Web of Seduction  

Dir Blain Brown / 1999 / USA

In January 2005 it premiered on Foxtel's Showtime channel with a running time of 86min 41sec, around two minutes shorter than the 21st Century Pictures VHS.

There is an unrated DVD release of this from Image in the US. In 2003 it was passed uncut by the British Censors with a running time of 93min 49sec.

Werewolf Woman 

aka Naked Werewolf Woman / Legend of the Werewolf Woman

Dir Rino Di Silvestro / 1976 / Italy

In 1994, under the title Werewolf Woman Force Video were refused a rating for this at 88mins, no cut release followed. The sequence that probably caused the problem was the gang rape scene, remove this and the film would probably be passed. 

Australian viewers can still find this title in stores as The Naked Werewolf Woman. This release is on a label called Blue Climax, and is usually found in the Adult section of stores as its packaging suggests it is a porno movie. This version runs 88min 48sec, and is a dupe of a cut UK tape, it even has the BBFC 18 rating before the movie! Quite a bit would seem to be missing from this as the longest known print runs some 6mins more! In the late 90's, the Blue Climax label put out some interesting tapes in Australia, all are packaged as Adult Films, are sourced from UK releases, and have fake R18+(Completely Concerned With Sex) ratings on the cover. 

A German language DVD is out under the title of BLUTMOND - TERROR OF THE SHE-WOLF.  US label Shriek Show issued an uncut DVD in March 2003. This was followed in July with a release from Jef Films Inc (USA).

Where Truth Lies

Dir William H. Molina / 1996 / USA

Network Entertainment had a 96min print banned in 1996.

Wings of Honneamise, The

Dir Hiroyuki Yamaga / 1987 / Japan

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

This was passed with an M rating in 1995, and released on Siren's Manga label. Missing from this release was an attempted rape scene, which, according to the Melon Farmer's website, was removed by Manga Films for a lower rating when the film was first released in the UK. This same cut print was submitted to the OFLC and released by Manga Video. Interestingly, when the film premiered on SBS, the cut scene was included.

Wham Bam Thank You Spaceman

Dir William A. Levey / 1975 / USA

It is unclear if this was ever officially passed with an R-rating and released theatrically in the 70's. The early however 80's did see a videotape release on the Starbase label which sported an R-rating.

Showtime Video had a 90m video passed with an X-rating in May 1984. The reason given for the decision was sex, which were described as:
Frequency: Frequent
Explicitness/Intensity: High
Purpose: Gratuitous

There is no evidence to suggest this was ever released. If you know otherwise then please let us know.

It was back before the censors in March 1985 in the form of an 87m videotape submitted by the Victorian Police. This was Refused Registration for reasons of 'Gratuitous Sexual Violence'.

It was again refused in February 1986 for reasons of 'Gratuitous Sexual Violence'. Again the applicant was the Victorian Police, though this time the tape ran 90m.

In August 1986 the NSW Police, and in September 1986 the Victorian Police both had videotapes refused by the censors. Again the reason was for 'Gratuitous Sexual Violence', though the running time of the tape had now shrunk to 80m.

It was finally passed with an R18+ (High level sex scenes, Coarse language) rating on October 30th 2007. MRA Entertainment intend to release this on DVD soon.

Whore 

Dir Isabelle McEwen / 2006 / Germany

This was due to be shown at the 8th Melbourne Underground Film Festival in 2007. 

Melbourne Underground Film Festival 8
Program Notes
Mini MUFF 
Local & International Short films curated by Jason Turley 
SESSION 5 
7pm Wed 26 Sept LOOP
WHORE 
Dir: Isabelle McEwen/2006/Germany/4 mins/Experimental
A whore guides us through a vision of hell.

It was scrapped after the OFLC's Amy Wooding refused to grant it, and six other features film festival exemptions. This is not the first time that MUFF has ran into problems with the censors. In 2004 the OFLC demanded that The Toolbox Murders (1978),  Wife to be Sacrificed,  and Za Ginipiggu 1 and 2 be pulled from the festival.

The Melbourne Underground Film Festival issued the following press release on September 20th 2007.

MUFF 8 films banned! 
September 20th 2007

The Following films have been banned from the OFLC: 

70k 
Schulmädchen-Report: Was Eltern nicht für möglich halten (aka The Schoolgirl Report) 
Sex Wish 
The Farmer's Daughter 
Ashley & Kisha: Finding the Right Fit 
Whore 
60 Second Relief 

We will replacing them with other films from the MUFF program. 

