# I Think Tobacco Companies Give Hollywood Money **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 14, 2001, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-tobacco-companies-give-hollywood-money/68817 "2001-06-14T16:00:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Wildest\_Bill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Wildest\_Bill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wildest_Bill)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2001, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-tobacco-companies-give-hollywood-money/68817/1 "2001-06-14T16:00:02Z")
I mean the smoking they do in movies is just sometimes plain ridiculous. They light up every 2 minutes in some movies. So I think since tobacco companies can’t advertise in general media anymore they go to movies. How much money do you think they pay movie executives to put more smoking in movies? IF you don’t think they do, you’re naive. They might not do it as plain as day but some kickbacks are going to screen play writers and others that decide what should and shouldn’t be in movies. I wonder if congress should make a law stopping smoking from being in movies. Or a better idea start making them have a smoke rating on movies. So the public would be more aware of how movies influence smoking and how much smoking is in movies. Because everytime I am watching a movie and they light up, it makes me want to light up too. So I know movies are a big influence not only to me but young people as well. If this needs to move to the GD so be it!!! ---
**Author:** ![GrizzRich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7ba0ec/32.png) [@GrizzRich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrizzRich)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2001, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-tobacco-companies-give-hollywood-money/68817/2 "2001-06-14T16:07:31Z")
Sorry, I just couldn’t resist that phony surprise. Not to defend the movie or tobacco companies, but it’s much less now than years ago. I remember seeing a scene from an old black-and-white movie wherein a woman, who was hosting a party later in the evening, walked all over her living room and checked to make sure there was enough cigarettes in all of the containers, and that all of the lighters worked. She had to have made 5-6 stops! I’m amazed that there weren’t MORE houses burned to the ground. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2001, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-tobacco-companies-give-hollywood-money/68817/3 "2001-06-14T16:24:39Z")
> [@](#): > > How much money do you think they pay movie executives to put more smoking in movies? Nothing at all. Why should they? Cigarettes still used in movies because they’re “business” – they give the actor something to do with their hands. An actor can pull out a cigarette, fumble for a lighter, light it, take a few puffs, and stub it out, all while giving another actor the dull exposition of the plot. As a bonus, the way the character does these things helps tell you more about the character involved. There are few things that can take the place of cigarettes in this capacity. Only the truly naive believe in conspiracies. What next? Are you going to charge shoe manufacturers are paying off writers because movies show scenes of people walking? Do you have any evidence to back up your supposition (and the portrayal of smoking is not evidence)? ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2001, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-tobacco-companies-give-hollywood-money/68817/4 "2001-06-14T16:33:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Wildest Bill \* > \*\*… Because everytime I am watching a movie and they light up, it makes me want to light up too. So I know movies are a big influence not only to me but young people as well. > \*\* Gee whillikers, I sure hope you don’t go to those movies where people drink alcohol or drive real fast or shoot guns or have sex with someone other than a spouse… so much corruption!! ---
**Author:** ![Fionn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Fionn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fionn)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2001, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-tobacco-companies-give-hollywood-money/68817/5 "2001-06-14T16:58:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by RealityChuck \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > How much money do you think they pay movie executives to put more smoking in movies? > > Cigarettes still used in movies because they’re “business” – they give the actor something to do with their hands. An actor can pull out a cigarette, fumble for a lighter, light it, take a few puffs, and stub it out, all while giving another actor the dull exposition of the plot. As a bonus, the way the character does these things helps tell you more about the character involved. There are few things that can take the place of cigarettes in this capacity. > \*\* I was once forwarded a humorous though insightful list of gestures that can be made with cigarettes and their meanings. As best I can remember: Throwing down a cigarette=I’m going to do something resourceful! Blowing smoke in someone’s face=We’d better step outside… Man lighting cigarette for other man=other man is dying. Man lighting cigarete for woman-We can share an oxygen tent. Chain smoking=I’m nervous. Blowing smoke out the ears=I have defective eustachian tubes. There were others, but I have, alas, deleted the e-mail. ---
**Author:** ![puddleglum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puddleglum/32/137_2.png) [@puddleglum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puddleglum)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2001, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-tobacco-companies-give-hollywood-money/68817/6 "2001-06-14T17:04:00Z")
Product placement by cigarette companies was supposed to have ended in 1988. However, a recent study by the Lancet journal says that cigarettes have actually been in more movies since then. Here is a link to a 1980 memo about product placement in the movies. [http://www.library.ucsf.edu/tobacco/mangini/html/cc/022/index.html](http://www.library.ucsf.edu/tobacco/mangini/html/cc/022/index.html) ---
