8mm Forum: Film Pulled From Cinemas

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Posted by Maurice Leakey (Member # 916) on November 25, 2019, 06:34 AM:

Following a recent brawl in a Birmingham cinema which resulted in the film "Blue Story" being pulled from its screening, the Vue and Showcase cinema groups have now pulled all copies from showing, this followed online calls to boycott the cinemas.

Posted by Graham Ritchie (Member # 559) on November 25, 2019, 11:36 AM:

Never heard of the movie, but did read a bit about it after you posted this topic. The movie does appear to have strong support with the BBC and Paramount, however the cinema chains do have the right to pull it, if they feel there is going to be a problem with certain elements going to it.

Posted by Maurice Leakey (Member # 916) on November 25, 2019, 02:55 PM:

The problem started last Saturday in Birmingham when many young people started a riot, one armed with a machete. It was the first day of "Blue Story" and the police were called, many officers were injured.
The film has a 15 certificate, most were under this age so they were presumably not there to view the film.
The Odeon group were still showing the film today, but say their cinemas are having extra security.
The film is a combined release from BBC television and Paramount.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-50541204

Posted by Tom Photiou (Member # 130) on November 26, 2019, 04:09 AM:

I'm glad they pulled it. Why not? If ""gangs" decide to go to cause trouble during that type of film then it has to be pulled. I'm sure everyone can stream it soon or buy the DVD/ BR when it's out. No doubt because of this bad publicity it will make a fortune.

Looking at the short extracts on TV i'm sad to see that thats how this country looks now.

Can any of you not remember when the Warriors was released in 1979 there were fights between gangs in US cinemas and some places in the states pulled it.

If a movie attracts this sort of nonsense then it has to be pulled.

If the VUE and others chains didn't pull it, then it happens again and someone gets killed no doubt someone will be looking to sue that company for allowing it to be screened. They wont win either way.

Just my vue [Big Grin]

Posted by Brian Fretwell (Member # 4302) on November 26, 2019, 04:41 AM:

I've read that on teletext that Showcase has re-instated showings now.

Posted by Tom Photiou (Member # 130) on November 26, 2019, 10:04 AM:

Shame, i'd ban it outright. No need to make films and show on screen whats already happening on our streets.

Posted by Maurice Leakey (Member # 916) on November 26, 2019, 10:31 AM:

The writer and director is quoted as saying that his film is about "love not violence".
Hmm.

Posted by Tom Photiou (Member # 130) on November 26, 2019, 12:32 PM:

And didnt me and my family laugh out loud when they said that on the news item [Big Grin]

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on November 27, 2019, 11:14 AM:

I don't know. I'm kind of divided on the issue.

I think it all comes down to freedom of speech (especially as a yank). The sad thing is that many in the film-making abuse the freedom of speech and this is why this happens.

I remember some years back when they were having films that were glorifying breaking into a home and torturing and terrorizing home-owners and killing them. It's sad that for some people, this is considered very entertaining.

... and then there is that small sect of the population that will then want to enact what they see on screen in real life.

I don't see a need for film-making like that. Or, lets say that some new film will come out where the film-makers are actually showing people how to make they're own guns and bombs and then actively encouraging the audience to go kill this or that group of people.

No need for that.

What is considered entertainment these days has sharply fallen into the gutter. [Frown]

Posted by Ed Gordon (Member # 6952) on November 27, 2019, 02:05 PM:

The movie is about gangs. Reviews indicate it is a well made movie with an anti-gang point of view. Regardless, it remains a movie about gangs. In retrospect the question is, what where the bookers thinking when they booked a movie that would attract rival gang members to the same venue?

Posted by Brian Fretwell (Member # 4302) on November 27, 2019, 03:10 PM:

The press call it a ban, but it is just the cinema chain exercising its right to show only what it wants to. However saying it is a ban makes it a "story".

Posted by Tom Photiou (Member # 130) on November 27, 2019, 03:18 PM:

And gives it way too much publicity for free

Posted by Maurice Leakey (Member # 916) on November 29, 2019, 05:49 AM:

In the 50s I ran a 16mm mobile unit and when I applied to hire "Rock Around The Clock" from Wigmore Films, the distributors of 16mm Columbia films, they refused. They sent me a catalogue and said they had many other films which they would gladly rent to me.
I replied that in this case I would not do businesses with them. My main suppliers were the GB Film Library and the MGM library.
Happy days.

Posted by Maurice Leakey (Member # 916) on November 29, 2019, 10:50 AM:

This afternoon we had a serious incident in London with several people being stabbed, a man was shot by specialist officers.
I realise, of course, that this is not connected with the post's heading, but it does show that being on the streets can be dangerous to anyone.

Posted by Douglas Meltzer (Member # 28) on November 29, 2019, 11:13 AM:

Politically themed posts have been removed from this thread. You know the rule.

Doug

Posted by Douglas Meltzer (Member # 28) on November 29, 2019, 10:32 PM:

Paul, I have sent you a PM. Please reply off forum. Thank you.

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