Jack Valenti of MPAA fame is dead

[DainBramaged]

Hope this isn't a repost. Searched for "jack" "valenti" and "mpaa."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6598175.stm

Jack Valenti, Hollywood's film industry lobbyist who developed the modern US movie ratings system, has died aged 85.

He died of complications resulting from his stroke in March at his Washington home, said Seth Oster of the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA).

Valenti had led the MPAA for 38 years, introducing the G, PG, R and X film ratings system. He retired in 2004.

Earlier in his career, Valenti had been an aide to Presidents John F Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson.

He was in the motorcade when President Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas in 1963.

As the man who represented the Hollywood industry in Washington, Valenti was a fierce opponent of film piracy, crusading for copyright enforcement.

He also abolished the industry's restrictive Hays code, which prohibited explicit violence and sex on the screen.

The film ratings system that Valenti laid out in the 1960s generally has remained intact, although some changes have been added over the decades.

'Giant voice of reason'

Dan Glickman, Valenti's successor at the MPAA, said he embodied the "theatricality" of the industry.

"Jack was a showman, a gentleman, an orator, and a passionate champion of this country, its movies, and the enduring freedoms that made both so important to this world," Mr Glickman said in a statement.

Hollywood directors and actors paid tribute to Valenti, with Stephen Spielberg calling him "a giant voice of reason" and "the greatest ambassador Hollywood has ever known".

Kirk Douglas said that Valenti had been "a loyal and caring friend to many people".

Valenti once said that the 1966 film A Man For All Seasons was his favourite movie.

"I'm the luckiest guy in the world, because I spent my entire public working career in two of life's classic fascinations, politics and Hollywood," he said.

"You can't beat that."

 

[LordMaul]

*raises eyebrow*

Now, is this the part where we pretend to be respectful at the loss of human life, or...? I don't know what to do.

 

[Mo0o]

Anyone see "This Film is Not Yet Rated" ? Pretty interesting film. THe part where they explain the ratings w/ the cartoon is hilarious

 

[Heisenberg]

Is it wrong that the first thing that popped into my head was "Ding dong the witch is dead, the witch is dead..."?

 

[NFS4]

After watching "This Film is Not Yet Rated," I can honestly say that this dude was a real douche. Sucks that he's dead though.

 

[DainBramaged]

Originally posted by: Heisenberg
Is it wrong that the first thing that popped into my head was "Ding dong the witch is dead, the witch is dead..."?

lol...I think you are forgiven

 

[eplebnista]

 

[chuckywang]

Would have been relevant to me if i was younger than 17 years old.

 

[toolboxolio]

He is against "piracy" but helped "butt pirate" scenes make it in movies.....

Can you say " FLIP FLOP "

 

[Raduque]

Originally posted by: Heisenberg
Is it wrong that the first thing that popped into my head was "Ding dong the witch is dead, the witch is dead..."?

No more wrong then my first thought - "One down......"

 

[sonambulo]

Originally posted by: Heisenberg
Is it wrong that the first thing that popped into my head was "Ding dong the witch is dead, the witch is dead..."?

Heyyy I'm hoping his body gets made into dog food

 

[AnitaPeterson]

The man who said video cassette recorders are a catastrophe, that this technology wll destroy the movie industry?
The man who had the gall to criticize Canada for providing cheaper filming locations than the U.S.?
The man responsible for the rating system?
The guy who made a crucial push in the establishment of DVD regions, and inane copy protection schemes?
The lobbyist for DMCA?

If there's a hell, he's definitely there now... Satan must've welcomed him like a beloved son... As a film buff I can only think of an appropriate title: "I Spit on Your Grave"

 

[Eli]

:laugh:

I knew the responses would be something like they are.

Sounds like he lived a long and fulfilling life though. And he's been retired for 2-3 years, so hopefully the damage he did is already being repaired.

 

[Cattlegod]

Originally posted by: Raduque

Originally posted by: Heisenberg
Is it wrong that the first thing that popped into my head was "Ding dong the witch is dead, the witch is dead..."?

No more wrong then my first thought - "One down......"