Smoking in movies

[Dread_Pirate_Mel]

Good news on this front: Study: Smoking scenes on the decline in top movies

To me many older movies are practically unwatchable because they're infested with smoking.  Recently, Sigourney Weaver smoking in Avatar was inexcusable.

Maybe Michael Douglas will help this effort now that he has throat cancer probably caused by smoking.

[brude]

Damn....   
                                       

[eatbrie]

Doesn't bother me in the slightest.  I do agree that non-smokers should not be bothered by smokers at public places, restaurants and al, but the rest has no impact on me.  I still smoke my cigars (once or twice a week) and pot (which should be legal in California by November, YEAH!!!)

T

[CSM]

Smoking in "old movies" is sometimes an integral part of the atmosphere of the film and really in the end, only a reflection of their era.

How can a movie be "unwatchable" because the characters are smoking?!

To think smoking is idiotic is one thing - but applying that judgement to an "escapist" medium is quite a stretch.

Does one really think that because I watch Bogie down 15 cigarettes in 15 scenes or Weaver take a few puffs that I am going to be instantly brainwashed into a tobacco-craving junky?

[eatbrie]

Well, I don't smoke cigarettes, and never have, so I don't know, but I can tell u that if I see someone smoking pot, it reminds me of it and I immediately follow suit, while I would have totally forgotten about it without the reminder.

T

[Dread_Pirate_Mel]

Does one really think that because I watch Bogie down 15 cigarettes in 15 scenes or Weaver take a few puffs that I am going to be instantly brainwashed into a tobacco-craving junky?

It's a fact that the smoking industry bankrolled smoking in movies for decades because it - correctly - believed that audiences perceived movie stars as cool and would emulate their "cool" behavior, such as smoking.  

It's funny that smokers always harp on their "individual rights" but when the cancer treatment bill comes due suddenly the bill is magically transformed into a "collective responsibility" for everybody to pay.

Pot is a different issue. California cannot "legalize" it because it's illegal under federal law.  The Obama Administration is selectively not enforcing it.  That could change with the political winds.

[stewart boyle]

Maybe Michael Douglas will help this effort now that he has throat cancer probably caused by smoking.

Dont forget the years of chronic alchohol abuse too Mel.

Stew

[supraman079]

Pot is a different issue. California cannot "legalize" it because it's illegal under federal law.  The Obama Administration is selectively not enforcing it.  That could change with the political winds.

Legalizing pot is only about the tax revenue because California is so irresponsible about spending tax money. That state has shown that both the Democrats and the Republicans aren't responsible on behalf of the people in that state. Their answer is to add more tax revenue to the situation when its really about corruption and irresponsible spending which will not go away just by throwing more money in the pot. Also, another major problem in that state is the influx of people which are given entitlements by law. When the money going out of your pot is greater than the money going into your pot, well we all know what happens.

*I know a lot of Republicans will get pissed about the statement above because they believe that Arnold is really just a RINO. But he did get elected under that party platform.

Far as smoking in movies, it doesn't really bother me much. A lot of times it looks fake as hell anyway but sometimes you can create aesthetic cinema with it. But the same can be done with fog, steam, and so forth. I'm just thankful I don't have to smell it when I eat in a restaurant.

[Zorba]

I dont mind smoking in movies at all...what I do mind is people smoking near movie posters.

I have bought a couple that are so bad that I cant stand the thought of them. 

[supraman079]

I have bought a couple that are so bad that I cant stand the thought of them.

So far I'm lucky enough not to have to experience this. I'm sure the older the poster the more likely it was collected by people who smoked. Like the old book keeper snob who has stuff so very old and rare books in his store but the place resembles an ashtray.

[Bruce]

A huge number of surviving 1930s posters have yellow stains (that look like dog piss) near the bottom. I am told these are nicotine stains, caused when the posters were hung unframed in lobbies, and the smoke gathered by the poster and the nicotine ran down to the bottom (I imagine 1930s lobbies were FILLED with smoke). They are on a huge number of the posters from the Royal Theater Collection. It is easily removed during the linenbacking process.

Bruce

P.S. When I played poker for a living in Las Vegas from 1972 to 1982 I eventually went to a doctor because I had chronic red eyes and a sore throat. He said, "You should just quit smoking" and I told him I had never smoked, and he said being in the smoke filled poker rooms for 12 hours a day was the equivalent of smoking, and that helped me leave that life (nowadays, most poker tournaments and rooms are smoke free).

[eatbrie]

YEAH, WEED!!!

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/17390/192121

Not that it's going to change much around here.  Everyone I know already has a medical license and/or grows his own.

T

[brude]

                                                           

[eatbrie]

Were you at my house last night?

[scartacus]

Nobody sexualised cigarettes better than Hitchcock...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXGWescUeQs

[Zorba]

Nobody sexualised cigarettes better than Hitchcock...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXGWescUeQs

SWEET!...He does do that screen magic. Love me the Hitchcock/Grant combo....Got that movie on blu ray as soon as I could. Pretty good transfer I think.