Caged Fury
Dir Bill Milling / 1989 / USA
Hoyts distribution had a 94 min version of this woman in prison movie banned in 1990. Home Cinema Group then picked up the rights and in 1996 presented the OFLC with a 92min (v) version, again this was banned. The following year it was passed with an R18+ (Frequent Coarse Language, Sex Scenes and Medium Level Violence) when cut to 81mins (v) (80min 37sec to be exact). That's over 10minutes minutes of missing footage!It goes without saying to avoid the Home Cinema Group tape. Not to be confused with the other women in prison movie of the same name released here on K-Tel video, and directed by Ciro.H.Santiago
Caged Women
aka Barbed Wire Dolls
Dir Jess Franco / 1975 / Switzerland
For reasons of indecency and excessive violence, between 1976 and 77 Blake Films had to cut this Franco WIP movie from 82 to 74 mins for an R rated cinema release. An appeal was lodged against the original ban, but was upheld by the Review Board. 25 years on, and with the sexual violence guidelines tighter than ever, there is still no way that this would see an uncut release here. Never released on video in Australia.
Calamity of Snakes
Dir William Chang / 1982 / Hong Kong
June 1983 saw Golden Reel Films Pty Ltd submit a 2276.69mtr (83m 13s) print
to the censors. Cuts totalling 140mtr (5m 06s) were required due to:
Violence
Frequency: Infrequent
Explicitness/Intensity: High
Purpose: Gratuitous
The censored version received an R-rating for:
Violence
Frequency: Frequent
Explicitness/Intensity: Medium
Purpose: Gratuitous
Other: Horror
This version went on to have a Chinese language theatrical release. Although not listed as such, it would be fair to guess that most of these cuts were made to remove footage of animal cruelty. The uncut film contains numerous scenes of real snakes being killed.
In 1985, footage from CALAMITY OF SNAKES was taken and edited into a bizarre
U.S. film called THE SERPENT
WARRIORS. This was picked-up for distribution in Australia by the Taft
Hardie Group who submitted it to the censors in August 1987. The 89m videotape
was rated M for:
Violence
Frequency: Frequent
Explicitness/Intensity: Medium
Purpose: Gratuitous
The CIC-TAFT Video/THG Video that followed actually runs 84m 23s. Approximately the first 20m and the final 30m is made up of footage from CALAMITY OF SNAKES. The middle portion consists of newly shot U.S. footage. As you can expect, the two films do not mix at all, and the final movie is a mess. At the time it's fair to guess that the Classification Board would have had no idea that the majority of the footage came from CALAMITY OF SNAKES. A film they had insisted on five minutes of cuts to just four years earlier.
Caligula-The Untold Story
Dir Joe D'Amato / 1981 / Italy
The missing footage discussed for this film is not the work of the OFLC!
Video Classics had a 2605mtr (95min 13sec) passed with an R18+ rating in February 1984. They had a 95min (v) again awarded an R18+ in May 1984. The Video Classics tape that followed is the soft-version of the film and actually runs 90min 49sec. There was obviously no way that the films hardcore sex, and bestiality footage of a horse would find its way onto tape here.
Campus
Prod Shiyuuta Biwajima - Chikara Niki - Digital Works / 2002 / Japan
The missing footage discussed for this film is not the work of the OFLC. However, the distributor pre-cut before submission in anticipation of Oflc problems.
Siren Visual Entertainment had a DVD rated R18+ (High Level Sex Scenes) on December 18th 2003.
Despite being listed as the ORIGINAL version, the DVD had actually been pre-cut prior to submission. According to Siren, minor cuts were made, but only in relation to any sexual violence connotations, which would not pass under any circumstances.
This was eventually released on DVD in 2004 on a double-bill with the similarly censored GIRL NEXT DOOR.
Siren re-released the film as a single feature in May 2007 as part of their Hentai Collection.
Full marks to Siren for admitting the cuts. Unfortunately, the OFLC statistics now record these as never having had censorship problems. This situation is widespread in the X18+ category.
Cannibal Apocalypse
Dir Anthony.M.Dawson / 1980 / Italy
For reasons of violence, Roadshow had to remove 58seconds before a 97min (f) print was rated R in November 1981. Palace Explosive released this cut on video in the early 80's, and had it reviewed in 1984, and confirmed as an R at 91mins (v).The exact running time is 91min 11sec, and the only cut that I noticed occurs around the 62min mark. Charlie is shown picking up a power saw, but the subsequent cutting of the guys leg is missing. Released uncut on video in the UK by Replay (92min 06sec), this went on to become another video nasty.
