Great movie, but I was wondering... why did they rate it R? There was no violence, no language, no sexuality/nudity... I understand it was 1968, but besides it being targeted for adults, I cannot see why they would not give this a PG rating...
shareno clue... maybe the ambigous chess scene in wich faye dunaway touches the chess pieces? the kiss afterwards? but not enough for being rated r in my opinion.
shareThe way Faye stroked that bishop as if it was Steve's cock was very sexy and suggestive.
shareThe chess scene, the kiss afterwards?? But consider this; there were a lot of "M" rated films in the 1960's that were a lot more graphic and startling than this. We were seeing nudity in mainstream films since 1966-67. This was very tame for its time also. It would be interesting to hear if the head of the MPAA at the time ol Jack thoughts on this.
shareWell, this is my take on it: First, there was no such thing as the PG rating in 1968. Back then, the ratings were: G, M, R, and X. Second, this movie DID contain some bad language--in fact, from the IMDB Trivia section on this movie: "This was the first mainstream Hollywood film to use the expletive *beep* in its script." Third: the standards of "decency" (for lack of a better term) were probably considerably higher back then than they are now. I'd say this movie was probably quite typical of what was considered R-rated content in its day. I think a LOT of the R-rated content of that time would probably seem tame in comparison to stuff that is rated R nowadays.
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This is THE worst ratings classification EVER!! Yes, "R" rated Hollywood films of the late 1960's are tame by today's standards, but not THIS tame!! There was not one "R" rated profanity, no nudity, no violence, nothing objectionable of it's subject matter, no drug content,and no on screen sex. One character said "orgy"!, that is about as strong as it gets! I used to wonder if the "R" rating was a misprint, but that would be common knoledge by now if it was.
shareI remember being thrilled because my brother and I and some other not quite 18 year olds got into this movie. That was probably more exciting than what followed on the screen. No nudity was our big disapointment.Woodstock was more naughty. Remember Midnight Cowboy had an x rating at this point in time.
shareConsider the release date. The bad guy wins, gets to take the money and run, and is free. Back then no one was supposed to profit from crime. Look at Cool Hand Luke from about the same period.
OMG!! I love Cool Hand Luke. But did anyone detect a slight homo-erotic relationship between luke and that fat guy he was best friends with? The one that fed him the eggs? Anyway, Paul Newman was a hotty.
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The movie was R-rated for one scene and one scene only - the famous, sizzler of a chess game. Yes, they just kissed (shot in such a way as to resemble a psychadelic merry-go-round of sorts) but the 'foreplay' before that kiss was highly suggestive and ultra-erotic. Remember when Faye Dunaway stroked the head of one of her bishops. Of all the chess pieces why do you think Dunaway (or Norman Jewison) chose the bishop. It is more than phallic - the head supposedly designed to resemble a bishop's cap looks more like the glans of a penis, and the way Dunaway strokes it leaves nothing to the imagination. That was very provocative for 1968.
shareThis is kind of a scattershot at all the threads, not just this one, so I won't have to do a lot of jumping around.
It could have been rated R because of the scene where Crown calls his girlfriend and makes a dinner date. After she hangs up she gets out of the bed and
she's shown [topless] from the back walking towards another room. You can't see her tits but
the skimpy panties she's wearing are stuck way up in the crack of her ass.I know we see this every day on TV nowadays but in 1968 this was ultra sexy.
A R rating wouldn't have bothered the makers in 1968. As a matter of fact it was a selling point for many movies.Movies were pretty much aimed at the 18 and over crowd and a R rating would have meant it was "edgy".Unlike today, these were the days before teenyboppers had a lot of disposable income so they were aiming at a more mature audience.And they were teasing us a lot to get us in the theater [some things never change].
Yeah, I remember that scene - those underwear were really shoved up that hot model's ass. Showed off a great late 60's pooper. And yes, I wish they showed those tits, but a great back on that woman!
shareThe movie was R-rated for one scene and one scene only - the famous, sizzler of a chess game. Yes, they just kissed (shot in such a way as to resemble a psychadelic merry-go-round of sorts) but the 'foreplay' before that kiss was highly suggestive and ultra-erotic. Remember when Faye Dunaway stroked the head of one of her bishops. Of all the chess pieces why do you think Dunaway (or Norman Jewison) chose the bishop. It is more than phallic - the head supposedly designed to resemble a bishop's cap looks more like the glans of a penis, and the way Dunaway strokes it leaves nothing to the imagination. That was very provocative for 1968.
The opened mouth kiss was a first. Also, I've seen a version of this film where the girl who climbs out of bed isn't wearing panties. Not sure what happen to that version.
Plenty for an R in 1968.
"What rotten sins I've got working for me. I suppose it's the wages." -Bedazzled (1967)
The Memphian, that's bulls**t. There's no version out there where the girl gets out of the bed and she's not wearing panties. I've seen every version there is- on cable, on public TV, rented from the videostore and on DVD, and there's no version where we see that actresses a*s or any other charms.
shareActually, you're right, but it was an honest mistake. I've since realized that I was thinking of a parody of that scene, from a different film, which I still can't remember the name of, but came out in the 80's. If I can ever remember the name of that film, or dig it up on Youtube, I'll post it.
"What rotten sins I've got working for me. I suppose it's the wages." -Bedazzled (1967)
Thanks, TheMemphian, I look forward to hearing the title of the film you were thinking of. Didn't mean to come down so hard on you ( :
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No way. The drug trip alone would make it a guaranteed R. Also, check out The Wild Bunch if you want to see a 60s movie that will never be PG-13 in a million years (and was even considered too strong for R in the mid-nineties).
shareNo plausible justification for it when they gave Dark of the Sun (1968) a PG rating, or The Getaway (1972) a PG, too. It's astounding and it just makes no freaking sense.
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