I know that the Legion would maintain a list of movies that was considered immoral as a guide to Catholics. Did this have the official sanction of the Church? If so could someone point me to the relevant document/website. Did the Legion ever include books on it's list?
Both of the lists below are apparently incomplete:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_films_condemned_by_the_Legion_of_Decency
https://ipfs.io/ipfs/QmXoypizjW3WknFiJnKLwHCnL72vedxjQkDDP1mXWo6uco/wiki/List_of_films_condemned_by_the_Legion_of_Decency.html
How official is official? It was an arm of the USCCB. Its diocesan directors were appointed by the Ordinaries. In fact, 'Catholic ratings' are still given by Catholic News Service which is also an arm of the USCCB.
I need to go through my dvd's from the covered era and make sure I don't have any.
thanks
Here is a scan of a book that they published, listing all their classifications for all (US) movies from 1936-1959.
https://archive.org/details/motionpicturescl00nati
Is it ever morally licit for a women/child to be an actor? No matter how decent their roles are? I know what we moderns would say to that but I would guess that pre-v2 bishops would in some way tend to adopt the church fathers views on morality.
Quote from: Críostóir on June 12, 2018, 11:28:24 AM
Both of the lists below are apparently incomplete:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_films_condemned_by_the_Legion_of_Decency
I'm surprised that the Exorcist is on there.
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly? Probably because the hero wasn't exactly a hero
Quote from: drummerboy on June 13, 2018, 07:26:17 AM
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly? Probably because the hero wasn't exactly a hero
Actually, it looks like Clint Eastwood's movies were almost universally condemned.
High Plains Drifter and
Outlaw Josie Wales are also on the list.
Surprised The Bad Seed wasn't condemned in '56.
[yt]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ooy8HTb8izw[/yt]
Just did a google search and cannot find that it was. Odd.
Quote from: red solo cup on June 12, 2018, 07:30:49 AM
I know that the Legion would maintain a list of movies that was considered immoral as a guide to Catholics. Did this have the official sanction of the Church? If so could someone point me to the relevant document/website. Did the Legion ever include books on it's list?
Sorry to derail a bit, but it's great to see someone brought up about the Legion of Decency. For a while I've heard of them but thought they were long defunct. What's the current status quo now? Does the Legion still exists?
No. Catholic News Service, an arm of the USCCB (as was the Legion) still gives movies 'Catholic ratings' as I pointed out, but there is no Legion of Decency, no pledge to sign, etc.
Quote from: ServusMariae on June 13, 2018, 09:32:26 AM
Quote from: red solo cup on June 12, 2018, 07:30:49 AM
I know that the Legion would maintain a list of movies that was considered immoral as a guide to Catholics. Did this have the official sanction of the Church? If so could someone point me to the relevant document/website. Did the Legion ever include books on it's list?
Sorry to derail a bit, but it's great to see someone brought up about the Legion of Decency. For a while I've heard of them but thought they were long defunct. What's the current status quo now? Does the Legion still exists?
I believe that the Legion started out as an ecumenical endeavor, but because Catholics where the largest group it eventually became a strictly Catholic thing. The Legion eventually had its name changed to the National Catholic Office of Motion Pictures in the 60's, in the 80's they no longer published any reviews. Eventually it was kinda reborn again by being renamed to the USCCB's Office for Film and Broadcast, and then that was shut down in the 2000's.
Quote from: jovan66102 on June 13, 2018, 10:44:17 AM
No. Catholic News Service, an arm of the USCCB (as was the Legion) still gives movies 'Catholic ratings' as I pointed out, but there is no Legion of Decency, no pledge to sign, etc.
And the reviewer for the CNS gave a somewhat favorable(?!!) rating to Brokeback Mountain, so we can see what a good source that is for ratings.
::)
Quote from: Gardener on June 13, 2018, 08:43:11 AM
Surprised The Bad Seed wasn't condemned in '56.
[yt]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ooy8HTb8izw[/yt]
Just did a google search and cannot find that it was. Odd.
This was a seriously messed up movie.
Quote from: red solo cup on June 13, 2018, 02:05:17 PM
This was a seriously messed up movie.
In the book the girl gets away with it and her mother dies. The movie, to meet morality standards, had to change the ending so that evil was punished.
