MORE ‘BABYSITTING’

I saw “Adventures in Babysitting” and totally disagree with movie critic Gary Franklin’s comments about racial stereotyping (Outtakes, by Patrick Goldstein, July 5).

The role of the car thief could have been played by any race, which means it’s not stereotypical. I suppose he feels that by choosing a black for the role we’ll think that all car thieves are black?

Does he really think we’re that ignorant? If the car thief had robbed or raped the kids, then I could understand the concern, but he was the good guy in the film! He felt for the children, he had values, and in the end he saves them from his “white” boss. I’m of Italian descent, and would like to know how Franklin reviewed movies like “The Godfather I and II,” “Prizzi’s Honor” or “The Untouchables,” which depict Italians as Mafia killers, drug runners and prostitute kings. Should I have protested those movies?

Should whites protest Eddie Murphy’s “Beverly Hills Cop” movies because they make the white cops look like idiots? Of course not. If we were all that picky, no films would get made. To single out “Adventures in Babysitting” is ridiculous.

Maybe it’s not being protested because there’s no need to. Has Franklin talked to blacks who have seen the film and asked how they feel about it, not how he feels about it for them? Does he feel that blacks should be excluded from any film where they have nothing less than an honorable profession, even if they are the hero?

Now that sounds prejudiced, and ignorant! I think Franklin should go see Ted Turner and get his mind colorized. He seems to see in only black-and-white.

JOHN T. AQUILA

Canoga Park