MOVIES - Oct. 11, 1990

Valenti Blasts Newspaper: “If a newspaper wants to live in the Stone Age, I can’t do anything about it,” said Motion Picture Assn. of America President Jack Valenti after the Birmingham (Ala.) News refused to accept an ad for NC-17-rated “Henry & June.” Valenti, quoted in Daily Variety, said: “I can’t tell the publisher how to run his business, but . . . the reasonable, sane and fair way to do things is to find out what the picture is before you decide to ban its (advertising).” In rejecting the “Henry & June” ad, the Birmingham News cited a longstanding policy against ads for X-rated movies. “Henry & June” was originally X-rated, but became the first NC-17 film when the MPAA changed the designation of its adults-only category earlier this month.