Your Mercedes-Benz dealers and the automaker in general took a stand against something they saw as too gritty. When the producers at Fox Searchlight asked them to allow their brand to be inserted into the new movie “Slumdog Millionaire,” Mercedes-Benz dealers denied them permission.
In addition to denying permission, Mercedes-Benz actually asked for their images to be taken out of the key scenes of the film. The automaker made a statement saying they don’t recall being asked for permission to use the brand in the film.
The movie in question takes place in India in the “slums of Mumbai.” The plot revolves around a penniless 18-year old orphan who is about to win the jackpot on “Who wants to be a Millionaire?” However, he is accused of cheating in the game and gets interrogated. During the interrogation, the audience is shown flashbacks about his life and how he new the answers to the questions on the game show.
The movie has already been criticized for its grittiness, but it has also been heralded as one of the best films of the year. Either way, I think it takes guts for Mercedes-Benz dealers and the automaker itself to refuse to have their brand in a movie that could tarnish their reputation. You can show your support by visiting a local Mercedes-Benz dealer near Cherry Hill, NJ or by leaving your comments on this topic below.