**Author:** ![Wildest\_Bill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Wildest\_Bill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wildest_Bill)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2001, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-tobacco-companies-give-hollywood-money/68817/7 "2001-06-14T17:09:47Z")
Puddle Gum, Thanks. I knew I have seen more cigaretts in movies. And it is not a conspiracy it is money. That’s right money. Money being changed hand between tobacco and movie executives. If you don’t think there is nothing wrong with it, then why did the gov’t make them stop advertising in the first place? HMMMM? What do ya’ll think of my “Smoking Rating” idea? That would at least make the movie companies consider more gum chewing for a prop. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2001, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-tobacco-companies-give-hollywood-money/68817/8 "2001-06-14T17:43:22Z")
> [@](#): > > Thanks. I knew I have seen more cigaretts in movies. And it is not a conspiracy it is money. That’s right money. Money being changed hand between tobacco and movie executives. Again what evidence do you have to back up this claim? The increase in smoking proves nothing. There’s also been an increase in the number of aliens portrayed in movies during that time. Are you arguing that aliens are paying off the studios, too? ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2001, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-tobacco-companies-give-hollywood-money/68817/9 "2001-06-14T22:08:20Z")
If cigarette smoking were associated with glamorous actresses and cool heroes, the OP might be on to something. but in reality, when a character lights up a cigarette, it’s USUALLY a way of telegraphing that he’s evil (think of the smoking man in “The X Files.”) The only SURER sign that a movie or TV character is a homicidal maniac is an allusion to Scripture. And if you ever see a movie character quoting the Bible WHILE smoking a cigarette, run! He’s probably Hannibal Lecter’s brother! Regardless, the idea of “smoker ratings” is absolutely idiotic. It’s the stupiest idea I’ve heard in years. Which means, of course, it stands a good chance of actually happening. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2001, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-tobacco-companies-give-hollywood-money/68817/10 "2001-06-14T22:52:30Z")
I don’t see how it’s any different than “product placements…” Think about it: Pepsi, Guess jeans, why not ciggies? ---
**Author:** ![archmichael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bb73d2/32.png) [@archmichael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/archmichael)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2001, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-tobacco-companies-give-hollywood-money/68817/11 "2001-06-14T23:09:50Z")
Considering how liberal the Hollywood community is, I find this idea to be very amusing. Let’s consider who we are talking about. These are the people who are the fastest to join the cause du jour. If you take into account how reviled the tobacco companies are, I find it hard to believe. I think you might be right in that there might be more smoking than say the 70-80’s, where I think there was a movement to have very little smoking on screen. If you compare it to the old black & white films, no contest. There use to be a lot more smoking back then. Movies have become darker and edgier. The bad guys are shown as smoking more, and why not. The hitman who lives day to day, shooting at cops, and getting involved in car chases, is going to be chewing gum because he is concerned about the long term affects of smoking? I think your personal connection to this issue is preventing you from thinking clearly. ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2001, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-tobacco-companies-give-hollywood-money/68817/12 "2001-06-14T23:38:35Z")
well, I think **Bill** may have a point. as **Guin** mentioned, product placement is the name of the game. Of course, [it was supposed to stop](http://www.vistagroupusa.com/timespicayune.htm) > [@](#): > > The major Hollywood studios declined to comment on any product placement deals. They all said policies against contracting with the tobacco industry have been in place since the early 1980s. A Philip Morris representative said: “We do not pay for product placement.” > > But the Philip Morris documents clearly show that arrangements between Philip Morris and Hollywood continued well into 1988, after the movie industry instituted bans.(snip)In movies, it is wealthy, glamorous people who smoke. In reality it is much more lower-income people," said Glantz, the University of California researcher. Glantz recently studied the top-grossing movies from 1960 to 1995 and found that in the 1990s the amount of on-screen time for tobacco significantly increased and [another site](http://smokefreemovies.ucsf.edu/problem/index.html) (ok, so I’m used to other forums) ---
