Continuity mistake: Ariel's prom dress is a plain pink one with a wide sash and a prominent bow in the back when we see her getting ready. When Ren helps her into his car the pink dress is bustled in the back and has a narrow ribbon around the waist. (01:28:40 - 01:30:00)
Continuity mistake: During the book-burning scene, when the Reverend sends the people home, in closeup it is obvious that he has a small rectangular pin attached to his upper jacket pocket. Before and after that specific closeup he wears no pin whatsoever. (00:21:20 - 00:22:10)
Continuity mistake: When Ariel and Rusty are at the diner discussing Ren, Ariel has a French fry in her hand halfway up to her mouth, but when the shot changes her hands are back to the bowl of fries. The bowl of fries move closer to her between shots as well.
Answer: The belief was that rock and roll was the root cause of the accident. The adults who supported the ban believed that rock and roll influenced the teens to do things they wouldn't normally do, such as drinking and driving.
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