Halloween 3:Season of the Witch
Dir Tommy Lee Wallace / 1982 / USA
The missing footage discussed for this film is not the work of the OFLC.
Originally released uncut on video in Australia in the mid 80's by Thorn EMI (RT 93min 38sec); the DVD release by Infogrames (RT 92min 06sec) is a censored version.
Thanks to CraigS for the following description of the missing
footage.
During the
scene where Harry Grimbridge is murdered, the assassin enters the room and
poises his fingers above his head, before using them to kill him. Only a
couple of seconds of his death is shown, before it cuts to the mask laying
on the floor.
When Starker is killed, they do not show the second shot of the assassin's face after the fountain of blood sprays from Starker's neck. It cuts straight to Ellie jumping in shock after Marge accidentally hits her car horn, and is missing the scene where she is walking through the parking lot.
Similarly, when Marge is killed, only a quick shot of her hands covering her face is shown, before it fades out.
During the Halloween montage towards the end of the movie, the scene showing the trick-or-treaters in Phoenix, Arizona, is cut out, and goes straight from the shot of the Silver Shamrock van in Seattle to the aerial view of Phoenix at the end of the scene.
Again, when Teddy is killed, the scene is cut. It shows the assassin forcing the drill into her face, but cuts out the part at the end where it gets up and walks off.
A final change occurs at the hospital when Harry Grimbridge is admitted. Some of the dialogue between Walter Jones and Challis is missing. When we see the shot of Grimbridge on the stretcher in front of the TV, the lines "Hey, can I leave now?", and "Sure, I don't see why not" are missing, and cuts straight to Challis shaking Walter's hand and saying, "Thanks a lot for bringing him."
Hard Bounty
Dir Jim Wynorski / 1996 / USA
Banned in 1995 in an 89min (v) version, the following year distributors 21st Century Pictures removed 5mins of footage and gained an MA15+ (Medium Level Violence and Sex Scenes) rating. The cut version on video from 21st Century Pictures runs 84min 23sec.Having watched the tape I cannot see any instances of cuts. The large amount of footage that has been censored would seem to indicate that a whole scene has been removed. On-line descriptions of this title mention a rape scene. The Australian release contains no such situation.
This is out on DVD in the US on the Image Entertainment label.
Hardcore Volume 2
Dir Richard Kern / 1986-93 / USA
This second volume of short film films from NY filmmaker Richard Kern was banned by the Classification Board on May 12th 2006. It was submitted by the Victorian Police following a raid on a Melbourne bookstore. Volume one was also taken (and not returned), but does not appear in the censor's database.
The VHS tape is listed as running 99mins. It's difficult to pin down what films are on this volume, though one source lists it as:
Another volume of unpredictable and aggressive short films from notorious New York realist Richard Kern. Starring an assortment of underground musicians and performance artists- most notably Lydia Lunch. Described as "violent" and "offensive" by some, embraced by others as perversion at its most cinematic. Not for the young, impressionable or easily offended! Contains five short films: Fingered ('86), Submit To Me Now ('87), My Nightmare ('93), Horoscope ('91), X is Y ('90).
Hard Target
Dir John Woo / 1993 / USA
United International Pictures has this passed with an MA rating in 1993 at 95min (f), the following year it was passed again as MA at 93min (f), and with an R at 96min (f).
The MA print, although not cut by the OFLC, was missing a significant amount of violent footage, which had been removed for the US R rating. It was this cut print that went on to play cinemas, and later to be released on video by Universal.
In 2000, Columbia-Tristar put this title out on DVD with an R rating. This particular print restores around 4mins of footage that was missing from the MA tape. For an excellent description of the cuts and censorship history of this film go here. For a change, it's good to see Australia coming out in front regarding DVD censorship.
Hellraiser 2-Hellbound
Dir Tony Randel / 1988 / UK
The missing footage discussed for this film is not the work of the OFLC!
In 1989, Roadshow had this passed with an R at 93mins (v). The version presented to the OFLC was the already cut US R rated release. This same version was put out on tape by Roadshow with an actual runtime of 89min 08sec.Craig S reports on a print that runs around six and a half minutes longer.
The sell-through tape that Paramount issued in 2000 runs 95min 42sec and is uncut. It also includes the "Kirsty's room" sequence.
Kirsty finds herself in a normal-looking room she associates with her childhood; a framed photograph of her parents is displayed on a bureau. She admires the photo and looks yearningly at her mother. After taking a short look around the room, she finds that Julia has replaced her mother in the photo. Suddenly, it begins to ripple and a bevy of cockroaches burst forth from the frame. Roaches crawl forth from behind the bureau, toppling it, and she screams. This scene is inserted during the spinning shot of Kirsty screaming, but before the Cenobites appear. A subsequent shot of Kirsty running along a hellish path with Tiffany is also slightly extended.
