Darling  

Dir Susumu Kudo / 2003 / Japan 

Siren Visual Entertainment had this hentai DVD banned in January 2006.

Further information about this title can be found at Anime on DVD.

Day Of Anger  

Dir Tonino Valerii / 1967 / Italy - West Germany

The missing footage discussed for this film is not the work of the OFLC!

This, like many other Spaghetti Westerns, was the target of the Commonwealth Censors at the time of its original release. Some of the more violent scenes were trimmed prior to its cinema screening. Times change, and now this could comfortably pass with an M rating.

This did not stop Delta Home Video from releasing a severely shortened print on tape in the mid 80's. This remained the only way that Australian viewers had of seeing this title until SBS premiered an uncut print in August 2002. The Delta tape is full screen, dubbed, and runs only 81min 11sec. In comparison the SBS screening  was letterboxed, Italian language, and ran nearly half an hour longer at 110min 41sec.

DVD Comparisons

Dead and Buried  

Dir Gary Sherman/ 1981 / USA

The Roadshow Video tape that followed is also cut, and was confirmed at 93mins (v) in 1985. I do not know where this time came from as the exact RT is 89min 41sec. This compares with 90min 18sec for the old uncut UK Thorn EMI tape. An Australian DVD was released by Force Video in 2002. Despite running 90min 03sec, it is still not complete. Despite its continuing censored status in Australia, the OFLC would now have no problem at all passing this uncut.

The following is not a side by side comparison of the Roadshow and Force versions. It is only a check of the main violent incidents. The Roadshow VHS is very dark, so much so that scenes that look like they take place at night are revealed, in the DVD, to take place in the day. As mentioned the Force DVD is not uncut. I spotted at least two very brief moments that were missing from the DVD, but were present in the VHS.

FREDDIE IS BURNT

In the F.DVD the fire is set at 8min 34sec. The RS VHS is missing around 6sec of Freddy screaming as the flames burn him.

DEATH OF THE DRUNK

This scene begins at 15min 37sec in the DVD. The VHS shows the drunk having his face slashed, followed by his neck. It is missing a shot after this of him screaming, followed by a close-up of him being stabbed. This missing footage lasts around 2sec.

DEATH OF FREDDIE

The nurse raises the needle at 29min 19sec in the DVD, it continues on to show the needle entering Freddy's eye. This latter part is missing from the VHS. Instead it goes directly to a shot of the corridor and the nurse leaving the room. The missing footage lasts around 1sec.

DEATH OF THE HITCHHIKER

This is the first cut to the DVD. At 56min 02sec in the DVD we see the rock raised, followed by a shot of her feet. In the VHS we see a blank screen after the rock is raised, over which we hear a squelching sound, we then see a shot of her feet. The missing DVD footage lasts around 1sec.

DOBBS AND THE HITCHHIKER

In the VHS we hear Dobbs say:

"So lovely, so frail, so young"
"How could anyone mar your loveliness"
This is followed by a brief 1sec shot of the her crushed face.

In the DVD at 56min 10sec we hear Dobbs say:
"So lovely, so frail, so young"
However, unlike the VHS, we do not see him speak the line,
"How could anyone mar your loveliness". Instead we hear him say it over a shot of the girls crushed face. The shot of her face lasts 3sec as opposed to 1sec in the VHS.

DEATH OF THE DOC

In the VHS, the final shot of his acid burnt head is shown for only 2sec. At 62min 41sec in the DVD this shot lasts 5sec during which you hear him groan. This shot is followed by the Sheriff walking into the station where Dobbs is waiting for him.

DVD Comparisons

Deadly Avenger, The

Dir Robert Rundle / 1991 / USA

Home Cinema Group had an 88min version banned in 1993. No cut video release followed.

Deadly Dream Woman  

Dir Wong Jing & Tai Lai / 1992 / Hong Kong

No Australian video release. There is a Hong Kong DVD release on the China Star label.

