AP – Moore Film Title Angers Author Bradbury
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.”
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Bradbury, who hadn’t seen the movie, said he called Moore’s company six months ago to protest and was promised Moore would call back.
He finally got that call last Saturday, Bradbury said, adding Moore told him he was “embarrassed.”
“He suddenly realized he’s let too much time go by,” the author said by phone from his home in Los Angeles’ Cheviot Hills section.
Joanne Doroshow, a spokeswoman for “Fahrenheit 9/11,” said the film’s makers have “the utmost respect for Ray Bradbury.”
While I like Bradbury’s work and find Moore to be a rather loathsome creature, I don’t think Moore is doing anything wrong here. I’m no expert in copyright law but, if 2LiveCrew can put out a vile version of “Pretty Woman” over Roy Orbison’s objections, surely the use of the word “Fahrenheit”–which Bradbury didn’t invent, after all–is permissible.