Hidden Rage
Dir Shuky Levy / 1988 / USA
The plot to this one is certainly tasteless; a rapist with AIDS tries to infect his victims. The TAFT HARDIE Group had a 100min (f) print refused in 1988; there was no cut local release.Not surprisingly this was also banned in the UK. The 1990 Hong Kong laserdisc on the Universe Laser & Video label runs 98min 39sec.
Hitch-Hike
Dir Pasquale Festa Campinile / 1978 / Italy
The missing footage discussed for this film is not the work of the OFLC!
Released by K-Tel/Filmways/VTC on video in the early 80's, this was reviewed by the censors in 1984, and confirmed as an R at 100mins (v). This release actually runs 93min 54secs, and is missing the following.The rape scene by the campfire is the 'so called' soft version; here the fire hides much of the nudity.
Missing also is a scene where the second highway patrol cop is shot in the head.
The ending is very different. The Australian tape ends with Franco Nero & Corinne Clery getting killed in a car crash. The car starts to burn, and the credits role. Other releases of this show the couple surviving the crash. Nero gets out, and then sets light to the car, which still contains his injured wife. Nero then begins to hitch a lift, the credits role.
The early 80's UK tape on the VTC label is fully uncut and runs 99min 30sec, around five and a half minutes longer than the Australian print.
Hollywood Cop
Dir Amir Shervan / 1988 / USA
Outland Promotions cut this from 101 to 100mins (v) in 1988 to secure an R rating. This censored tape came out on Vestron Video and runs 99min 56sec. The only cuts seems to be at around the 12min point. The threatening of the Arab man, and the rape of his wife has been reduced.
This also had problems in the UK. A version running 100min 45sec was cut to 99min 42sec for an 18 certificate.
Hooligan
aka Hooligan: Quest for Seven Holy Dildos
Prod Shiyuuta Biwajima and Chikara Niki / 2001 / Japan
Siren Visual Entertainment had this hentai DVD banned in March 2006.
Critical Mass released the US DVD in 2004.
Horrible High Heels
Dir Chan Wai On - Chow Cheung / 1996 / Hong Kong
One report from 2004 of customs taking this title. The DVD was the Hong Kong release on the City Laser & Video Company label. The reason given was:
"This disc portrays scenes of intercourse immediately followed by the beating and cutting murder of the female. Another scene shows the dismemberment of another murder victim in such a way that it offends the stands of morality, decency and propriety generally accepted by reasonable adults."
Horror Rises from the Tomb
Dir Carlos Aured / 1973 / Spain
In February 1974 29.87mtr (66s) of footage had to be removed from a 2743.30m (100m 16s) print to achieve an R-rating. This went on to have an Australian theatrical release, but was never issued on video.
Thanks to Matt for this review.
This is a great piece of 70's Spanish horror cinema. The violence in the uncut version would now easily get an R-rating, or maybe even an MA15+. Some of the footage that the censors would have removed back in 1974 would possibly have included:
The pre-credit decapitation of Alaric de Marnac, the thief shot in the face (20min), Chantal getting her neck cut with a scythe with her breasts exposed (37min), the topless body of the girl being put on the skeleton and being killed with a scythe (53min), and the climax where the heart is ripped out and Alaric once again looses his head. There are various other violent scenes, but these are the most explicit.
The print that I viewed ran 88:37 which included the Victory Films title card. The copyright at the end is listed as 1977. Interestingly you list the print that was viewed by the censors back in 1974 as running 100:16. If correct, this is far and away the longest version that I have heard about.
House by the Cemetery
Dir Lucio Fulci / 1981 / Italy
Fulci must qualify as one of the most censored Directors in Australia. Like his other zombie films, this was also released here in a cut version. Strangely the OFLC don't show any record of censoring this particular film, in fact Greater Union had it rated M in 1982 in a print that ran 85mins (f).In 1985, a cut R rated print was released by Roadshow Video running 81mins (v) (81min 10sec to be exact). The following comparison shows that this version removes around one minute from three different murders.
THE FIRST MURDER
Before - Girl screams, shot of knife held above her head.
CENSORED AT 2min 6sec (11sec missing) - Knife being thrust into back of girls head, and exiting through her mouth. Shot of her body falling to the floor, with the knife sticking from her mouth.
After - Shot of dead girls hand.
LAURA GITTLESON'S MURDER
Before - Shot of her being stabbed in stomach with a poker.
CENSORED AT 42min 58sec (20sec missing) - Poker stabbing her in the heart.
After/Before - Two close up shots of her face.
CENSORED AT 43min 01sec (20sec missing) - The poker moves up to her throat, and punctures her jugular vein. Blood flows out.
After - Shot of Freudstein dragging her away by the legs.
ANN'S MURDER
Before - Bob walking towards the camera.
CENSORED AT 58min 37sec (5sec missing) - Further shots of Ann having her throat cut.
After/Before - Bob walking down, and around the back of the stairs.
CENSORED AT 58min 41sec (5sec missing) - Close up shot of the knife cutting Ann's throat, and blood flowing out.
After - Brief shot of Ann falling towards the camera, before Bob walks into the room and calls her name.