Deadly Sunday

Dir Donald M. Jones / 1982 / USA

Applicant C.White had an 88min VHS Refused Classification in November 1984. The reason given for the ban was "explicit and gratuitous sexual violence".

In February 1984 the censors began to review videos that had been issued up until that time. This may have been one such tape, as it was indeed released.

The actual running time of the Platinum Video release is 81min 02sec. Not sure where the 88min time comes from that the censors quote, as the tape does look uncut.

The offending scene takes place at approximately the 35min mark of the film. Gil threatens Patty with a gun and forces her to remove her clothes. He then threatens her with a knife before attempting to rape her. The scene ends with Gil threatening to kill himself.

ABDUCTED was an earlier Donald M. Jones film that was also banned in Australia.

Death Scenes

Dir Nick Bougas and F.B. Vincenzo / 1989 / USA

Applicant, John Nelson had this 87min made for video death documentary banned in 1990. The video is made up of still photographs from the achieves of the LA Police Department. This brings up interesting question, if these photos appeared in a book (as they already have), would that be banned?

Death Trap  

aka Eaten Alive

Dir Tobe Hooper / 1976 / USA

Tobe Hooper's follow up to TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE didn't come before the Australian Censors until an 82min (v) videotape was submitted in January 1981. The applicant, Videolink were awarded an RC rating.

An uncut print was eventually passed R18+ in the late 80's/early 90's and was released by Applause Home Video. This version ran 86min 55sec.

It was passed again R18+ (Medium Level Violence) in April 2004. This time Umbrella Entertainment submitted it under its alternative title of EATEN ALIVE. The DVD arrived in October 2004 and was promoted as "PREVIOUSLY BANNED NOW RELEASED UNCUT". It was re-released as part of a Tobe Hooper box set in October 2007.

DVD Comparisons

Death Warmed Up  

Dir David Blyth / 1985 / New Zealand

11min 38sec- (1sec cut) Michael's father recoiling from the gunshot wound to the stomach.

11min 43sec- (5sec cut) Michael standing and blinking rapidly. Shots of his dead father, and of his dead mother with blood flowing from her body.

14min 35sec- (8sec cut) Drill going into skull and a shot of a nurse, second shot of drill and of nurse.

14min 44sec- (2sec cut) Longer shot of grinding tool on skull.

14min 51sec- (1sec cut) Quick shot of skull being cut with grinding tool and slipping.

45min 21sec- (2sec cut) Metal rod going through bikers back.

45min 27sec- (10sec cut) Shot of metal rod through Biker 2's back with blood spurting out. Biker 1 pulls him off the rod.

48min 07sec- (2sec cut) Shot of Biker 2 on stretcher showing his stomach wound.

48min 40sec- (2sec cut) Biker 1 with his face buried in Biker 2's stomach wound.

59min 37sec- (4sec cut) Close up of blood spurting from mans neck before he falls to the ground.

65min 09sec- (3sec cut) Girl screaming on the floor with scissors in her chest, and blood spurting from the wound.

66min 43sec- (3sec cut) Shot of drill going into skull.

66min 49sec- (2sec cut) Longer shot of the skull being cut.

66min 52ec- (5sec cut) Groove being cut into skull.

67min 00sec- (6sec cut) Doctor sticking his finger into the brain.

67min 04sec- (2sec cut) Second shot of the Doctor with fingers in the patients brain.

67min 12sec- (3sec cut) Close-up of fingers removing an object from the brain.

69min 55sec- (11sec cut) Michael frantically stabbing the Doctor, close-up shot of the knife entering his body.

Some of these cuts are hard to see as many of them just tone down existing scenes. I would say that these days this would pass the OFLC uncut. 

Released on DVD in the UK by Arrow Films. According to the BBFC database, on its original video release in the UK the film was censored, from 78min 47sec to 77min 53sec. Whilst the DVD is listed to run 78min 6sec. So it looks like the DVD is still censored.

