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Battle Over ‘King’s Speech’ Profanity

February 1, 2011 by Robert Marich Leave a Comment

"King's Speech" 2011
The audience rating for uplifting”The King’s Speech” hings on one burst of profanity.

The Weinstein Co. (TWC) is trying to get filmmakers behind “The King’s Speech” to accept edits to secure a PG-13 or PG rating, so the Oscar nominated period drama can play to a wider audience.

A ‘Los Angeles Times” article by Ben Fritz says TWC is asking the film’s director Tom Hooper to agree to changes clipping swear words, and a revised cut would then be submitted to the Classification And Ratings Administration (CARA) board.

“Beginning this weekend, the distributor will expand the film to about 2,500 theaters in the U.S. and Canada from 1,680, making it accessible to nearly every moviegoer,” says the “Los Angeles Times” article. “At the same time, Weinstein acknowledged, the audiences drawn by positive reviews and an all-star cast of past and present Oscar nominees such as Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush and Helena Bonham Carter have been mostly tapped out.”

The $12.3 million production has grossed $58 million domestically so far and just received 12 Oscar nominations, which is tops. The second-most-nominated “True Grit” has 10 Oscar noms, but more box office oomph with $138.5 million in domestic gross. “True Grit” is rated PG 13, despite some graphic violence including a public execution hanging.

Distributor TWC is under no obligation to release a rated film. But distributors seek CARA classification because some advertising media—such as newspapers—won’t permit ads for unrated films. “The King’s Speech” is non-violent and uplifting, but one scene has the frustrated lead character burst into swear words related to his speaking stutter.

TWC, which is led by Harvey and Bob Weinstein, have a hit with “The King’s Speech” harkening back to their glory days at Miramax. As “Marketing to Moviegoers: Second Edition” notes in detail, they pioneered the technique of getting-slightly arty films to be embraced by mainstream audiences.

“The King’s Speech” marketing presents “buddy film” built around the relationship of the king and his unlikely speech tutor (Firth and Rush), rather than a historical drama set in desperate Britain as World War II erupts.

Late Update: CARA granted the sought-after PG-13 rating in exchange for cutting some swearing and muting other bits. “The King’s Speech” won the Best Picture Oscar as top film for the year.

Related content:

  • ‘King’s Speech’ may be Recut for Lower Rating, Gets new Dd Campaign following Oscar Nominations
  • MPAA Gives Oscar Fave ‘The King’s Speech’ PG-13 Rating For Removing 2 Swear Words
  • Family-friendly edit of ‘King’s Speech’ opens April 1

Filed Under: independents, publicity Tagged With: awards, controversy, organizations, regulations

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