Whatever the origin of these cuts are, I'd guess that now this would pass though the OFLC uncut.
The uncut Italian tape, under the title Quella Villa Accanto Al Cimitero is on the AVO label.
House on the Edge of the Park, The
Dir Ruggero Deodato / 1980 / Italy
In 2001 there were two confirmed cases of customs confiscating copies of the Dutch EC Entertainment DVD release. The discs were forwarded to the OFLC who refused the film a classification. A third confirmed confiscation took place in 2003 when a DVD imported from the USA was seized.
Hunchback of Notre Dame, The
Dir Kirk Wise and Gary Trousdale / 1996 / USA
In 1996, Roadshow were given a 'PG' rating for this Disney animated feature. Knowing that a 'PG' would loose it a large portion of its audience, an appeal was lodged with the Review Board. Here is what they had to say5. Findings on material questions of fact.
The plot
5.The film is an animated version of Victor Hugo's story of Quasimodo, the 'hunchback' of Notre Dame, his unrequited love for the gypsy girl Esmerelda, and her perils at the hands of the evil judge Frollo.
The themes and scenes of violence and menace.
5.2 The Review Board considered the themes and scenes cited by the Classification Board.
These were:
1) at 3 minutes, a gypsy mother (with baby in arms) is pursued by Frollo on a ferocious looking horse. She is flung on to the cathedral steps, hits her head and dies. Frollo attempts to dispose of the baby down a well.
2) at 30minutes, Quasimodo is tied up in the village square, pelted with rubbish and flogged.
3) at 35 minutes, Frollo grabs Esmerelda in the cathedral, sniffs her hair, and says 'I'm imagining a rope around your neck'.
4) at 50-52 minutes, Frollo sings of his feelings for Esmerelda. Images of Esmerelda appear in the flames: menacing images of red robed figures and black shadows appear.
5) at 53 minutes, while searching for Esmerelda, families with children are thrown in the water, or locked into houses which are set on fire.
6) at 75 minutes, the battle for the cathedral rages.
7) at 78 minutes, Frollo pursues Esmerelda and Quasimodo with sword and much menace.
It was noted that the language used including the use of song to tell parts of the story, was complex, and would hinder young children's perceptions of the plot, and eventual outcomes.
5.3 The majority of the Review Board found these themes and incidents were not treated in a manner consistent with the classification criteria for G, viz. the violence depictions were neither 'minimal, mild and incidental' nor characterised by 'a very low sense of threat or menace' or 'a light tone'. Further the majority found the basic premise for G classification, viz 'parents should feel confident that children may view material in this classification without supervision, knowing that no distress or harm is likely to be caused', was not met.
5.4 A minority of the Board found that the violence was not so impactful that it would disturb children, and that sufficient warning to parents could be obtained from classifying the film G with consumer advice 'Some Scenes May Be Unsuitable For Young Children'.
6. Reasons for the Decision
6.1 The Review Board based its decision to confirm the Classifications Board's decision to classify the film The Hunchback of Notre Dame PG, with the consumer advice 'Low Level Violence' on the content and impact of the film as set out in 5.2 and 5.3 above.
6.2 The applicant argued that while the film had been made for children, it was not made for very young children. The Board should not have applied a test of suitability for very young children. Further, the film had a moral message, lightened by humour, and wizardry; the violence was animated and children could distinguish between animated action and real.
The Review Board rejects these arguments. Films in the G category are required to be suitable for viewing by children of all ages without supervision and without causing anxiety or distress. The appropriate classification to be used where there are disturbing elements (such as violence which is not minimal, mild and incidental), is PG. The classification gives a signal to parents that there are elements which may disturb their children.
Further, the Review Board did not accept that elements such as 'humour and wizardry' would provide sufficient balance to the tone and impact of the darker and extended sequences. Further, the effect of animation can be to heighten the impact of some violent sequences, providing an unnatural focus on them.
6.3 The Review Board concluded that the film cannot be recommended for viewing by persons who are under 15 without the guidance of a parent or guardian, within the meaning of Paragraph 6 of the Table under the heading 'Films in the National Classification Code'.
6.4 The Review Board also concluded that the film contained scenes and themes of violence which when viewed by those under 15 years require the guidance of a parent or guardian.
7. Summary
The Review Board's decision is to confirm the decision of the Classification Board to classify the film The Hunchback of Notre Dame PG with the consumer advice 'Low Level Violence'.
This decision was taken after full consideration of the applicant's submission, and after assessing the film as a whole against relevant legislative criteria, including those contained in the National Classification Code, and in the current classification guidelines for films determined under section 12 of the Classification Act. 11 to 12 July 1996
Classification Board & Classification Review Board-Annual Report 1996-1997
So with the rating still at 'PG', Roadshow cut the film from 91 to 89min (f) in order to secure a G rating. The same cut version was released by Walt Disney Home Video.
In 1999, the film was back before the censors, this time to have its rating confirmed at 'PG' at 91mins (f).