Film Censorship: D

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Dämonenbrut

Directed by Andreas Bethmann / 2000 / Germany / IMDb

The Chopping List reports that a DVD of DAMONEBRUT was confiscated by customs in 2004.

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Darling

Directed by Susumu Kudo / 2003 / Japan / IMDb

Siren Visual Entertainment had a DVD of DARLING banned in January 2006.

 

Thanks to Peter F for this review of the uncut version.

Episode 1 is fine and runs to 27:47 (NTSC)

Episode 2 was the most problematic and runs to 27:01 (NTSC)

Episode 2 has a Instrument moment and a Sci-Fi moment (all NTSC times)

The instrument scene, at 9:08 Jun, the husband, shoves a Clarinet into Miyuki's pussy, notes play (his wife) At 9:21 Oboe is now inserted into Miyuki's pussy, notes play again At 9:33 Trombone is now inserted, Jun comments "What a beautiful tone" At 11:25 Kanti, who has been watching Jun and Miyuki screw, stuffs a novelty horn into her bum, one long note plays as she cums.

The Sci-Fi moment (most problematic I think) (times will be off the DVD time, not episode time) at 48:00, the "penis" monster's tentacle enters Miyuki's pussy, pleasuring her at 48:07, extreme close up of tentacle going in and out of Miyuki at 48:18, the tentacles play with Miyuki's breasts at 48:24, Kozue (Miyuki's sister) now gets screwed by the tentacles at 48:37, More close up's of the tentacles pleasuring both Kozue and Miyuki (This goes on for 30 more seconds) at 49:53 Kozue now lubricates the robot penis of Jun and until 51:55, he satisfies them both

Episode 3 might have a couple of problems and runs to 28:08 (NTSC)

Episode 3 has the rape scene being a little problematic (again DVD time, not episode time) at 58:09-58:36, close up of Jun's throbbing penis, satisfying Miyuki, with her screaming in pain at 65:13-65:28 Jun plays with Kozue, being tied up in his living room, she protests in mumbles I'm not sure about aphrodisiacs in magna porn, but if you need the info let me know.

Note: the scenes are role-play/fantasy, it is not part of their reality. And Episode 2 is UNCUT

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Day of Anger

Directed by Tonino Valerii / 1967 / Italy - West Germany / IMDb

In the late 60s, the Commonwealth Censor removed some of the more violent scenes from DAY OF ANGER prior to awarding a rating.

In July 1987, Delta Home Video had an 82m tape passed with a PG-rating. This version was a full screen, dubbed, and severely shortened print that ran only 81:11. This remained the only way that Australian viewers had of seeing this title until SBS premiered an uncut print in August 2002. This was letterboxed, Italian language, and ran 110:41.

 

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Dead and Buried

Directed by Gary Sherman/ 1981 / USA / IMDb

Roadshow had a 94m 35mm print of DEAD AND BURIED passed with an R-rating in 1981, after 1s was removed for reasons of violence.

The Roadshow Video tape that followed was also censored. A 93m tape was confirmed with an R-rating in 1985. We do not know where this time came from as the exact running time of the Roadshow tape was 89:41. This compares with 90:18 for the old uncut UK Thorn EMI tape.

An Australian DVD was released by Force Video in 2002. Despite running 90:03, it was still incomplete.

 

 

Roadshow VHS vs. Force DVD

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 was not uncut. We spotted at least two very brief moments that were missing from the DVD, but that were present in the VHS.

 

FREDDIE IS BURNT
In the DVD, the fire is set at 08:34. The VHS is missing around 6s of Freddy screaming as the flames burn him.

 

DEATH OF THE DRUNK
This scene begins at 15:37 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 2s.

 

DEATH OF FREDDIE
The nurse raises the needle at 29:19 in the DVD, it continues 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 1s.

 

DEATH OF THE HITCHHIKER
This is the first cut to the DVD. At 56:02 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 1s.

 

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 1s shot of her crushed face.

In the DVD at 56:10, 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 girl's crushed face. The shot of her face lasts 3s as opposed to 1s in the VHS.

 

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

 

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The Deadly Avenger

Directed by Robert Rundle / 1991 / USA / IMDb

In 1993, the OFLC banned an 88m videotape of THE DEADLY AVENGER. Home Cinema Group was the applicant.