This Sunday 70k will be replaced with a second screening of Streetsweeper… a good MUFF Neu that we can play. Whore and 60 Second Relief are withdrawn and nothing will fill their place. The Other films will be replaced. More details on Monday. 

Will the media even cover this? Do people care about censorship in this country?

Letter to OFLC 

Here is a copy of a letter sent to our OFLC contact Amy Wooding. Any response we will share with our MUFF audience: 

Hi Amy, I thought I'd write to you about this year's decision. 

So the films I cannot play at MUFF 8 are the following: 

70k, Schulmädchen-Report: Was Eltern nicht für möglich halten (aka The Schoolgirl Report), Sex Wish, The Farmer's Daughter, Ashley & Kisha: Finding the Right Fit, Whore and 60 Second Relief 

Is this correct? 

I will comply and withdraw them from screenings and replace them with films you have granted permission for me to play (like Moonlight and Magic, Left Ear, etc). 

A few small questions, you might be able to answer or maybe the OFLC director can answer them (If you have his email I'll cc this to him): 

Why is pornography of the most gross and offensive nature (like shitting and pissing films) available for sale in most Adult bookshops in Victoria? 

Also: Are not X rated films only supposed to be available in Canberra but for sale in 90% of Adult shops in Vic and NSW and in other states? 

Why is MUFF referred to the justice department for wishing to screen a couple of classy or forgotten pieces of erotica with artistic merit to an audience over 18 (who are keen to see them) and nothing done about the illegal X rated sale of videos and DVD's in sex shops that is rampant? 

Is there not a hint of corruption or hypocrisy and definitely absurdity here?

Why are X rated films banned at all! It begs the question given the ready availability of it in on the Internet? Available on any PC, anywhere. 

A MUFF screening is a minor problem compared to the flaunting of your rules every day of every year by the Adult Sex Industry. 

Why are films like Shortbus and 9 Songs passed though they clearly contravene some of your guidelines? 

Why is MIFF allowed to play a film like Exterminating Angles in a section that focussed on perversity and erotica though that too contravenes your guideline? And we cannot do it? We will comply with your absurd ruling out of fear of prosecution to our small festival but register our complaint also that this is neither fair or just. We believe strongly it represents a violation of the basic human rights of Australian citizens to freedom of speech, assembly and expression. 

Enabling a festival like MUFF or MIFF to play whatever they choose from the classy end of the sex industry will lift both festivals standing in the International community and not reveal a backward 1950's attitude to sex and censorship in Australia. Your own guidelines date from over 50 years ago. Surely a review is in order? 

I am cc-ing this email to the MIFF Festival Director Richard Moore for his interest. His comments and feelings on the matter I would be interested to hear. 

Any answers to these questions or our complaint will be greatly appreciated from the OFLC. 

This letter is not written in disrespect but in a wish for better clarification of the important issues it contains. 

Best Regards Richard Wolstencroft

PS. Why is 70k banned it has no sex or violence at all does it?

MUFF opens tonight at Toff in Town come down and support a festival that believes in fighting censorship!

Whore 2

Dir Amos Kollek / 1994 / USA

Columbia Tristar Hoyts Home Video had this banned at 81mins in 1995, no cut release followed.

No DVD release as yet, but an unrated tape can be found in the US.

Wife to be Sacrificed  

Dir Masaru Konuma / 1974 / Japan

This was due to screen on July 17th 2004 at the Melbourne Underground Film Festival. It is rumoured that the OFLC became aware of this and contacted the organisers who pulled it, and three other features from the program. If anyone has any further information on this then please send it in.

The Melbourne Underground Film Festival issued the following press release on July 12th 2004.

The following films have been banned from MUFF by the O.F.L.C:

The following description of the film is taken from the MUFF website.

IKENIE FUJIN (a.k.a. WIFE TO BE SACRIFICED)
JAPAN | 1974 | 71 min

Gorgeous “pink” actress Naomi Tani stars as a woman who nurtures her ex-husband’s deluded fantasies in this arty, deliberately-paced Nikkatsu shocker from Masaru Konuma, a talented practitioner of the “Erotic Eastern” whose best work was done throughout the seventies and into the early eighties. Not big on plot, but heavily focused on the shifting power structures of dysfunctional relationships. As was the case with many Nikkatsu productions, this is impeccably shot and scored and has no equivalent outside Japan.

Saturday July 17th 7pm | Gertrudes

Released on DVD in the U.S. in 2003 by Image.

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