The only explanation I can hazard is that, since I was in Germany the year it was released and nominated for so many Oscars, It may have been suppressed in the decidedly red states I lived in after returning from Germany.
As an atheist living in a "red state," I can certainly tell you more than a few personal anecdotes about being harassed, et cetera. At the same time, I have to say that the mainstream media has, if anything, exaggerated the so-called "intolerance" of people here and grossly oversimplified the cultural attitudes.
But I find it difficult to understand why people with politically and religiously conservative views would find this movie objectionable at all. Let's see -- the main character thinks he can get rich quick through a dishonest endeavor, but eventually gets his comeuppance. The networks and sponsors get off scot free, but the movie doesn't exactly applaud them for it. The other main character is Jewish, and it's certainly true that there are some folks around here who think Jews have cloven feet and horns, but people with attitudes that extreme aren't the majority or anything close to it -- Quiz Show was released in the late twentieth century, not the fifteenth -- they're just obnoxious and occasionally vocal. And I didn't have any trouble finding a theatre playing Quiz Show way back when, nor did anyone else I know, and this is the first time I've heard anyone even suggest some sort of "red state suppression." So I don't get it. What's there here for your average Bible-beating Sunday school teacher or good-ole-boy sheriff to object to?
I think it boils down to money more than anything else. IMDB reports the gross for Quiz Show was about $25 million -- hardly a moneymaker by Hollywood standards. I have no inside information, but I've certainly seen more than a few films hyped as the greatest hit of the year, only to be dropped like hot potatoes when the opening weekend numbers were disappointing.
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robtromp
12 years ago
I think your explanation of it being simple economics that the film didn't get more wide exposure doesn't mesh with facts. The years following it's release were ones where the distribution of DVD's to large chains like Blockbuster and even many remaining small mom and pop video stores in across the country was in full swing. Their shelves featured tons of much less commercially viable titles that lacked even the hint of Oscar worthiness to encourage their selection by customers. Of course it may not have played theaters for economic reasons, but that does not explain its absence from store shelves after release on DVD, nor it's lack of buzz on the internet later. We would like to thing that the public is a lot smarter now than in the 50's when they were taken in by this hoax, but in fact the hoaxes have simply become more grand and pervasive, fueled by propaganda machines like Fox.
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BullSchmidt
12 years ago
The years following it's release were ones where the distribution of DVD's to large chains like Blockbuster and even many remaining small mom and pop video stores in across the country was in full swing. Their shelves featured tons of much less commercially viable titles that lacked even the hint of Oscar worthiness to encourage their selection by customers.
And by your own admission, you hadn't heard of Quiz Show back then. I'm sure there are any number of movies I hadn't heard of which were on those video store shelves but which I didn't notice simply because, having never heard of them, there was nothing about them to make me take notice when I did glance at them. I don't have detailed numbers on every phase of Quiz Show's history, but I do know that I never had a problem renting it. You say it was absent on rental shelves, but unless you can provide some industry source to support this assertion I can only conclude that for whatever reason you, having simply "missed" this movie, are trying to make the bizarre claim that the rest of the world missed it with you.
We would like to thing that the public is a lot smarter now than in the 50's when they were taken in by this hoax, but in fact the hoaxes have simply become more grand and pervasive, fueled by propaganda machines like Fox.
I'm trying to give you the benefit of the doubt, but you're becoming quite obvious as one of those tiresome bores who insists on injecting politics into everything. Since you're so eager to assert political bias, you should have no problem answering my prior question which you ignored -- what is it specifically about Quiz Show that would make it objectionable or controversial in "red states"? Please answer that question, if you can.
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robtromp
12 years ago
I'm not sure why you seem to want to turn this into a battle. It would seem only logical that big media would be even more concerned to control public opinion in the years when the internet was taking off, and could conceivably decide to suppress movies critical of their power and ability to manipulate the public. I can't imagine why you would attack me for merely proposing this. Having lived in the "new" China for a number of years, I guess I'm naturally less trusting of powerful institutions than most of my fellow Americans, as I've seen first hand how naive people can be so easily manipulated by media.
What would make it objectionable? I am amazed that its not obvious to you. The film exposes for all to see the way that corporations can cover up even the most egregious scandal, allowing a few low level functionaries to appear to fall on their swords for a few years while the deception and manipulation that was the real crime continues unchecked. There are many more examples of this process throughout our recent history, the most recent being the spankings being handed out to the scapegoats for the recent financial crisis, and the handling of those who perpetrated perhaps the greatest deception yet, the engineering of the Iraq war.
