John Simkin Posted September 21, 2007 Share Posted September 21, 2007 I watched This Film Is Not Yet Rated (2006) last night. It is about how Jack Valenti controlled the content of American movies for over 40 years. It is clear that LBJ was mainly responsible for getting Valenti appointed as head of the MPAA. When one considers that movies are the most powerful form of communication, it made sense for LBJ to arrange for Valenti to hold this position. Remember, it was Valenti who led the campaign against Nigel Turner's The Guilty Men. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0493459/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
William Kelly Posted September 21, 2007 Share Posted September 21, 2007 I watched This Film Is Not Yet Rated (2006) last night. It is about how Jack Valenti controlled the content of American movies for over 40 years. It is clear that LBJ was mainly responsible for getting Valenti appointed as head of the MPAA. When one considers that movies are the most powerful form of communication, it made sense for LBJ to arrange for Valenti to hold this position. Remember, it was Valenti who led the campaign against Nigel Turner's The Guilty Men. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0493459/ Valenti was certainly one of LBJ's top PR guys, but I don't see how he "controlled the content of American movies for over 40 years." Certainly the MPAA job was a reward for his loyal service and key role in the coup d'grace, but I saw Valente testify before the Congressional Hearing considering the JFK Act and it didn't seem like he had too much control over Ollie Stone and the making of "JFK." BK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Gratz Posted September 21, 2007 Share Posted September 21, 2007 Well, Bill, John obviously overstated things a bit. If Valenti had really controlled the movie industry do you think he would have allowed Stobe to make "JFK"? Somehow I doubt it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Stapleton Posted September 21, 2007 Share Posted September 21, 2007 He must have been influential. He was boss of the MPAA for forty odd years. Maybe he didn't oversee every movie released, but must have exercised considerable control, imo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Simkin Posted September 21, 2007 Author Share Posted September 21, 2007 He must have been influential. He was boss of the MPAA for forty odd years. Maybe he didn't oversee every movie released, but must have exercised considerable control, imo. I urge you to see the documentary. A large number of directors and producers give concrete examples of how Valenti worked. This includes developing a mood to accept an aggressive foreign policy via his attitude towards war films and other violent movies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Ecker Posted September 21, 2007 Share Posted September 21, 2007 Maybe it wasn't Valenti, but I'd sure like to know who convinced Stone that making a movie about the attempted coup against FDR (I believe that Stone had already paid for the book rights) was a bad idea. Given the subject and Stone's expertise, I would think that the coup plot had "hit" written all over it. But I guess something like "Alexander" was a more meaningful project. (I believe that it bombed.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christopher Hall Posted September 21, 2007 Share Posted September 21, 2007 Thanks for the link, John. I will watch the film over the weekend. Who is the news media luminary who worked under LBJ? Influencing or controlling people who produce the movies we see and people who buy ink by the barrel are certainly good ways to impact public opinion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Ecker Posted September 21, 2007 Share Posted September 21, 2007 Who is the news media luminary who worked under LBJ? Bill Moyers, who helped Valenti crucify the History Channel over "The Guilty Men." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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