 

 

THE DIVINE ENFORCER: VHS review

Thanks to Matt for this review.

 

It is hard to believe they were still making films as crazy as THE DEADLY AVENGER in the 1990s. I urge everyone to track this one down. You will not be disappointed.

The US tape from Prism Entertainment runs 89:56 (NTSC). This release is under its original titles of THE DIVINE ENFORCER.

The fact that the OFLC banned this film in 1991 demonstrates how oversensitive they had become to any hint of sexual violence. THE DEADLY AVENGER contains no scenes of rape, and only a few relatively mild scenes of women in peril. Of the four scenes that I describe below, I would assume that the first and second were the main problem.

 

Scene 1: Attempted Gang Rape

02:50 to 04:00 – A fully clothed girl is held down by three men. They tell her to stop moving.

Girl, "Please leave me alone, don’t hurt me"

Attacker, "Why don’t you get on your knees and show us how to pray"

Father Daniel, "Playtime over boys, time to go home. Think I heard your mother calling"

Attacker, "Who the hell are you"

Father Daniel, "Well I guess you could say I’m her salvation"

The girl is shown struggling on the ground as an attacker holds a leg each. Father Daniel then proceeds to kick the shit out of them and rescue the girl.

 

Scene 2: Blood Sucking

05:00 to 06:00 – A bare breasted woman is shown tied to a wall. Otis kisses her on the mouth and breasts. She struggles, and he punches her in the stomach and calls her a "Dumb bitch"

She replies "Fuck you, fuck you arsehole"

Otis then injects her in the neck and sucks her blood.

 

Scene 3: The Talking Skull

46:30 to 50:30 – A woman is shown in a chair with her hands bound. Otis attempts to get her to drink some blood. She takes a sip, and then drops the glass on the floor. He hits her in the face, calls her a bitch, and then binds her hands and legs to the chair. He continues to verbally abuse her, and rips her top off.

Otis is distracted as he imagines a human skull is talking to him. He finally returns to the girl, and inserts a length of tube into her arm. She screams for him to stop, but he tells her to "Shut the fuck up"

Otis then imagines the skull telling him to "Kill the bitch", he replies "No, this ones mine". The blood is shown draining from the girl’s body as she looses consciousness.

 

Scene 4: Kim is Captured

80:15 to 82:15. - Otis has Kim ties to a chair. He attempts to kiss her, but she fights back and squeezes his balls.

He grabs her face, and screams "Son of a bitch". He ties her more securely to the chair, injects a needle into her arm, and begins to drain her blood

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Deadly Dream Woman

Directed by Wong Jing and Tai Lai / 1992 / Hong Kong / IMDb

In 1992, an 89m 35mm print of DEADLY DREAM WOMAN was banned for reasons of gratuitous sexual violence.

Yu Enterprises removed the offending content and the film, still running 89m, was passed in December 1992. This censored R18+ (Medium level violence) version went on to play in Chinese language cinemas during 1992.

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Deadly Sunday

Directed by Donald M. Jones / 1982 / USA / IMDb

Applicant C.White had an 88m VHS of DEADLY SUNDAY 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 was 81:02, so we are not sure where the 88m time that the censors quote comes from. The tape looks to be uncut.

The offending scene takes place at approximately the 35m point. Gil threatens Patty with a gun and knife, and forces her to strip before attempting to rape her. The scene ends with Gil threatening to kill himself.

 

ABDUCTED (1973) was an earlier Donald M. Jones film that is covered in our Film Censorship Database.

 

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Death Scenes

Written by Nick Bougas and F.B. Vincenzo / 1989 / USA / IMDb

Applicant, John Nelson an 87m VHS of DEATH SCENES banned in 1990.

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Death Trap

aka Eaten Alive

Directed by Tobe Hooper / 1976 / USA / IMDb

Tobe Hooper's follow up to the (at the time) banned THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE did not come before the Australian Censors until an 82m videotape was submitted in January 1981 by a company called Videolink. It too was Refused Registration.

An uncut print of DEATH TRAP was eventually passed with an R18+ (Occasional graphic violence) rating in July 1989, and was released on Roadshow's Applause Home Video label. This version ran 86:55.

It was passed again with an 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.

 

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Death Warmed Up

Directed by David Blyth / 1985 / New Zealand / IMDb

During the 80s, the censors must have had something against Kiwi splatter movies, because like BAD TASTE, DEATH WARMED UP also lost footage before being awarded an R-rating.

