# Utah theatre refuses to show "Brokeback Mountain" **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 8, 2006, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/utah-theatre-refuses-to-show-brokeback-mountain/339044 "2006-01-08T20:55:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Coin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@Coin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coin)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/utah-theatre-refuses-to-show-brokeback-mountain/339044/41 "2006-01-09T02:07:00Z")
> [@furt](#): > > I somehow suspect anbody on here would be screaming “censorship” if the local cineplex was declining to book a relgious movie. Incorrect. I didn’t think much of the Passion of the Christ, but I’d be upset if anyone chose not to show it because they were afraid it’d give people a positive impression of Christianity. (Not that I think PotC did that, but that’s material for another thread.) I feel that the responsible thing for Ruczika to do, instead of pressuring the movie theater to not show a movie (if that’s what she did) would be to try and put together a logical, well-reasoned pamphlet showing why gay is teh bad and pass it out outside the theater. ---
**Author:** ![AFAIKnow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a6a055/32.png) [@AFAIKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AFAIKnow)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/utah-theatre-refuses-to-show-brokeback-mountain/339044/42 "2006-01-09T02:21:30Z")
> [@Coin](#): > > Incorrect. I didn’t think much of the Passion of the Christ, but I’d be upset if anyone chose not to show it because they were afraid it’d give people a positive impression of Christianity. (Not that I think PotC did that, but that’s material for another thread.) > [@](#): > > Malaysia: > > 2004: The Passion of the Christ - however, the ban was later lifted to only allow “Christians” to watch the movie. No checks were done at screenings but tickets were sold through churches. Maybe the theater should run it and only allow homosexual cowboys to watch it. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![AFAIKnow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a6a055/32.png) [@AFAIKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AFAIKnow)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/utah-theatre-refuses-to-show-brokeback-mountain/339044/43 "2006-01-09T02:22:43Z")
> **[Answers - The Most Trusted Place for Answering Life's Questions](https://www.answers.com/redirectSearch?query=banned-films)** > > Answers is the place to go to get the answers you need and to ask the questions you want ---
**Author:** ![START](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2bfe46/32.png) [@START](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/START)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/utah-theatre-refuses-to-show-brokeback-mountain/339044/44 "2006-01-09T02:47:48Z")
> [@lissener](#): > > And to answer START’s first post, try this on for size (insertions mine):… > > Pretty enlightened, no? I knew somebody was going to “go there” eventually. Did you already know that I’m bi-racial and that’s why you chose interracial marriage? I would avoid that particular theatre and hopefully other people would too but at the end of the day if the owner really was against interracial marriage that would be his perogative not to show a movie about it. Hopefully his business would decline so much that he would think twice about banning movies and maybe that will happen in Utah. ---
**Author:** ![Frostillicus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Frostillicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frostillicus)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/utah-theatre-refuses-to-show-brokeback-mountain/339044/45 "2006-01-09T02:56:42Z")
I’m as enlightened as they come, but I have absolutely no interest in seeing this movie, despite its great reviews. That doesn’t mean I am homophobic, but that I genuinely have no interest in shelling out money to see a movie on this particular subject? Or does it? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![BMax](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bmax/32/4267_2.png) [@BMax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMax)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/utah-theatre-refuses-to-show-brokeback-mountain/339044/46 "2006-01-09T03:00:52Z")