A modified version of this played late at night on one of Sydney's commercial TV stations around 1992-93.
Cannibal Ferox
aka Woman from Deep River
Dir Umberto Lenzi / 1981 / Italy
Superstar International Films received an R rating for a 2454.14mtr (89min 42Sec) print in March 1982. The film was retitled WOMAN FROM DEEP RIVER in Australia to cash in on Lenzi's Man from Deep River. Although it is not listed as being pre-cut before submission, I would very much doubt that this was a complete version. The censors had no problems with the print that was submitted, and gave the reason for their decision as:
Violence
Frequency: Frequent
Explicitness/Intensity: Medium
Purpose: Gratuitous
Other
Drugs
Violence that is described as Medium in Explicitness/Intensity does not sound like an uncut CANNIBAL FEROX!
***
Released cut on tape by Video Classics, this was reviewed by the censors in 1984, when they confirmed it as an R at 90mins (v). The actual runtime is 85min 59sec, around three minutes shorter than the uncut film. Scenes missing from the Video Classics tape are as follows.
43min 04sec- Close up of a natives eye being cut out by Mike.
51min 46sec- Natives opening up Joe's stomach, eating his intestines, then turning and walking away.
54min 35sec- Shot of Mike's penis being cut off.
54min 56sec- Shot of Salvation Army Band playing
in New York. Shot of car pulling up next to Mike's girlfriend, and two men
getting out.
MG "Why do you want to meet out here?" "Did Mike send
you?"
"Where is Mike?"
M1 "Don't worry Honey, you know very well where that son of a bitch
is, and you're going to tell us"
M2 "Come on bitch, where's your stud?" He then hits her face
twice.
MG "I don't know where Mike is"
M2 "Wrong answer" He then kicks her in the face.
MG "Lay off me you bastards"
75min 04sec- Close up shot of the hook entering Pat's breast, and a shot of her face screaming.
77min 57sec- Slow zoom into a shot of Pat hanging with the hooks through her breasts.
78min 51sec- Shot of Mike under the table with the top of his head missing. Two cannibals then take pieces of his brain.
There is a second Australian VHS of this on a 1995 'No Name Label'. Thanks to Ben for checking out this. He says that the tape runs around 88mins and not the 95min as listed on the box. Although it is still censored, it is not a dub of the Video Classics tape as it contains the scene cut at 54min 56sec from that release.
***
One report from 2005 of a customs confiscation of the Austrian Sazuma Productions Ultrabit Edition DVD. The reason given was:
"under subsection 203B(2) being goods suspected on reasonable grounds to be special fortified goods."
"[a]n authorised person believes person believes on reasonable grounds that the said goods are forfeited to the Crown pursuant to Section 229 of the Customs Act 1901. The above DVD is deemed to breach Regulation 4A(1A)(a) of the customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulations.
***
Siren Visual Entertainment gave the film a DVD release in February 2005. This version is uncut at 88min 57sec, and contains all of the above scenes.
Cannibal Holocaust
Dir Ruggero Deodato / 1979 / Italy
Another of the UK's video nasties has also found itself banned here. In 1983 Fox Columbia Film Distribution had the 96min (f) version refused. A few months later another print, cut to 89min (f) was also refused. No video release has ever been given in Australia. There have been several reports of this being targeted by customs.In November 2002 the OFLC banned the debut DVD release of US Death Metal band Necrophagia. Titled Through The Eyes Of The Dead , it contains their tribute to CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST. This Jim Van Bebber directed clip contains actual footage from the movie. This may have been one of the reasons for the disc being refused classification.
***
This title has been constantly targeted by customs.
1992: I have a report of a video tape being forwarded to the OFLC who confirmed that it was banned.
1998: A copy of the Dutch Cult Epics Laserdisc was confiscated.
2002:
The Dutch EC Entertainment DVD was taken, the reason given was:
"The
above items are prohibited and subject to regulation 4A(1A)(A) of the
customs (Prohibited Imports) regulations 1956"
2004: Another copy
of the Dutch EC Entertainment DVD, the reason given was:
An authorised person believes on reasonable
grounds that the said goods are forfeited
to the crown pursuant to sub-section 229(1)(b) of the Customs Act 1901
as a prohibited import.