It was first Refused Registration in June 1985, in a 35mm print running 2271.00 meter (83:00), and again in July 1985, this time in the form of an 82m videotape. In both cases, the reason given for the ban was violence, which were described as:
Frequency: Infrequent
Explicitness/Intensity: High
Purpose: Gratuitous

A reconstructed 35mm version running 2221.83 (81:12) was passed with an R-rating in November 1985, and an 81m videotape was passed in December 1985 The reason for the rating was violence, which were described as:
Frequency: Infrequent
Explicitness/Intensity: Medium
Purpose: Gratuitous

In both cases, CBS/Fox Video were the applicant.  The censored VHS was released in 1986 and runs 77:51.

 

 

The censored scenes from the CBS/Fox tape

Here is a description of what is missing from the CBS/Fox Video release. Some of these cuts are hard to see as many of them just tone down existing scenes. This would now easily get an uncut R18+.

 

Michael's Dead Family

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

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

 

Brain Operation #1

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

14:44- (2s cut) Longer shot of grinding tool on skull.

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

 

Biker Deaths

45:21- (2s cut) Metal rod going through bikers back.

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

 

Biker's Stomach Wound

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

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

 

Neck Wound

59:37- (4s cut) Close up of blood spurting from neck of man, before he falls to the ground.

 

Scissor Death

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

 

Brain Operation #2

66:43- (3s cut) Shot of drill going into skull.

66:49- (2s cut) Longer shot of the skull being cut.

66:52- (5s cut) Groove being cut into skull.

67:00- (6s cut) Doctor sticking his finger into the brain.

67:04- (2s cut) Second shot of the Doctor with fingers in the patient's brain.

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

 

Death of the Doctor

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

 

 

David Blyth on Australian censorship

David Blyth has kindly provided us with some more information regarding the Australian release of DEATH WARMED UP. David's first feature, ANGEL MINE, also ran into problems with the Australian censors, and is covered in our database.

davidblyth.com
July 2009

In both films cases, distributors in Australia made cuts without the filmmakers permission to get censorship ratings that I believe suited their commercial aspirations. ie by removing knifing scenes from DWU a lower certificate rating was possible.

I believe that Australia may have had a more conservative censorship system than New Zealand at the time, but it is certainly very interesting that both films were censored for Australian consumption.

Do I sniff some cultural discrimination against Australia's country cousins New Zealand?

Because we were never consulted, we only discovered this situation after the event, so it was too late to do much,

Both films have now finally been released on DVD this year. Both films have been released uncut as originally made by me.

It has taken 15 years to compile an original version of DWU because the original negative was destroyed by mistake and all the subsequent prints had been cut by distributors/censors .I believe in NZ distributors carried out self censorship of prints themselves simply removing footage at will. Bizarre but true.

The NZ company selling the DVDs of Angel Mine and Death Warmed Up is www.screenline.co.nz

 

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Debts of Desire

Produced by Shiyuuta Biwajima and Chikara Niki / 2002 / Japan 

This film has never had problems with the Australian censors. It is included because we suspect the distributor censored it prior to submission to the Classification Board.

 

The Classification Board awarded a DVD of DEBTS OF DESIRE an R18+ (High level animated sex scenes) rating in April 2008. It was released as part of Siren Visual's Hentai Collection in July 2008. 

 

 

DEBTS OF DESIRE Review

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.

 

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The Degradation of Emanuelle

aka Emanuelle Around the World

Directed by Joe D'Amato / 1977 / Italy / IMDb

In August 1978, the censors demanded 22.5 meters (49s) of cuts to a 2578 meter (94:19) print of THE DEGRADATION OF EMANUELLE. 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.

 

 

Continental version and customs

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

In 2007, the U.S. company Xploited Cinema gave the following warning to their customers regarding the Severin Films DVD of EMANUELLE AROUND THE WORLD.

xploitedcinema.com
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.

 

 

Soft version vs. Continental version

In June 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 of Umbrella's DVD.

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.

IMDb: 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.

IMDb: 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.

IMDb: 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)

IMDb: 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:

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

 

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Les Demoniaques

aka  Les Demoniaques (Revenge of the Virgins)

Directed by Jean Rollin / 1974 / France / IMDb

In July 1977, a 2770.00-meter (101:15) print of LES DEMONIAQUES lost 63.5-meters (02:19) of footage for reasons of ‘indecency’. Regent Trading Enterprises released it theatrically.

