University of Virginia Library

Rating System

In an attempt to "warn" the
public of what to expect in certain
movies, the Motion Picture Association
of America and the National
Association of Motion Picture
Association of America and the
National Association of Theater
Owners established a national rating
system. This system divides films
into the categories of "G". (for
general audiences), "GP" (for general
audiences with parental approval
advised), "R" (minors must
be accompanied by a parent or
guardian), and "X" (for adults
only).

Mr. Bendheim explained that
the difference between an "X"
movie and an "R" would be the
story topic or an increase in nudity
or violence. Language it seems,
plays a very small part in the rating
system.

For example, in "Marooned," a
film starring Gregory Peck, David
Janssen, and Richard Crenna, rated
"G," words like "bastard" and
"God damn" were used over and
over, but because there was no
nudity or violence the film kept a
"G" rating which probably surprised
much of the audience.

Mr. Bendheim said, "I think the
'Reivers' had 'son of a bitch' in it.
But after all, you can hear it around
the house." He concluded that the
presence of language like this was
an attempt to introduce an element
of reality in the movie industry.