David Blyth's debut feature ANGEL MINE, also had censorship problems in Australia.

Debts of Desire

Prod Shiyuuta Biwajima and Chikara Niki / 2002 / Japan 

The missing footage discussed for this film WAS NOT THE WORK OF THE AUSTRALIAN CENSORS

The Classification Board awarded this DVD an R18+ (High level animated sex scenes) on April 11th 2008. It was released as part of Siren Visual's Hentai Collection in July 2008. 

Geoff W reviewed the DVD and found that it may have been pre-cut before submission. 

As before. I am basing these observations on the end credits which contain footage not in the preceding episode, and from on-line reviews.

DEBTS OF DESIRE Part 1 runs 30:24 and does not look obviously censored.

DEBTS OF DESIRE Part 2 runs 27:50 and seems to be missing the following. The end credits have a recap of scenes from the preceding episode. From 25:19 to 25:24 we see a shot of Mai laying on her back and urinating whilst being penetrated by Masaki. This scene has been removed from the actual episode and looks like it should have been located somewhere between 7:10 to 7:58.

A second scene may also be cut. Masaki has Mai kneeling down and tied up. He says "Your so cute Mai" as he cuts off her underwear. At 17:14 the screen fades out to the two of them standing in the shower. I cannot conform this, but the fade-out makes it look like something has been removed.

Extras include a trailers for DEBTS OF DESIRE, ANYTHING YOU CAN DO, BONDAGE MANSION, and CLASSES IN SEDUCTION. Reviews of the U.S Critical Mass DVD mention a stills gallery, but this is missing from Siren's release.

Degradation of Emanuelle, The

aka Emanuelle Around the World

Dir Joe D'Amato / 1977 / Italy

In August 1978 the censors demanded 22.5mtr (49s) of cuts to a 2578mtr (94m 14s) print. The reason for the censorship was described as 'indecency and excessive violence'. The cut print went on to have a theatrical run, though it was never released on video in Australia.

In March 2007 Severin Films released a 102min XXX-Rated European Version on DVD in the U.S. Under the title EMANUELLE AROUND THE WORLD, this version includes some brief hardcore scenes. 

In 2007 the US company xploitedcinema.com gave the following warning to their customers regarding the Severin Films DVD of EMANUELLE AROUND THE WORLD.

Quoted from Xploited Cinema website August 2007.
IMPORTANT NOTE TO AUSTRALIAN CUSTOMERS - WE HAVE HAD SOME OF THESE DVDS CONFISCATED BY CUSTOMS. SOME HAVE MADE IT THROUGH BUT SOME HAVE BEEN STOPPED. ORDER AT YOUR OWN RISK!

Obviously the version submitted to the censors in 1978 was the standard soft-core version, and not the continental cut.

On June 11th 2008 Umbrella Entertainment had EMANUELLE AROUND THE WORLD (LE VICE DANS LA PEAU) rated R18+ (High impact sexual violence, themes and sex scenes). It was released in August 2008. 

Thanks to Matt for this review.

Umbrella's DVD runs 96:55 NTSC and is the softer export print, and not the Continental version. You state that the version submitted to the censor back in 1978 ran 94:14 so presumably this was either a different version, or was pre-cut as it is two and a half minutes shorter than the Umbrella disc. All I know is that the version on the Umbrella disc would definitely have to have been heavily cut back in '78!. Here are a few comments on the more controversial moments in the Umbrella DVD   which may have caused the censorship back in 1978. I've included comments from the IMDb where they describe the extra footage in the hardcore Continental version.

46m approx: Cora is beaten by a group of men, and stripped in preparation to be raped. 
Continental Version: The rape of Cora is longer and features a close-up of an erect penis.