In the early 80s, Starbase Video released the film on tape. The cover has the title LES DEMONIAQUES (REVENGE OF THE VIRGINS). This was presumably the same as the censored theatrical version.

 

 

LES DEMONIQUES: The censored footage

Thanks to Matt for this review.

The Starbase Video actually contains footage not found in the Image Entertainment/Redemption DVD. The Dutch Encore Entertainment DVD does include the footage, but only as an extra. 

I could not see any footage that appeared in the Image DVD, but not in the Starbase tape. This makes me believe that all of the 02:19 of film removed by the Australian censor would have came from these extra scenes. I was unable to obtain an accurate time for the Starbase version as my tape was damaged.

This review at DVD Compare list the footage as:

1) After a brief fight with young sailor, and Le Bosco and Paul, the sailor goes upstairs with the waitress, and they have a “good time” there (3:40 min).

My comment: In the Starbase tape this scene lasts 02:55. It is cut from the Image DVD at 50:21.

2) Extended sex-scene between Tina and the Captain in the room (6:37 min).

My comment: The sex scene ends at 56:13 in the Image DVD. The Starbase tape is the same. This extended rape scene was reportedly removed at Jean Rollin's request.

3) Extended scenes of Tina “pleasuring herself” in the scene where they have tied up the girls (6:22 min). 

My comment: The Image DVD is cut at 88:55. The Starbase tape contains an extra 02:55 of footage that is missing from the Image DVD.

4) This one is also from the same scene as the earlier, but this time there is a “hardcore shot” included, where you can see the close-up of Tina´s private part (probably shot with the other actress) (1:52 min).

My comment: The Starbase tape does not include any ‘hardcore shot’.

 

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Demons of the Mind

Directed by Peter Sykes / 1972 / UK / IMDb

In July 1972, a 2452.00-meter (89:37) print of Hammer's DEMONS OF THE MIND was banned because of 'excessive violence'. MGM/BEF Film Distributors unsuccessfully appealed to the Review Board in August 1972.

DEMONS OF THE MIND was one of three Hammer films that were banned by the Australian Censorship Board during the first year of the R-rating. The other titles were HANDS OF THE RIPPER (1971) and VAMPIRE CIRCUS (1972).

 

 

Video and DVD releases

In November 1984, an 84:47 (PAL) tape was passed with an M-rating. It was awarded for violence, which were described as being:
Frequency: Infrequent
Explicitness/Intensity: Medium
Purpose: Gratuitous

...and also for 'Horror'.

Thorn EMI Screen Entertainment released the film on video in 1985.

 

In 2005, Universal Pictures Home Video released DEMONS OF THE MIND on a Midnight Movies Double Feature DVD with FRIGHT (1971). The running time is required for this version.

 

 

DEMONS OF THE MIND (1972) review

Thanks to Simon for this information.

According to the IMDb, three scenes in DEMONS OF THE MIND were modified by the British Censorship Board when it was first released. Presumably, this already cut BBFC version was what the Australian censor banned in 1972.

The BBFC made cuts at:

35:00 approx – Over a close up image of Zorn’s eye, we see his wife cut her own throat, followed by images of her dead body. The image was blurred to obscure what was going on.

66:00 approx – When Emil murders Inge, the shots of him suffocating her with soil were removed. The aftermath of her topless and bloody dead body, with soil in her mouth, remains in the BBFC and Thorn EMI versions.

71:30 approx - The murder of Aunt Hilda by Emil was toned down. However, the scene still remains graphic enough as he stabs her in the throat with a set of keys.

All of the footage removed by the BBFC is reportedly lost.

If the Australian censor received a pre-cut version, what was left to cause them to ban it? What remains of Inge and Aunt Hilda’s death is still quite strong, as is the climatic death of Zorn where he has his hand chopped off, and is staked with a burning cross.

DEMONS OF THE MIND is an interesting example of the changing standards in Australian censorship. A film that was banned in 1972, could go on to receive an M-rating 1984.

The Australian Thorn EMI tape runs 84:47 (PAL).