> [@furt](#): > > Which has what to do with what? Ruczika can say what she likes, you can say what you like, and the theater owner can decide who he wants to listen to. Freedom of speech all 'round. > > I somehow suspect anbody on here would be screaming “censorship” if the local cineplex was declining to book a relgious movie. Did I mention “censorship”? I’m saying nobody “forced” anybody to do anything, but I’m familiar with the Eagle Forum, their views and tactics. If the Sandy Megaplex manager wants to break his contractual obligation to the distributors, that’s between him and his employer, Larry. H. Miller, one of the most wealthy and powerful men in Utah. The film is showing in other cinemas around the valley so if anyone wants to see it they can drive a few miles and do exactly that. ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/utah-theatre-refuses-to-show-brokeback-mountain/339044/47 "2006-01-09T03:21:49Z")
> [@BMax](#): > > Did I mention “censorship”? No, you didn’t. If the shoe doesn’t fit … ---
**Author:** ![BMax](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bmax/32/4267_2.png) [@BMax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMax)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/utah-theatre-refuses-to-show-brokeback-mountain/339044/48 "2006-01-09T03:29:15Z")
> [@furt](#): > > No, you didn’t. If the shoe doesn’t fit … Then why did you quote me and then respond to it with something about people “screaming censorship”? Were you maybe replying to someone else or did you intorduce censorship as a topic at that time for some reason? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/utah-theatre-refuses-to-show-brokeback-mountain/339044/49 "2006-01-09T03:34:04Z")
> [@Frostillicus](#): > > I’m as enlightened as they come, but I have absolutely no interest in seeing this movie, despite its great reviews. That doesn’t mean I am homophobic, but that I genuinely have no interest in shelling out money to see a movie on this particular subject? Or does it? 😕 Would you have any interest in the movie if it were a heterosexual couple that were unable to overcome some societal pressure that kept them apart? Let’s say one was an Anglo and one was a Native American or Hispanic. ---
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/utah-theatre-refuses-to-show-brokeback-mountain/339044/50 "2006-01-09T04:00:17Z")
> [@Frostillicus](#): > > I’m as enlightened as they come, but I have absolutely no interest in seeing this movie, despite its great reviews. That doesn’t mean I am homophobic, but that I genuinely have no interest in shelling out money to see a movie on this particular subject? Or does it? 😕 I feel much the same way. I saw “The Hours” and while I though it was techically excellant, it didn’t emtionally grab me like I think it was supposed to, so I have no desire to ever see it again. ---
**Author:** ![comrade33](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e99b99/32.png) [@comrade33](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/comrade33)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/utah-theatre-refuses-to-show-brokeback-mountain/339044/51 "2006-01-09T04:34:31Z")
and people here wonder why everyone thinks all of us utahns are backwards. i think its time to get out of this state. ---
**Author:** ![VampyChick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/5daacb/32.png) [@VampyChick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VampyChick)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/utah-theatre-refuses-to-show-brokeback-mountain/339044/52 "2006-01-09T05:09:04Z")
My understanding is that the theater in question had an exclusive deal to show Brokeback Mountain in Utah (the Rave in Vestavia Hills here has the same deal, and they’re gleefully selling out all their showings). So by deciding not to show it, _no one_ in Utah can see the movie. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/utah-theatre-refuses-to-show-brokeback-mountain/339044/53 "2006-01-09T05:15:17Z")
Then, since the theater with the exclusive has broken the contract, wouldn’t that allow the distributor to make a deal with any other theater that wanted to carry it? ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/utah-theatre-refuses-to-show-brokeback-mountain/339044/54 "2006-01-09T05:30:05Z")
> [@EddyTeddyFreddy](#): > > Then, since the theater with the exclusive has broken the contract, wouldn’t that allow the distributor to make a deal with any other theater that wanted to carry it? I would imagine the average first-run theater is probably booked like, what, 3 months in advance maybe? Total WAG. Still, you can’t really suggest that some other theater should pull its ads for upcoming scheduled screenings for \*Ice Age 2 \*and just slot _Brokeback Mountain_ in in its place. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/utah-theatre-refuses-to-show-brokeback-mountain/339044/55 "2006-01-09T05:37:31Z")
