The man drugged and raped a 13 year old girl. Why should we care if he dies in prison? Also, what do the horrible things that happened to him in the past have to do with his punishment? A lot of criminals have had awful lives. Do we punish them less harshly because of that? The fact that his arrest may be on a "prosecutor's whim" doesn't change the fact that he committed a crime and fled before he could be punished.

I hate to say it, but I would imagine that in the early 70's, when this crime was committed, there were probably thousands of girls and boys being drugged and molested on a daily basis in Hollywood, and New York, and all over America.

He hasn't been in America in thirty years. He's missed out on the Olive Garden, Chuck E Cheese and krispy Kreem....isn't that punishment enough?

Wow...

Serious subject matter on Movieline?

Nice.

Seriously delicate topic.

While the be all, end all seems to be the most obvious (that you don't have sex with a minor) it seems that there are elements associated with this thing that need to be explored.

I wasn't there and have no idea what truly happened and you should (obviously) NEVER have sex with a minor even if they "want" (or seem to) it.

If he Mother brought her there and left them alone in that situation then the Mother should be brought to trial alongside Polanski.

Let's be honest, it was the early 70s and he was a well known film director. Are we saying the mother had no idea what was going on, or COULD happen in that environment?

A foreign guy whose culture doesn't have the same Puritanical restrictions associated with sexual acts?

BACK UP, name callers-

I'm NOT saying it's okay to have sex with kids. That's deplorable. I'm just saying, put some responsibility on the Mom as well.

If I leave my 13 year old daughter in a cave with a hungry bear, should I be surprised if she comes out missing an arm or leg?

He was wrong, but the Mother, it seems was way more wrong for introducing the opportunity.

Remember, we're not talking about leaving her in the care of a Priest back in the 70s (insert your joke here). We're talking about a Mom who left her with a film director who could conceivably (insert second joke) help her career.

That seems more offensive to me.

I'm NOT giving him a pass, but the tree doesn't grow unless you drop the seed, right?

(Oh, the joke potentials.)

Go ahead, call me a "Pedophile Enabler" and "Rape Fan."

Whatever gets the discussion rolling...

I wish these Hollywood types who are defending him had a little more care for the young girls who are hearing that it is okay to drug and rape children as long as you're a famous artiste with a tragic background.

If he died in jail then it would just be life imitating art -- how appropriate. Maybe someone could make a movie?

It is amazing how most "civilians" seem to think this was a crime and punishment should follow, yet many "professional artists" think otherwise.

The job of the "professional artist" is to reflect the will of the common man. How can they when their thought process is so different?

Do these "fellow artists" who are standing up for Polanski realize they are condoning drugging a 13-year-old for vaginal and anal "intercourse"? That they are condoning being a fugitive from the law?

A major issue> one reason to jail someone who has committed Polanski's crime is to keep them from committing the same crime, again. They can be released only after psychiatric evaluation has proven they understand the nature of the crime and won't re-create the incident. Seems a little late for that, BUT when you are speeding in traffic and a cop attempts to pull you over, if you run and the cop has to chase you down that is taken into account when sentencing occurs. People forget, TWO crimes have been committed by Polanski. The initial crime plus the fact he fled the law.

If even ONE other victim was to make a similar accusation towards Polanski, the people defending him would change their tune real fast.

Yeah, I have a hard time mustering up a lot of sympathy for him. He plead guilty to raping a 13 year old girl and then took off when it looked like the plea agreement (a sweetheart deal, from what I understand) might be falling apart. If he would have gone through the sentencing process and served some real time, which would have likely been reversed on appeal anyway given the judge's actions, this would have all been said and done years ago. The awful things that have happened in the past don't mitigate the crime he plead guilty but was never sentenced for, anymore than the would any other man who was guilty of raping a 13 year old girl. And, I also wouldn't categorize trying to make a man who is guilty of raping a 13 year old girl serve his sentence a "politically motivated whim". If they were chasing him down for some old drug conviction I would see it as way out of line, but this was a serious violent crime.

Honestly, this is not an issue I feel particularly strongly about, it just leaves a bad taste in my mouth to see all these people rushing to his defense, as if being sentenced to prison time for raping a 13 year old girl is some sort of outrageous punishment. The reason he is now 76 and sitting in prison, vs. 40-whatever and sitting in prison, is because he fled.

