CATHOLIC FILM NEWSLETTER - Vol.XXXI - No.25 - Recent Classifications

Sep 21, 2026

Uploaded by Patrick

Catholic Film Newsletter provides classification guidance for film content, organizing titles into categories such as Class A (morally unobjectionable for general patronage, adults and adolescents, and adults), Class B (morally objectionable in part), and Class C (condemned). Each entry may include objections describing concerns like misuse of sex and violence, or vulgarity and voyeurism. The newsletter also includes subscription and contact details and highlights recent film coverage, including a detailed appraisal of The Bible and its scriptural approach.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLiterature

FormatPDF

Pages8

Reading Time12 min

AccessFree to download

RECENT CLASSIFICATIONS

CLASS A, SECTION I

CLASS A, SECTION II

CLASS A, SECTION IⅢ

CLASS B

CLASS C(Condemned)

BEST OF THE NEW FILMS

# CATHOLIC FILM NEWSLETTER CATHOLIC FILM NEWSLETTER Vol.XXXI,No.25 Prepared by the National Center for Film Study(a division of the Catholic Adult EducationCenter,Chicago)which is the educational affili-ate of the National Catholic Office for MotionPictures. # RECENT CLASSIFICATIONS CLASS A,SECTION I(Morally Unobjectionable for General Patronage) MAN CALLED FLINTSTONE,THE—Col.TEXAS ACROSS THE RIVER—Univ. ## CLASS A,SECTION II (Morally Unobjectionable for Adults and Adolescents) AFTER THE FOX(Br.)—U.A.C'MON LET'S LIVE A LITTLE—Para. CLASS A,SECTION IⅢ(Morally Unobjectionable for Adults) ALVAREZ KELLY—Col.BLUES FOR LOVERS—Fox TIME LOST AND TIME REMEMBERED(Br.)—ContinentalLA VISITA(The Visit)(Ital.)—Promenade CLASS B (Morally Objectionable in Part for AIl) AMERICAN DREAM,AN—Wars. Objection:The theme of this shallow story,purportinga comment on American mores,is vitiated by itspatently false use of sex and violence. ## CLASS C(Condemned) LOVE AND MARRIAGE(Ital.)—Embassy Objection:This cinematic quartet of highly suggestiveand questionably humorous stories is essentially aburlesque of marital fidelity.The film resorts in itstreatment to gross vulgarities,exhibitionism incostuming and multiple evidences of voyeurism. year.Subscription rates for this service are $5.00(first classmail)or $6.00(air mail).Bulk subscription rates also available.All inquiries regarding subscriptions should be addressed to theSubscription Manager,National Catholic Office for MotionPictures,453 Madison Avenue,New York,N.Y.10022.Questionsand comments relating to the material found in the Newslettershould be sent to the National Center_for Film Study,1307South Wabash Avenue,Chicago,IIlinois 60605;phone 663-0080(area code 312). Cover photograph of John_Huston in a scene from THE BIBLE(courtesy of 20th Century-Fox). BEST OF THE NEW FILMS THE BIBLE...in the beginning.Even with its unassum-ing subtitle,this is one of the most ambitious projectsever to be undertaken by a movie producer.Encom-passing the first twenty-two chapters of the Book ofGenesis,this film is not only gigantic in sheer physicalscope but,even more demanding,it deals with elementscentral to the faith and culture of Western civilization.After some five years and eighteen million dollars,TheBible appears less as another biblical spectacular(al-though it certainly is that)than as an artist's visualiza-tion in religious terms of the origins of man. To realize successfully this enormous undertaking,Italian producer Dino De Laurentiis carefully selectedan outstanding group of talents.Of them all,the mostresponsible for the form of the resulting film was itsscriptwriter,playwright Christopher Fry.His main prob-lem was to decide upon the manner of treating thebiblical story of man's origin and relationship to God.Modern scriptural scholarship and archeological researchhas shown how necessary is the need of careful exegeticalinterpretation in understanding the language of Genesis.The approach taken by Fry's script,however,is to followfaithfully the literal description and poetic imagery ofthe original without attempting to penetrate to the spiri-tual meaning beneath its surface. In this respect,The Bible treats its Old Testamentnarrative as The Gospel According to St.Matthew pre-sented its New Testament one.Both films portrayed theirevents in the literal manner in which they are describedin the Bible_and without any editorial comment.Forexample,in The Gospel an angel appears several times.In The Bible there appear three angels(simultaneouslyplayed by Peter O'Toole).Neither film indicates whetherthe scriptural account means to imply that angelic appear-ances actually took place or whether this is a poetic wayof_describing a divine revelation or inspiration to man. This literal approach to Genesis leaves the interpre-tation up to the viewer who may decide simply to enjoythe film for its storytelling ability rather than see it asa religious experience.The

FAQs

How does the newsletter classify films and what do the classes mean?

Films are grouped into Class A, Class B, and Class C. Class A entries are described as morally unobjectionable for various audiences, Class B notes objectionable aspects in part, and Class C is labeled condemned.

What types of objections are listed for Class B and Class C films?

Objections address moral and content concerns, including shallow commentary undermined by false use of sex and violence for Class B, and highly suggestive, humorous stories described as vulgar and voyeuristic for Class C.

What film is discussed in the “BEST OF THE NEW FILMS” section, and what is the main focus of the appraisal?

The Bible is featured, with emphasis on its ambitious scope, reliance on literal biblical presentation, and the viewer’s role in interpreting the religious meaning rather than receiving explicit editorial comment.

Sep 21, 2026

Uploaded by Patrick