Varsity Theatre to stop editing movies

A long-standing agreement with film distributor Swank Motion Pictures allowed BYU to edit movies to remove profanity, nudity, excessive violence, and sexual innuendo. After finding out about the editing, Sony Pictures sent a letter asking BYU to stop. BYU officials contacted close to 10 major film companies for permission to edit films, but the universal answer was no. BYU had already been reviewing its policy for several months before the controversy in American Fork, where Paramount told a theater to cease and desist from showing an edited version of “Titanic.”

The Varsity Theatre stopped editing movies effective 4 August 1998. The theater will now only show movies thatmeet BYU standards without editing.

“Discussions with suppliers of films and film companies have made it clear that BYU will not be able to secure formal approval to continue editing films,” said Carri Jenkins, Director of Media Communications. “BYU will discontinue editing movies for the Varsity Theatre ... (and) will continue to exercise judgment and prudence in the choice of films that it shows on the BYU campus.”