Regulation 4A of the Customs (prohibited imports) Regulations provides that the importation of goods specified in Regulation 4A is prohibited unless the permission in writing of the minister or an authorised person to import the goods has been granted.
200?: DVD confiscated, label unknown. The reason given was:
One DVD titled CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST depicting
sexual violence.
***
In October 2005, 23 years after the first submission, it was finally passed for public exhibition in Australia. Siren Visual Entertainment were awarded an R18+ (High Level Sexual Violence, High Level Violence, Animal Cruelty) rating. The Australian Premiere took place in April 2006 when the uncut DVD was finally released.
Siren Newsletter April 2006
Cannibal Holocaust
Collectors edition: 2 Disc set featuring LOADS of special features,
presented in a deluxe digipack & slipcase
Banned in Australia since the early 80's, for years reviled as one of the most repugnant and morally questionable films ever made, and possibly the most horrifying ever. A very original piece, later to be stolen by the writers of The Blair Witch Project, CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST stands the test of time as the most brutal film ever made.
The two-disc Siren DVD was banned by the New Zealand OFLC in July 2006. It was deemed to be 'Objectionable'.
Cartel
Dir John Stewart / 1990 / USA
Video Distribution Company had this banned in 1991, then rated R the following year. Both the cut & uncut versions are listed at 105mins (v). The true running time of the tape released on the Hollywood Studios label is 91min 22sec. The cuts seem to take place in the scene that takes place around the 30min mark. Here the rape and murder of the hero's sister seems to be significantly toned down. One of the censored scenes is even pictured on the back of the video cover.This also ran into problems in the UK. The BBFC database list this as being submitted at 94min 9sec, and being cut to 92min 37sec for an 18 certificate.
Released on DVD in the US by Simitar.
Color Me Blood Red
Dir Herschell Gordon Lewis / 1965 / USA
BLOOD FEAST & 2000 MANIACS, the first two parts of the H.G Lewis gore trilogy arrived on video with no problems. However, in May 1985 when Palace came to release the 79min (v) third film, it was banned. The reason given was excessive violence. The planned release on the Palace Explosive label was abandoned.No video release ever appeared. Quite why this was refused, and the other two titles passed is a bit of a mystery. This would have to be the tamest (and most boring) of the trilogy.
It is possible that the presence of clips from this movie also contributed to the banning of the compilation video Terror on Tape.
A DVD was finally passed R18+ (Medium Level Violence) in February 2005. The applicant was Siren Visual Entertainment who gave the film it's belated Australian premiere soon after. A few days later the OFLC showed how little has really changed when they reconfirmed a ban on H.G. Lewis's final film, THE GORE GORE GIRLS.
Combat Shock
Dir Buddy Giovinazzo / 1986 / USA
This was first passed in October 1986 when a 93min 'Edited Version' was rated R. The following month a 100min tape was Refused Classification. Both were submitted by Delta Home Video. The reason given for the ban was violence, which was described as:
Frequency: Infrequent
Explicitness/Intensity: High
Purpose: Gratuitous
I have only seen two versions on Delta Home Video one runs 93min 40sec, and the other 95min 13sec. Both have exactly the same cover art. However, in his review of the film that appeared in the issue 7 of FATAL VISIONS magazine, Michael Helms states:
"This film has been released here in three versions. Lookout for the 105min tape"
Can anyone confirm the existence of a third 105min version? Note that both the other versions list 105min on the spine of the cover.
Troma have this out on DVD in the US.
Confessions of a Blue Movie Star
aka Evolution of Snuff
Dir Andrzej Kostenko and Karl Martine / 1977/ Germany
ANY missing footage discussed for this film is not the work of the OFLC!
