The Pianist, Roman Polanski, and Use of Your Hard Earned Dollar

[lavender]

I am really having difficulty deciding if I am going to pay money to go see this Polanski film. For those who don't know, Polanski raped a 13 year old girl a long time ago and is wanted in the US for this crime. France refuses to extradite him.

So, this year he comes out with a movie that is supposedly wonderful. I have read glowing reviews of this film and would really like to see it. But, I can't decide if I want to give my money in any way to support a film he was associated with.

I most likely won't go.

I know many will find this silly, but it bothers me that this man, alhtough he has done some fine film work, is still able to make money on US consumers while he is a wanted criminal.

 

[His_kitty]

I don't find it silly at all.

Which is why I won't watch anything he's directed since or before.

 

[HeavyStick]

congrats on 16000 posts lavender.

 

[Guest]

 

[lavender]

Polanski lost her and his unborn child to the Manson slaughter, from what I've read.

He was found guilty of statutory rape, but that's because it was pled down. He supposedly drugged and raped a 13 year old. I believe it was in Jack Nicholson's home.

 

[His_kitty]

Polanski lost her and his unborn child to the Manson slaughter, from what I've read.

He was found guilty of statutory rape, but that's because it was pled down. He supposedly drugged and raped a 13 year old. I believe it was in Jack Nicholson's home.

True to all of the above.

 

[Guest]

 

[lavender]

I'll watch the movie when my money doesn't directly go towards the film.

I can recognize and appreciate the art of someone who has done despicable things. But, I will not allow my money to assist in anyway in funding the work.

 

[Cuckolded_BlK_Male]

I'm going to see the film just as soon as time permits. First I'd like to see "About Schmidt" and "Antwone Fisher," among others. So many films with an adult sensibility have come out this fall/winter, that it's been difficult to see them all.

Roman Polanski's films "Macbeth" and "Chinatown,"are among my favorite films. Also, It's my understanding that he was convicted of statutory rape.

I've seen many films that were directed by men whom I find morally reprehensible. I don't have to like the artist to appreciate the art. Heck, I've seen "Gone With The Wind" and "The Birth of A Nation" and I'd like to dig up everyone involved in those films and kill them again. However, both films are significant in the history of cinema.

 

[lavender]

He was convicted of statutory rape, but that's because the mother didn't want her daughter to have to go to trial and face all of the publicity and the bashing. The sentence was reduced to statutory rape. When it's a 13 year old, statutory rape (in my mind) is just as bad.

I will see the film. I agree with you that some of his films are simply amazing. But, I won't pay for it.

This was a great year for film - in my opinion.

I do have to admit that Chicago - a movie most are heralding - wasn't all that it was cracked up to be.

 

[Coolville]

Having principles is always a good thing but if you boycott one guy, you have to boycott all the other artists that have committed wrong-doings.

Which eliminates a hell of a lot of films to see, music to listen to and what have you.

The man Polanski committed a crime. The film director Polanski makes intriguing, passionate films (except The Ninth Gate = crap).

I choose to respect the director and his work.

 

[Marxist]

Now that's taking a stand.

I guess if you're fair about it you'll never attend a professional sporting event again considering the number of crimes committed by your average athlete.

Or listen to an Elvis-Jerry Lee Lewis-Chuck Berry-Cher (ad infinitum) song again.

 

[sexy-girl]

i agree with lavender ... i myself would also find it difficult to hand over my money knowing it was going to a guy who did this but i wasn't intending to see the film anyway


and everyone else can throw as many other comparisons in there as they want but the fact of the matter is lavender doesn't feel comfortable about paying to see it ... so then its a matter of integrity if she listens to her conscious or not

i think its good to make a personal stand on things like this

 

[Off]

At the time, Polanski agreed to a deal.

He was supposed to do a few months in country club jail.

Then he would have been free to pursue his art.

Hollywood would have welcomed him back with open arms.

Instead, at the last moment, he fled to Europe, embarrassing the American criminal justice system that had frankly gone soft on another celebrity pedophile.

He will never step foot on American soil again. If he does, he won't be treated quite so gently...

 

[Marxist]

You're right SexyG, anyone can do anything want and vote with where they choose to spend their dinero. It's still a sorta free country.

I'm simply questioning the Moral Majority-like blanket she's throwing over a super minor issue. Pun intended.

 

[Guest]

 

[sexy-girl]

You're right SexyG, anyone can do anything want and vote with where they choose to spend their dinero. It's still a sorta free country.

I'm simply questioning the Moral Majority-like blanket she's throwing over a super minor issue. Pun intended.

well its a small issue in that lavenders money isn't going to make much difference either way

but what he did wasn't a little issue ... so its a matter of principle


(i refused to copy your awful pun )

 

[Guest]

 

[Guest]

 

[Guest]

 

[Lancecastor]

Some Additional Media Figures for Lavender to Avoid:

Celebrities Accused/Convicted of Statutory Rape
From (http://www.spiritone.com/~law/celeb_statutory.html)

Woody Allen - In the book, "What Falls Away," Mia Farrow described her shock at first discovering
Allen had taken pornographic photos of her adopted daughter Soon-Yi Previn and then that he was
having an affair with the 17-year-old. (Allen and Soon-Yi were married in late 1997.)

