MovieChat Forums > The Sons of Katie Elder (1965) Discussion > Why is this U-rated (UK)?

Why is this U-rated (UK)?

posted 15 years ago by deltonacity
5 replies | jump to latest

Right, I know it's not very graphic violence when compared to a lot of later movies, but people get hit, shot and killed in it and there's a lot of guns. How can this be U-rated when the likes of HOME ALONE are rated PG? How can this be considered more child-friendly than a movie specifically aimed at pre-teens?

I like this film by the way, but I just think it seems odd that it's U-rated. I've noticed this with several other old films. What's the deal with it?

[–] zap644 14 years ago

So U is "Universal", sort of like "G" in the US?

Maybe because it was made in 1965 and people weren't all freaked out by guns or death back then?

There was smoking in it too - don't some people want to make that an automated R rating these days?

[–] tenement-funster 12 years ago

"Home Alone" gets a higher rating because it's a child who's in peril. It's more likely to be disturbing to a young viewer, especially as the child is being menaced by adults.

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[–] Tsiakkos 12 years ago

Never mind the stake through the heart...

[–] 35541m 11 years ago

Why don't you email the BBFC and ask them?

[–] neverthereever 10 years ago

It's quite simple.

When this movie was rated, there was no PG category.

There was U, A and X. With an A rated movie a child (under 14 or 16 I can't remember which) had to be accompanied by an adult.

When the PG rating was introduced, movies like this were unlikely to be shown on general release in a cinema, so reviewing the ratings by the board of censors would be a fairly pointless exercise.