This isn’t exactly a topic that I was hoping to cover, as I would assume that most people would understand what censorship is, and what kind of slippery slope that it represents. Let’s define the word. The definition of censorship is the suppression of words, images, or ideas that are deemed “offensive.” Censorship is happening all over the world, but the last place it should be happening is in the United States. However, we’ve seen over the last couple of years that certain conservative elements have decided to ban books of varying types because some chickenshit idiot doesn’t like them. Yet, these same conservatives scream “censorship” when we call them out for their racist and abusive behavior. The hypocrisy is strong with these people. Let me tell you why censorship is ultimately a bad thing. We’ve seen throughout history that the suppression of ideas and certain imagery lead to tyrannical styles of government. After all, uneducated people are easier to control than those that embrace education. When you oppress an idea or an image to keep the “vulnerable” safe, it leads to a nanny-state. There have been many movies and stories about dystopian futures where people are not allowed to think or feel for themselves. If they did, it would lead to people rising up against an oppressive state, which is what censorship comes down to: Power.
I bring this up because earlier this week, it was revealed that the movie The French Connection was released to streaming with certain elements cut out. The scene in question is when Roy Scheider’s character and Gene Hackman are about to head out for a drink, when Hackman’s character lets loose a few…colorful words. The French Connection is a gritty crime thriller that was published by 20th Century Fox in 1971. Disney bought 20th Century Fox some years ago, so they gained access to all of Fox’s catalog titles, which included The French Connection. This edited version of the film has been released on ALL streaming services including Criterion’s streaming service. Fans of the original movie noticed the scene missing when they tried watching it on various streaming services. That has led to a massive backlash against Disney, which includes allegations of censorship. Disney is on a very slippery slope here, indeed. Why? If they did it without William Friedkin’s approval and said that he did approve it, that puts Disney in a very bad spot. It’s one thing to have multiple cuts of a single movie. It happens all the time. It’s not necessarily censorship when there’s multiple cuts of the film available. The idea that a company would censor a movie because it contained some questionable dialogue is troubling, especially when the film was made during a time in which a lot of this stuff was common place. The fact that companies would act as gatekeepers and parents is beyond reprehensible. While it is well within their rights to make modifications to films in their catalog, Disney really shouldn’t be doing that. They did it before in a movie called Splash, in which Darryl Hannah appeared in the nude, from the back, of course. Disney decided to use CG to cover up her…derriere, and the results were…awful. It’s not Disney’s place to determine what’s appropriate for people and what’s not.
Censorship is a tool of the oppressor. This is one of the main reasons why I collect DVDs and Blu-Rays. Movies are hard copied into a physical format that can’t be modified. Not unless the movie comes with an option to view a different version of the film, and that happens more often than you think. Options. Give people an option to watch whichever version of the film there is and you’re less likely to be confronted with accusations of censorship. It’s not just movies that this happens to. It happens to all forms of art, whether it’s paintings, sculptures, music, or writing. Certain people in power really don’t like it when others get ideas in their head that can threaten one’s power over others. There are certain films that I have that could and have offended a lot of people. I have a copy of Triumph of the Will and D.W. Griffith’s The Birth of a Nation on Blu-Ray. Why? Preservation. These films might be public domain, but that’s not going to stop certain parties from altering those films to suit their own agenda. I get it, if you don’t like a movie like say…Cannibal Holocaust, you don’t have to watch it. In fact, I would actually encourage most people of weak constitutions to avoid it, especially if you love animals. The copy of that film I got has an alternate cut of the film where the animal stuff was cut out entirely, which is the version I personally prefer. Censorship should only be a personal choice, not a corporate or government mandate, especially when it comes to the arts. It sets a very bad precedent for future artists. Not only does it give people the idea that corporations can do whatever they want, but it’s more likely to drive people to pirate movies, something I’ve been very much against…until this week. Also, censorship is clearly a violation of the 1st Amendment. But private companies have a lot more legal lee-way when it comes to that sort of thing.
Ultimately, censorship is a bad thing, especially large-scale censorship. On a personal level, it’s a matter of preference, and that’s okay. It’s not okay to force that on others, which is what Disney is doing with The French Connection. They think they can appeal to more people if it’s censored, but all they’re actually doing is driving people to illegally pirate the film. Censorship leads to tyranny and people rebelling against said tyranny. It always has. It’s the one thing that remains constant. It shouldn’t matter what side of the political spectrum you’re on or what spiritual/religious organization you subscribe to, censorship affects EVERYONE in a very negative way. The worst part? The people who want censorship are harming themselves and their children in the long run. Censorship handicaps freedom. To Disney, I say this: Fuck you and the horse you rode in on. Release The French Connection in it’s unedited format for everyone in the United States, since you are apparently letting other countries watch it with the aforementioned scene intact. Fuck your double-standards, and let people make the choice for themselves.