Ron Howard: No 'Da Vinci Code' Disclaimer

NewsMax ^ | 5/12/06 | NewsMax

[wagglebee]

"Da Vinci Code” director Ron Howard has said there would be no disclaimer in the film labeling it as a work of fiction – and Catholic League President Bill Donohue is deeply disturbed by Howard’s stance.

"The book which the film is based on begins with three ‘facts,’ all of which are malicious lies, yet Ron Howard says no disclaimer is needed because ‘this is a work of fiction,’” Donahue said in a statement. "He is disingenuous.”

As Donahue points out, the following got a disclaimer in a fictionalized TV show or film:

Asians: "Year of the Dragon”

Blacks: "Birth of a Nation”

Gays: "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back”

Jews: "Merchant of Venice”

Mormons: "Big Love”

Muslims: "True Lies”

Native Americans: "Pocahontas II”

Nearsighted: "Mr. Magoo”

Wolves: "White Fang”

Donahue declares: "That’s right — even wolves merited a disclaimer. Disney put a disclaimer in ‘White Fang’ saying there is no evidence of a healthy pack of wolves attacking a human in North America.

"Forget about wolves. If Howard were as sensitive to Catholics as those responsible for ‘La Vita E Bella’ were to Jews, he would have acceded to our request to inject a disclaimer. That 1998 film — a dark comedy about the Holocaust — opened with a voice-over saying it is a fable. So is ‘The Da Vinci Code.’”

In an interview with the Los Angeles Times on Sunday, Howard rejected calls for a disclaimer, stating: "This is a work of fiction that presents a set of characters that are affected by these conspiracy theories and ideas. Those characters in this work of fiction act and react on that premise.

"It’s not history. To start with a disclaimer … spy thrillers don’t start off with disclaimers.”

However, in the book the movie is based on, author Dan Brown claims on the first page that "all descriptions of artwork, architecture, documents and secret rituals in this novel are accurate,” indicating the book is based on historical fact.

Donahue said in his statement: "John Calley, a co-producer of ‘The Da Vinci Code,’ has admitted that the film is anti-Catholic.

"Apparently, Ron Howard is more of a gambler than I thought. Had he done what other directors have done before him and put in a disclaimer, the risks to his reputation would have been minimal. Now it’s show time for Mr. Howard, and not just his movie.”

[American Quilter]

Society will be better off when producers of fiction start bending over and kissing the asses of religious "authority."

They'll already doing it here, just not for Christians.

[johnny7]

You mean... Opie Howard?

[TC Rider]

It's my movie and you can't make me put in a disclaimer!

[spatso]

It is a badly written book involving a tabloid theology that is simply silly. It has no merit and has less substance than the author's first book "Angels and Demons" which itself was really an awful but fanciful story that followed a similar story line. You have to have a pretty fragile faith, as a Christian, if you take offense at the lame plot of this script.

[Deut28]

Even the Soviets got a disclaimer before 'Hunt for Red October.'

[rattrap]

Was there a disclaimer before "Independence Day" or "X-Men"?

[Logic n' Reason]

Whine, whine, whine, whine, whine!

All this publicity is the greatest thing that ever happened to a director and his movie.

Kind of reminds me of "The Passion"...it didn't even need an advertising budget.

Ron Howard's movie won't either, at this rate.

Way to go, Ron!

[justche]

I'm not Catholic so maybe I don't understand the personal aspect of being offended by the book or the movie. There was a lot that I didn't agree with in the book - but I thought it was a really fun book to read.

Just before reading it , I had read Unveiling Mary Magdalene
By: Liz Curtis Higgs, right before the Da Vinci code. The first part which is a novel was fairly lame - but her indepth study of Mary Magdalene was just amazing. So it was with eyes wide open that I enjoyed DaVinci code - it should take much more than a fictional (plagiarized) book to shake our faith.

And as mentioned on other threads and articles - can you imagine what would happe if it were the muslims that felt their faith was shown in a poor light.

[American Quilter]

We needn't have bothered to reply--Killer Kane went bye-bye already.

[kinoxi]

read # 20, i think this whole da vinci deal is bs...

[American Quilter]

Was there a disclaimer before "Independence Day" or "X-Men"?

No. The aliens didn't realize they could demand one.

[cryptical]

All this publicity is the greatest thing that ever happened to a director and his movie.

I might even go to the theater on opening night to see the protestors... It's two, two, two shows in one!

[D-fendr]

I'm curious: Did you believe what the author says are facts about the Priory of Sion?

[Lekker 1]

"A Beautiful Mind" was pretty good, IMHO

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

Kinda reminds me of "The Teachings of Don Juan" by Carlos Casteneda.

[MeanWestTexan]

"Ron Howard: "Hey Fonz, F-you you stinking papist! Go worship the pedophile whore of babylon!""

Henry Winkler is Jewish.

[Spyder]

It needs a South Park disclaimer -

[heights]

[SHOOT THE MOON bat]

I know people who really believe this is true. They are people that are looking for anything to justify within themselves a reason to not have faith. If this is what they need then I guess they will have to go to their grave with it. But I have to say that I have never met a faithless person that is truly happy. They will rally around this movie, point to it and somehow convince themselves that Jesus fathered French royalty. How pathetic.

[eleni121]

Ron Howard..apart from A Beautiful Mind - which was way overrated anyway - he is a non-entity in terms of talent.