Sonny Bono - Singer-politician. In 1963, 28-year-old Bono met, and married, 16-year-old Cherilyn La
Pierre, better known as Cher.

Chuck Berry - In 1961, the great songwriter was convicted in St. Louis of transporting a 14-year-old
girl across a state line. He ended up in jail for a year-and-a-half.

Joey Buttafuoco - 1993 Nov 15, A judge in Mineola, N.Y., sentenced Joey Buttafuoco to six months in
jail for the statutory rape of 16-year-old Amy Fisher, who shot and wounded Buttafuoco's wife, Mary
Jo.

Sergei Federov - Red Wings star with 16-year-old sweetheart, tennis player Anna Kournikova.

Errol Flynn - Film star in of the 30's, 40's and 50's. Was acquitted for statutory rape charges involving
two teenage girls in 1942, but the scandal only increased his popularity. "In like Flynn" became the
phrase young men used when their chances of scoring a babe (and getting away with it) were high.

Kelsey Grammer - star of the Emmy-winning comedy "Frasier." In 1995, authorities in Arizona decided
not to prosecute Grammer for statutory rape, and a New Jersey grand jury declined to indict him on the
same charge. Both accusations were made by the same 17-year-old girl.

Don Johnson - At fourteen, Melanie Griffith left home to move in with the actor who was then
twenty-two. Johnson has never voiced any concern about the wisdom of having an affair with such a
young girl. In fact, Johnson claims that Melanie was the aggressor in the relationship. " She pursued
me", he told Entertainment Weekly.

Michael Kennedy - Bobby Kennedy's son, recently exposed for statutorily raping his children's
underage baby-sitter, and then attempting to destroy her when word got out.

Jerry Lee Lewis - In 1958, it came out that piano madman Jerry Lee Lewis had married his 14-year-old
cousin, Myra Brown. Even though there were wedding bands involved, the revelation virtually
destroyed Lewis' young career.

Rob Lowe - TV and film star. Former brat packer. Back in 1988, during the Democratic National
Convention in Atlanta, Lowe taped himself in compromising positions with a 16-year-old girl and a
young woman. Lowe agreed to perform 20 hours of community service to avoid criminal charges.

Roman Polanski - The director fled the country in 1979 rather than face sentencing for the statutory
rape of a 13-year-old girl. The Polish auteur went to a more understanding Europe, where he promptly
established a relationship with the then 15-year-old Nastassja Kinski. Polanski can't return to the
States for fear of arrest.


Elvis Presley - Priscilla was only a 14-year-old ninth grader when Elvis began dating her in 1959
during his army tour in Germany. At the time he met Priscilla, he had an even younger girl living in
his house (Moore, That’s Alright, Elvis, p. 162). In 1962, the 15-year-old Priscilla moved in with Elvis
at his Graceland mansion in Memphis and they lived together for five years before they married in May
1967.

Jerry Seinfeld - His four-year relationship with Shoshanna Lowenstein began when she was still in high
school. At the on-set of the affair, Jerry was 38 and she was 17. Jerry made no secret of the
relationship and publicly paraded his jail bait on his arm.

 

[Problem Child]

Re: Some Additional Media Figures for Lavender to Avoid:

Joey Buttafuoco - 1993 Nov 15, A judge in Mineola, N.Y., sentenced Joey Buttafuoco to six months in
jail for the statutory rape of 16-year-old Amy Fisher, who shot and wounded Buttafuoco's wife, Mary
Jo.

I was so looking forward to flying out to Sundance and catching the premier of that new Joey Buttafuoco film. He's a cinematic genius!

The things we give up on principle...

 

[lavender]

Marxist there is an easily made distinction between the sportsmen you discuss and Polanski. Once the sportsmen are convicted they no longer play. Just look at Chmurra - even though he wasn't convicted.

Polanski was convicted and ran to another country. You think if Hawthorne (the Cowboys fuckup) ran to another country and that country refused to extradite him that the NFL would support him in any way?

Lance provides a list of schmucks - but there is a difference. Polanski has an outstanding conviction. Most of those men were involved with 17 year olds - which actually meets the age of consent in some states.

Polanski was with a 13 year old. The charge was REDUCED to statutory rape - but the story is essentially that he drugged and raped the woman.

I don't find this to be arbitrary.

 

[Nora]

I agree with you wholeheartedly, Lavender. I have not and will not ever pay to see a Roman Polanski movie.

The difference between the schmucks that Lance posted and this 13 year old girl is the relatively HUGE matter of consent. Regardless of the argument (valid, in my opinion) that a 13 year old really can't give informed consent, THIS 13 year old girl definitely did NOT. She was drugged and raped. At 13 years old.

 

[Lancecastor]

So are you folks saying buying the "art" of someone who had sex with a minor is okay as long as there were no charges laid?