Roadshow first had this passed with an R at 84mins (f), for cinema release in 1977; there is no mention of any cuts being made. This would probably not be the case now, as scenes from the (now banned) 'Last House on the Left' are included. Here they are presented as footage from a real snuff movie. Originally released in Australia under the title The Evolution of Snuff, though later in its cinema run this was changed to Confessions of a Blue Movie Star.Released in the UK uncut on tape in the early 80's by Intervision, running 79min 08sec. In the mid 90's a local video distributor began importing UK prints of films, packaging them as adult titles, and releasing them with fake R ratings. These were put out on labels such as Blue Climax, Private and Colour Climax (See also Naked Werewolf Woman). All are very tame affairs; cut by the British censors, some even have their 18 rating before the movie. Confessions of a Blue Movie Star was one such title, put out on the Private label and running 71min 27sec. The missing footage included the entire end sequence featuring the Last House on the Left clips.
Confessions of a Serial Killer
Dir Mark Blair / 1985 / USA
Like the also banned/cut Henry-Portrait of a Serial Killer, this film again deals with the story of Henry Lee Lucas.In 1994 Eagle Entertainment had to cut this from 89 to 87mins (v) in order to secure an R rating. This cut version is on video from Eagle Entertainment and runs 87min 11sec. Although the film is undoubtedly censored, it is not obvious from which scenes footage has been removed.
There is a UK DVD from Addictive Films. This particular release was passed in 2002 with a runtime of 95min 34sec. A US DVD was issued in 2004 on the New Concorde Home Entertainment label.
Convoy of Women
Dir Pierre Chevalier / 1974 / France-Italy
Palace had an 86min version of this Eurocine trash banned in 1986 for gratuitous sexual violence.
Cool Devices
Dir Kan Matsuda, Yuma Nakamura, Jiroh Hijikata, Yukihiro Makino / 1995 / Japan
A DVD box set of all eleven episodes of this Adult Japanese anime was seized by customs in 2001. Disc one (episode 1-4) and Disc three (episode 9-11) were released. Disc two, containing episodes 5-8 was Refused Classification due to sexual violence.
The individual episodes (called Operations) are titled, OPERATION 5: SEEK 1, OPERATION 6: SEEK 2 (SM QUEEN SAKI), OPERATION 7: YELLOW STAR, OPERATION 8: SLAVE WARRIOR MAYA 1. NuTech Digital, the US distributors describe this volume as the most notorious of the entire series.
Siren Visual Entertainment had a DVD titled COOL DEVICES rated R18+ (High level animated sex scenes, High level themes) on July 19th 2007. It was released as COOL DEVICES VOLUME 1 in October 2007, and contains:
OPERATION 1 - CURIOUS FRUIT (title on program)
Dir Osamu Shimokawa
27m 45s
OPERATION 2 - SACRED GIRL (title on program)
Dir Megumi Saki
25m 22s
Siren Visual Entertainment also had COOL DEVICES PART 2 - EPISODES 3 TO 6 (this is the title in the OFLC records) rated R18+ (High level animated sex scenes, high level themes) on August 28th 2007. It was released as COOL DEVICES VOLUME 2 in November 2007, and contains:
OPERATION 3A - LOVER DOLL
LOVE DOLL (title on DVD menu)
On the actual program no title is given.
Dir Hiroshi Matsuda
07m 18s
OPERATION 3B - WINTER SWIMSUIT
SWIMSUIT (title on DVD menu)
On the actual program only the words FUYUNO MIZUGI are shown.
Dir none given
05m 12s
OPERATION 10 - BINDING
BINDING (title on DVD menu and Program)
Dir Hiro Asano
23m 55s
OPERATION 11 - FALLEN ANGEL RINA
FALLEN ANGEL (title on DVD menu)
IDOL FALLEN ANGEL RINA (title on program)
Dir Kouji Yoshikawa
24m 09s
Note that Siren's website gives the following warning for their HENTAI COLLECTION.
The Siren Hentai Collection is the best Hentai anime sourced from around the world. Wherever possible titles have been presented uncut, but due to the graphic nature of the content, sometimes cuts have been made in order to comply with local government laws.
So despite COOL DEVICES being passed in their 'Original Versions', this does not mean that Siren did not pre-cut them before submission.
What we can say with certainty is that Siren has not released any of the following. These include some of the most notorious episodes in the series.
OPERATION 3C: ENEMA
OPERATION 4: KIREI
OPERATION 5:
SEEK 1
OPERATION 6: SEEK 2 (SM QUEEN SAKI)
OPERATION 7: YELLOW STAR
OPERATION 8: SLAVE WARRIOR MAYA 1
OPERATION 9: SLAVE WARRIOR MAYA 2
Corruption
Dir Robert Hartford-Davis / 1967 / UK
ANY missing footage discussed for this film is not the work of the OFLC!
