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Ron Howard: No 'Da Vinci Code' Disclaimer
NewsMax ^ | 5/12/06 | NewsMax

Posted on 05/12/2006 2:12:02 PM PDT by 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.”


TOPICS: TV/Movies
KEYWORDS: billdonohue; catholic; catholicleague; christianity; davincicode; hollywood; itsfiction; ronhoward
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To: A.P.M.

I don't think it is so much offended, it's more like the movie is intentionally leading gulliable people astray. It tries to pass itself off as plausible truth for the purpose of discrediting the Gospel.

"Piss Christ" and "South Park" may offend; that's their problem and anyone can't take a joke. Water, meet duck's back.

This MISLEADS the unwary and the gullible, which is a more serious issue:

Luke 17:2 "It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around his neck than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin."


81 posted on 05/12/2006 3:12:48 PM PDT by MeanWestTexan (Many at FR would respond to Christ "Darn right, I'll cast the first stone!")
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To: spatso

I agree wholeheartedly with your description, but not your conclusion. Just because I'm offended by a lousy novel that doesn't mean that my faith is threatened.


82 posted on 05/12/2006 3:12:59 PM PDT by joylyn
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To: Centurion2000
They left out the disclaimer in Dr. Strangelove that the U.S. Defense Department got, stating that 'such events could not occur' and so forth.
83 posted on 05/12/2006 3:14:25 PM PDT by Borges
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To: Antoninus

If you remember this same thing happened to the once popular book "The Celestine Prophecy". Everyone thought it was real and true yet it was on the fiction shelves and on page two or three was the words "fiction". Hell, I know people that thought that "The Bridges of Madison County" was a true story.


84 posted on 05/12/2006 3:16:04 PM PDT by fish hawk
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To: justche

Very well said -


85 posted on 05/12/2006 3:16:31 PM PDT by AUJenn
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To: wagglebee
Nearsighted: "Mr. Magoo”

Oh Magoo, you've done it again!

86 posted on 05/12/2006 3:16:48 PM PDT by BallyBill (Serial Hit-N-Run poster)
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To: MeanWestTexan

Truly, I hadn't considered it from that angle. Thanks for the insightful response.


87 posted on 05/12/2006 3:19:11 PM PDT by A.P.M.
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To: BallyBill


If they ever make a movie about Mr. Magoo in his 90s to not cast Karl Malden would be a sin.
88 posted on 05/12/2006 3:19:13 PM PDT by Borges
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To: A.P.M.

You are very welcome!


89 posted on 05/12/2006 3:21:50 PM PDT by MeanWestTexan (Many at FR would respond to Christ "Darn right, I'll cast the first stone!")
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To: wagglebee; Borges
They actually did a disclaimer for the 'The Merchant of Venice'? How pathetic.

If Donahue's list is correct, I too find it pathetic. Disclaimer = political correctness.

90 posted on 05/12/2006 3:21:58 PM PDT by DKNY
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To: Antoninus

You know there's too much Catholic bashing when all of us Protestants come out and say "Whoa, could you tone it down a bit?" :)


91 posted on 05/12/2006 3:24:19 PM PDT by Constantine XIII
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To: Antoninus
Being an anti-Catholic bigot is the last acceptable prejudice among the elite. Personally, I'm glad of it. Christ himself told us that the world would hate us.

And He went further than that (our reason for gladness): "Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their fathers treated the prophets." Luke 6:22-23

92 posted on 05/12/2006 3:27:19 PM PDT by Caleb1411 ("These are the days when the Christian is expected to praise every creed except his own." G. K. C)
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To: wagglebee

The Catholic church got its knickers in a twist over DOGMA as well ... they take things too seriously .... four hundred years ago they'd burn this author ... I read The Code and thought it entertaining, nothing more.


93 posted on 05/12/2006 3:29:37 PM PDT by SkyDancer ("The Americans on Flight 93 did more to counter terrorism than the Democrats have done in 4 years")
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To: mmercier

"Come on; it's fiction, it's fiction, it's fiction..."

Hypocritical. They only plead innocence for attacks on facts they don't care about. If it were a fictitious perversion of their favorite President, or their favorite country, or their favorite blog site, or their favorite race, or their favorite religion, or their favorite lifestyle, or their favorite organization, or their favorite scientific theory, etc.,
STAND WAY BACK OR YOU'LL GET BURNT!


94 posted on 05/12/2006 3:30:21 PM PDT by E-Mat
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To: Jaded; wagglebee
Let's see a show of hands for all who are surprised....

Let's have a show of hands of anyone so dense they actually need a "this is fiction" tag on a movie made from a fictional novel.

95 posted on 05/12/2006 3:32:21 PM PDT by Ichneumon (Ignorance is curable, but the afflicted has to want to be cured.)
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To: rattrap

> Was there a disclaimer before "Independence Day"

It's going to be that bad, eh?


96 posted on 05/12/2006 3:33:14 PM PDT by E-Mat
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To: CWW

That was not a very nice thing to say.


97 posted on 05/12/2006 3:34:39 PM PDT by fatima (Kathy in Alaska is the best.)
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To: wagglebee

He also did the "Alamo" which was pure "PC" crap.


I'm sure Davey Crockett and John Wayne were spinning in their respective graves over that one.


98 posted on 05/12/2006 3:35:44 PM PDT by RedMonqey (People who don't who stand for something, will fall for anything.)
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To: mmercier
fiction is fiction, anyone who does not understand this will not be helped by a disclaimer.
half the country believes in ufo's and ghosts.


Great post. ;o)
99 posted on 05/12/2006 3:39:46 PM PDT by Liberty Valance (Where'd all the good people go?)
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To: wagglebee; All

"I'm ashame'd of ya', Ope."

100 posted on 05/12/2006 3:43:22 PM PDT by Jackknife ( "I bet after seeing us, George Washington would sue us for calling him 'father'." —Will Rogers)
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