The funny thing is that this movie is promoted in China as showing that the American system of democracy doesn't work, while the apparatus of the Chinese state really isn't much different - just a communist facade hiding corporate propaganda instead of a democratic facade.
But of course, if you don't believe that corporations try to control and manipulate the media to manufacture more docile and avid consumers, I can see how you might find my conjectures worthy of your attacks.
Do you honestly expect that the discussion boards for a film like this should be free of political discussion?
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BullSchmidt
12 years ago
The film exposes for all to see the way that corporations can cover up even the most egregious scandal, allowing a few low level functionaries to appear to fall on their swords for a few years while the deception and manipulation that was the real crime continues unchecked.
The fact that corporations can and sometimes do act to cover their asses is hardly an earth-shattering revelation, nor was it in 1994. Or for that matter, in 1894. As "exposures" go, this one is only slightly more controversial than a film might be which dared expose for all to see that the Sun rises in the east.
But of course, if you don't believe that corporations try to control and manipulate the media to manufacture more docile and avid consumers, I can see how you might find my conjectures worthy of your attacks.
I never said or implied that I believe that or that I don't. Get your facts straight before you shoot off your mouth, and don't try to put words into mine.
And if you think I've attacked you, grow up, take the pacifier out of your mouth and quit your whining. I've challenged you to support your assertions, that's all. The only thing I've said that could be remotely construed as an attack is that you appeared like the sort of tiresome bore who insists on injecting politics into everything. Now on that thought ...
There are many more examples of this process throughout our recent history, the most recent being the spankings being handed out to the scapegoats for the recent financial crisis, and the handling of those who perpetrated perhaps the greatest deception yet, the engineering of the Iraq war.
The funny thing is that this movie is promoted in China as showing that the American system of democracy doesn't work, while the apparatus of the Chinese state really isn't much different - just a communist facade hiding corporate propaganda instead of a democratic facade.
If you considered my earlier statement an attack, here's another one you can have for free -- Now I no longer suspect that you're the sort of tiresome bore who insists on injecting politics into everything, even when it's irrelevant. Now I'm certain of it.
Do you honestly expect that the discussion boards for a film like this should be free of political discussion?
It's a free country -- say whatever you like. But empty-headed drivel bores me, and I won't waste my time by responding to you further.
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robtromp
12 years ago
Frankly, you're one of the most unpleasant persons I've encountered on the internet, and that says a lot. You have been rude, patronizing, and downright insulting.
You seem to think you are the grand arbiter of what is fit for discussion, don't you? I pity the folks that have to deal with you on a daily basis.
And now, I will deal with you no more. Go pester someone else, huh?
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doug65oh
12 years ago
If I'm understanding your question, robtromp the answer is no, the film wasn’t suppressed, at least so far as I know of myself. If you’ll look at http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110932/releaseinfo there’s what appears to be a fairly good “world release list” with dates. Interestingly I do note several countries missing from the list, but they don’t like us anyway so it’s no real surprise. Why exactly they’d try suppressing the film to begin with is a question, but… if you get a chance to see the film, the ant-suppression argument will make more sense I think.
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robtromp
12 years ago
Thanks for a civil reply. Having lived in China for many years, I guess I wonder about these things more. There are many great films that for obscure reasons never see the light of day there, while other films you might think would be anathema to the CCP are readily available. And I still am a bit suspicious on this one, as several friends who are great film buffs have also either not heard of the film or had not had the opportunity to see it. Maybe this is just a subject most Americans would rather not hear about, I don't know. I think it's a great film, and should get a lot more attention than it seems to have done since it's initial release and award nominations.
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doug65oh
12 years ago
You could well be right. But like it or not the quiz scandals happened and are a fact of life – if, in this instance a bygone fact. Interestingly enough, if you snoop about it’s possible to find not only examples of Stempel & Van Doren in action on 21, but also James Snodgrass, the feller who mailed himself a set of questions and answers as referred to in the film. Amazing what you can find on youtube! (I've not seen the entire episode yet so can't say if he won or lost that one.)
I've forgotten how I found it now but there's also at least one volume of congressional testimony on the quiz scandals.
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bobbobbob123
11 years ago
Frankly, you're one of the most unpleasant persons I've encountered on the internet, and that says a lot.
I remember my first week on the internet too! welcome!
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