 

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The Demon Wet Nurse

aka Madame Fung Shen's Lover

Directed by Tsu Hui Hsia / 1992 / Hong Kong / IMDb

A 99m 35mm print of THE DEMON WET NURSE was banned by the OFLC in August 1992. A 95m censored version was prepared by Yu Enterprises and was finally passed for public exhibition with an R18+ (High level sex scenes) in October 1992. On the same day VN Video International were awarded an R18+ for the sale and hire of the film.

The censored film went on to play in Raymond Yu's Australia Cinema in Sydney, and no doubt in other Chinese language cinemas around the country.

 

The 1992 Hong Kong VHS on the Universe Laser and Video label seems to be uncut, with a PAL running time of 94:56. The majority of the film is made up of a series of soft-core sex scenes that would definitely not have troubled our censor. However, just before the end credits there is an approximately four minute scene that would seem to have been the cause of the problem. Here Wei Jung Quien has Qua Ar Sau tied up, before he proceeds to rape her. The film was cut by approximately four minutes for the R18+ rating, so it would seem that this scene was probably removed.

The on-screen title is MADAME FUNG SHEN'S LOVER, while the tape packaging lists it as THE DEMON WET NURSE.

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Diamonds on Her Naked Flesh

Directed by Omiros Efstratiadis / 1972 / Greece / IMDb

DIAMONDS ON HER NAKED FLESH was first passed by the censors in February 1975 when a 2800.00 meter (102:20) 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 3080.00 meters (112:34). Dynasty Film Distributors removed 5.50 meters (12s) to gain an R-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

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Diary of a Serial Killer

Directed by Otto Chan / 1995 / Hong Kong / IMDb

Yu's Entertainment had an 89m 35mm print of DIARY OF A SERIAL KILLER banned in August 1995. An 84m censored version was prepared and was finally passed for public exhibition with an R18+ (High Level Violence, High Level Sex Scenes) in September 1995.

The censored film went on to play in Raymond Yu's Australia Cinema in Sydney, and no doubt in other Chinese language cinemas around the country.

 

Here is what the OFLC had to say about the film in their Classification Board and Classification Review Board-Annual Report 1995-96.

"Diary of a Serial Killer, a Hong Kong, Chinese-language film with depictions of the torture, murder and mutilation of young women, was refused for some gratuitous and relished depictions of cruelty and sexual violence which the board considered would be regarded by reasonable persons as indecent. A revised version with cuts made to problematic scenes was subsequently classified R by the board"

 

 

The problem scenes

The 1995 Hong Kong VHS on the Universe Laser and Video label seems to be uncut. The running time of 91:03 indicates that it was NTSC. Using this as a guide, it is easy to what the Classification Board disapproved of. These would have to include:

13:00 approx - The murder of the prostitute in the shower. There is a flashback to this at 62m 30s approx.

14:30 approx - The murder of the second prostitute, Cheung Mai-Bo. He gags her and puts a firecracker inside her.

26:00 approx - Suffocates, and stabs a prostitute. Ties her up and cuts her breast. There is a flashback to the bound and gagged prostitute at 41m approx. There is also a flashback to the breast cutting at 55m approx.

53:00 approx - Uses rope to control the dead, naked prostitute like a puppet.

65:30 approx - Has sex with the dead prostitute.

70:00 approx - Has sex with the prostitute, suffocates her, burns her with iron, and then cuts her.

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Die Insel der Dämonen

Directed by Andreas Bethmann / 1998 / Germany / IMDb

The Chopping List reports that a DVD of DIE INSEL DER DAMONEN was confiscated by customs in 2004.

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The Disturbance

Directed by Cliff Guest / 1990 / USA / IMDb

Tru-Value Pty Ltd had an 93m videotape of THE DISTURBANCE banned in 1992.

 

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+.

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Dolemite

Directed by D'Urville Martin / 1975 / USA / IMDb

This film has never had problems with the Australian censors. It is included because the distributor released a censored print.

 

Gold Key Video had an 86m VHS of DOLEMITE 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 was 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 in April 2008 and 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.

 

 

Censored DOLEMITE DVD and VHS

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

DOLEMITE has been sourced a censored print, as there are two very 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 about the same as the Gold Key Video VHS.

 

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Don't Answer the Phone

Directed by Robert Hammer / 1980 / USA / IMDb

In 1981, GUP Film Distribution had to censor DON'T ANSWER THE PHONE from 95 to 86m before an R-rated cinema release could take place. Two years later, Video Classics twice had 94m versions banned.

