On Friday I was watching a film on Channel 5, THE DAMBUSTERS starring Richard Todd as Wing Commander Guy Gibson, (educated in Oxford) for those of you who remember this spectacular film he had a black Labrador named "Nigger" who followed him every where and who was killed on the morning of the raid and is buried at RAF Scampton.
So why was I shouting at that big box in the corner of the room? well they showed the dog in the film but dubbed all references to his name either replacing it with "boy" or leaving a space in the dialogue,
As a bit of a film buff for the older movies (I dislike modern films and remakes of old films and tv series like Dads Army and Porridge) I am disappointed that television companies feel the need to do this as these films were made sometime ago long before the current controversy around race, colour etc.
This action probably means that films like The Jolson Story, Jolson Sings Again, To Kill A Mockingbird etc are likely to never be shown again on the small screen. We have already seen the television series
like Love Thy Neighbour, The Black and White Minstrels, Alf Garnett etc removed because they are deemed to be racist, but were they really or was it just the different times that I grew up in?
It was sad to see that one of my favourite stars from that bygone era Dame Olivia De Havilland (Gone With the Wind ) died at her Paris home yesterday at the age of 104,.maybe the last of the great Hollywood era.
DISCLAIMER. If this post upsets anyone PLEASE REMEMBER these are my thoughts and mine alone and are not published to offend or disrespect anyone.
I totally agree with what you have said and yes maybe your thoughts but is one I think maybe many share in some form.
I remember watching the film (also remember as a kid when the dog died crying my heart out!) and I think just terminology has changed so much these days. How years ago we would maybe say something and how it was took was generally took in the maybe light way it was intended. Now I find myself putting my feet and hands in it as what I thought was okay seems maybe isn't to some these days, so good ole Dave gets it wrong even though my intention wasn't offensive in anyway.
Some of the old shows you mention we have enjoyed watching and think we have some of them on DVD around the place. Yes I know when we have watched some of it back we say gawd that wouldn't be allowed today though the meaning it was used in the show or film was in no way derogatory. As it is a lot of stuff has been removed from digital viewing so am also thinking some of it in DVD format likely to be not sold now too and that list be continally growing.
Wife (Julie) and I are fans of Prisoner Cell Block H and are currently half way through watching it again for about the 10th time over the 40 and a bit years it has been about. I know each country, even region has its own variations in things but just a term that was used quite regularly in it was 'Having the wog'. It was meaning they had a sickness bug or something and wasn't meant in any way bad as far as I know. Actually talking of PCBH they did tackle in later episodes racism of the Aborigines with that of a girl who was Aboriginal and raised by 'white folk'. I add we have the complete set of DVDs of Prisoner as was 692 episodes in total so bought the set over the course of time.
I know times change and we move on but whatever has gone on in the past both good and bad happened and from much of it things have been learnt. but by bleeping out, changing the name and things won't change history whether it was good or bad. It all is something that is the make up of us humans and how we have evolved and changed through the decades and centuries. It is maybe just sad that some of the films and things we saw will be placed into storage now due to how it may be seen in todays world.
Again, this is just my thoughts gathered into a typed up ramble. My intention is never to cause upset or offence to anyone and apologise in advance if anyone finds anything in my ramble in such a way.
I can appreciate why you were shouting Anthony, By simply editing words we cannot change history. Attitudes are constantly changing and what is considered acceptable at any given period may not be a few years down the line.
Instead of denying events of the past we should make sure that people know about them, be educated in the reasons why they are now considered unacceptable and strive to improve the future for people whatever their creed, colour or gender.