Actor Tom Hanks has spoken out against the censorship of old books to cater to modern sensibilities.
In an interview with NBC News, Hanks, promoting his upcoming novel, The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece, expressed his refusal to censor anything some may find offensive.
He stated, Lets have faith in our own sensibilities as opposed to having somebody decide what we may or may not be offended by. Let me decide what I am offended by and what Im not offended by. I would be against reading any book from any era that says abridged due to modern sensitivities.
Hanks comments come in the wake of several books being updated to appease certain sensibilities, including Ian Flemings James Bond stories and Roald Dahls works. However, artists, including those with left-leaning views, have primarily opposed such efforts. Director Steven Spielberg, for instance, expressed regret over his past decision to censor his masterpiece E.T. by removing guns from federal agents during the climactic bike chase scene.
Spielberg stated, Nobody should ever attempt to take the chocolate out of Willy Wonka! Ever! For me, it is sacrosanct. Its our history, its our cultural heritage. I do not believe in censorship in that way. He called his self-censorship a mistake and added, No film should be revised based on the lenses we now are, either voluntarily, or being forced to peer through.
Oscar-winning writer/director Martin McDonagh also expressed his disappointment that plays he wrote 20-25 years ago have been subject to censorship. He stated, In the last two or three years, yeah, Ive had theaters ask me to change words in my plays from 20-25 years ago and refuse to put the plays on when I say no. And thats dangerous. It is much more problematic now than it has been for many years.
Hanks comments echo those of other artists who believe that censorship of old works is unnecessary and potentially harmful. As Hanks stated, were all grown-ups here. Lets have faith in our own sensibilities.
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