The censors passed this in 1989 with an M at 87min (v) (87min 19sec).Shot in two versions, a harder European cut, and a softer one, released here on the RCA/Columbia label. The harder print shows Peter Cushing stabbing a topless prostitute, then smearing her blood over her breasts with his hands. In the Australian release she is fully clothed.
The European version, titled Laser Killer can be found on tape in France on the GIFM Colombus label.
Country Cuzzins
Dir Bethel G. Buckalew / 1970 / USA
Filmways had this Box Office International title banned in 1973. It was finally passed with an R rating in 1976 after being cut from 94min (f) to 79min (f). A cinema release followed.
It was again refused in 1981 when K&C Video presented a 90min (v) print. The running time would seem to indicate that this version was uncut. Reasons given for the ban were infrequent, but gratuitous highly explicit sex. It's worth noting that the sex is softcore in nature. As far as I know the K&C tape was never released.
Now available on DVD in the US from Something Weird Video. It is double billed with MIDNIGHT PLOWBOY, another Bethel G. Buckalew picture. This second feature can be found on Starbase Video (part of K&C Video) in Australia.
Criminally Insane
Dir Steve Millard / 1975 / USA
In April 1980 Astral Distributing removed 45 seconds to gain a 62min (f) cinema run. The cuts were required to remove gratuitous, infrequent, high intensity violence. No Australian video release.
Crying
Freeman: Chapter 5 - The Impersonator
Crying Freeman: Chapter 6 - The Russian Connection
Dir Shigeru Yamachui / 1992 / Japan
More Manga problems at the OFLC. In 1995 Siren Entertainment had to cut this double-bill from 101 to 100min (v) in order to gain an R18+ (Medium Level Violence and Sex Scenes) rating.
The actual running time for both chapters is 99min 46sec. Individually, The Impersonator runs 49min 24sec, and THE RUSSIAN CONNECTION 50min 22sec.
It's unclear what was cut, and if footage was removed from one or both episodes. According to Melon Farmers, in the UK the BBFC objected to the scene in THE RUSSIAN CONNECTION where Tsuaike masturbates Tanya with a gun. The scene appears in the Australian tape at around the 20min point and does not appear to be toned down.
This cut version is out in Australia on the Manga Video label.
Cry of a Prostitute
Dir Adelchi Bianchi / 1974 / Italy
House of Dare had a a 2246.5mtr 82.07s (f) Refused Registration in
December 1980. The reason given for the
ban was violence, which were described as:
Frequency: Infrequent
Explicitness/Intensity: High
Purpose: Gratuitous
A reconstructed pre-censor cut version running 2377.00mtr (86m 53s)
(f) was passed with an R-rating in July 1981. The reason given was
violence which was described as:
Frequency: Frequent
Explicitness/Intensity: Medium
Purpose: Gratuitous
Thanks to Matt G for this brief review of the film:
I recently watched the Joseph Brenner release of CRY OF A PROSTITUTE which I assume was the same version that was submitted to the Australian censors. The 82m 31s print was a bit choppy during the credits (the title was missing), but all the violence was intact. The film contains various scenes of guys getting shot in the head, and stomach, which involve lots of blood squibs. At one point (36m) Tony bashes a guys head in with a rock then runs over him with a road roller (non graphically). The Australian Censors would definitely not have liked the scene at 44m when Tony rapes Margie, or at 59m where he beats her with a belt then rapes her. The violence was probably RC back in 1981, but would easily get passed these days.
Cut and Run
Dir Ruggero Deodato / Italy / 1985
Ruggero Deodato returned to the jungles for this 1985 release, which like his previous film, Cannibal Holocaust, also caused problems at the OFLC. This is an interesting release as it was filmed in two different versions. One for more liberal countries, and the other for the more sensitive markets such as the UK, USA and Australia.In October 1985 CBS/FOX had a 90min version of this banned, the following year it was cut to 85min (v) and rated R. I can only presume that the original 90 min print was the soft version. This means audiences in Australia were presented with the soft print minus 5 mins of footage! The exact running time of the cut version that made it onto tape from CBS FOX is 83min 48sec.
Schnittberichte.com has pictures of some of the scenes from the alternative harder version of the film.