jurisprudence

Roman Polanski and the ‘Heady Times’ Defense

The Times today has a fascinating story about how different our attitudes about sex with minors were back in the ‘70s when Roman Polanski committed his crime, including now-shocking details like the fact that his victim’s degree of sexual experience, and Polanski’s position as a Hollywood creative type were taken into account in the case. The piece ends with the conclusion that Woody Allen’s (massively overrated) Manhattan would never have been made now. Anyone who’s seen it in the past ten years can testify to the total creepiness of Allen’s on-screen relationship with Mariel Hemingway. Also, slightly related: Polanski is “depressed.†[NYT] [LAT]

Roman Polanski and the ‘Heady Times’ Defense