by Andrew Seffrood

Do you recognize the man whose head appears above the flowers in this photograph?  In 1963, Jack Valenti was an aide to President Kennedy.  Had he achieved nothing else in his life, he would be noteworthy for his mere presence in this picture. 

Jack Valenti went on to become president of the Motion Picture Association of America.  Valenti had already flown 51 combat missions during World War 2, and his status as American hero was already assured.  However, it was his introduction of the voluntary rating system (G, PG, etc.) that has been his greatest contribution to freedom.

On November 1, 1968, Valenti scrapped the restrictive production code that studios had imposed upon themselves, and in its place instituted the rating system still in use today.  The effects were almost immediate; 1969's Best Picture Oscar was awarded to the X-rated 'Midnight Cowboy.'  Today that film seems absent of questionable content, but under the old production code and prior to the voluntary rating system, films such as 'Cowboy' never would have been produced. 

In addition to freeing the film industry to produce films containing content never previously addressed, the ratings system promotes freedom by preventing government interference.  Since the movie industry regulates itself, the government sees no need to decide which films it does or doesn't want Americans to see. 

In addition to successfully deflecting film censorship and being self-imposed, the ratings system is commendable for other reasons.  The ratings system trusts Americans with their own judgment.  Ratings and explanations for the ratings enable filmgoers to decide for themselves (and their children) which films are appropriate.  Furthermore, no punishment exists, nor should it, for violators of the code.  No movie theatre owner, no ticket seller, and no underage child is threatened by legal authority for potential infractions of the code.  Voluntary agreement promotes standards and cooperation, which usually happens in the absence of a punishing authority. 

Compare Jack Valenti's actions in 1968 to that of France during the same year.  As depicted in Bernardo Bertolucci's recently released film 'The Dreamers,' France's National Film Museum had been showing a steady stream of films that inspired New Wave directors Goddard and Truffaut.  Deciding for himself, and everyone else, that the film programming needed to change, the Minister of Culture fired the museum's film programmer.  Protests ensued, police responded, and the resulting riots contributed to general discontentment with the government of Charles DeGaulle.  Surely this is not what the Minister of Culture had intended.

Government involvement seldom produces unintended consequences.  Individuals like Jack Valenti know this.  His foresight allowed films of any nature to be produced or viewed.  After serving as president of the MPAA for 38 years, Valenti will retire this year.   Thank him the next time you choose to see a controversial film.  'The Dreamers,' incidentally, is rated NC-17.