31 May 1973 The Daily Report (Ontario, California) Ad Answered The following ad appeared May 24, 1973: PLEASE READ!
I publicly reject the movie
"BANANAS" as being disrespectful of our Latin American
brothers, the FBI, CIA and
others, but especially the
sacreligious reception of Holy
Communion. This shoddy type
show is one way the moral
fibre of our nation is hurt. So
I would urge anyone who has
the misfortune to see this show
to tell theater management,
owners and distributors to
have this despicable movie and
others like it removed from public viewing.
And this was my response, published on Thursday, May 31, 1973: READ THIS! I publicly reject the movie "Mary Poppins," because it is desrespectful of bankers and old ladies who feed pigeons, and most of all makes fun of medicine. (Who needs a spoonful of sugar, after all?). Not to mention the fact that impressionable children will grow up warped beyond recognition when they cannot find anywhere in real life a nanny who flies. For that matter, in America, they will not even be able to find a nanny! I believe this kind of nonsense is another way the moral fibre of our nation is hurt. I would like to see this kind of mindless meandering banned from American Screens except on Columbus Day and Mothers' Day (which are ruined already, because not enough people are sending greeting cards). I also publicly reject Ernie Miller's ad on the movie page of The Daily Report, May 24 as being more ridiculous than the above parody, because he obvisouly is serious. It is not this country, Ernie, that removes motion pictures - or books - or people from public viewing just because somebody doesn't like them. It was Hitler's Germany that did that. I thought "Bananas" was hilarious and a well-made satirical film (but then I understand satire for what it is): does that mean that I should run ads in the paper urging a new law requiring everyone to see it? No. It means I should enjoy it and go away feeling grateful to God that I live in a country that allows me to do what I enjoy when others aren't hurt. If you were Jewish, you'd know what I mean. (By the way, for Ernie Miller's information, this is no time to be defending the CIA!)
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