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Midwest Theaters Ban 'Fahrenheit 9/11'
Saturday July 3

The president of a company that owns movie theaters in Iowa and Nebraska is refusing to show director Michael Moore's "Fahrenheit 9/11."

R.L. Fridley, owner of Des Moines-based Fridley Theatres, says the controversial documentary incites terrorism.

Fridley said in an e-mail message to company managers that the company does not "play political propaganda films from either the right or the left."

"Our country is in a war against an enemy who would destroy our way of life, our culture and kill our people," Fridley wrote. "These barbarians have shown through (the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001) and the recent beheadings that they will stop at nothing. I believe this film emboldens them and divides our country even more."

"Fahrenheit 9/11" won best picture at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival and has grossed millions of dollars at the box office. Moore won an Academy Award for an earlier work, "Bowling for Columbine."

Critics accuse the film of being an unfair and inaccurate portrayal about President Bush's policies before and after Sept. 11, 2001.

Theatre owners are free to do whatever they wanted. But many people will definitely complain and that movie theatre is going to get hell trying to handle those people who wanted to see the movie and had nowhere else to go.

Originally posted by jon_37920

R.L. Fridley, owner of Des Moines-based Fridley Theatres, says the controversial documentary incites terrorism.


Incites terrorism? That's kind of stupid. But he can do whatever he wants - it's his theater.

Is it really their own decision, or does it seem that dome pressure were made on them ?

Originally posted by astrapol2
Is it really their own decision, or does it seem that dome pressure were made on them ?

From the government? No. From customers? Perhaps, although I haven't heard any stories of people threatening to not attend movies at theaters that show his movie. Most likely it's someone that either doesn't like Moore or is worried that people will protest in front of his theaters.

It is his right as it was Moores right to make his film. The owner may lose money and he may feel that the movie is not fitting as what he calls entertainment.
I would say that not showing the film is his loss even though I think the movie is nothing more than a Democratic Party ad against Bush.

He just might be a good business man.
First, you refuse to show the movie, which gets the interest of those in his area which would not have gone to see it or know little about it.

Then you show the movie. For the peoples sake.

Third- put money from ticket sales in bank. ;)