 

 

Censored Australian DVD

Payless Entertainment released an Australian DVD of DON'T ANSWER THE PHONE in 2004 with a fake R-rating. This overly dark print is the same heavily cut version that appeared on the Rhino label in the U.S. Despite a 94m running time being listed on the cover, it actually clocks in at 85:20. This does not include the opening 'Crown International Pictures', and closing 'Crown International Television' cards.

Movie-Censorship documents the nine minutes of missing footage.

 

 

DON'T ANSWER THE PHONE: Uncut review

Thanks to Matt for this review of the uncut version.

The 2006 U.S. DVD from BCI Eclipse is the complete version. The running time is 94:40 which does not include the U.S. R-rating at the end of the film.

In 2009, this would easily get an uncut R-rating from the Australian censors. However back in the 80s it is easy to see what they objected to. Although there are no actual rape scenes, there are plenty of scenes of topless (there is no full frontal nudity) women being strangled to death.

Some, or all of these would have contributed to the Australian ban.

03:30 to 04:15 - The opening murder where he strangles the topless women

17:30 to 19:30 - Kirk breaks into Carol's bedroom, rips her top off, and drops candle wax on her.

29:00 to 29:30 - The model Sue-Ellen is stripped of her top and strangled. Kirk is shown placing a coin into a stocking before wrapping it around her neck.

43:00 to 43:30 - The hooker is strangled whilst on the phone to Dr Gale. This is the only murder where the victim is not topless. Again Kirk is shown placing a coin into a stocking before wrapping it around her neck.

69:15 to 70:45 - Kirk visits the home of a model claiming that her agent sent him. He tears off her gown so she is topless and then strangles her. Her roommate walks into the room and sees what has happened. Kirk grabs her and strangles her. I forgot to mention, she was also topless!

 

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Don't Go in the House

Directed by Joseph Ellison / 1980 / USA / IMDb

DON'T GO IN THE HOUSE was first rated by the OFLC in 1992, when an uncut print was Refused Classification after it was forwarded to them by customs.

In March 1993, a pre-cut version was passed with an M (Medium Level Violence) rating and released on tape by 21st Century Pictures. The running time was 75:44 as opposed to the uncut 79:01 of the early 80s UK release from Videospace.

In 1987, the British censors passed an 18-rated tape with 03:07 of cuts. It is possible that the Australian release was taken from this particular version as the running times are very similar.

 

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Don't Stop My Crazy Love for You

Directed by Wei Tat Hon / 1993 / Hong Kong / IMDb

On May 12th 1993, Chinatown Cinema had a 91m 35mm print of DON'T STOP MY CRAZY LOVE FOR YOU Refused Registration by the Classification Board. The reason given for the ban was 'Sexual Violence'. Chinatown Cinema censored the film back to 83m, 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.

 

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 91:30, 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!".

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Double Vision

Directed by Kuo-Fu Chen / 2002 / Taiwan / IMDb

This film has never had problems with the Australian censors. It is included because the distributor released a censored print.

 

The Australian DVD of DOUBLE VISION, which was released by Columbia Tri-Star in 2003, was NTSC formatted and contained the 110m (109:37) rated version. The film was preceded by the American rating label, which says 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.

This was rated three times by the OFLC in the space of ten months. The original 113m version was passed R18+ (Medium level violence) in August 2002. The revised 110m print was again rated R18+ (Medium level violence) in August 2002. This is most likely the version that had a theatrical release in Australia. It is unclear why Columbia Tristar made such a change. Finally, the above-mentioned DVD was rated R18+ (Medium level violence) in June 2003.

Schnittberichte has a detailed comparison between both versions.

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Dreamaniac

Directed by David DeCoteau / 1986 / USA / IMDb

Virgin Video had an 83m VHS of DREAMANIAC banned in 1988 because of 'excessive violence'.

 

 

DREAMANIAC: Uncut version reviewed

Thanks to Matt for this review.

 

DREAMANIAC is a terrible shot on video feature from David DeCoteau. The uncut tape that Wizard Video released in the US ran 82:29 (NTSC).

Here is a run down of all of the violent scenes.

15:00 – Adam dreams that Lilly bites off his penis. He screams, and we see her with a bloody mouth.