> [@the raindog](#): > > Maybe they have no political agenda _whatsoever._ Maybe, like WalMart who chooses not to sell X rated videos or CDs with explicit lyrics, they simply have a different set of values when operting their business. > > Why isn’t that End Of Story? > (I didn’t read the cite) Did they make a _political_ statement? Or, is the movie simply not in harmony with their values, policies as if it were an X rated movie? > > If so, why isn’t that End Of Story? > > Ahhhhh…the heart of the matter. Are the predicate words here, “the quote above is not by the theatre owner, who declined to comment.” an indication that it is you have the political aganda here, perhaps? Can you tell me what the owner _actually_ said, or are you comfortable chocking his virtual mouth full of words? > > If he/she really said _nothing_, why isn’t that End Of Story? > Did they say they 'hate" gay people, or are you now their spokesmen? Did they tell anyone that they have “religious traditions” of any construction that motivates them, or share their phobias? Or…are you taking some pretty reckless and irresponsible liberties? > > If they said _none_ of those things you implied they either said or feel, why isn’t that End Of Story? > > Even if they did, why isn’t that End Of Story? I mean, if there is a wellspring of adverse sentiment in _their_ community, won’t that be reflected at the box office in the future? OTOH, if the owner’s policies are in agreement with the bulk of the community, why isn’t that the End Of Story? > > Dude, it’s look like _you’re_ the one whos all worked up… Nobody is saying that a private business owner doesn’t have a legal right to be backwards, bigoted moron or that he doesn’t have a right to fear certain ideas and refuse to show movies that depict those ideas. He has all of those rights. We also have the right to point and laugh at the retard. ---
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/utah-theatre-refuses-to-show-brokeback-mountain/339044/56 "2006-01-09T06:38:04Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > Nobody is saying that a private business owner doesn’t have a legal right to be backwards, bigoted moron or that he doesn’t have a right to fear certain ideas and refuse to show movies that depict those ideas. He has all of those rights. We also have the right to point and laugh at the retard. _hands a beer to Diogenes the Cynic_ ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/utah-theatre-refuses-to-show-brokeback-mountain/339044/57 "2006-01-09T07:50:54Z")
> [@Bryan Ekers](#): > > This is no more censorship than you choosing to write in this thread instead of, say, the one about God’s musical chairs. _God’s musical charis?_ Band name, thread title, whatever it is, that’s got a promising ring to it. Can I have a link, please? I wonder what forum it’s in? Cage Society, MPSIMS, Great Debates? ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/utah-theatre-refuses-to-show-brokeback-mountain/339044/58 "2006-01-09T07:56:25Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > _God’s musical charis?_ Band name, thread title, whatever it is, that’s got a promising ring to it. > > Can I have a link, please? > > I wonder what forum it’s in? Cage Society, MPSIMS, Great Debates? _Tsk. tsk._ All those misspellings. _Driesel, dreisel, drasel drome Time for zis one to come home._ And it’s off to bed for me. ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 9:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/utah-theatre-refuses-to-show-brokeback-mountain/339044/59 "2006-01-09T09:37:54Z")
> [@BMax](#): > > Then why did you quote me and then respond to it with something about people “screaming censorship”? Were you maybe replying to someone else or did you intorduce censorship as a topic at that time for some reason? Please note the paragraph break. Only the first paragraph was a specific response to you. Paragraph #2 was a general comment on the topic of censorship as introduced by **Coin** and others. Sorry for the confusion. ---
**Author:** ![Siege](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@Siege](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siege)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 10:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/utah-theatre-refuses-to-show-brokeback-mountain/339044/60 "2006-01-09T10:23:15Z")
OK, here’s what I’m curious about. Did this theater show films like _The Horse Whisperer_ or other movies in which adultery is prominently featured and depicted as romantic and/or a good thing? If they did, I’m going to call the owner a hypocrite. **Frostillicus** , I’ve no desire to see _Brokeback Mountain_, either, mostly because I don’t like most romances or Chick Flicks. I’m not offended; it’s just not my sort of thing, just like _The Matrix_ wasn’t my sort of thing. I would hope not wanting to see it doesn’t make one a homophobe! :eek: CJ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/utah-theatre-refuses-to-show-brokeback-mountain/339044.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/utah-theatre-refuses-to-show-brokeback-mountain/339044.md?page=4)