**Author:** ![CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crankyasanoldman/32/11670_2.png) [@CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrankyAsAnOldMan)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2001, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-tobacco-companies-give-hollywood-money/68817/13 "2001-06-15T01:49:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Wildest Bill \* > \*\* And it is not a conspiracy it is money. That’s right money. Money being changed hand between tobacco and movie executives. > > \*\* Oooh, do I have a book for you, hot stuff. Actually I read it on the recommendation of a Doper, though I can’t remember who it was. It’s called “Thank You For Smoking” and this indeed does happen: cigarette companies, stymied in other advertising, pay to add smoking scenes in movies. It’s a pretty funny book, a fiction story about a guy who works for the Tobacco Lobby. Actually, if anyone wants it, email me. I liked it but can’t think of who around here I can pass it on to. Media Mail is dirt cheap and I’d be happy to mail it out to another Doper. ---
**Author:** ![Lockfist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/838e76/32.png) [@Lockfist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lockfist)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2001, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-tobacco-companies-give-hollywood-money/68817/14 "2001-06-15T07:43:59Z")
Have you ever seen the movie **The Ninth Gate** - in virtually every single scene, Johnny Depp is smoking a cigarette. Unbelievable. I think this type of product placement is much more effective than any loss of television advertisement. Its so subtle, yet its _always there_. Even when an actor is interviewed in a magazine, the writer always starts off the scene: > [@](#): > > Brad Pitt is relaxing in his hotel room, the waves from the Fuji shore crashing below. He takes a puff from his Marlboro Red and stares off into the distance. Oh how I love subliminal advertising ! ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2001, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-tobacco-companies-give-hollywood-money/68817/15 "2001-06-15T12:50:46Z")
There’s at least one parents’ movie/TV rating website (I used to have it bookmarked at work, but I’ve long since forgotten the url) that rates almost EVERYTHING a parent could be concerned about little Jason or Jennifer seeing on the big screen. Very politically correct, and useful for anal-retentives of all political stripes…it covered tobacco smoking, violence, and meat-eating as well as drug use, “bad attitude”, and women in tight sweaters. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2001, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-tobacco-companies-give-hollywood-money/68817/16 "2001-06-15T13:10:06Z")
Oh, here it is… [http://www.screenit.com](http://www.screenit.com) ---
**Author:** ![lno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a8b319/32.png) [@lno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lno)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2001, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-tobacco-companies-give-hollywood-money/68817/17 "2001-06-15T14:15:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lockfist \* > **Have you ever seen the movie The Ninth Gate - in virtually every single scene, Johnny Depp is smoking a cigarette. Unbelievable.** Psst. Depp. You deal with ancient books every day. One would have thought that in Not Destroying Old Books 101 they told you not to chain-smoke above millennia-old copies of Satanic how-to guides. ---
**Author:** ![Weird\_AL\_Einstein](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c67d28/32.png) [@Weird\_AL\_Einstein](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weird_AL_Einstein)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2001, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-tobacco-companies-give-hollywood-money/68817/18 "2001-06-15T14:24:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Wildest Bill \* > \*\*I mean the smoking they do in movies is just sometimes plain ridiculous. They light up every 2 minutes in some movies. \*\* Off the top of my head, the last movie I remember seeing was _The Matrix_, on video; I don’t remember any of the main characters smoking. Before that, _Blade_, on cable; ditto. Before that, _Scream 2_, on video; ditto. What movies are you watching? > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Wildest Bill \* > \*\* > > How much money do you think they pay movie executives to put more smoking in movies? > > IF you don’t think they do, you’re naive. They might not do it as plain as day but some kickbacks are going to screen play writers and others that decide what should and shouldn’t be in movies. > > \*\* Where is your evidence? > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Wildest Bill \* > \*\* > I wonder if congress should make a law stopping smoking from being in movies. \*\* Must…resist…turning…this…into…a…GD…thread…about…censorship… All I will say is, I wonder if congress should make a law stopping **murder** and **assault** from being in movies. Those things are actually **illegal** , as opposed to smoking, which for now at least is still **legal**. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Wildest Bill \* > \*\* > Because everytime I am watching a movie and they light up, it makes me want to light up too. \*\* Really? Well, in your OP you called me naive, so I will take the liberty here of saying that this is very strong evidence that you are weak minded. When you see someone commiting murder in a movie, do you want to do that too? ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2001, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-tobacco-companies-give-hollywood-money/68817/19 "2001-06-15T17:16:07Z")
**Lockfist** wrote: > [@](#): > > Have you ever seen the movie The Ninth Gate - in virtually every single scene, Johnny Depp is smoking a cigarette. Unbelievable. I noticed the same thing with **John Cusack** ’s character in **High Fidelity**. I, too, have noticed a general increase in the depiction of smoking in the movies in recent years. Given the long history of paid product placement in movies (from DeBeers diamonds, to Coca-Cola to Pizza Hut), it’s not a leap to infer that money is changing hands.