Madam X
Dir ? / 19?? / Japan
Yu Enterprises had a 1309.00mtr (47m 51s) print Refused Registration in
November 1986. The reason give was 'Gratuitous Sexual Violence'.
A censored version was prepared and this was passed with an R-rating in
February 1987. The reason given was:
Sex
Frequency: Frequent
Explicitness/Intensity: Medium
Purpose: Gratuitous
The running time was 1206.92mtr (44m 07s), meaning nearly four minutes of footage was censored in order for it to be passed.
At the exactly the same time, Yu Enterprises had similar problems with another Japanese film, titled SADISTIC WHORE. This too was banned and eventually censored. Both would have no doubt screened at Raymond Yu's Chinese Language Australia Cinema in Sydney.
Mad Foxes
Dir Paul Grau / 1981 / Spain-Switzerland
Filmways had an 80min (f) print refused in 1982. At the time the violence was deemed to be infrequent, but gratuitous, and highly explicit. No domestic video release.
The Dutch video released by Film Service Holland runs 76min 17sec, and appears to be uncut. Judging from this print the scenes that saw the film banned would have to include. The rape of Babs (12min), the castration of the biker (21min) and the murder of the family and the maid (54min).
Madhouse
Dir Ovidio.G.Assonitis / 1981 / USA
The missing footage discussed for this film is not the work of the OFLC!
This was passed in 1985 with an M rating with a pre-cut run time of 88min (v) (88min 04sec to be exact) and released by Roadshow on video.The uncut print (another UK video nasty) runs just over a minute longer than this, and in my opinion contains nothing that couldn't be passed with an R18+. With this footage missing the film plays like a very bad TV movie, avoid the Roadshow tape at all costs.
Released uncut on DVD by the UK label Film 2000.
Man Bites Dog
Dir Rémy Belvaux / 1992 / Belgium
In 1993 Newvision Film Distributors had to cut this from 93 to 91mins (f) in order to gain an R rating. Here is how the OFLC described the reasons for the cuts."The Belgian film Man Bites Dog, was refused registration for one sequence of sexual violence, involving a graphic gang rape, considered indecent within the meaning of the Customs (Cinematograph Films) Regulations. After substantial editing of this sequence the film was given an 'R' classification with a consumer advice of 'high level violence'."
OFLC and Film Board of Review-Report on Activities 1992-93
This cut version was released on tape & plays on World Movies, avoid any showings on SBS as this has been further cut for the MA rating.
The Australian video was released by 21st Century Pictures and runs 93min 58sec. It is missing the following scene.
Before - Ben bursts into the room where we see a naked couple, who then scream and try and run.
CENSORED AT 65min 04sec (107sec missing) - Ben
singing whilst holding a gun to the head of the man, whilst both the filmmakers rape the girl. Ben then takes over raping the girl, whilst asking
the man what her name is. The next shot is of a slow pan over the
disembowelled body of the woman.
After - As soon as she is out of shot then the
Australian version starts again with the shot of the dead man sitting in
the sink.
The R4 Siren DVD contains the same edited version. It runs 94min 00sec (NTSC), with the censored scene missing at 65min 06sec. With the guidelines now relaxed, these days the censored scene would probably be passed R18+ by the OFLC.
The UK Tartan Video is uncut and runs 92min 03sec. Despite being cut, the Australian VHS and DVD releases have longer running times because they are NTSC transfers.
Man from Deep River
Dir Umberto Lenzi / 1973 / Italy
House of Dare received an R rating in for this in 1973. I'm not sure if this 91min (f) print that played in cinemas was full version, the OFLC don't record this as ever having been cut.Released cut on tape by Video Classics in the early 80's in a print running 86min 52 sec. This tape was reviewed by the OFLC in 1984 & confirmed with an R18+ rating. The full version released in the early 80's by UK label Derann was uncut and ran 89min 25sec.
Woman from Deep River & Eaten Alive, Lenzi's other cannibal films also ran into censor problems in Australia.
Mardi Gras Massacre
Dir Jack Weis / 1978 / USA
The 92m Gold Key Video was Refused in December 1986. The
reason given was:
Violence
Frequency: Infrequent
Explicitness/Intensity: High
Purpose: Gratuitous
This tape was definitely released on the Gold Key Video label. It looks like it was issued in the early to mid-80's. This may indicate that that the censors were still catching-up with all the releases that appeared at the dawn of video.
Mario Sperry - Vale Tudo Series 1
Vol 1: Vale Tudo Takedowns
Vol 2: Defeating the Guard
Vol 3: The Crossbody and Knee on Stomach
Vol 4: The Vale Tudo Mount
Vol 5: Fighting from the Back
Vol 6: The Vale Tudo Guard
This is an interesting case that was heard in the Administrative Appeals Tribunal on September 11th 2003.
