Talk of the Towne

Michael Wilmington’s opinion (“Tradition and Elegance in ‘Tequila Sunrise,’ Dec. 11) that Robert Towne is an elegant scenarist in the tradition of Hecht, Raphaelson, Sturges and Wilder puzzles me. None of those men found it necessary to use the kind of gutter language that besmirches “Tequila Sunrise” from beginning to end.

After reading the Wilmington piece I turned to Calendar’s Parental Guide. Of the 38 films listed under “Mature,” 20 bear warnings about language, although the listing of “Tequila Sunrise” contains no such caution.

I’m probably a voice crying in the wilderness in this regard, but I find this barrage of spoken obscenity no inducement to going to today’s movies. I’d rather rent old ones and relish the dialogue of Hecht, Raphaelson, Sturges and Wilder.

TONY THOMAS

Burbank