MovieChat Forums > White Water Summer (1987) Discussion > PG rating?

PG rating?

posted 17 years ago by betogoode
5 replies | jump to latest

I just came across this movie while flipping through the channels and
I hadn't seen it in a while so I gave it another look. I noticed that after Sean Astin manages to swing the rope and get over to the other side and then catches up to the others, he drops an f-bomb in Kevin Bacon's direction. I believe the quote is *beep* you Vic, I coulda died!" I immediately pulled up the info throught the cable box to see the rating and it said PG/TV-PG. I understand that there was no PG-13 at the time, but how could they get away with that in a supposedly PG movie? Any answer (not opinion) would be greatly appreciated.

Your world view makes my a$$ itch

[–] joverland 17 years ago

I use to wonder that too. I noticed the same thing happened in the movie "Big" with Tom Hanks, which came out in 1988 (the year after this movie came out) and was also rated PG. Maybe they were just less strict with rating movies back then.

-----

Sometimes in comedy you have to generalize ~ George Carlin

[–] RobS36 17 years ago

Back in the 80's things were a lot more different than what they are now. I mean I remember seeing a few PG movies before they had PG-13 and it would show women topless.

I would have to say right in 1984 was when they created PG-13 as a rating and that was when you might see a quick glance of nudity but not much though like you would a R rated movie.

They make less R rated movies that show body exposure compared to 10 or 15 years ago.

Dedicated to USA UP ALL NIGHT and the fans of the show! http://usa-uan.deefilmroll.com/

[–] baconbit 13 years ago

There WAS PG-13 at the time, and one instance of that word does not automatically bring you to PG-13. It is also HOW it is used that determines it. Using it in anger at someone is for some reason deemed to be more aceptable than using it as a verb to describe something two people might do to one another.

There is another midconception that even PG-13 movies are only allowed one F-bomb. This is also not true and can be seen in The American President where it is used at least three times (Once by Michael J. Fox, once by Annette Bening, and once by Michael Douglas...possibly others.)

[–] JohnQuincyPublic 13 years ago

I understand that there was no PG-13 at the time, but how could they get away with that in a supposedly PG movie?

I'd assumed the answer was that it came before PG-13, but turned out I was wrong!

I got news for 'em. There's gonna be hell to pay. 'Cause I ain't Daddy's little boy no more.

[–] RonDirect73 9 years ago

Check out "The Right Stuff" (1983). Yes that was before PG-13 but that had 3 F-bombs! at least and didn't get an R rating. And there was priseother strong language in the movie as well. No surprise here this film got a PG with one f-bomb back in those days.

Even now some movies get away with two and get a PG-13.