Congressman Probes Paid Use of Cigarettes in Films

An Ohio Congressman, concerned that tobacco companies may be using motion pictures to promote their products, has asked the six major U.S. cigarette makers to disclose names of any movies in which they paid to have their brands appear on screen.

In letters to the companies dated Jan. 25, Rep. Thomas A. Luken, (D-Ohio), chairman of the House subcommittee on transportation, tourism and hazardous materials, asked for the list by Feb. 10, along with a copy of agreements between cigarette manufacturers and film makers. The request covers all movies made in the last 10 years. Luken also asked the companies to disclose whether any scripts were changed to include smoking scenes.

But the nation’s two largest cigarette makers, Philip Morris and RJR Nabisco’s Reynolds Tobacco unit denied Friday that they pay to have their brands shown in films. The other companies could not be reached.

Against Company Policy

Company policy “prohibits our paying to have our products placed in movies,” said Betsy Annese, a vice president for communications with Reynolds Tobacco. Annese said she did not know how long the policy has been in effect.

“We don’t pay money to get cigarettes in movies or cigarette signage in movies,” said Tom Ricke, director of corporate communications for Philip Morris Cos. Inc., adding that the policy has been in effect “for at least 10 years.” Ricke said the company occasionally agrees to requests from film makers for cigarettes and signs, and has “from time to time provided, as a courtesy, promotional clothing to cast and crew.”

It is a common practice for consumer products companies to use motion pictures as advertising vehicles. Anti-smoking groups accuse cigarette makers of using films as a way to promote smoking without interference from warning labels or the ban on broadcast advertising.

Luken announced the request at a national conference of health and medical groups, including the American Medical Assn. and American Lung Assn., involved in smoking-control efforts. Luken and several other congressmen were on hand to discuss anti-smoking legislation that will be before the 101st Congress, including a proposed ban on cigarette advertising and promotion backed by Luken.

Believed First Request

A Luken aide said he believes that this is the first time a congressional panel has sought information about possible promotional arrangements between tobacco companies and film makers.

“We want to find out the extent to which the merchants of addiction are paying the film producers to get cigarettes used in movies,” Luken said in a prepared statement. “This practice is a subtle way of getting young people to smoke and also has the effect of circumventing the federal ban on cigarette advertising on television,” he charged.