The Silent Movie Theater in Hollywood had been planning to screen D.W. Griffith's The Birth of a Nation, one of the most influential movies in early-American cinema. The theater has canceled this showing though in response to threatening telephone calls, and a promised protest by the L.A. chapter of the NAACP. This is really unfortunate. Showing and watching a movie in no way conveys an acceptance of the political views that a particular film maker wanted to convey. And actions like this imperil our ability to learn more about our past. While it might be an ugly piece of American history, it is, nonetheless, a piece of American history. And on top of that you'd think the NAACP would have more important things to do than people's ability to go see a movie in Los Angeles.
Posted by armand at August 10, 2004 02:02 PM | TrackBack | Posted to Moviesone would think protesting BoaN would be kind of tired by now. why not go after Friday or White Chicks or various other mainstream entertainments that often flirt with Amos and Andy-style stereotyping, which today's impressionable children actually watch in droves? why not protest pretty much anything starring martin lawrence?
of course, that might alienate prominent NAACP patrons by hitting their wallets, which might in turn cost the NAACP patronage . . .
just the same, i haven't been this underwhelmed by a protest since danny glover tried to hail a new york cab. the issue was legitimate, of course, but a bit too obvious. i just imagine glover walking into ocean surf to the knee, calling the media over, then gesticulating with wide-eyed Murtauch exasperation: "Don't you see!?!?! My legs . . . are WET!!!"
Posted by: joshua at August 10, 2004 05:02 PM | PERMALINK