Personally, in 1978 I committed a felony (armed robbery), was arrested, jumped bail and moved on with my life which included three children, one grandchild, beginning doctoral work at a major university, becoming a police officer myself to help work my way through college, and ministry and counseling to senior, teens, terminally ill, homeless and other marginalized individuals in our society. I was arrested on the outstanding warrant for that crime in 2007. Just because I moved on, doesn't mean our legal system is obligated to. And, they are right. When ever there are victims, someone has to stand up for them. For by standing up for one, we stand up for all. That's why they call it justice. If Polanski is so wonderful and such a value added component to our society, let that be determined by the society from which he is receiving such extraordinary benefits. Let's not forget, this is a crime he pled guilty to. He should submmit himself to the American judicial system. Our prisons and jails weren't made for young minority males only. That's not just advice or an opinion, that's what I did in the pursuit of being a moral person.

THis isnt a culture war. This isnt about destabilising a film festival. A 13 year old girl was drugged and raped, and as for Harvey Weinsteins article in this mornings independent- here is what I think of it-
http://deeplyflawedbuttrying.wordpress.com/2009/09/29/guest-post-on-httpdmhatingfemisfromhell-blogspot-com/.
Morally bankrupt and abhorrent. Rape is not a perk of celebrity.

He survived the Holocaust. He survived the Manson Family. He fancied himself invincible. He's a tragic figure and tragic figures end badly. Artists should know this.

I do not understand a single defense offered up by these Hollywood sychophants. How does his history somehow mitigate his repugnant crime? I have to wonder how many excuse this because it was common practice among their elite crowds.

So what if he dies in jail, if he had not fled 30 years ago that would not be such an issue today, would it? And the victim's forgiveness - while extremely noble - is compromised by any emotional damage that was wrought on her 13 year old psyche by this predator.

And the vitriol towards the judge and prosecutor does nothing to lessen the crime that was committed, a crime that Polanski confessed to, let us not forget. Exactly how does politicising the motivations of the legal professionals dilute the heinous act that was committed? Factor in the extremely high rate of recidivism found with pedophiles and that amounts to 3 decades of people sheilding this predator while he was free to possibly exact more torment on more victims. Sorry, I cannot muster any sympathy except for the hell that woman has been grappling with all this time.

The victim is, yet again, quoted in CNN today as saying that the judicial system has done significantly more damage to her and her family than Polanski ever did.
Everyone in America always screams about victims' rights, etc, but nobody actually wants to listen to the victim in this case.
astonishing.

Two memes from "Wanted and Desired" have emerged as holy writ by Polanski's defenders, when both are enormously suspect.

The first is that Judge Rittenband engaged in judicial misconduct by discussing the case with David Wells, a deputy district attorney not involved in the case. "Proof" of this comes solely in the form of an interview with Wells, a gasbag blowhard whose stories on the matter are all of the "and then I set him straight" variety that anyone with a gasbag blowhard uncle will recognize as enormously suspect, particularly since Rittenband is dead.

The second is that "publicity-hound" Rittenband was going to renege on a promise that Polanski's 45-day incarceration for a psych evaluation would serve as his entire sentence in order to pander to the outraged public. It's a theory; another is that he played no part in any deal prosecutors were themselves in no position to make, and just happened to agree with the public's not-necessarily-bloodthirsty view that 45 days is a ridiculously light punishment for the crimes to which Polanski pled guilty.

I don't really care if Polanski goes to jail or goes free. Nevertheless, Polanski wouldn't have to be dealing with any of it now (nor would we) if he hadn't exponentially complicated his predicament by panicking and running.

Gawd, if I said how I really feel about this, everyone would hate me. But I want to thank S.T. for the phrase "sex with an adolescent girl." If I see the words "child rapist" one more time, I'm gonna fuck a kid.

Yes, great artists should be above the law to some extent. They contribute something to society way beyond the stunted imaginations of the gossips and prudes who point their delicately tapered fingers at them.

Lock him up and throw away the key. His is the kind of behavior I will only tolerate from republican senators and/or governors.

Two things about this:

“How do you go from the Holocaust to the Manson family with any sort of dignity? In those circumstances, most people could not contribute to art and make the kind of beautiful movies he continues to make.”

1. Yes, because no great works of art have ever come from anything resembling a tortured artist.
2. I have seen The Ninth Gate, and, frankly, it was less artistic than raping a tween.

I don't understand why the fact that the victim has forgiven Polanski has any bearing on his crime of fleeing the country before serving his sentence. He pled guilty and then ran away. Wouldn't any other fugitive have to face that? I just don't see why he should get a pass.

