On September 30th, 1988, a full year after controversially being classified VM18 by Italian authorities, Full Metal Jacket was reclassified and given a VM14 rating in Italy, effectively allowing anyone over the age of 13 to watch the movie. The original decision in 1987 had sparked much debate in the media, mainly as a result of the classification board’s differing reasons for the decision (first excessive bad language, then excessive violence) and also because another violent war movie – Platoon – had recently gained a VM14 rating without hesitation. The passionate letter seen below, written by director Stanley Kubrick, was sent to the Director of Culture in Italy and was just one part of an ultimately successful, year long battle to gain the film a wider audience.

More letters relating to Kubrick can be read at Archivio Kubrick. Also, somewhat related is this letter written by Gustav Hasford.

Transcript follows.

Transcript

WARNER BROS. DISTRIBUTORS LTD 135 Wardour Street (Registered Office)

London WIV 4AP

Telephone: 01-437 5600

Fax: 01-437 9544

Telex: 22653 Registered in England No. 259661 Dott. Rocco Moccia

Direttore Generale Dello Spettacolo

Ministero Del Turismo e Dello Spettacolo

Via della Ferratella in Laterano, 51

00184 Roma

ITALIA 5th October, 1987 Dear Dott. Moccia, You will undoubtedly understand my disappointment that my film “Full Metal Jacket” has been classified so as to prevent it being viewed by young people under the age of 18. Obviously I do not regard young Italians as being substantially different in nature, character or temperament to young people in other parts of the world and it was my earnest desire that my film be an experience capable of being shared by the widest audience possible. This is important to me because I sincerely hope that “Full Metal Jacket” will be regarded as making an important and relevant contribution to the ways in which people view their own nature. My intention was not to relish violence for it’s own sake but to emphasise the reality of both the training process undergone by the recruits and the war situation in which they found themselves. A crucial aspect of this process is the use of language to dehumanise the young men. This had to be presented in a totally truthful way otherwise I would have compromised the reality of the story. I make no apology for taking such an approach. It is what attracted me to the project from the beginning: it’s sense of uncompromising truth. “Full Metal Jacket” offers no easy moral or political answers. I think you should know that Sweden has classified the film, 15, New Zealand has a 13 age restriction, Finland has given it a 16 age restriction, as has Germany. These ratings were applied without any cuts. I believe that all the people should be given the opportunity to see things the way they are. Yours sincerely, (Signed) Stanley Kubrick cc: Dott.ssa Rosa Alba de Gaetano Leardi

Mr Bernard Weinreich, Warner Bros Italia