51m approx: the man with the deformed face rapes the girls. There must be something missing here as one minute the girls are being raped, then at 51:52 it cuts to the girls saying "they got what they deserved" as they get into a taxi.
Continental Version: the scene is substantially longer, but not explicit

65m approx: The infamous bestiality scene briefly shows a snake being put on the girl's vagina, and the German Shepherd mounting the girl.
Continental Version: .... is explicit, not just implied as in the theatrical cut

75:30 approx: The orgy scene that Emanuelle spies on contains an ultra-brief shot of a real blow-job (76:13), and the start of a shot of a banana being put in a vagina (76:17)
Continental Version:  ..features close-ups of penetration, oral sex, and a banana being inserted into a vagina

88m - 93:30 approx: Miss Ohio is stripped and made to dance naked for a group of homeless men. She is then punched in the stomach and raped. this scene also includes Emanuelle being captured by one of the men and made to perform fellatio with a gun at her head. (Shades of DEAD MAN!)

In addition the IMDb lists two other extended scenes in the Continental version, These are listed as:

The  lesbian scene between Mary and Emanuelle is longer, but is not explicit.

DVD Comparisons

Diamonds on Her Naked Flesh

Dir Omiros Efstratiadis / 1972 / Greece

This was first passed by the censors in February 1975 when a 2800.00mtr (102min 20sec) print was awarded an M rating. This version was submitted under the original Greek title, and had English subtitles. 

it was submitted again in July 1980 in a print running 3080.00mtr (112.34sec). Dynasty Film Distributors removed 5.50mtrs (12sec) to gain an R18+ rating. The reason given for the deletions was a combination of sex and violence which were described as:
Frequency: Infrequent
Explicitness/Intensity: High
Purpose: Gratuitous

Disturbance, The

Dir Cliff Guest / 1990 / USA

Tru-Value Pty Ltd had this banned in 1992 in a 93min version. No cut video release.

Thanks to Matt for this review of the film.

This has just (Sep '08) been released by Media Blasters as on a triple-bill DVD with POSED FOR MURDER (1989) and ALIEN SPACE AVENGER (1989).

THE DISTURBANCE runs 92:40, which would seem to match the time that was submitted to the censors back in 1992. The scenes that may have caused the problems would have been as follows.

11-12min -  Clay spies on a girl through a window as she removes her bra. He breaks into the house and strangles her with a belt.

21:15-22:30min - Clay and Susan are having sex. He begins to fantasise about slapping her, throwing her on the bed, tearing off her top, and then raping her. The scene cuts back between fantasy and reality until they merge when Susan begins to complain that he is hurting her. This is the scene that would have definitely caused a problem

63:00-60:30min - Clay is shown masturbating as he fantasises about garrotting a topless woman.

83-84min - Clay has a flashback to the murder of Susan. he knocks her out with a punch then stabs her. This part is not particularly graphic, and I doubt it would have been a problem.

The film has a real downbeat feeling to it, kind of similar to DON'T GO IN THE HOUSE. The scenes described above may sound graphic, but I don't really feel the film should have ran into problems with the Classification Board. I guess that back in 1992 any kind of sexual violence was frowned upon, but in 2008 I'd say this would be an R18+.

Dolemite

Dir D'Urville Martin / 1975 / USA

The missing footage discussed for this film is not the work of the OFLC. 

Gold Key Video had an 86m VHS rated R in March 1987. It was awarded for language which was described as:
Frequency: Frequent
Explicitness/Intensity: Medium
Purpose: Gratuitous

...and for sex and violence which were described as:
Frequency: Infrequent
Explicitness/Intensity: Medium
Purpose: Gratuitous

The exact running time of the Gold Key Video VHS is 85:47. There are several scenes that look to be cut, especially the killing of Willie green at the climax. 

Twenty-one years later the film was re-rated on April 21st 2008 when it was dropped from and R18+ to an MA15+ (Frequent coarse language, Strong violence, Drug use, Sex scenes). It was released on DVD the following month on the DV1 label. 