Personal advice to Mr. Polanski: Next time, just kill your ex-wife.

I can't wait for the new film school brochures with a coupon good for one free child rape upon graduation. Noble professions deserve noble rewards.

oh and let's not forget that roman will be tried for escaping the u.s. as a fugitive not necessarily for the rape case.

also besides "forget it roman, it's switzerland..." and "this is what happens when you fuck a stranger in the ass" how many movie quotes can one draw from this?

I'm for locking him up and throwing away the key, but a couple of points on this whole twisted mess:

1. I once worked in a (theatre exhibition company) office where the subject of Polanski came up. It was around the time of the Oscars and The Pianist. I posed the question of, "If you could work with Roman Polanski on a project, would you?" I was the only one in the room who said I wouldn't.

2. Sunnydaze: What Polanski did is rape AND statutory rape, besides fleeing, etc., etc. There were probably a ton of other charges that could have been thrown in.

3. Bess Marvin is correct in speculating that this may not have been the only time it happened. I have no proof, but the party/artistic circle that Polanski traveled in (Nicholson et al.) was notorious for this sort of thing. Bob Rafelson in particular makes my skin crawl. And Jack, I love you, but how you could be around this crap sickens me. Go read some Peter Biskind books if you don't believe me.

4. Old No. 7- man, was Sharon Tate hot.

Perhaps he'll luck out and get 5 years of house arrest like Debra LaFave did for raping the 14 year old boy in Florida. Of course, this is California so...

Fasten each of his limbs to a horse, creating a snow angel four-points compass position, and then pass around the popcorn as hilarity ensues.

Let's all just hug it out. (18+ please.)

I think it's sort of an odd move for Wes Anderson to sign the pro-Polanski petition when he has a CHILDREN'S MOVIE coming out in a few weeks.

I hope California spent a lot of money making this happen.

Oh, way to bring out the opinionated lurking crazies, btw, ST. If it's not M.J dying, it's this or an Oscar hosting post [and this is where I'd insert my rolling eyes emoticon].

sad post.

your "who benefits" approach is ridiculous.

who benefits from tracking down Nazis 50 years later? Why not just let them be? They are old. Leave them alone.

The plaintiff is not the victim. The plaintiff is the people of California.

this is not a culture war. go look at the comments on the NYT. they are 99% for extradition. go poll the man on the street in France. they support his extradition.

as for California wasting resources: a) they are "wasted" on prosecuting a fugitive who anally raped a girl and b) they wouldn't have had to waste all this time if Polanski had showed up for his hearings.

While we're at it, can we let Manson go too? Who really remembers what the guy did at this point, and a lot of those so-called "murder victims" were probably really weird and thought it would be cool to die. The point is that he's an incredible poet and songwriter and the closed-minded world secretly wants to punish him for his talent.

Movie line should stick to movies.

This article is just as biased toward Polanski as the crazy yahoos who believe that he is above the law. Because of Polanski's very unfortunate early life, and the Hollywood life that he created for himself, the public thinks he's untouchable-a god. They think he deserves all the positive that he can handle because of all of the negative he had been dealt.

If you have negitively impacted someone's life, as Polanski did, you should be held responsible for that. Imagine YOURSELF at thirteen years old with this man. You can imagine exactly what it would have been like if you have enough imagination and sense.

He's going to die whilst incarcerated. I'm just sorry he was so late in obtaining the lease for his new digs.

First, after the incident in question, Polanski went on to have a relationship with a 15 year old Natasha Kinski. One would assume this was consensual, but it does show that his rape of this 13 year old wasn't the only time he had sex with an underage girl and may point to a trend in his taste.

Second, plea agreements are made between the defense and the prosecution, judges are not required to accept them. This wasn't the first time a plea agreement was not accepted, nor was it the last. Most people just don't have the funds to buy houses in other countries or the connections to have world famous stars and heads of state stand up for them. Polanski doesn't even know if his plea would have been accepted or not because he ran before he could be sentenced when it looked like things weren't going his way.

Third, he spent some of the better years of his life on the lam, which was his own choice, and now, as an elderly man, he might have to go to jail. This is his own fault. Hiding out until you're 76 and "could die in jail" does not make a rapist deserving of sympathy. Anyone, at any age, could die in jail or not.

Fourth, statutory rape does NOT imply consent, it means that one person was unable to legally give consent.