The applicant had previously had martial arts videos confiscated by customs, so decided to apply for permission to import this series of six Vale Tudo Brazilian Jiu Jitsu DVD's.
This usually does not happen. Indeed during the appeal, the Director of the OFLC, Des Clarke:
"....estimated that there would have been approximately ten such applications this year"
and that
"....they are usually made by an organisation such as a research or cultural organisation rather than an individual"
The applicant had sent a copy of an advertisement to the Director of the OFLC. It was from this ad that he denied permission to import the DVD's because:
"....it is likely that the goods would be used to instruct in matters of violence"
However he goes on to say that:
"...refusal of permission to import goods does not automatically make them prohibited goods."
This meant that the applicant could still arrange to import the DVD's, but ran the risk of having them confiscated. If this did indeed happen, then he would still be able to challenge the seizure.
The conclusion of the hearing was that Director of the OFLC was correct in refusing permission to import the DVD's.
The above quotes are taken from the full case that can be found here.
Huseyin and Director of the Classification Board [2003] AATA 889
Mark of the Devil
Dir Michael Armstrong / 1970 / UK-Germany
A confused listing of running times for this title. In 1972, Filmways had a 96min (f) & a 98min (f) print refused. The following year it was passed for cinema release with an R, running 99mins!In the mid 90's Siren were all set to release this just before their agreement with Redemption in the UK fell through. 25years after its initial release, it would have been interesting to see what the OFLC would have made of this title.
Anchor Bay has put this out on DVD in the US, though it is missing a few brief scenes. Anchor Bay UK issued a DVD in 2003 which has more extras than the US disc. Unfortunately the British Censors demanded 38 seconds of cuts to the rape scene with Lord Cumberland (Herbert Lom). Also released in 2003, was the Dutch Filmworks DVD on their Extreme label.
Massage Girls
Prod J.Chen / 19?? / Thailand
Note: There is a IMDb entry for a film titled MASSAGE GIRLS. The film is a 1976 Hong Kong production, where as the censors list this as being from Thailand. It needs to be confirmed if this is indeed the same film.
A 1924.90mtr (70m 21s) print was submitted to the Censorship Board in November 1980 by Comfort Film Enterprises. It was passed only after 74.9mtr (164s) of footage was removed. The deletions were made to remove scenes of 'Animal Cruelty'.
The censored version received an R18+ rating due to sex, which was
described as:
Frequency: Frequent
Explicitness/Intensity: Medium
Purpose: Gratuitous
The R18+ was awarded for sex and violence, which were described as:
Sex
Frequency: Infrequent
Explicitness/Intensity: Medium
Purpose: Gratuitous
Violence
Frequency: Frequent
Explicitness/Intensity: Medium
Purpose: Gratuitous
The film went on to have a theatrical release, but was never issued on video in Australia.
Men in Black
Dir Barry Sonnenfeld / 1997 / USA
In 1997 Columbia Tristar made an appeal against the M rating given to the 98min (f) version of their movie. Here is what the Board of Review had to say"5 Findings on material questions of fact
The plot
5.1 Men in Black is a science fiction adventure comedy which follows the efforts of K and J, two employees of a secret government agency charged with keeping the peace between aliens roaming the earth in human form. K and J pursue an alien bug which has murdered humans and several aliens from another galaxy, and has stolen a minute galaxy. The earth is threatened with destruction unless the stolen galaxy is recovered.
Themes and Scenes of Violence
5.2 The Review Board considered the themes and scenes cited by the Classification Board. These included five sequences at 12, 14, 25, 42 and 43 minutes which the Classification Board found had more detail, impact and conceptual strength than is appropriate in a 'PG' classification.
The Review Board found that these depictions of violence, as well as a number of other depictions throughout the film, had more detail, impact and conceptual strength than is appropriate in a 'PG' classification, notwithstanding that many of the depictions involved aliens who were clearly fantasy figures.
The 'other depictions' included scenes at approximately
8 minutes: an 'illegal immigrant' is taken into the bush, slit open with a knife to reveal an alien, and his head held up on a stick in a scene containing a considerable sense of threat and menace;
44 minutes: a baby alien sprays mucus over the Man in Black in a manner which is neither mild in impact nor stylised;
72 minutes: victims are held by the throat and menaced with guns (not mild in impact);
84 minutes: a bug emerges from a space ship, pulls its own head off, swallows one man and hits another (not mild in impact).
