Disney to Ron Howard--No Alamo Movie Unless PG Rated

Media and Policy Review ^ | 9/19/02 | Kevin Kelley

[Kevin Kelley]

As reported by Fox News, director Ron Howard is backing out of filming a new movie about the Alamo, clearly one of the seminal moments in American history and the settling of the west. According to reporter Roger Friedman, Disney balked at being involved in a project that would garner anything above a PG rating--effectively informing Howard that they wanted to tone down the violence--a problem given that the story of the Alamo is an inherantly violent one of military siege in which the Americans were greatly outnumbered and were eventually massacred by their attackers.

"I wanted to do a gritty, no holds-barred film about the wild gang at the Alamo. It would not have been the Cocoon version. It was going to be very graphic--and Disney said no. They wanted a PG movie. They didn't want an R movie with controversy, so it became this battle that was brewing. Did I want to take this huge project knowing what I was up against? Because what they were going to do was say, 'Okay, go ahead, get going,' and then somewhere down the line think they were going to soften me into cutting the film into what they wanted. And even [though] I have final cut on my films, it didn't seem worth it, to know that fight was going to be constant. With a movie like that, everyone has to be working together with the same goals -- and there are other directors who I'm sure started out wanting to make one kind of film and wound up making another."

There are two issues that come to mind for me. The first is that Disney is the embodiment of modern political correctness, and as such, their position should come as no surprise. Howard obviously sensed this and surely knew that pressure would mount to placate the Hispanic community and tone down any level of patriotism. Disney would not be happy until "both sides" were equally represented.....with the resulting dilution of the conflict leading to a story that had no story....just a bunch of guys who mistakenly started fighting and then one side killed all the others and they were friends after that and everybody was happy.

Having said that, I would note that last week I heard on the radio that the fall network lineups include reduced numbers of minority actors in lead and secondary roles, and there was much adieu about the decline. However, the problem is that the groups that feed at the protesting trough in Hollywood have cut the legs out from under the actors by way of protesting everything. In the case of shows like The Shield and The Wire, they protest that the shows depict Blacks and Hispanics as being stereotypically violent and crime-prone, while in the case of The Cosbys they protested that the show cast Blacks as being too "white". Effectively, they have created a situation where it is actually safer to not cast Blacks or Hispanics at all.

It's a tough call, but by allowing victim groups to have a place at the table, you actually give them power and encourage them use it toward their own ends--they become de facto censors, looking to propagandize for their own interests. Maybe there is a place for a company like Disney that has developed a fuzzy feel-good formula for success, and perhaps Ron Howard is just pitching his project to the wrong people, but by altering history (as was done for the Japanese release of Pearl Harbor), we do a disservice to our kids who grow up with a distorted view of how the country was founded and the heavy price that was paid by so many.

Kevin Kelley

[fight_truth_decay]

Back in March CBS Sunday Morning did a story on Howard..one comment suggested critics portrayed Howard as a master of the mainstream remaining on safe ground rather then provoking deep thoughts..A Beautiful Mind brought him his Oscar, and there was controversy surrounding the accuracy of that film. Lets see what the Alamo does.

[exmarine]

Yes, get yourself a copy of the book, "The Mouse Betrayed" (try Amazon) - it chronicles their pornography business. And since the author has never been sued for libel, it must be true.

[weegee]

I've read much of that book, and although I cannot recall the pornography allegations, there are many things as bad and worse (including covering up crimes of voyeurism and assault at the parks).

[adam stevens]

What are his politics? Is he generally a leftist like most Hollweird types?

[Desdemona]

See post #25 please. There are more in the series of posts.

And, remember, please, in reading subsequent posts between me and others that after the Challenger explosion, the contractor, Morton-Thyochol (sp?), which manufactures the 0-rings in the rocket boosters was hung out to dry by NASA, when the contracting engineers told NASA not to launch. It was too cold and that was in all the documents in NASA's possesion.

This had nothing to do with Apollo 13, but is typical in the relationship between government and contractors. Told from the government perspective, contractors will look bad.

I don't care about who's politics are what. I care about facts. Okay?

[ConservativeDude]

with regards to history, Texans, of course, supported the Mexican Constitution of 1824 patterned after the US Constitution.

It was after Santa Anna suspended it, usurped power and began tyrannizing Texas that things changed.

Men at Alamo fought to the end, and died. The men at Goliad shortly after that thought it better to surrender. They were ruthlessly executed in cold blood, defenseless by Santa Anna the butcher.

Upon his capture after the battle of San Jacinto by Houston, President Santa Anna was of course much better treated than the men at Goliad and others, in spite of the calls to hang him high.

Mexico should be ashamed to have Santa Anna in their history. Let the truth be told. Forget Hollywood.

[Desdemona]

Fine. I'm not the one making the movie. If I see one that differs from this,...gee, I don't know what I'll do. Cry?

None of us have any control over this other than to not buy Disney or pay to see any movies made by them. I just thought that a filmmaker standing up against the studio was a good thing. I haven't seen the script, so I don't know what historical changes they made. I just know that Ron Howard is a stickler for details. That's it.

[aruanan]

The Disney movies of old are incredible to look at, but these new ones rely too much on computer animation, and anything else they stick their nose into is just not worth viewing.

Old timey animation and computer animation are merely means to an end. If the story isn't well done, no amount of excellence in animation of any type will make up for it. Much of the more recently released Disney stuff has been extremely well-written: Monsters, Inc., Toy Story, Toy Story II, A Bug's Life, Nightmare Before Christmas, Aladdin, Tarzan. And all of these have better animation than any of the so-called Disney classics. Snow White? Call it Snore White.

[johnny7]

OK... I just got back in. What was D. Crocketts favorite saying?

I remember it from way back. I challenge you guys and gals to post it.

[exmarine]

And let's not forget "Gay Day" at the Magic Kingdom! If this isn't an affront and assault on family values, I don't know what is! Disney has sold out to the extreme left agenda, and they are paying for it! Seen their stock lately? Seen ABC's ratings lately (4th behind FOX). I hope Disney goes bankrupt (my apologies to the hard-working moral employees who work there).

[exmarine]

In exchange for Santa Anna's release, he relinquished all claims to Texas. That Houston was a pretty smart feller!

[Mr. Blond]

Gay Days are a privately organized event, not sanctioned by Disney. Just like Christian Youth Days, Goth Day, etc. You would have a case with employee benefits, however.

[ConservativeDude]

I can't remember Davy Crockett's favorite savying, but I'm pretty sure it wasn't "Remember the Alamo," which came, er, later.

Can you refresh us?

[San Jacinto]

So, how about Mel Gibson as John Wayne?

Was John Wayne at the Alamo?

[weegee]

Ah, but the government workers (who were there) said that they raised the issue with Ron Howard (who had let them in on the script to check it for accuracy and it's portrayal). At least those government workers didn't blame the contractors.

[weegee]

There were people who protested when Governor Bush oversaw the selling of Texas' Disney stock (some people said that they were going to buy some just to spite him).

The stock did nothing but go down afterwards (a sharp drop at that).

[San Jacinto]

....I can't remember Davy Crockett's favorite saying,
Can you refresh us?

Be sure you are right, then go ahead.

[San Jacinto]

....so-called Disney classics. Snow White? Call it Snore White.

Don't tell that to my two grandsons and me. We have shared much quality time with Snow White, Lady and the Tramp, Peter Pan, and...best of all....Old Yeller.

[pbear8]

And all of these have better animation than any of the so-called Disney classics.

Hey, my father-in-law drew some of those classics!!

[pbear8]

So, how about Mel Gibson as John Wayne?

Too short.