# Movies that could not be made in today’s world **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** movies\ **Created:** [September 13, 2023, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-that-could-not-be-made-in-today-s-world/990064 "2023-09-13T18:10:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2023, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-that-could-not-be-made-in-today-s-world/990064/61 "2023-09-15T13:08:47Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > Have you _seen_ the movie? You can’t just make an abstract generalization to call it normal human “fantasizing about unattainable romantic partners”. It’s about selfish lust, and the male lead character is a creepy narcissistic letch. Of course that’s still a common part of human nature, but it’s a mystery to me who sees that as the _entire_ premise for hilarious comedy. I have seen it. I don’t know what you saw. Middle aged people find younger people desirable unless they’re emotionally dead. Maybe you didn’t see Romeo and Juliet, spoiler here, it’s a tragedy. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2023, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-that-could-not-be-made-in-today-s-world/990064/62 "2023-09-15T13:15:00Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Middle aged people find younger people desirable unless they’re emotionally dead. I’m not claiming that it’s not part of human nature. So is masturbation. That doesn’t make it an interesting central premise for a screenplay. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2023, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-that-could-not-be-made-in-today-s-world/990064/63 "2023-09-15T13:25:07Z")
It certainly could. There’s a rather well known episode of Seinfeld entirely based on masturbation. The Seven Year Itch is an incredibly iconic movie that nobody remembers because of Tom Ewell. It’s a movie based in the olden days and kind of boring as a result but I can understand it being considered quite a romp in it’s time and could easily be updated, and has been in numerous movies. It’s the basis behind the whole genre of romcoms. You don’t have to like the movie, but I don’t see how you can miss that this is a popular theme. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2023, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-that-could-not-be-made-in-today-s-world/990064/64 "2023-09-15T13:31:27Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > The Seven Year Itch is an incredibly iconic movie that nobody remembers because of Tom Ewell. Although _The Seven Year Itch_ has the iconic “Marilyn Monroe-standing-on-the-subway-grating-blown-upskirt” image and lines like “I keep my underwear in the freezer”, I have to admit that the thing about the film that hits me the most is its reliance on the cultural phenomenon of The Summer Bachelor, something that Alistair Cooke wrote a memorable piece about. The Summer Bachelor has faded into oblivion, a casualty to widespread Air Conditioning. By the way, I agree with **TriPolar** , although T7YI isn’t one of my favorite movies. This isn’t the column by Cooke, but her references it: [BBC Radio 4 - Letter from America by Alistair Cooke, Some memorable letters from America - Some memorable letters from America - 20 November 1998](https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/trV5WDQ1WYzBNs0BJvy894/some-memorable-letters-from-america-20-november-1998)’ ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2023, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-that-could-not-be-made-in-today-s-world/990064/65 "2023-09-15T13:44:57Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > I’m not claiming that it’s not part of human nature. So is masturbation. That doesn’t make it an interesting central premise for a screenplay. It seems to me that _anything_ can be the premise for an interesting screenplay. Some interesting films have involved unexpected settings. ---
**Author:** ![sciurophobic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@sciurophobic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sciurophobic)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2023, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-that-could-not-be-made-in-today-s-world/990064/66 "2023-09-15T15:10:39Z")
I don’t think we’ll ever see another Fu Manchu movie. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2023, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-that-could-not-be-made-in-today-s-world/990064/67 "2023-09-15T15:29:35Z")
Do you mean after the [Fiendish Plot of Dr. Fu Manchu](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-that-could-not-be-made-in-today-s-world/990064/66) in 1980? ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.winston_oboogie/32/2945_2.png) [@Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Winston_OBoogie)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2023, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-that-could-not-be-made-in-today-s-world/990064/68 "2023-09-15T16:26:15Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > > [@Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](#): > > > > I have long (30 years?) said that Blazing Saddles could never be re-made. > > > > [But then Mel Brooks went and proved me wrong!](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4428398/?ref_=nm_flmg_t_4_act) > > _Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank_? > > I mean the plot is similar, but I doubt the N word is used all that often. The plot is “so similar” that Richard Prior got a screen writing credit on Paws of Fury because of his work on Blazing Saddles. Plus, you know, the main author, Mel Brooks, was promoting it as an updated cartoon version of Blazing Saddles. Mel re-wrote it to show the racism without using the ‘N’ word, and without using the phrase “Excuse me while I whip this out!” ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2023, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-that-could-not-be-made-in-today-s-world/990064/69 "2023-09-15T16:47:56Z")
Even at the time, it was riding that line between offensive vs. edgy and hilarious. If you didn’t get the satire (especially the satirical treatment of Hollywood), it probably would fall squarely on the offensive side. I mean, the whole RDJ in blackface thing was both hysterical, and a pretty pointed satire of certain method actors and how far they’re willing to go/how far people are willing to let them. If you didn’t get that, it just seems offensive. I feel like most people over about 40 would still appreciate a remake, but today’s youth and young adults seem to have NO sense of humor whatsoever when it comes to anything like this. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2023, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-that-could-not-be-made-in-today-s-world/990064/70 "2023-09-15T16:54:01Z")
