Tomorrow will mark the 35th Anniversary of the U.S. theatrical release of LADY IN WHITE (April 22nd, 1988). I thought to share a unique piece of history regarding the film and its original "R" rating.
The theatrical distributor in the U.S. had feared the possibility of the MPAA (the motion picture ratings board) giving the film an "R" rating. I was less concerned but their fears proved to be correct.
So, I was asked to make a "Hail Mary" pass and fly to New York, from Los Angeles, to try and convince the ratings board to change their rating to a "PG-13". At the time, only a handful of films had succeeded in accomplishing this goal, especially without making a single cut or alteration.
The film was screened a second time for the MPAA for all of the original board members who had given the film its original "R" rating and Richard Heffner, the President of the ratings board. After my appeal to the board members, I was asked to leave the screening room and wait for the final decision while the "powers that be" decided.
Within a few moments, Heffner and the others exited the screening room and approached me. Heffner, beaming, shook my hand and said "Kid, you're one hell of an orator! You got it!" The funny thing was, the lobby of the screening room was filled with many MPAA members, including the board, who had seen the film and had come down from their offices to cheer me on. They all loved "Lady" and wanted as many of the ticket buying public to see the film as possible. The new "PG-13" rating would not provide a handicap in accomplishing that goal as the "R" rating might have. They all greeted the news with a hearty applause.
Attached to this post is the original "R" rating certificate with my handwritten "fat chance!" (scribbled in high hopes for a victory) as well as my presentation to the MPAA.
AN ELEPHANT NEVER FORGETS: "GIMME AN X! GIMME AN R! GIMME A BREAK!"
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