Theoretical questions inspired by Roman Polanski

[torpid]

I was reading about his success in his request to use a video link to give testimony against a company he is suing. For those of you who aren't aware, Polanski, is a self-confessed, convicted child molester, and oscar-winning director of several key films in cinematic history. He fled to France, where he has remained for some time in order to avoid extradition and imprisonment. I find it interesting that the film industry is able to forgive him for his heinous crime (he lured a 13 year old girl to his place in the guise of taking photos to further her modelling career. He got her into his hot tub, drugged her, and had sex with her). His films still receive a good distribution here in the US, with the recent The Pianist earning him an oscar.

It got me to wondering, would he still be accepted in other jobs? If he were a very talented actor, would people still go to his movies? If he were a singer, would people still buy his albums? We all know that if he were a politician, his career would be over before it started.

Why are we able to overlook this and watch/enjoy his films? Is it because of his tragic life (surviving the holocaust, wife and child killed by the manson family, etc.)?

 

[Schrodinger]

Because most people quite honestly don't have a frigging clue that he directed the movies? Or more specifically, they may see the name but know nothing of his history. And Hollywood is filled with his types anyhow...they are a forgiving lot. Hell.... Woody Allen married his own daughter, had kids with her and no one thinks twice about seeing his movies (probably because they don't know this).

 

[torpid]

Originally posted by: Schrodinger
Because most people quite honestly don't have a frigging clue that he directed the movies? Or more specifically, they may see the name but know nothing of his history. And Hollywood is filled with his types anyhow...they are a forgiving lot. Hell.... Woody Allen married his own daughter and no one thinks twice about seeing his movies.

Just to clarify, while he is still freaky for that, it was at least his foster daughter and not biological. Note that he is also a director. Would anyone still watch movies by an actor who did these things?

 

[Schrodinger]

Originally posted by: torpid

Originally posted by: Schrodinger
Because most people quite honestly don't have a frigging clue that he directed the movies? Or more specifically, they may see the name but know nothing of his history. And Hollywood is filled with his types anyhow...they are a forgiving lot. Hell.... Woody Allen married his own daughter and no one thinks twice about seeing his movies.

Just to clarify, while he is still freaky for that, it was at least his foster daughter and not biological. Note that he is also a director. Would anyone still watch movies by an actor who did these things?

Probably not. Thats because a lot of movie-goers sit and watch lame shows like Entertainment Tonight to tell them how to live and in doing so they will learn the daily tripe life of all the stars. Directors aren't nearly as covered by the media and such is why some filth like Polanski can get away with it.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Members of most of your favorite bands have probably had sex with many underage groupies, they just haven't been convicted of it.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

I suppose it has to do with the lapse in time, the fact that his pregnant wife was murdered by the Manson family, and, most importantly, the fact that Hollywood is persistently liberal, in this case to a fault.

As far as I'm concerned, Roman Polanski is a rapist scumbag, and since he fled the country rather than paying his debt to society, I'm not inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
Members of most of your favorite bands have probably had sex with many underage groupies, they just haven't been convicted of it.

True, but this story is quite a bit worse than "just" statutory rape. Polanski drugged a 13-year-old girl, then violently raped and anally sodomized her.

 

[KarenMarie]

In today's hollywood, he would be defended for his actions as 'artistic expression'. And any attempt to arrest him would be met with cries of how it is not his fault for whatever reason, and he just needs counseling.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Originally posted by: DonVito

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
Members of most of your favorite bands have probably had sex with many underage groupies, they just haven't been convicted of it.

True, but this story is quite a bit worse than "just" statutory rape. Polanski drugged a 13-year-old girl, then violently raped and anally sodomized her.

Ah, it was a little before my time ("it's too late, to fall in love with Sharon Tate") and thought his crime was the usual Don Henley, R. Kelly, Rob Lowe "consensual" sex rather than the Mike Tyson kind.

Count me in for the lynch mob and boycott. And consider my low opinion of Hollywood lowered another notch for turning a blind eye to his crime.

 

[Schrodinger]

I saw a TV show on it once. It happened at Jack Nicholson's home while he was "out of town". Nicholson actually helped to try and cover it up it claimed.