"The Andromeda Strain" was G rated, with the suspense, the potential for annihilation by aliens, the dead bodies, the powdered blood, etc.
I. Drink. Your. Milkshake! [slurp!] I DRINK IT UP! - Daniel Plainview - There Will Be Blood

As much as I enjoyed the movie, I agree with you completely.

"G" at that time meant "General Audiences". The rating system was very new at time. Not every "G" film was a kiddie/family film. There were films that were aimed at a strictly adult audience (such as the Odd Couple) that got the "G" rating. The reason why it wasn't for kids was due to subject matter: Two divorced middle-aged men,living together and driving each other crazy!!
A lot of the "G's" around that time would probably be re-rated as "PG-13" or "PG" by today's standards.

It'd be an extremely mild PG-13 today and the FU joke would be spelled out for the audience.
"Listen, do you smell something? -Ray Stantz"

yeah I would have to say that you are right in that regard,, kinda makes you wonder how it really got a G rating back in the day,, I know it wouldn't have today.
are you going to bark all day little doggie,, or are you going to bite

not too long before this movie, there were no ratings. then it was G, R or X. PG was introduced as GP, PG13 came much later. so if they only had G, R, or X.go with G

i just wonder, why did the catholic motion picture office [formerly the "legion of decency"] condemn this movie?

You people have to remember that in 1968, the MPAA rating system was in its infantcy and G ratings back then did not necessarily mean family films until the seventies. Something like The Odd Couple was fine for general audiences back in the day. It would most likely skate by with a PG rating today as the profanity is very mild and the suicide attempt is not taken as a serious event. In the 1970s and 1980s there were films that dropped the F bomb and still got PG ratings, like Sixteen Candles, All The President's Men, The Right Stuff, The Front, Big, Caddyshack 2, Mommie Dearest.

I was a bit surprised by the rating also, but G-rated movies like "Airport" from 1970 had discussions of terrorism, infidelity and abortion, so this is much milder.
I guess the people old enough to get the innuendo wouldn't need parental guidance, and those who didn't get it wouldn't be disturbed or ask their parents for an explanation.
Was I the only one who thought there was a double entendre when they bowling and Oscar says something to the effect of: "I need to hold something soft for a change"?

I personally would have an M rating

Well the movie was released about six months before the ratings took effect. Also, at the time there were only four ratings: "G", "M"(for Mature), "R" and "X".
The "M" rating was much like what a PG-13 rating is today. So if you had to choose between an "M" rating and a "G" rating, the "G" is more reflective of the content.

I agree.

Yeah, i agree with that.

It should be rated PG at most, not PG-13. There's nothing there that warrants a PG-13 rating.

I had to check the back of the DVD case of my copy of the DVD and son-of-a-gun you're right "The Odd Couple" actually has a "G" rating
It should be at least rated PG-13, after what you mentioned.
Rusty
"On screen Winona stands out like a polar bear on black velvet" Timothy Leary about his Goddaughter