Bradbury, author of classic 'Fahrenheit 451' angry at Moore

Ray Bradbury, the famed scifi and fantasy author, is furious that Moore lifted the title of 'Fahrenheit 9/11' from his classic novel that dealt with the banning of literature:

apnews.myway.com...

"LOS ANGELES (AP) - Ray Bradbury is demanding an apology from filmmaker Michael Moore for lifting the title from his classic science-fiction novel "Fahrenheit 451" without permission and wants the new documentary "Fahrenheit 9/11" to be renamed.
"He didn't ask my permission," Bradbury, 83, told The Associated Press on Friday. "That's not his novel, that's not his title, so he shouldn't have done it."

For those who haven't read the book, government censorship of anti-government materials isn't the main reason why books are all burned... Mostly, books in the story are destroyed because independent ideas can cause conflict and suffering ('hate crimes', if you will). The book is actually a critique of both the right AND left.

More free publicity for Moore!

He must have a warm inner glow by now if the Palme d'Or didn't do it for him.

Fahrenheit 451 may well have been a classic, it's a matter of taste. And why did governments (including the US) want to ban it for so long? The parallels are interesting.

F-451 was a classic work of literture, an excellant and thought-provoking read. And I totaly agree witht he critizings about the right and left in the book.

As for Bradbury being pissed off, I don't blame him. If someone took the name of my novel and twisted itso slightly as int he numbers I'd get angry too,.

What took Bradbury so long? That's been the publicized title for close to a year.

Anyway, nothing's going to happen....just as Al Franken handed O'Reilly his hat over his mockery of an infringement case.

I think if the producers of the movie Dude, Where's My Car and the band Camper Van Beethoven can handle their prior spoofings by notorious spoofster Moore, I think Ray wil get over it.

Speaking of which...Ray's 83? Hmmmmm....

Strange that Bradbury's so pissed. The movie only goes to validate his story , anyway !
He should be thrilled, knowing that his story has become such a part of the culture that a reference to it's very name can be used to fight the very thing his book railed against.
Some anti-Moore people have been cackling that legal action will be taken, but you can't copyright a title...and even if there were such a law, it's only a similar title, not the same.

Hrm, it is curious that Bradbury took so long to comment on this, especially seeing as the movie is coming out next week (I think). I can see why he'd be a bit angry about it, though. I wonder if he's actually angry about manipulating the title, or the politics involved (I'm not aware of his political stance)

Regardless, Farenheit 451 was an excellent book, I'm a huge fan of all of Bradbury's works.

it borders on pathetic that bradbury would make such a stink about moore's "borrowing".... of a title that ITSELF is less than original....

"farenheit" was a household term in the public domain long before bradbury used it for his seminal novel, was it not?.

if R.B. could write passable new material he wouldn't have to stoop to joining the "bash mike moore" bandwagon in the december of his years....

I did get the two confused when I first heard about the movie. It took me a while to snap that it wasn't the same or a sequel or something like that. I can see where Ray would be upset. If I were him I wouldn't worry about it though. He's 83, he should be taking it easy and enjoying life and he should look at it like he must have really accomplished something to still be so popular that people are using his book/movie to advance their own work. Moore, what an asshole.

Originally posted by victor was right
it borders on pathetic that bradbury would make such a stink about moore's "borrowing".... of a title that ITSELF is less than original....

"farenheit" was a household term in the public domain long before bradbury used it for his seminal novel, was it not?.

if R.B. could write passable new material he wouldn't have to stoop to joining the "bash mike moore" bandwagon in the december of his years....

The title of the movie was deliberately intended to invoke the memory of Bardbury's book... without the context of the Bradbury title, the movie title makes no sense (not that it makes sense to people who have actually read the book).

Moore is trying to say that his info is being censored in some way... though NO ONE told him he couldn't make the movie. Just as publishers have the right to turn down movie scripts, studios have the right to pass on movies. Moore, in picking that title, is trying to say that he is a victim.

Another way to look at it is that the heat was on after 9/11.

Fahrenheit 451, the temperature at which books burn.

Originally posted by Ouroboros
Another way to look at it is that the heat was on after 9/11.

Fahrenheit 451, the temperature at which books burn.

And if I recall correctly, when mention of the movie was first made, the title was

9/11, The temperature at which freedom burns.

I havent seen the movie yet, but it kinda makes me angry the way he lifted the title from the book, because it somewhat represents the future of this country, the use of the title in a movie is even more offensive to Bradbury, and his literature.

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOODDDDDDDDDDD!!!!!!!!!!!!!

bradbury SHOULD be angry! I too, like several of you, was shocked that Moore would rip the title. The movie, from what Ive heard, is not quite a supporter of literature (like 451 is) its more just a america bashing spree.

Im glad bradbury made notice of this, sure its free publicity for moore, but at least this might get more people the read farenheit 451.

and 9/11 the temperature at which freedom burns........thank goodness he didnt name it that, id be even more angry. its much sneakier and alot less people would make the connection ( thats the subhead of farenheit 451- the temperature at which books burn).

Victor::...have you read any bradbury whatsoever? Bradbury doesnt have to stoop, my friend.Farenheit isnt a "household term" like Wheaties. Its just a word! Farenheit 911 is an exact rip of farenheit 451 and its obvious to anyone whose read the book.

does moore make ANY mention of bradbury in the movie? does he open it with a passage of 451?

451 is a censorship, literature, truth, and society.

its not about how much bush sucks

[edit on 6-26-04 by Scat]

Heh i havent seen the F-9/11 yet either(hopefully i will here soon) but the use of Bradburys title for the movie is annoying. Farenheit 451 is what one would say is a great work of literature . Farenheit 9/11 as it has been described to me, seems like a feeble attempt to bash America and its leadership.

That being said ill get back with you on my opinion once i see the movie for myself.

Interesting. While Bradbury may feel he has a moral right, *legally* he has no grounds for griping. I was surprised to find out that titles are NOT copyrightable -- and, in fact, Moore's title is perfectly legal and may be considered satire (and the film does have its satirical elements.)

I think it's far too late for Bradbury now.

Bradbury is upset because he is working a deal to get a Farenheit 451 movie remade. With the success of Farenheit 911 movie goers could be potentially confused if another movie called Farenheit 451 comes out and movie studios do not want that kind of problem. The studios will end up passing on the deal. The problem isn't political. The problem is $$$

I'm a huge fan of Bradbury, but what about the following titles of books by Ray Bradbury himself:

I Sing the Body Electric - Walt Whitman

The Golden Apples of the Sun - W. B. Yeats

Somthing Wicked This Way Comes - W. Shakespeare

When Elephants Last in the Dooryard Bloomed - Walt Whitman (mangled)

That last one is far more egregious than what Moore did with Bradbury's title. Would Walt Whitman understand if he were alive? Impossible to know. The fact that all the quoted authors in these instances are dead is irrelevant since Bradbury is trying to make a moral argument for the integrity of his own title.



[edit on 21-7-2004 by the lost emperor]

That's stupid! Fahrenheit is just a word. It's not as though the movie is named "Fahrenheit 451". If I use the word "Star" in a title, do you think Star Trek or Star Wars authors should get angry? There have been many movies and books with similar titles. It's not uncommon, nor is it stealing anything. There is no copyright on the word itself. He's being unreasonable, IMO.