Overlay: MPAA and BBFC rating history of Deliverance (1972)

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Errors	Missing	Unverified	Supported
0	2	0	7

How were these counts calculated?

Missing (2)

UK Version Cuts: The summary correctly identifies the UK 'X' rating but omits thomitted-detail Origin of 'Squeal like a pig': While noting it was improvised to avoid profanityomitted-detail

#Q ORIGINAL QUESTION

Regarding the film Deliverance (1972), what was the film rated (e.g. R, PG, G), and what elements of the film contributed to that rating?

#M ANNOTATED LLM RESPONSE

In the United States, the 1972 film Deliverance was rated R (Restricted) by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA). In the United Kingdom, it was originally given an X rating (suitable for those 18 and over) by the BBFC.

The film's rating was primarily driven by its graphic portrayal of sexual violence and physical trauma, which were exceptionally shocking for mainstream audiences at the time of its release.

Specific Elements Contributing to the Rating

Sexual Violence: The most notorious contributor to the rating is the "squeal like a pig" scene, in which the character Bobby (played by Ned Beatty) is brutally raped by a local mountain man. This scene is widely considered one of the most disturbing and controversial sequences in cinema history. Director John Boorman notably opted for the "squeal like a pig" dialogue—which was improvised on set—to avoid using profanity that might have forced even more severe edits for television or international markets, yet the psychological and physical brutality of the act firmly cemented its "R" status.
Graphic Violence: The film features several scenes of stark, realistic violence:
- Archery Violence: A character is shot through the chest and throat with a hunting arrow.
- Physical Trauma: After a canoe accident, one character suffers a compound fracture, with his thigh bone visibly protruding through the skin.
- Post-Mortem Imagery: The film shows the discovery of a body with a severely dislocated and mangled arm, which adds to the film's "survival horror" tone.
Psychological Intensity and Theme: Unlike many action movies of the era, Deliverance focuses heavily on the lasting trauma of violence. The film’s relentless sense of dread, helplessness, and the dehumanization of its characters contributed to a "Disturbing Content" descriptor often associated with its rating in modern reviews.
Language and Profanity: While secondary to the violence and sexual assault, the film contains "adult language" and profanity consistent with its R rating.
Realism and Stunts: To save money and enhance the film's grit, the lead actors (Burt Reynolds, Jon Voight, Ned Beatty, and Ronny Cox) performed many of their own dangerous stunts on the Chattooga River. This lack of "Hollywood polish" made the injuries and struggles appear more visceral and authentic, increasing the overall intensity for the viewer.

While modern audiences may be more accustomed to graphic content, Deliverance remains a landmark for how it pushed the boundaries of the then-new MPAA rating system, which had only been established four years prior in 1968.

#F CORRECTION FEED (CLICK TO SEARCH)

[1] The film was rated R by the MPAA upon its release in 1972.

[2] The BBFC originally classified the film as 'X' in 1972, which restricted viewing to those 18 and older. The film also received cuts to obtain this rating.

[3] The line was suggested on set (accounts vary between Ned Beatty or crew member Frank Rickman) specifically to provide a 'clean' alternative for TV broadcasts. Boorman ultimately chose this 'TV safe' take for the theatrical release because he found it more disturbing than the profane version.

[4] The film depicts a character (the Mountain Man) being killed by an arrow through the chest/back.

[5] The character Lewis (Burt Reynolds) suffers a compound fracture of the femur in the canoe crash scene.

[6] The character Drew (Ronny Cox) is found dead with his arm twisted unnaturally behind his head. Cox, who could voluntarily dislocate his shoulder, performed this effect himself.

[7] The actors performed their own stunts due to budget limitations, which contributed to the film's realistic aesthetic.

#O MISSED POINTS & OVERSIGHTS

Low

UK Version Cuts

The summary correctly identifies the UK 'X' rating but omits that the film had to be cut to achieve this rating in 1972.

Low

Origin of 'Squeal like a pig'

While noting it was improvised to avoid profanity, the summary misses the specific detail that it was filmed as a 'TV cover' shot that the director then decided to use for the theatrical release.

#C RELATED QUERIES

#01 What specific cuts were made to Deliverance for the UK X rating?

#02 Did the actors in Deliverance suffer any long-term injuries from doing their own stunts?

#S SOURCES

youtube.com flickdirect.com wikipedia.org

#R ORIGINAL AI RESPONSE

▼

In the United States, the 1972 film Deliverance was rated R (Restricted) by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA). In the United Kingdom, it was originally given an X rating (suitable for those 18 and over) by the BBFC. The film's rating was primarily driven by its graphic portrayal of sexual violence and physical trauma, which were exceptionally shocking for mainstream audiences at the time of its release. ### Specific Elements Contributing to the Rating * Sexual Violence: The most notorious contributor to the rating is the "squeal like a pig" scene, in which the character Bobby (played by Ned Beatty) is brutally raped by a local mountain man. This scene is widely considered one of the most disturbing and controversial sequences in cinema history. Director John Boorman notably opted for the "squeal like a pig" dialogue—which was improvised on set—to avoid using profanity that might have forced even more severe edits for television or international markets, yet the psychological and physical brutality of the act firmly cemented its "R" status. * Graphic Violence: The film features several scenes of stark, realistic violence: * Archery Violence: A character is shot through the chest and throat with a hunting arrow. * Physical Trauma: After a canoe accident, one character suffers a compound fracture, with his thigh bone visibly protruding through the skin. * Post-Mortem Imagery: The film shows the discovery of a body with a severely dislocated and mangled arm, which adds to the film's "survival horror" tone. * Psychological Intensity and Theme: Unlike many action movies of the era, Deliverance focuses heavily on the lasting trauma of violence. The film’s relentless sense of dread, helplessness, and the dehumanization of its characters contributed to a "Disturbing Content" descriptor often associated with its rating in modern reviews. * Language and Profanity: While secondary to the violence and sexual assault, the film contains "adult language" and profanity consistent with its R rating. * Realism and Stunts: To save money and enhance the film's grit, the lead actors (Burt Reynolds, Jon Voight, Ned Beatty, and Ronny Cox) performed many of their own dangerous stunts on the Chattooga River. This lack of "Hollywood polish" made the injuries and struggles appear more visceral and authentic, increasing the overall intensity for the viewer. While modern audiences may be more accustomed to graphic content, Deliverance remains a landmark for how it pushed the boundaries of the then-new MPAA rating system, which had only been established four years prior in 1968.

#A DIRECT ANSWER (VERIFIED ANALYSIS)

▼

In the United States, Deliverance (1972) was rated R by the MPAA. In the United Kingdom, it was originally rated X (18+) by the BBFC, though it required cuts to achieve this classification. The rating was primarily due to the film's intense and realistic violence, specifically the infamous male rape scene involving the line "squeal like a pig" (which was created on set to provide a profanity-free version for TV but used in the theatrical cut for its disturbing impact), as well as graphic depictions of physical injury, such as a compound fracture and an arrow wound.

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