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.
Dead and Buried
Dir Gary Sherman/ 1981 / USA
Roadshow first had this passed as an R at 94mins (f) in 1981. 1sec was removed from this for reasons of violence.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.
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
Obviously not much was missing from this, as the cut/uncut running times are both listed at 89mins (f). Yu Enterprises released this cut version to local Chinatown cinemas in 1992. Reasons for the cuts were gratuitous sexual violence.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.
Death Warmed Up
Dir David Blyth / 1985 / New Zealand
The censors must have something against Kiwi splatter movies, because like Bad Taste, this also lost footage before being given an R. in 1985 CBS/Fox had an 83min (f) print banned, this was cut to 82mins, banned again, before loosing another minute to secure its rating. Released cut on CBS/Fox video running 77min 52sec, it is cut as follows.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.
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 the not XXX-Rated European Version.
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.
This also had problems in the UK. A version running 92min 36sec was cut to 91min 6sec for an 18 certificate.
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"
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.
Don't Stop My Crazy Love For You
Dir Wei Tat Hon / 1993 / Hong Kong
In 1993 the Chinatown Cinema had to cut this from 91 to 83mins (f) before it could play their cinemas. That's 8mins of film! Reasons for the cutting was given as sexual violence.DVD releases can be found on the Ocean Shores label in Hong Kong, and from Thundermedia in Taiwan.
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.
Dreamaniac
Dir David DeCoteau / 1986 / USA
Banned in 1988 for excessive violence, when Virgin video tried to get an 83min version through. No Australian video release.Our more liberal Kiwi cousins have this on tape courtesy of Squirm Video. This runs 78min 21sec, and I presume is uncut. If this is the case then I can't see exactly why this was refused a rating. It's no worse than many other horror movies that routinely get through with an R rating.
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.