Guidance
12
15 (Godfather Part III)
18 (Godfather Parts I & II).



You have to be kidding me. You get ID'd at a cinema? Thats mad. We have adult prices and under 18 prices over here. Even if your not 18 they'll let you in just because you'll be paying adult prices. Thats aslong as your not ridiculously underage. I'm talking at least 15 here to get in.

Well they don't ID everwhere. I don't think the ratings are too bad. NC-17 movies aren't that common, but its pretty general for everyone as long as a parent is there if you're under age (whether underage means 13 or 17).

I remember when I was a kid, and my parents never allowed me to watch rated R movies, so I never go to see the Godfather until later on in life. I can understand that though, my Dad never wanted me to hear swear words, or see people get killed. I'd probably be the same with my kids, until they were in their teens, or something.

hehe. Maybe this is a result of all those Puritans you had over there coming over here to the colonies.

[ November 09, 2001: Message edited by: con ]

this is what happened...

in the US there used to only be X-ratings (or XXX, but i don't know what the difference was)for films that were considered to be beyond what anyone under 17 should see. rarely was anything other than pornography released with an X rating.
the industry decided that there needed to be a rating for films that were beyond R,especailly in violence, but not with the stigma of an X rating, so they came up with the NC-17.

so what happened?? the big theatre chains and advertising outlets ruined the whole plan by not showing, or adveritising, films rated NC-17. so we ended up in EXACTLY the same place that we were before, no rating that declares a film acceptable to the general adult public, but not for kids. plenty of films, i'm sure would have been released as NC-17 if the theatres would have shown them, but they were cut down to get an R rating. the one that comes to mind first to me is Casino. Scorcese had to cut down the scene with the vice to get an R rating.

so what we have is the MPAA and the theatre owners telling the genius how to make films....isn't that great...???

X hasn't always mean failure. Midnight Cowboy went on to be the only X rated Best Picture winner. It was lowered to R along with A Clockwork Orange

While we're on the subject of ratings, here's an anecdote I've always carried around with me. Tehe PG-13 rating was the result of "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom", mainly due to the heart scene. Probably too intense for 8 yr olds so they had to provide a more guidance to parents.

NC-17 came about because of "Henry and June", mainly because of an erotic lesbian scene. I would say that 95% of the movie was typical R drama, but everyone would be focusing on the one or two erotic scenes that it would distract from the whole (it really was a fairly boring, uninteresting movie). So a NC-17 alleviated that problem by just targetting it to the art/indy crowd, where quite a few NC-17 movies can do well.

While we're on ratings etc, i'd just like to point out that we're no longer allowed to watch 18 rated films at college. This is because of the fact that when we watch films, its not actually in film studies, but enrichment, so doesn't count as 'education'...

We've already watched loads of 18's such as American Beauty and Fight Club. Oh well, bang goes GF1 and 2 + Taxi Driver and Raging Bull...

noledge

I've just discovered that movies can be released "UNRATED" in the US. How does this work? Is it just up to each individual theatre to make a decision?

Don andolini, it is good to hear from you again...i was looking on the forum for some posts, and i saw your name..and i thougt that's my old pall from the old forum/board...(by the way, i miss it)..for old times sake.
Comme ie sta Don andolini? we finally meet again, i wanna congratulate you with your membership, but we both know, you where already a member...

Good to see you're back DF. I've sent you a private message so as not to clog up the board.