29:15 – A girl is stabbed in the head. All we see are a few seconds of blood spraying on her face.

38:00 – Lilly ties up a man with power cable then electrocutes him. This is a tame scene.

44:00 – A man is stabbed to death with a knife to the back of his neck.

44:30 – A girl is hit with a poker. Blood splatters on her face.

50:00 – Lilly bites off a penis. Again, we see her bloody mouth, but this time she spits his penis onto the floor. The scene is very dark, so it is not as graphic as it sounds.

55:30 – A man is stabbed in the face. This is one of the more graphic deaths.

56:00 – A brief shot of a girl having her throat cut with a razor.

61:15 – A man is garrotted in his car. This is a tame scene.

71:15 – Pat puts a drill through Adam’s hand. This is a graphic scene.

73:00 – Pat puts a drill through Adams’s neck, and eventually removes his head. This is the most graphic scene in the film.

Most of the violence sounds more explicit than it actually is. Many are very brief, and relatively bloodless. I believe the censor would have mainly had problems with Adam getting the drill in the hand and neck.

A heavily censored version of DREAMANIAC was released in New Zealand on Squirm Video. The NZOFLC must have removed all of the violence, as they cut is from 82:51 to 78:21.

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Dreams of Eroticism

Directed by Shaw Brothers Directors Group / 1977 / Hong Kong / IMDb

In November 1978, a 2496.13 meter (91:14) print of DREAMS OF EROTICISM lost 11.3 meters (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.

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The Driller Killer

Directed by Abel Ferrara / 1979 / USA / IMDb

THE DRILLER KILLER had a very troubled time with our censors in the early 80s. It was submitted in September 1982, by Video Classics in an 86m tape version, and in July 1983 by Syme Home Video running 90m. Both versions were Refused Registration, and were never released by either label.

THE DRILLER KILLER was back for consideration in November 1984, when 14th Mandolin submitted a 35mm print that ran 2589 meters (94:38). Once again, it was banned. It was finally passed in September 1985, three years after the initial submission, with an R-rating. 14th Mandolin was again the applicant, and the print was described as an 89m reduced version. We would assume this running time refers to a video tape and not a 35mm print.

There were two VHS releases of THE DRILLER KILLER in Australia, both are cut and ran 88:59. Cover one is on the King of Video label. Cover two lists King of Video on the actual tape, but Box Office Int Video on the cover. 14th Mandolin were the distributors behind both of these labels.

The murder of the tramps at approximately 36m and 50m both look shortened. Also missing at 55m is the infamous scene of the drill through the head.

 

Abel Ferrara's FEAR CITY also had censorship problems in Australia. It is covered in our database.

 

 

The censored Umbrella DVD

In March 2004, Umbrella Entertainment submitted a 95m version to the OFLC. It was awarded an MA15+ (High Level Violence) rating for DVD release. The cover has a sticker on it informing the public that the film was 'Previously Banned. Now Released Uncut'. Unfortunately, it was a 94:20 censored version. Why Umbrella Entertainment released this version is a mystery. The true uncut film would undoubtedly have been passed, if not MA15+, then definitely R18+.

This print seems to have originated from the 1999 UK Visual Entertainment DVD release.

At the time UK censorship site, Melon Farmers described the situation as:

"54s were pre-cut by the distributor after having taken advice from James Ferman last year. The main cuts were to the head drilling scene but two earlier drill killings also suffered. 46 seconds of footage has been added to smooth over some of the gaps."

Schnittberichte has a detailed comparison between the censored Visual Entertainment DVD (same as the Umbrella DVD) and the uncut U.S. Cult Epics DVD

 

 

Censored World Movies screening

At midnight on December 9th 2006, THE DRILLER KILLER had its Australian TV Premiere courtesy of the B-Mania season on the World Movies Channel.

 

Thanks to Sean for sending in this report about the screening

Just thought that you may be interested to know that the recent World Movies screening of DRILLER KILLER was the same as the cut Umbrella DVD version.

I e-mailed the channel to try and get some answers about this strange example of censorship.

 

17.12.06
To World Movies
Thanks for screening the B Movie season. This is something I'd like to see much more of on World Movies. The main reason that I am writing is concerning the screening of DRILLER KILLER last Saturday. I was hoping that you would screen the uncut version, but instead it was the censored. I am very disappointed that you did this, and hope that it is not a sign of increasing censorship on the channel. The version that was shown had an MA rating. I know that (unlike Showtime), you can screen R-rated films. Why not leave it uncut, and give it an R-rating?