There is, additionally, frequent and threatening resort to use of guns, e.g. at 20 minutes, 27 minutes, 63 minutes, 72 minutes and 78 minutes.
The Review Board found that the violent depictions were likely to be disturbing to some children under the age of 15 and as such could not be accommodated within the 'PG' classification.
The Review Board found that there was frequent use of coarse language (principally the stem words 'shit' and 'arse' ). Despite their use as a New York street argot, the Review Board considered that these were not 'mild and infrequent' as required in the 'PG' classification.
6 Reasons for Decision
6.1 The Review Board based its decision to confirm the Classification Board's decision to classify the film Men in Black 'M15' and to vary the consumer advice from 'Low Level Violence' to 'Low Level Violence, Low Level Course Language' on the film's content and language as described in 5.2 above.
6.2 The applicant argued that
> the 'PG' classification had been interpreted [by the Classification Board] as being intended to identify films for very young children; and
> the 'PG' classification guidelines for violence had been interpreted too rigorously in this instance; and
> the 'M15' classification assigned by the Classification Board is inconsistent with other decisions of the Board to classify some major releases 'PG'.
It argued, further that he incidents cited by the Classification Board were discreet, stylised, lacked impact and/or were presented in a humorous way. The film was claimed to fit into a general 'fantasy' category with an appeal to a ten year plus audience.
6.3 The Review Board rejects the applicant's argument that fantasy violence within a humorous context should be treated in a manner fundamentally different from violence within a realistic context. The Review Board found, as in 5.2 above, that the film contained several incidents in which violence was not discreetly implied or mild in impact or lacking in detail within the meaning of the 'PG' classification guidelines, and therefore the film could not be accommodated within that classification. In the Boards opinion that the film failed to meet the requirement that 'PG' films not be disturbing or harmful to children under the age of 15.
6.4 As well the Review Board found, as cited in 5.2 above, that the film's use of coarse language was too frequent and emphatic to be accommodated in a 'PG' classification.
6.5 The Classification Board of Review concluded that Men in Black cannot be recommended for viewing for those under 15 years within the meaning of Para.5 of the National Classification Code for Films. The Board accordingly decided to confirm the 'M15+' classification assigned to the film by the Classification Board and, for reasons stated above, to vary the consumer advice from 'Low Level Violence' to Low Level Violence, Low Level Coarse Language'.
7 Summary
7.1 The Review Board's decision is to confirm the decision of the Classification Board to classify the film Men in Black 'M15+' and to assign to its advertising the consumer advice 'Low Level Violence, Low Level Coarse Language'.
The decision was taken after full consideration of the applicant's submission, and after assessing the film as a whole against legislative criteria, including those contained in the Code, and in the current Classification Guidelines for Films and Videotapes determined under Section 12 of the Act. 18 July 1997 "
Classification Board & Classification Review Board-Annual Report 1997-1998
With the appeal unsuccessful, the film was cut for the much more lucrative 'PG' rating. Both cut and uncut versions are listed with running times of 98 minutes.
For its video release Columbia Tristar went with the censored 'PG' version.
Mind, Body & Soul
Dir Rick Sloane / 1992 / USA
In 1993 21st Century Pictures cut this from 93 to 91mins (v) for an MA rating.
In the UK it was cut from 92min 44sec to 90min 18sec for an 18 certificate. This is where things get confusing as the tape released in Australia by Freedom Distribution/21st Century Pictures also runs 92min 44sec. Even though it has an M rating on the cover it does seem to be uncut. The problematic scene for the OFLC would have to have been the rape of Brenda (Ginger Lynn) by the prison guard. In the M rated tape this starts at the around the 13min point, and as I've mentioned seems to be uncut.
An Australian DVD was released in 2005 on the Payless Entertainment label. I currently have no further details as to what version this disc contains.
Mondo Sexualis USA
Dir David Adnopaz / 1985 / USA
In 1987 Palace had this 95min film banned due to gratuitous sexual violence. No cut video release was given.
If Palace had managed to get this passed the censors then Australia would have been one of the few countries that this had a release.
This is currently a hard title to track down. The Greek tape on the Hermes Video Home Entertainment label is presumably uncut at 95min 16sec. The film consists of the following pieces.
 | A visit to Paddles S&M Club. |
| Ugly George on the streets of New York. |
| A voodoo priestess in Brooklyn. |
| A coven of witches. |
| Interview with Al Goldstein. |
| Visit to a California porn set. |
| Interview with Gloria Leonard |
| Interview with Bondage Queen, Mistress Antoinette. |
| Feature on The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. |
| Acupuncture for sexual problems. |
| Tattooing. |
| Genital sculpture. |
| Pubic Hairdresser. |
| Interview with a transvestite. |
| Interview with a high class call girl. |
| The sex-change operation. |
So where does the "gratuitous sexual violence" come from that prompted the Australian censors to rate it RC? The bondage footage is the most obvious possibility, though it is not particularly graphic. The transvestite trying to put his testicles up his anus (to achieve the flat look) is not violent, just painful to watch!
