On November 1, 1968, the voluntary MPAA film rating system took effect,[2] with three organizations serving as its monitoring and guiding groups: the MPAA, the National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO), and the International Film Importers & Distributors of America (IFIDA).[15] Only films that premiered in the United States after that date were affected by this.
Funny story.
Any movie made before the MPAA system was implemented was grandfathered in as “G”
There were some wild pre-Code movies that are legally G.
That’s objectively not true. Studios could choose to have a movie rated or not. Many are just “un-rated”.
Many were rated as G because post-Hayes Code but pre-MPAA ratings, most would have earned a G anyway
Gotta love those pre-code G-rated pornos.
On November 1, 1968, the voluntary MPAA film rating system took effect,[2] with three organizations serving as its monitoring and guiding groups: the MPAA, the National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO), and the International Film Importers & Distributors of America (IFIDA).[15] Only films that premiered in the United States after that date were affected by this.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motion_Picture_Association_film_rating_system#References
If a movie wasn’t rated it was open to all audiences, hence “G.”
Wait. Fucking NATO is why I couldn’t watch the dark knight in theaters?