Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, May 31, 1990 TAG: 9005310281
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: NEW YORK LENGTH: Short
The rating, "A," is needed "because of the alarming increase in the application of the `X' rating to films of non-pornographic intent," the society said in a letter to Jack Valenti, president of the Motion Picture Association of America, and Richard Heffner, head of the Ratings Board.
The society said the rating would promote "more equitable access and distribution of serious, adult-themed movies."
The society comprises 42 critics from major, general interest publications.
Last week, Pedro Almodovar, producer-director of "Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!" filed suit in Manhattan against the Motion Picture Association, seeking to have the Spanish movie's rating changed from "X" to "R."
"Since `X' only means a skin flick, the minute you put it on a serious film, many theaters won't exhibit it and many newspapers and television stations will not carry the ads and you get a diminished audience," said William Kunstler, attorney for Almodovar and the movie's distributor, Miramax Film Corp.
- Associated Press
by CNB