Finally, the obligatory sex-change operation is shown in graphic
detail, but could not be considered violent in any way. In 1981 the
censors cut a similar scene from LET ME DIE A WOMAN
(Video Classics), but later passed an operation in SHOCKING ASIA (K-Tel
Home Video). I would guess that by 1987 they would have let this footage
through.
Moon, Star and Sun
Dir Michael Mak / 1988 / Hong Kong
The 100min (f) print of this was banned in 1988. An appeal by the Chinatown Cinema to the Board of Review produced this response."The Board considered an appeal by the Chinatown Cinema Pty Ltd against the decision of the Film Censorship Board to refuse registration to Moon, Star and Sun on the ground that its depictions of sexual violence were 'sufficiently detailed and relished to be considered indecent'. The film, made in Hong Kong with Cantonese dialogue and subtitles in English, is a contemporary story about the lives of four 'China City' bar-girls, or prostitutes, and deals, at times graphically, with their exploitation and degradation, including the traumatic experiences of the girls at the hands of their clients.
At least two scenes give particular cause for concern. In one a girl is drugged and raped by two or more men, and in another a girl is sold to a client as a virgin and subjected to much suffering . Although the guidelines forbid 'explicit and unjustifiable depictions of sexual violence against non-consenting persons, the Board considered that the scenes in question were, on balance, justified by their narrative context, and were in any case, less explicit and protracted than comparable scenes in other films accorded 'R' Classifications.
In the Board's opinion, Moon, Star and Sun has little artistic merit, but is not the sort of junk film or blatantly exploitative vehicle for which refusal might be warranted. It deals with an aspect of modern society that cannot be ignored; incidents of the kind depicted are inseparable from the lifestyles and experiences of the women portrayed. Moreover, although some of the subject matter is extremely ugly, the story is relived by good humour and by a degree of sensitivity in its treatment of the relationships between the girls. While the film is not one which members of the Board would necessarily commend, neither is it one, in their view, which adult audiences should be prevented from seeing if they wish.
Accordingly, the Board agreed that the Chief Film Censor be directed to register Moon, Star and Sun and classify it 'For Restricted Exhibition' ('R'). 20 January 1989"
OFLC and Film Board of Review-Report on Activities 1988-89
With an 'R' rating a Chinese cinema release followed. No Australian video release.
Issued on DVD in Hong Kong on the Deltamac label.
Mordum
Dir Fred Vogel / 2003 / USA
Two reports from 2004 of this horror film being confiscated by customs.
In one case the reasons given were:
One (1) "August Underground's: Mordum" DVD.
This DVD portrays scenes of sex, self-mutilation, drug abuse, cruelty, bondage, rape and murder "in such a way that they offend against the standards of morality, decency and propriety generally accepted by reasonable adults to the extent that they should not be imported.
Material of this nature is deemed to fall within the scope of Regulation 4A (1A) (A) of the Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulations and therefore subject to the seizure provisions of Section 203 of the Customs Act 1901.
***
A US mail-order company have been warning their customers about customs problems with this title.
Quoted from Xploited Cinema website March 2006.
IMPORTANT NOTE TO UK & AUSTRALIAN
CUSTOMERS - SOME OF THESE DVDS HAVE BEEN CONFISCATED BY UK &
AUSTRALIAN CUSTOMS. SOME HAVE MADE IT THROUGH BUT SOME HAVE BEEN STOPPED.
ORDER AT YOUR OWN RISK!
Mother's Day
Dir Charles Kaufman / 1980 / USA
This was passed uncut at 91mins with an R in 1983, and released on tape by Roadshow Home Video. The rating of this cassette was reviewed in March 1985 and is listed at 87min (86min 41sec). Due to the tightening of the guidelines, the film was now deemed to be unacceptable, and was banned because of excessive violence and gratuitous sexual violence.
Mutilator, The
Dir Buddy Cooper / 1983 / USA
Platinum video had an 86min version of this banned in 1985 under its alternate title of Fall Break. Two years later Palace presented it as The Mutilator in a print running 87mins (v). Obviously the censors were not fooled, because they banned it again. It was not until Palace Video cut the running time to 84mins (83min 54sec), that it was passed with an R rating