Thanks to Craig for pointing out that the DVD is also censored.

DOLEMITE has been sourced a censored print, as there is 2 vary obvious jump cuts in there: 

The first is at the 42:44s mark during a sex scene, DOLEMITE (Rudy Ray More) climbs onto to start and then it jumps and they have finished the love making. 

The second is at the 76:14s mark when DOLEMITE kills WILLY GREEN (D'Urville Martian) before the cut we see DOLEMITE ram his hand into Willy's gut after the cut we see DOLEMITE hand all bloody and blood on his shirt, it looks if we lost Willy having his guts pulled out. 

One of the extras on the DVD is the trailer and we look to get a glimpse of the some of the cut footage in it. I know when it was first released in 1974 it had to be cut to avoid and X rating in the US (this may be they version we got). 

The exact running time of the disc is 89:31

Both the tape and DVD look to be sourced from the same censored version. Converting the 89:31 (NTSC) running time of the DV1 release to PAL gives a running time that is just about the same as the Gold Key Video VHS. 

Don't Answer the Phone  

Dir Robert Hammer / 1980 / USA

In 1981 GUO Film Distribution had to cut this from 95min (f) to 86min before an R rated cinema release could take place. A couple of years later, Video Classics had it refused twice at 94min (v). No Australian Video release.

Payless Entertainment released an Australian DVD in 2004. This overly dark print looks to be the same heavily cut version that appeared on the Rhino label in the U.S. Despite a 94min running time being listed on the cover, it actually clocks in at 85min 20sec. This does not include the opening 'Crown International Pictures', and closing 'Crown International Television' cards.

The following quote is taken from the highly recommended FAB Press book SHOCK! HORROR! Astounding Artwork of the Video Nasty Era. The Media releases referred to are early 80's VHS editions.

"It was released uncut on the Media label in both Holland and the USA, but ironically the American Rhino DVD release in 2000 was an abomination, only running 85 minutes 13 seconds, which taking the 4% longer running time of NTSC format tapes means that it was missing over 9 minutes of footage"

DVD Comparisons

Don't Go in the House  

Dir Joseph Ellison / 1980 / USA

The OFLC rated an uncut print of this RC in 1992 after a copy was forwarded to them by customs.

It was not until 1993 that a pre-cut version was passed with an M rating. The exact runtime of this release from 21st Century Pictures is 75min 44sec. This compares with a 79min 01sec uncut runtime for the early 80's UK release from Videospace/Arcade. This particular tape was banned as a video nasty. The British censors eventually passed it in 1987 with 3min 7sec of cuts. It is possible that the Australian release was taken from this censored British tape as the runtimes are very similar.

DVD Comparisons

Don't Stop My Crazy Love For You 

Dir Wei Tat Hon / 1993 / Hong Kong

On May 12th 1993, Chinatown Cinema had a 91mins (35mm) print Refused Registration by the Classification Board. The reason given for the ban was 'Sexual Violence'. Chinatown Cinema censored the film back to 83mins, resubmitted it, and received an R18+ (Medium Level Violence) rating on June 7th 1993. This version went on to have a Chinese language theatrical release.

DVD releases can be found on the Ocean Shores label in Hong Kong, and from Thundermedia in Taiwan.

Thanks to Matt for this review of the likely cuts.

The reason for the Australian censors banning this title is quite easy to work out once you view the film. The print that I viewed ran 91m 30s, which would seem to match the uncut version submitted by Chinatown Cinema. The problem scene would definitely have to have been the rape of Kitty by Fred. This starts around the 78min point. Fred has her handcuffed to the stairs where he pulls down her underwear and begins to rape her as she cries and struggles. The scene then moves to the bedroom where Kitty, in a ploy to trick Fred, pretends to enjoy the sex. The scene eventually ends at around the 88min with the two of them leaving the bedroom.  The missing eight minutes must have been removed from here. The shots of Kitty (pretending) to enjoy the sex would have been a definite problem for the censors. The 'Medium Level Violence' awarded to the cut version would have been for baseball bat beatings, stabbings, a shot to the head, and the climatic scene where Fred gets shot in the groin by Kitty and says the immortal line "You shot my dicky!".