Not to sound old, but… I agree. I think it’s good that we don’t accept racism, sexism and other isms anymore, but it seems today we may err on the side of also not accepting commentary on those isms. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2023, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-that-could-not-be-made-in-today-s-world/990064/71 "2023-09-15T17:03:19Z")
More’s the pity, because I know that satirical and parodic portrayals of attitudes and behaviors that I was previously ok with, were the first times I really thought about them and how maybe my thinking needed revision. ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2023, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-that-could-not-be-made-in-today-s-world/990064/72 "2023-09-15T17:03:47Z")
I used to love _Animal House_ – and it still has some indelible comedy – but the scene where the boys go to the Black nightclub is just pathetically racist, and not in any kind of ironic way, either. And it really pains me to say so, but the trans-mocking of _Life of Brian_ wouldn’t fly today. I like to think the Python guys would agree. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2023, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-that-could-not-be-made-in-today-s-world/990064/73 "2023-09-15T17:06:00Z")
They couldn’t base a movie on the “Amos & Andy” TV series. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2023, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-that-could-not-be-made-in-today-s-world/990064/74 "2023-09-15T17:14:50Z")
I’m pretty sure that the theme song for _Twinky_ wouldn’t be made today. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/OReQ8roaLn8/hqdefault.jpg "Twinky (1969) opening credits") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OReQ8roaLn8) ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2023, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-that-could-not-be-made-in-today-s-world/990064/75 "2023-09-15T17:26:20Z")
> [@bump](#): > > More’s the pity, because I know that satirical and parodic portrayals of attitudes and behaviors that I was previously ok with, were the first times I really thought about them and how maybe my thinking needed revision. I don’t want to overstate my complaint, because we have things like _Get Out_ and other sort of pointed critiques of race relations, done, for a change, by the people most affected by them. So I wouldn’t say as a blanket statement we don’t tolerate satire of race or other things. I mean, The Barbie Movie is arguably a satire of gender relations. So these things are happening, but it’s increasingly becoming easier to piss people off in the attempt to make a point. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2023, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-that-could-not-be-made-in-today-s-world/990064/76 "2023-09-15T17:34:17Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > I have to admit that the thing about the film that hits me the most is its reliance on the cultural phenomenon of The Summer Bachelor Interesting, I was not aware of that cultural phenomenon. Wiki says this about it: _The operator of the Royal Theatre in Sioux City, Iowa, was arrested and fined $25 for showing Summer Bachelors after a citizen filed a complaint for showing an “improper motion picture.” A witness from the local woman’s club testified in support of the complaint that the film had objectionable scenes, the first where a woman went for a swim apparently without a bathing suit, and in a hay mowing scene where a young couple were caught in a rainstorm, sought shelter for the night, and went to sleep unchaperoned. In another scene noted in testimony, a married man with a young woman on a yacht forcibly kissed her. After filing an appeal and a $200 bond, the theater owner cut two scenes from the film._ Unfortunately, I was unable to find a clip of it on YouTube. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2023, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-that-could-not-be-made-in-today-s-world/990064/77 "2023-09-15T17:41:03Z")
> [@Akaj](#): > > And it really pains me to say so, but the trans-mocking of _Life of Brian_ wouldn’t fly today. I like to think the Python guys would agree. > **[‘Monty Python’ Star John Cleese Says ‘Life Of Brian’ Scene Won’t Be Cut...](https://deadline.com/2023/05/monty-python-star-john-cleese-says-life-of-brian-scene-wont-be-cut-despite-modern-sensitivites-1235382058/)** > > The Monty Python crew always looked on the bright side of life when it came to its classic film parody, The Life of Brian. But Monty Python star John Cleese insists he never said that he would remo… ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2023, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-that-could-not-be-made-in-today-s-world/990064/78 "2023-09-15T17:43:43Z")
Wow! And Charles Bronson and Orson Bean, ha ha. [The trailer is absolutely awful.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpRwolowGVE) ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2023, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-that-could-not-be-made-in-today-s-world/990064/79 "2023-09-15T17:46:44Z")
> [@bump](#): > > I mean, the whole RDJ in blackface thing was both hysterical, and a pretty pointed satire of certain method actors and how far they’re willing to go/how far people are willing to let them. If you didn’t get that, it just seems offensive. I’m pretty sure the major controversy with this movie today, as it was at the time, would be more about “Simple Jack” than the blackface. The blackface is less problematic because it’s the white guy that is the butt of the joke. Simple Jack OTOH, yes Ben Stiller is the _primary_ butt of the joke, but they’re also still making fun of the mentally challenged. I mean yeah, with a minute’s thought, they’re essentially the same joke, but… you just can’t do that. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2023, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-that-could-not-be-made-in-today-s-world/990064/80 "2023-09-15T17:50:34Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > So these things are happening, but it’s increasingly becoming easier to piss people off in the attempt to make a point. Much of this is a passing phase as common attitudes change and the pendulum swings to far in correction. Then after some time when the issue is no longer ‘hot’ satire becomes better understood for what it is. At least I hope that’s the case. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-that-could-not-be-made-in-today-s-world/990064.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-that-could-not-be-made-in-today-s-world/990064.md?page=5)