Aric and Marisa revisit the controversial MPAA "X-Rating" and its impact on films throughout the late 20th century. Through the lens of six audacious films, they question whether this rating truly was effective in filtering adult content to American audiences, or if its legacy will be that of censorship and restricting creativity. In this episode, the six films discussed include one of the most controversial X-rated films of all time, Ken Russell's THE DEVILS (1971), which complete director's cut remains to be seen to this day, Pedro Almodóvar's dark comedy TIE ME UP! TIE ME DOWN! (1989), one of the first films labeled with the "NC-17" rating after a contentious legal battle over its original X-rating, Ralph Bakshi's FRITZ THE CAT (1972), which redefined the American animation market by adulterating cartoons with sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll in this nostalgic portrait of New York in the '60s, along with THE BIG FEAST (1973), HENRY: PORTRAIT OF A SERIAL KILLER (1986), and THE TELEPHONE BOOK (1971). Help support this show through our Patreon! Follow us on Instagram and Twitter: @filmchatterpod. Check out the films mentioned in this episode on our Letterboxd. Entertain the Elk: "What Ever Happened to the X Rating?" Pedro Almodóvar's X-Rating Cake and "Resistiré" Performance. More about John Belushi & Nelson Lyon. Guillermo del Toro on Warner Brothers censorship of "The Devils". Thanks for tuning in! Powered and distributed by Simplecast