The precursor: movie ratings. (origins of the Motion Picture Association of America voluntary ratings system)(Brief Article)

Broadcasting & Cable, February, 1996 by Katz, Michael

The words "screw" and "hump the hostess had the film industry in a quandary when they appeared in the 1966 film "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?." Jack Valenti, president of the Motion Picture Association of America, met with Warner Bros. head Jack Warner and a roomful of lawyers to discuss what to do about the controversial words. After three hours, "screw" was tossed out and "hump the hostess" remained. The controversy led to Valenti's decision two years later to implement a voluntary ratings system.

Today, most of America is familiar with the ratings: G (general audiences), PG (parental guidance suggested), PG-13 (some material may be inappropriate for children under 13), R (restricted; under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian), and NC-17 (no...

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