“Charlton Heston On Movie Ratings” Theater Ad

movieman1966 on March 14, 2013 at 12:11 pm

In 1972, the MPAA released this ad featuring Charlton Heston explaining the movie rating system, especially directed towards adults. By this time, the MPAA had once again changed it’s rating system, but only slightly.

The GP rating had been changed to the PG rating, and the X rating, although still mentioned, was not, at this time, an actual MPAA rating (The MPAA created the X rating in 1968 after overwhelming requests from theater owners to create an adult rating), and would not officially receive the MPAA seal, which meant that anybody could release a adult orientated film and self-apply the X rating to their film.

The self application of a X rating was a boon for adult film makers, for around this time in 1972, the film “Deep Throat” was released, changing the way people would perceive adult films forever.