Quote from: Jayne on June 13, 2018, 04:48:49 PM
Quote from: red solo cup on June 13, 2018, 02:05:17 PM
This was a seriously messed up movie.
In the book the girl gets away with it and her mother dies. The movie, to meet morality standards, had to change the ending so that evil was punished.
The same thing happens with the
Alfred Hitchcock Presents. Hitchcock, who loved to push the boundries with the censors, often had the evil doer get away with their deed; however, in the dialogue with which he closed the show, he always narrated a different ending in which the evildoer's deeds caught up with them
Quote from: drummerboy on June 13, 2018, 11:11:47 PM
Quote from: Jayne on June 13, 2018, 04:48:49 PM
Quote from: red solo cup on June 13, 2018, 02:05:17 PM
This was a seriously messed up movie.
In the book the girl gets away with it and her mother dies. The movie, to meet morality standards, had to change the ending so that evil was punished.
The same thing happens with the Alfred Hitchcock Presents. Hitchcock, who loved to push the boundries with the censors, often had the evil doer get away with their deed; however, in the dialogue with which he closed the show, he always narrated a different ending in which the evildoer's deeds caught up with them
A more realistic thing, though. Evil appears to win in this life, but it will and shall be punished eventually.
Quote from: Gardener on June 14, 2018, 05:53:29 AM
Quote from: drummerboy on June 13, 2018, 11:11:47 PM
Quote from: Jayne on June 13, 2018, 04:48:49 PM
Quote from: red solo cup on June 13, 2018, 02:05:17 PM
This was a seriously messed up movie.
In the book the girl gets away with it and her mother dies. The movie, to meet morality standards, had to change the ending so that evil was punished.
The same thing happens with the Alfred Hitchcock Presents. Hitchcock, who loved to push the boundries with the censors, often had the evil doer get away with their deed; however, in the dialogue with which he closed the show, he always narrated a different ending in which the evildoer's deeds caught up with them
A more realistic thing, though. Evil appears to win in this life, but it will and shall be punished eventually.
True. I've heard he was Catholic, you can tell that if influences his work, besides the fact that his wife helped him write, which would explain the large amount of episodes dealing with marriage
He was, indeed. He attended a Jesuit grammar school, and a Jesuit heard his last Confession and gave him viaticum.
Quote from: Lynne on June 13, 2018, 05:25:39 AM
Quote from: Críostóir on June 12, 2018, 11:28:24 AM
Both of the lists below are apparently incomplete:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_films_condemned_by_the_Legion_of_Decency
I'm surprised that the Exorcist is on there.
Why? I thought it was a "bad" movie, though I am probably one of the few that never saw it, lol. I had people tell me, "Don't watch it! Don't watch it!" Was it not bad?
Quote from: Carleendiane on June 20, 2018, 09:13:20 PM
Quote from: Lynne on June 13, 2018, 05:25:39 AM
Quote from: Críostóir on June 12, 2018, 11:28:24 AM
Both of the lists below are apparently incomplete:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_films_condemned_by_the_Legion_of_Decency
I'm surprised that the Exorcist is on there.
Why? I thought it was a "bad" movie, though I am probably one of the few that never saw it, lol. I had people tell me, "Don't watch it! Don't watch it!" Was it not bad?
I've never seen it because I was told a girl does terrible things to a crucifix...
The one that's condemned for no apparent reason (at least to me) is Ice Castles. What could possibly be wrong with that one? I mean, it's cheesy, sure, but immoral? Nah...
Quote from: Carleendiane on June 20, 2018, 09:13:20 PM
Quote from: Lynne on June 13, 2018, 05:25:39 AM
Quote from: Críostóir on June 12, 2018, 11:28:24 AM
Both of the lists below are apparently incomplete:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_films_condemned_by_the_Legion_of_Decency
I'm surprised that the Exorcist is on there.
Why? I thought it was a "bad" movie, though I am probably one of the few that never saw it, lol. I had people tell me, "Don't watch it! Don't watch it!" Was it not bad?
I haven't seen it either because I've heard it's really scary (I don't do scary movies). However, it's based on an actual exorcism, although the real one involved a boy who became possessed when he used a Ouija board with his aunt. They were Lutherans, I believe, but eventually had to go a Catholic priest for the exorcism.
I think the USCCB revised the rating on The Exorcist to "adults with reservations".