Double Vision 

Dir Kuo-Fu Chen / 2002 / Taiwan

The missing footage discussed for this film is not the work of the OFLC!

The Australian DVD released by Columbia Tri-Star in 2003 is NTSC formatted and contains the 110min (109.37sec) rated version. The film is preceded by the American rating label which informs us that it was "Rated R for strong violence/gore".

The most obvious difference between the two versions is the police raid on the temple that occurs just over mid-way through the film. This has been significantly toned down either with cuts or the use of computer manipulation. 

For such a recent film this has already been before the OFLC three times in ten months! The original 113min version was passed R18+ in August 2002. The revised 110min print was again rated R18+ in August 2002. This is most likely the version that had a theatrical release in Australia. It's unclear why Columbia Tristar made such a change. Finally, the DVD mentioned above was passed R18+ in June 2003. 

The Hong Kong R3 release on the ERA/Columbia Tri-Star Home Video label contains both 110min and 113min versions. A comparison between both cuts can be found here.

DVD Comparisons

Dreamaniac

Dir David DeCoteau / 1986 / USA

Our more liberal Kiwi cousins have this on tape courtesy of  Squirm Video. This runs 78min 21sec, and we presume is uncut. If this is the case then we can't see exactly why this was refused a rating. It's no worse than many other horror movies that at the time would routinely get through with an R-rating.

Dreams of Eroticism

Dir Shaw Brothers Directors Group / 1977 / Hong Kong

In November 1978 a 2496.13m (91m 14s) print lost 11.3m (25s) before being awarded an R-rating. A Chinese language theatrical release followed. The reason given was 'Indecency and excessive violence'.

Thanks to Matt fro this review.

The Hong Kong VCD from Intercontinental Video runs 83:49 which doesn't really make sense (even if it is PAL) when compared to your quoted 91:14 time. The film certainly doesn't look cut, and it is easy to spot the scene(s) that would have caused the Australian censors problems.

From approx 4-5min one of the servant girls has her top ripped off and is beaten with a bamboo cane. We see her again around 13:30 where the interrogation continues before she is tied fully naked to a post. This sequence may have been one of the reasons for the censorship. 

The scene which would definitely have been the main reason for the cuts takes place between 41:30 and 43:10. Here the father-in-law rapes his daughter-in-law. She is shown topless and it all plays out in slow motion.

The final scene runs from 54:30 to 56:15 and involves the son interrogating two of the servants regarding what happened to his wife. Servant #1 is slapped, stripped naked, punched in the stomach, has boiling soup poured on her, and is finally burnt with a teapot. He then turns to Servant #2 who he strips fully naked, slaps, and kicks in the stomach. As she begins to confess Servant #1 picks up a wooden object and stabs her between the legs. She then takes poison pill, the man chases her, kicks her in the back, and she falls to her death over the balcony.

Dungeon of Terror  

Dir Jean Rollin / 1971 / France

aka Virgins and the Vampire

The missing footage discussed for this film is not the work of the OFLC!

This was first seen by the censors in December 1973 under the title VIRGINS AND THE VAMPIRE.  The print was not listed as being cut or pre-cut, despite running only 1876.00mtr (68m 34s). The time indicates that it is missing a large amount of footage. It went on to have an Australian theatrical release.

In the mid-80's it was issued on tape by Platinum Video as DUNGEON OF TERROR. Running only 64m 40s, this is missing nearly 20mins of footage. This seems to be the fault of the distributor, and not our censors. They passed this version with an R18+ in August 1985.

The same print was re-released in the late 80's on the Video Studio label.

DVD Comparisons

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