28.12.06
From World Movies
Thanks for your kind words, we're very glad you're enjoying our B Mania season!
You're right, we did screen the MA version of Driller Killer. Unfortunately, this was the only print we were able to source in time, and we preferred to screen this version than not include Abel Ferrara in the season at all.
In all cases, we prefer to screen films uncut, as the director intended, however in this instance we felt the film was worthy at any cost, so we sourced what we could at the time. It's certainly not an indication of censorship.
Feel free to contact us with any more feedback you have, happy holidays.

 

It's good to see the World Movies willing to answer my question. To be honest I didn't really believe a channel that screens uncut versions of IRREVERSIBLE, ROMANCE, IN THE REALM OF THE SENSES, THE IDIOTS, etc, to deliberately cut something like DRILLER KILLER. I would guess that the version may have been sourced from Umbrella. It's bizarre to think that a censored version that was originally prepared to get past the UK censors (who have since passed it uncut) has now turned up on DVD and TV in Australia! As you say, the uncut version would have for many years easily passed the OFLC. Instead we are still waiting! Anyway, the B-Mania season has been screening some interesting stuff, so fingers crossed that it will become an annual event.

 

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Dr Lamb

Directed by Danny Lee / 1992 / Hong Kong / IMDb

Chinatown Cinema had an 89m 35mm print of DR LAMB Refused Classification in December 1992.

 

This is what the OFLC and Film and Literature Board of Review-Report on Activities 1992-93 had to say about the film.

"A Chinese language film, Doctor Lamb, presenting an exploitative portrait of a psychotic killer, was refused registration on the grounds of indecency for the combination of extreme violence, gratuitous sexual violence, child sexual abuse and necrophilia"

 

The Chinatown Cinema sat on the film for over a year before re-submitting a heavily censored version that was passed R18+ (Medium Level Violence, Adult Themes) in February 1994. The original version ran 89m, while this was only 81m. This print, missing around 8m of footage, went on to play in Chinatown Cinemas around the country.

It is worth noting that DR LAMB was slightly trimmed by the Hong Kong censors before playing there. This would have been the same print originally submitted to our Classification Board in 1992.

 

In 1996, Siren launched their Chinatown Video label. DR LAMB was announced as a forthcoming release, though nothing eventually appeared.

 

 

DR LAMB cut vs. uncut

Thanks to Aidan for this information.

This Hong Kong Category III film was cut by 8 minutes to receive an R18+ Certificate in Australia. Since the writing of your database article an uncut DVD has surfaced in Germany, it apparently reinserts the cut scenes from the previous uncut Spanish VHS into a high quality print. The cuts made by the Hong Kong censors apparently amount to around 15-35 seconds and are extended versions of post mortem cleaver and circular saw dismemberments (which are more implicit in the cut version) as well as slight cuts to a post mortem breast removal (ironically the HK censors required no cuts to the necrophilia, child abuse and corpse groping scenes which were likely the main problems to our censors).

The cut version also contains occasional audio censorship of Cantonese swearing (I'm unsure as to whether this is different in the uncut version), the offending words are translated as shit and fuck in the subtitles but likely have more elaborate meaning in Cantonese as shit and fuck are said in the film in English with no censorship and shit and fuck are commonly found in Hong Kong film subtitle tracks (even in films considered "family friendly" by Hong Kong's often more liberal standards) with no audio censorship. Similar audio censorship can be found in the Cat III film "The Underground Banker" (which is in part a satirical pseudo-sequel to "Dr. Lamb" as well as a parody of "The Untold Story") which as far as I know has never been presented to the OFLC.

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Dungeon of Terror

aka Virgins and the Vampire

Directed by Jean Rollin / 1971 / France / IMDb

DUNGEON OF TERROR 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 1876.00 meters (68:34). The time indicates that it is missing a large amount of footage. It went on to have an Australian theatrical release.

In August 1985, Platinum Video had a 65m tape was rated R under the title DUNGEON OF TERROR. The running time of 64:40 indicates that it is missing nearly twenty minutes of footage.

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

 

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Next Films: Damon and Hunter: Doing it Together (2005)

 

 

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