MovieChat Forums > Rio Lobo (1970) Discussion > G rating for a film this violent? Resym...

G rating for a film this violent? Resymbol to PG

posted 22 years ago by SLCUT2222
12 replies | jump to latest

The DVD from Paramount released on April 29th has a splendid picture and sound (remixed to Dolby 5.1), but the G rating from the MPAA is not for real I hope. Paramount resubmitted "Big Jake" (released on DVD the same day) to the Board for rerating where it was promptly resymboled appropriately to a PG-13. Why wasn't "Rio Lobo" likewise resymboled? The violence was much to extreme for a G rated show, with the running gun battles especially towards the end of the film, and the very suggestive scene of a shirtless Sherry Lansing (later Fox Pres. & Paramount CEO) I beleive warents at least a PG (perhaps even a PG-13) rating.

[–] NiceGuyTommy 20 years ago

Have to say, when I watched it I thought it was a bit violent for what it was rated...

"You're a very brave audience" William Castle, 'Homicidal'

[–] SLCUT2222 20 years ago

Very much indeed. There is a significant number of shows released between 1969 and 1984 that the rating needs to be looked at. Even later I looked at "Silverado" (1985) the other night and figured if they put that before the MPAA board now, it's a good bet it would end up having to go with an R rating. Personally I think the MPAA should expand their system to be more in line with what both Britain and Australia have.

[–] SLCUT2222 20 years ago

Just took a look at the certifications for this film. Sweden, Norway and Finland have already given it very adultish certifications in the 15-16 range, but then that's to be expected in highly secularized scandanavian countries where "Make Love!, Not War!" is the rule of values. Australia had this film rated "M" which is equivelant to a PG-13 rating. So the MPAA-G stands out like a sore thumb.

[–] NiceGuyTommy 20 years ago

Couldn't agree more! Good film though!

"You're a very brave audience" William Castle, 'Homicidal'

[–] SLCUT2222 20 years ago

Great show, but also one of the last Howard Hawkes productions, and John Wayne's last colaboration with this legendary dirctor.

[–] NiceGuyTommy 20 years ago

The pair had a great relationship - 'Rio Bravo' being my favourite but followed closey by this. And I'm watching 'El Dorado' for the first time today! Just got in out on video!

"You're a very brave audience" William Castle, 'Homicidal'

[–] SLCUT2222 20 years ago

"El Dorado" you'll also really like, I have it on DVD and it is a blast seeing John Wayne alongside another legend Robert Mitchum, and a young James Cann as his side-kick.
Quite interestingly at this time (1966), CLint Eastwood began his colaboration with Sergio Leone and began to offer a competing format for the Western Genre, and over the early to mid 1970's the two were somewhat meshed together and you could see this influence in many of "the Dukes" later Western's. This is why you'll notice that "Rio Lobo" is much more violent than "El Dorado" in it's effects and sensuality, and no influence at all of the old Hayes Production Code Office. "Rio Lobo" would be Hawkes last western, but also the only one that would be alongside Wayne's later westerns such as "Big Jake" or "The Cowboys" that would likely get a PG-13 rating by todays standards and values.

[–] NiceGuyTommy 20 years ago

I really liked 'El Dorado' - seeing Jimmy Caan so young was great. And it was really funny too! "This man's green, you're looking for a man with a limp".

It's interesting you should mention the connection with Clint Eastwood because I'm currently in my last year at university - in England - and I'm writing a paper on the differences and similarities in the characters that Eastwood and Wayne play. I'm looking at 'Dirty Harry' mainly (for Eastwood), but am referencing the Dollars Triolgy too.

Just out of interest have you ever noticed any strong comparisons of the two - I'm looking for some audience feedback to see how the pair were viewed at the time. Hindsight has a habit of adding a rose tint to the past, and I've been looking for pieces in journals etc but this hasn't been too helpful. You seem like a person of wisdom when it comes to westerns, just wondering whether you knew were I may be able to find such material.

Sorry if this is a little confusing but it threw me that you would bring up Eastwood in comparison to Wayne when I'm writing a paper on the subject. Thanks anywho!

"You're a very brave audience" William Castle, 'Homicidal'

[–] dehumanized 20 years ago

I saw this underrated classic last night, and continuously thought that! When just about every character gets shot, you see a bloody hole, and the bodycount is more than ten, if anything, maybe a hard PG or a PG-13. Good film.
Mmm, horrific, deplorable violence.

[–] Ethereal-Cloud 13 years ago

Rio Lobo probably should have received a PG-13 rating for the violence, although if I had a kid, I would let him/her watch the movie. It is a Western afterall, It should be no suprise that people get shot in Westerns.

[–] 13 years ago

[deleted]

[–] DrGlitterhouse 9 years ago

People in 1970 weren't quite the overly sensitive wusses they are today. You used to be able to see naked women in PG movies on occasion. Once upon a time, the context of the nudity probably had something to do with the rating.

The violence in Rio Lobo is rather mild. It's not like you see Sheriff Hendericks cut Amelita's face, Charlie get killed, or anyone soaked in blood or dying slowly and loudly from a gunshot wound. I don't even think any of the townspeople are killed in the fight at the end. The MPAA was only three years old at the time Rio Lobo was released. I'm more shocked by the G ratings for Dracula Has Risen from the Grave and Beneath the Planet of the Apes, but I don't see any good reason to re-rate a movie 40 years later just because you're a wimp. Grow a pair, suck it up, and realize standards have changed over time (for the worse in my opinion).

Je suis Charlie Hebdo.