Firth rejects 'cleaned-up' version of film
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Colin Firth has revealed he opposes plans to release an edited version of The King's Speech, which won four Oscars at the Academy Awards on Sunday night.
After winning the Best Actor Oscar for the title role, Firth said he was against a version of the film which would alter a pivotal swearing scene.
He said: "I don't take this stuff lightly, but in the context of this film, it could not be more edifying, more appropriate. It's not vicious, it's not an insult and it's not in any of the contexts which might offend people."
The film, which has already taken $114m (£70m) in the US alone, was originally given an R-rating in America for "some language", specifically for two scenes where the F-word is uttered numerous times. An R-rating prohibits anyone younger than 17 from seeing a film without an adult.
However, the ratings board of the Motion Picture Association of America announced on Friday that an alternate version of The King's Speech had been assigned a PG-13 rating. In the new version, the sound will be muted whenever Colin Firth's character, King George VI, says the word, but audiences will be able to see his lips move.
The Weinstein Co, the film's distributor, is now considering releasing the PG-13 version, which potentially could open the film up to a wider audience.
Tom Hooper, the film's director, has previously said he didn't want to change one frame. Industry observers say that technically he hasn't.
The Classification and Ratings Administration (Caro) has also granted the film an exception to a rule requiring a film to be withdrawn from cinemas for 90 days before being re-released so as not to confuse moviegoers with two versions. The US censor said it was unlikely there would be confusion among cinema-goers.
A spokesman for Caro said it was pleased that the Weinstein's respected the rating system.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments