Film Censorship: E

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Eaten Alive

Directed by Umberto Lenzi / 1980 / Italy / IMDb

In August 1980, House of Dare received an R-rating for a 2342.59-meter (85:37) print of EATEN ALIVE. The rating was for sex and violence, which was described as:

Sex
Frequency: Infrequent
Explicitness/Intensity: Medium
Purpose: Justified

Violence
Frequency: Frequent
Explicitness/Intensity: Medium
Purpose: Justified

Although it is listed by the Censorship Board as being registered R without eliminations, it would seem that this was pre-cut before submission. The uncut running time is around four minutes longer.

 

 

VHS and DVD releases

In 1984, an 85m videotape of EATEN ALIVE was passed with an R-rating. However, the exact running time of the censored Video Classics tape was 82:27. A running time of 89m (PAL) seems to be the most often reported length, so it looks like the Video Classics tape could be missing up the 6 minutes of footage.

In 2006, bootleg copies of the uncut (92:20 NTSC) U.S. Shriek Show release appeared in stores and markets that sell cheap DVDs. The R18+ (Strong Violence, Strong Sexual Content, Nudity) rating on the cover was fake. The cover makes no mention of it, but it contains the same extras as the Shriek Show disc.

 

 

Greatest hits of the cannibal genre

Umberto Lenzi's other cannibal movies, THE MAN FROM DEEP RIVER (1972), and CANNIBAL FEROX (1981) suffered numerous cuts when released locally.

Lenzi actually edited footage from THE MAN FROM DEEP RIVER (1972) into EATEN ALIVE. The killing of the crocodile, the mongoose vs. cobra, and the cannibal scene where the woman's breast is eaten, all come from that film.

Footage from MOUNTAIN OF THE CANNIBAL GOD (1978) was also used. This includes the killing of the iguana, the snake vs. bird scene, and the cannibal castration and stabbing.

Finally, Mowara's death scene is taken from Ruggero Deodato's LAST CANNIBAL WORLD (1976).

All of these films had problems with the Australian censor, and lost these same scenes when they were eventually rated. All are covered in our Film Censorship Database.

 

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Emanuelle and Joanna

Directed by Franco Rossetti / 1978 / Italy / IMDb

A 2646.80-meter (96:44) print of EMANUELLE AND JOANNA was submitted to the Censorship Board in November 1980 by 14th Mandolin. It was passed only after 37.3-meters (81s) of footage was removed. The deletions were made to the sex scenes, which were described as:
Frequency: Infrequent
Explicitness/Intensity: High
Purpose: Gratuitous

The censored version received an R-rating rating due to sex, which was described as:
Frequency: Frequent
Explicitness/Intensity: Medium
Purpose: Gratuitous

 

EMANUELLE AND JOANNA went on to have a theatrical release, and was soon issued to tape on 14th Mandolin's King of Video label. The running time was 93:22 (PAL), which seems to indicate that it is censored. Thanks to Brendan for the cover scan and running time.

 

In November 1985, 14th Mandolin received an X-rating for a 109m VHS of EMANUELLE AND JOANNA. The reason given was:
Sex
Frequency: Frequent
Explicitness/Intensity: High
Purpose: Gratuitous

It needs to be confirmed if this tape was ever released.

 

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Emanuelle and the Last Cannibals

aka Emanuelle's Amazon Adventure

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

In June 1978, a 2535.10-meter (92:39) print of EMANUELLE AND THE LAST CANNIBALS was banned for reasons of ‘indecency and excessive violence’. Roadshow Distributors was the applicant.

In September 1978, Blake Films submitted a 2468.70 (90:14) censored version. A further 2.5-meters (00:06) of ‘excessive violence’ was removed before it was awarded an R-rating. The film was released theatrically with 02:31 of cuts.

 

 

VHS release

In the mid-90s, Force Video released a heavily censored TV-print on VHS under the title EMANUELLE'S AMAZON ADVENTURE.  The running time was 78:48, which indicates around ten minutes was missing.

 

 

Customs confiscations

There are at least two confirmed customs confiscations EMANUELLE AND THE LAST CANNIBALS.

The first came from 1992 when a VHS tape was forwarded to the OFLC, and confirmed as RC.

 

In 2006, the U.S. online DVD store Xploited Cinema was warning their customers about customs problems.

xploitedcinema.com
March 2006.

IMPORTANT NOTE TO UK 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!

 

 

EMANUELLE AND THE LAST CANNIBALS review

Thanks to Chris for this review.

The Italian Shock DVD of EMANUELLE AND THE LAST CANNIBALS runs 89:21 (PAL).

 

The Australian cuts for ‘excessive violence’ would have been to the following scenes.

11:30 – Emanuelle watched a black and white documentary about cannibals in Africa. A decapitation is shown, followed by a slow-motion castration.

58:00 – Sister Angela is captured by the cannibals. She is stripped, and her breast cut off and eaten. They then cut her stomach open and disembowel her.

75:30 – Maggie is stripped naked and tied up by the cannibals. They stab her just above her pubic region, pull out her stomach, and eat it.

All of these scenes would have needed to be toned down in 1978. There are some other less graphic scenes of violence, including the nurse who escapes from the patient with her breast bitten off (02:00), the disemboweled body of the native guide (46:00), and Donald being stabbed with a spear (67:00).

 

The sex scenes are purely softcore, and are nowhere near as graphic as those shown in EMANUELLE IN AMERICA. The indecency that the censors refer to may have included.

05:00 – Emanuelle rubbing between the legs of the girl in the straight jacket

18:00 – Emanuelle remembering having sex with Mark.

23:00 – Emanuelle and Mark having sex as Isabelle watches and masturbates.

38:00 – Maggie masturbates at the thought of Salvadore.

41:00 – Maggie and Salvadore have sex.

80:00 – The cannibals have sex with a drugged Isabelle.

 

The 02:31 of cuts in EMMANUELLE AND THE LAST CANNIBALS would have definitely been more to remove the ‘excessive violence’, than the ‘indecency’.

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Emanuelle in America

Directed by Joe D'Amato / 1976 / Italy / IMDb

In October 1977, a 2720.80-meter (99:27) 35mm print of EMANUELLE IN AMERICA was banned for reasons of indecency.

Blake Films then submitted a censored 2560.80-meters (93:36) print. This was only passed with an R-rating in December 1977 after a further 21.7-meters (00:47) was removed. The extra cuts were for ‘indecency and indecent violence’.

The indicates that the print of EMANUELLE IN AMERICA that played theatrically in Australia ran only 92:49.

 

 

EMANUELLE IN AMERICA: The censor baiting scenes

Thanks to Chris for this review.

 

Blue Undergrounds EMANUELLE IN AMERICA DVD runs 99:56 (minus the Studio Canal logo). This means the print that Blake Films initially submitted to the Australian censors was uncut, or very close to it. This is quite a surprise, as they must have known it would have major problems securing an R-rating.

These scenes would have contributed to the 06:38 of cuts.

 

22:00 approx: The infamous bestiality sequence involving Pedro the horse. What you get is around a minute of a naked woman stroking the animal’s penis.

52:00 approx: The orgy sequence after the party features lots of softcore sex. However, there is an extended sequence of a hardcore blowjob. This would have definitely been removed.

62:00 approx: Emanuelle spies on a couple in a straw hut. She watches them have sex, which includes hardcore scenes of a blowjob, penetration, and a cumshot. Again, this would have definitely been cut.

65:00 approx: Emanuelle spies on a woman and two men on a bed. She watches them have sex, which includes hardcore scenes of a blowjob, penetration, and a cumshot. Again, this would have definitely been cut.

68:00 approx: Emanuelle spies on a woman being whipped by a man. There is a graphic female masturbation shot that I suspect would have caused problems.

69:00 approx: Emanuelle spies on a couple watching a snuff movie on a projector. The footage lasts less than a minute, and is not particularly graphic.

82:30 approx: Emmanuelle watches a porn film with a man. There is a very brief shot of an erection that may have had to be cut.

83:45 approx: Emmanuelle watches the snuff film with the man. This is the first graphically violent scene in the film and involves naked women being tortured by prison guards. It includes the shots of the guards lifting a naked woman up and down on a huge sharpened dildo. The whole scene lasts around a minute, and would have definitely been the ‘indecent violence’ that the censors mention.

87:45 approx: Emmanuelle dreams she is at the prison camp watching the women get tortured. This is also a very graphic scene and shows women having their breasts cut off. The whole thing lasts for over a minute and is more ‘indecent violence’ that would definitely have been censored in Australia.

The censors may have also objected to the eroticisation the violence as those who view the snuff footage are shown being tuned on by it.

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Emanuelle: Queen of Sados

aka Emanuelle's Daughter

Directed by Ilias Mylonakos / 1979 / Greece / IMDb

In August 1981, Apollon Films had a 2470.10-meter (90:17) print of EMANUELLE: QUEEN OF SADOS banned. It was Refused Registration for the ‘sexual exploitation of a minor’.

In December 1981, Apollon Films censored it down to 2291:00-meters (83:44). Despite now missing over six minutes of footage, EMANUELLE: QUEEN OF SADOS was banned again for the ‘sexual exploitation of a minor’.

 

 

Censored Force Video VHS

In 1994, Force Video released a slightly censored 89:27 VHS under the title EMANUELLE'S DAUGHTER. The cover had a terrible blurred picture on the front, as well as a fake R18+ (High level sex scenes) rating.

Thanks to Joe for this.

This is a typical crap Force Video release from the mid-90s. The print is sourced from JEF Films Inc, and is missing 25s of Mario’s rape of Livia. There may be other brief censor cuts.

 

 

EMANUELLE’S DAUGHTER: QUEEN OF SADOS review

Thanks to Gavin for this review.

In 2005, US company Media Blasters/Exploitation Digital released the film under the title EMANUELLES DAUGHTER: QUEEN OF SADOS. It has an uncut running time of 90:40.

The scenes that the censors objected to would have been those involving Emanuelle’s stepdaughter, actress Liva Russo. I assume that at the time she was of legal age, though she is playing a character who is probably supposed to be 14 or 15. Specifically, the scenes that would have cause problems are:

5min to 6min: Emanuelle is stripped naked by Ilona and Robert and beaten by her husband. Livia stands at the top of the stairs and looks on.

There are flashbacks to this scene at 15:50 to 16:15, and at 37:20.

16:45 to 17:45 – Livia is shown naked in the shower as Emanuelle talks to her.

51m to 57m  - Emanulle and Tommy are shown having sex. This is inter-cut with shots of Livia and Mike making out on the beach.

79:30 to 82:30 – Mario chases Livia and catches her as she falls in a pool of water. He then strips, and savagely rapes her. Apart from her naked shower scene, this is definitely the part of the film that would have caused the most problems.

Here in the UK, the BBFC removed 06:58 from a 2008 DVD retitled EMANUELLE'S SWEET REVENGE. There reasons for the cuts matched those of the Australian censor back in 1981.

 

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Emmanuelle 3

Directed by Jean-Marie Pallardy / 1980 / France / IMDb

In 1981, Associated Film Distributors had to censor EMMANUELLE 3 down from 88 to 83m in order to gain an R-rated theatrical release.

The print released on tape by Video Classics ran 80:39 and 80:07 on Palace Vibrant Video.

This should not be confused with EMMANUELLE 3 (1977) which was released on DVD in 2009 by Madman Entertainment. This was the official sequel to the first two EMMANUELLE films. In Australia, it had previously been know as GOODBYE EMMANUELLE and had been released by Star Video. This version had no problems with our censors.

 

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Emmanuelle 4

Directed by Francis Leroi and Iris Letans / 1984 / France / IMDb

A 2755-meter (100:42) 35mm print of EMMANUELLE 4 was Refused Registration in May 1984.

The reason given for the ban was sex, which were described as:
Frequency: Infrequent
Explicitness/Intensity: High
Purpose: Gratuitous

Filmways Australasia appealed to the Film Board of Review, who confirmed EMMANUELLE 4 as banned in July 1984.

 

 

Filmways sue Producers

French Film Too Sexy
smh.com.au, May 16, 1985

The movie distributor Filmways is considering suing the French producers of Emmanuelle IV to recover $100,000 it paid before censors banned the film for being too sexually explicit.

The managing director of Filmways, Mr Mark Josem, said he bought the film, which surgically restores the veteran Sylvia Kristel to a virgin and sets her loose in Brazil, while it was being filmed.

When the Australian Film Censorship Board banned the film last June, its French producers were contractually bound to refund the fee, he said.

They had so far refused to do so, despite a Paris court ruling in favour of Filmways, Mr Josem said.

 

 

Censored EMMANUELLE 4 Rated R

In June 1985, a 2433-meter (88:56) censored 35mm print of EMMANUELLE 4 was passed with an R-rating.

The reason given for the R-rating was sex, which was described as:
Frequency: Frequent
Explicitness/Intensity: Medium
Purpose: Gratuitous

This was nearly twelve minutes shorter than the version that was banned in 1984. Presumably, at this point Filmways had disowned the film, as the French producer, Alain Siritzky, was responsible for submitting it for classification.

We guess that this went on to play theatrically, but are unsure if it was ever released on video in Australia.

 

 

Madman DVD release

In July 2009, Madman Entertainment released EMMANUELLE 4 on DVD.

In June 2010, they re-released it as part of a box set, also containing EMMANUELLE, EMMANUELLE 2, and EMMANUELLE 3.

 

Thanks to Joe for this review.

The Madman DVD of EMMANUELLE IV runs 88:16 (not including the 20s Studio Canal intro). This is nowhere near the time of the 100m version that was banned by the Aussie censors in 1984. The sex is typical softcore, and is easily R-rated on 2010. It is pointless speculating what the problem scenes were as the running times are so different.

I would only guess in 1984 they would not have liked the scene as 55:30 where Miguel punishes Maria by lifting up her skirt and thrusting a riding crop between her legs.

It looks like there may be several different versions, and re-cuts available around the world. Movie-Censorship has a description of a hardcore version of EMMANUELLE 4 that was released on tape in Canada.

The Madman DVD has French and English soundtracks, and English subtitles. Listening to the English soundtrack, with the subtitles on shows that a large amount of French dialogue was not translated for the dubbed version. In fairness, it is mostly Emmanuelle talking flowery nonsense.

 

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Entrails of a Beautiful Woman

Directed by Kazuo 'Gaira' Komizu / 1986 / Japan / IMDb

We have one report of the U.S. Synapse DVD of ENTRAILS OF A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN being confiscated in 2005.

The reasons given were:

One (1) DVD "Entrails of a Beautiful Women" depicting Non Consensual sex
the dvd was confiscated under the following provision "under subsection 203B(2), being goods suspected on reasonable grounds to be special forfeited goods"

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The Erotic Adventures of Zorro

Directed by Robert Freeman / 1972 / USA / IMDb

THE EROTIC ADVENTURES OF ZORRO was first passed with an R-rating in February 1974. The 2883.4 meter (105:23) print lost 206.55 meters (07:32) of footage for reasons of indecency.

 

 

Melbourne screening

Thanks to Brendan for the following information regarding the original theatrical release.

THE EROTIC ADVENTURES OF ZORRO screened here (Melbourne) uncut for 6 weeks. I saw it initially and was surprised by the explicitness. After 6 weeks the theatre was "closed until further notice". I read in the paper that the cinema had screened an uncut print of the film. The censor had removed most of each sex scene for its R rated release. The theatre shut for a week or more after which the approved version played. The VHS release was of this cut version. Something like 12 minutes were cut out.

 

 

Banned in Queensland

In 1974, the Queensland Government set up their own Films Board of Review. An article in a 1976 issue of Cinema Papers magazine covered the workings of this overly repressive group. It includes the following quote from Errol Heath, the managing director of Regent Trading.

"The Erotic Adventures of Zorro was banned after having been screened for a period of six weeks and one day"

The exact date of the Queensland Prohibition Order was 14th September 1974.

 

VHS and DVD releases

In the early 80s, K&C Video released THE EROTIC ADVENTURES OF ZORRO on tape. It was issued again in the late 80s on the Xtasy label. We have no further details as to the completeness of either version. Thanks to Stephen F. for the K&C cover scan.

 

THE EROTIC ADVENTURES OF ZORRO was finally passed uncut (102:31) in November 2004 with an R18+ (Sexual Violence, High Level Sex Scenes) rating. It was released to DVD in February 2005 by Siren Visual Entertainment. The only extra was a nearly 7m trailer, which contains much more graphic sex than the film itself.

 

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The Erotic Experiences of Frankenstein

Directed by Jess Franco / 1972 / France / IMDb

In 1980, NS Nathan Scheinwald Prods Pty Ltd removed 01:08 of 'excessive violence' from THE EROTIC EXPERIENCES OF FRANKENSTEIN to gain an R-rating. A theatrical release followed with a running time of 73m.

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The Erotic Films of Peter De Rome

Directed by Peter De Rome / 1973 / USA / IMDb

In August 1992, Universal Entertainment had a 215m triple-bill VHS rated X (Contains sexually explicit material). As well as THE EROTIC FILMS OF PETER DE ROME, the tape also contained ON THE LOOK OUT and SHE-MALE SHOWGIRLS.

 

 

2008: Blocked from screening at MQFF

In March 2008, THE EROTIC FILMS OF PETER DE ROME was refused film festival exemption for screening at the Melbourne Queer Film Festival.

 

News from the Melbourne Queer Film Festival
March 2008
melbournequeerfilm.com.au

The films they didn't want you to see!

The Melbourne Queer Film Festival special presentation of The Erotic Films of Peter de Rome has been denied exemption from classification by the Office of Film & Literature Classification and is unable to be screened at this year's Festival. Instead the session will be replaced with the Australian premiere screening of Whirlwind, directed by Richard Le May.

Festival Director, Lisa Daniel says, ‘The MQFF is terribly disappointed not to be able to show Melbourne audiences the Peter De Rome shorts compilation. It provided a fascinating contrast with contemporary gay erotic cinema, and De Rome’s art-house influence was obvious and inspiring. It’s a shame a film festival which only screens such sessions to adults must submit to the censorship of Government’.

 

Melbourne Queer Film Festival
mqff.com.au

THE EROTIC FILMS OF PETER DE ROME
There are no sessions available for your selected film.

Dir: Peter De Rome, USA, 1969–1974, video, 95min

The session entitled The Erotic Films of Peter De Rome has been denied Classification Exemption by the Office of Film & Literature Classification Board, accordingly the MQFF is legally unable to screen the films.

Tickets for the Peter De Rome session can be used to see the replacement film Whirlwind, or a refund can be organised through the MQFF box office at ACMI Cinemas from March 6.

While access to pornography today is as easy as accessing a website, it hasn’t always been so. In earlier decades, film houses provided one of the only accessible forms of pornography in the moving image, and director Peter De Rome was a legendary pioneering figure in the industry in the 1960s and 70s. He’s perhaps best known for his full-length features Adam and Yves (1974) and The Destroying Angel (1976), but this rarely seen collection features eight short films shot between 1969 and 1974, and includes titles such as The Second Coming, Hot Pants and Double Exposure. De Rome’s shorts collection is a brilliant example of the intersection of artistry and eroticism in early gay pornography, and illustrates his interest in art-house films such as Jean Genet’s Un Chant D’Amour. By his own account, De Rome is just as interested in the full experience of intimacy (the desire, the chase, the passion), than just the sex act itself.

The MQFF is proud to present De Rome’s collection of shorts, and we thank Chicago’s Bijou Video for helping to make it happen.

 

MQFF films banned
mcv.e-p.net.au, March 5, 2008

Festival Director Lisa Daniel
“The decision was probably made on the basis on the erotic nature of the films; the OFLC have pretty stringent guidelines about what can be shown Ms Daniels later explained to MCV. “I have to say I haven’t got a problem with the OFLC overall; it’s to do with the structure of governing. It’s just a shame the government has to be involved in what is essentially an R-rated festival.”

A spokesperson from the OFLC told MCV she did not have specific information on why De Rome’s films had been denied exemption.

 

 

The censors attempt to set the record straight

Is it just us, or are the Classification Board just trying to make a very lame excuse with this following statement?

Classification Board Annual Report 2007-08
Other decisions
Exemptions to show unclassified films

It was reported in some media that the Director also refused to grant an exemption for The Films of Peter De Rome to be screened at The Melbourne Queer Film Festival. The Director did not refuse to grant an exemption for this film. The festival removed the film from its application on advice from the Department that previous versions had been classified RC and X18+, and as such, the film would be unlikely to be granted an exemption.

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Escape from Hell

Directed by Edoardo Mulargia / 1979 / Spain-Italy / IMDb

In June 1985, an 86m tape of ESCAPE FROM HELL was banned because of 'gratuitous sexual violence'. We can find no record of this being passed with an R-rating. However, Showcase Video released a censored 85:33 (PAL) version on tape.

 

 

ESCAPE FROM HELL (1979) review

Thanks to Matt for this review.

Troma Team Video [us] 92:14 (NTSC) converts to 88:33 (PAL)
Showcase Video [au] 85:33 (PAL)

Troma’s DVD begins with the Wizard Home Video logo, so presumably this print was taken from that mid-80s tape.

In the UK, the film was released as HELL PRISON in 1986. The submitted version (before it was censored) ran 88:34, which must be the uncut PAL running time, as it matches the above NTSC to PAL conversion. This means our Showcase tape was censored by approximately 03:00, and the banned 86m tape must have been cut before submission.

There are two scenes of 'gratuitous sexual violence' that I assume were removed from the Showcase tape. Both involve actor Serafino Profumo as Martinez, basically the same evil bastard role he played in the also banned, SS EXPERIMENT LOVE CAMP and SS CAMP 5: WOMEN’S HELL (1977).

Assault #1 - Martinez and his men have hunted down an escaped female prisoner. From 04:20 to 05:10, he holds her down, tears off her top, and roughly kisses her breasts. A shot from this scene appears on the cover of the Showcase tape.

Assault #2 - A girl is shown bathing naked in a stream when Martinez and one of his men arrive. They grab her and take her into the bushes. From 33:45 to 35:25 Martinez holds her down as the other man rubs her breasts and between her open legs. This is quite an explicit shot, and would not be out of place in a Jess Franco WIP film. He then kisses her breasts and between her legs. Eventually he turns her over and has sex as Martinez holds her still. This would have definitely been censored in the Showcase tapes as it is the most graphic scene in the film.

Parts of ESCAPE FROM HELL were edited into a Linda Blair film called SAVAGE ISLAND (1985). The Censorship Board passed that with an R-rating in May 1986. It was released on tape as BANISHED WOMEN by Roadshow Home Video. It would be interesting to see if either of the above scenes appeared in this version, as we know that censors are never consistent.

 

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Eunuch of the Western Palace

Directed by Wu Ma / 1979 / Hong Kong / IMDb

In February 1980, Mandarin Cinema Pty Ltd submitted a 2593.00-meter (94:46) print of EUNUCH OF THE WESTERN PALACE to the Censorship Board.

It was passed only after 14.5 meters (32s) of 'excessive violence' was removed. The R-rating was awarded for violence, which was described as:
Frequency: Frequent
Explicitness/Intensity: Medium
Purpose: Gratuitous

 

 

Review of the Ocean Shores VHS

Thanks to Matt for this review.

I've seen the old English dubbed VHS released by Ocean Shores in 1980 and it runs 92:17. To be honest I cannot really see what would have bothered the censors back in 1980. People are stabbed and speared, and struck by flying stars, but it is all relatively bloodless, and certainly not grounds for censorship.

The Ocean Shores print of EUNUCH OF THE WESTERN PALACE does run two and a half minutes shorter than the version submitted to the Classification Board. There may be a cut to a sex scene at the 76:38 point when the Eunuch pulls back the bed cover from the girl, the film seems to jump and we are then shown Lo Lieh's character coughing. Apart from that the difference in running time could be down to something as simple as different credits.

The only thing that may have troubled the censors could have been the scene between 3 to 4m where we are told the background to the history of Eunuchs in China. It depicts young boys being castrated before they begin their life as Eunuchs. Again this is not graphically shown. It is depicted only by the screaming faces of the boys which in the English dub sounds like it is done by Adults giving it an unintentional air of comedy. In 2009 this would be M-rated, or MA15+ tops!

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Evil Dead Trap

Directed by Toshiharu Ikeda / 1988 / Japan / IMDb

In 1997, a package sent from Holland containing EVIL DEAD TRAP 1 and 2 was seized by customs. Both tapes were then sent to the OFLC in Sydney for classification. EVIL DEAD TRAP 2 was released, whilst this first episode was confiscated.

The refusal was due to scenes of extreme ‘snuff' style violence, specifically where a bound and gagged woman gets her eyeball skewered in close-up.

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Evilspeak

Directed by Eric Weston / USA / 1981 / IMDb

Warner Brothers had a 104m 'reduced version' of EVILSPEAK passed with an R-rating in November 1981.

 

 

Censored Warner VHS and Optus Screening

In January 1986, Warner Home Video had an 89m (88:27) tape rated R.

 

Thanks to Steve.L for the following details regarding this release.

During the scene in which the pig pulls out a piece of Miss Friedemeyer's stomach, there is a trim, deleting footage of it snapping. I suspect the OFLC did it, but I don't know. This is the only (completely pointless) gore cut in the Warner Bros. tape, and that shot is completely cut out of the U.S. "R"-rated version which has numerous other cuts to its discredit.

The remaining 11 minutes are basically dialogue-related, and were ditched from the U.S. theatrical release... and likely not by the director. So, I'm assuming, while Australia was given the complete 103-minute version for the theatrical run (barring whatever they did to it), when it came time to do the video, they were given a master of Moreno Co.'s chopped 92-minute version--before the MPAA cuts were made.

Incidentally, the Warner Bros.' tape has the best-looking print of EVILSPEAK I've seen to date.

 

Optus Movie Greats screened EVILSPEAK throughout 2002. Due to the restrictions on showing R-rated features, this particular print (still with Warner logo) has been censored for an MA-rating. The running time was 87:49, and was most noticeably missing a couple of decapitations, the pigs pulling on the girl's entrails, and the heart removal scene.

 

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Executions 2

Produced by Dead Alive Productions / 1997 / USA / IMDb

DLA Movie Distributors and Wholesalers had a 58m videotape of EXECUTIONS 2 Refused Classification in May 1998.

This is a cheap cash in on the original UK produced EXECUTIONS tape which had been passed with an R18+ (Contains scenes of real executions) rating in 1995.

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Exit the Dragon, Enter the Tiger

Directed by Tso Man Lee / 1976 / Hong King / IMDb

In October 1978, a 2139.54-meter (78:12) 35mm print of EXIT THE DRAGON, ENTER THE TIGER was passed with an R-rating. The distributor, Fatseas Enterprises, had censored the film prior to submitting it to the censors.

 

 

Video Classics: Banned and censored

In March 1983, Video Classics had an 84m tape banned because of violence, which was considered to be:
Frequency: Infrequent
Explicitness/Intensity: High
Purpose: Gratuitous

In August 1983, a censored 79m version of EXIT THE DRAGON, ENTER THE TIGER was passed with an R-rating. It needs to be confirmed if Video Classics ever released this tape.

 

 

Trans World Entertainment release

EXIT THE DRAGON, ENTER THE TIGER was released on video in the mid-80s by Trans World Entertainment. The back cover claims that it was rated M, but we believe this to be false. The cover lists a time of 84m, when it actually runs 80:00. Despite this, the print appears to be uncut. The different times seem to be down to NTSC and PAL speeds.

 

 

EXIT THE DRAGON, ENTER THE TIGER review

Thanks to Matt for this review.

EXIT THE DRAGON, ENTER THE TIGER is a highly entertaining entry in the Bruce Lee exploitation genre. The Trans World Entertainment tape runs 80:00, and appears to be uncut. Here is my reading of it through the eyes of an Aussie censor. All times are approximate.

 

23:30 to 27:45 – David fights The Baron’s men in a yard stacked with barrels. I doubt the censors would have been troubled by this standard 70s fight scene.

26:15 to 27:45. The censors may not have approved of this scene where George is burnt on the hand with a cigarette and beaten by The Baron’s henchmen.

32:00 to 39:00 – David fights, and is captured by Long Fei’s men. Again, this is a standard fight scene. However, at 38:45 he is tortured with a blowtorch, which is shown burning his skin. I believe that this would have been a problem for the censors.

46:00 to 47:00 – Long Fei is captured be David and beaten until he confesses to Suzy Yung’s kidnap. This would probably not upset the censor.

54:00 to 54:30 – The Baron’s men torture Suzy Yung by putting needles under her fingernails. This is another problem scene.

59:00 to 62:00 – The Baron’s men beat George to try to find out where the tape is. They repeatedly bash his head down on the floor. They then strip a Kea (David’s girlfriend), and one of them rapes her. George attempts to help, but is beaten to death. This scene definitely contains material that the censors would not have liked.

62:00 to 65:30 – David finds Kea raped, and George dead. He then attacks the Baron’s men in a fight scene that gets quite brutal in places as he beats then with pieces of wood.

68:00 to 71:15 – David fights and kills Jing Gwon in the industrial factory. This would probably not upset the censor.

72:00 to 79:30 – The final showdown with the Baron takes place on rocks at the ocean. He fights the henchman, and eventually kills the Baron by stabbing him with a sword. This would have been unlikely to bother the censors.

 

I searched the British censor's site and found that in 1990, VPD submitted EXIT THE DRAGON, ENTER THE TIGER in an 80:01 (same as our Trans World Entertainment VHS) print. It was censored by 01:28 before being awarded an 18-rating.

The IMDb claims this was to:
"….remove nunchaku scenes, a kidney punch and a neck break, and to edit a scene where a woman is assaulted. The Prism DVD features the same cut print"

 

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Exorcism

Directed by Jess Franco / 1974 / Belgium-France / IMDb

Global Film Distributors had a 2633.00-meter (96:14) 35mm print of EXORCISM banned in October 1975 for reasons of indecency and excessive violence.

In February 1976, it was censored down to 2522.00-meters (92:11) and awarded an R-rating. It was this version that was released theatrically in Australia.

 

 

Synapse DVD review

Thanks to Matt for this review.

I recently viewed the US Synapse DVD release of Franco's EXORCISM. I guess you are aware that this has been released in multiple versions including one with hardcore inserts. The running time of the DVD is 93:45 and Synapse claim this version was specially prepared by Eurocine. I guess we could call this the Producer's cut. What is interesting is that this still runs around two and a half minutes shorter than the 35mm print banned by the Australian censors back in 1975. From viewing the Synapse DVD it is easy to see how this ran into problems as it is packed full of sex and violence.

The following scenes would have definitely had problems.

30-34min approx: Vogel takes a bar-girl back to his house. He gets her to the bed, claims she is possessed by the devil, and stabs her. He then chains her up naked and stabs her again.

40min approx: As part of a stage show Marina is inverted naked and stabbed in the vagina (off-screen). We only see the aftermath of the blood on her pubic hair and breasts. This is followed by an impossibly long orgy scene that lasts until around the 45min point.

49:30-59:30: Vogel stabbing a naked girl to death on a bed. Includes close-up shots of the stabbing.

82min approx: Vogel stabbing a naked Anne.

Considering that you list the film as loosing four minutes to the censors then some, or all of these scenes would have definitely been removed of toned down.

Overall I would say this is some of Franco's best work, and believe me I've seen a lot!

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The Exterminator

Directed by James Glickenhaus / 1980 / USA / IMDb

THE EXTERMINATOR was banned in December 1980, but Roadshow appealed to the Review Board, and the following month an uncut print was passed with an R-rating.

 

This was not the end of the saga, as Cinema Papers Magazine explained at the time.

An independent American production, The Exterminator was refused registration by the Commonwealth Censor in December 1980 for excessive violence. An appeal was launched by its distributor, Roadshow, and the Film Board of Review registered the film R uncut in January.

A few days before its Adelaide release, however, President Reagan was shot with an exploding bullet. As the film showed the making of a similar type of bullet, various groups in South Australia asked the Attorney General, K.T Griffith, to ban the film; this he did. Then Western Australia joined the fray and banned the film, followed by Queensland which took the unusual step of banning it from drive-ins but not hard tops. The film is now in release in New South Wales and Victoria.

 

 

Uncut videos banned

A 97m uncut video of THE EXTERMINATOR was released on the Thorn-EMI label, but this was banned in April 1985 because of excessive violence.

The following month Pioneer Electronics also had a 97m tape banned.

 

 

Censored MA15+ DVD

In June 2005, THE EXTERMINATOR was back before the censors. This time it was rated MA15+ (Strong Violence, Coarse Language). The DVD was released by Paramount-Rialto Home Entertainment in October 2005.

The cover of the disc promised:

Finally witness the Director's cut, featuring never before seen footage from one of the most cold blooded tales of revenge ever to hit the screen"

Unfortunately, this proved not to be true. Paramount sourced a censored print, which was missing nearly four minutes of footage that could be found in the old Thorn-EMI tape. This was entirely the fault of the distributor, and their claim of a 'Director's Cut' was blatant false advertising.

The running time of the DVD was 94:00, and the censorship would seem to be the same as the UK Starvision VHS release. Movie-censorship has details of the cut footage. In 2005, an uncut version would have easily passed through with an R18+ rating.

 

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Exterminator 2

Directed by Mark Buntzman / 1984 / USA / IMDb

Following the problems with THE EXTERMINATOR, the censors were obviously ready for this sequel.

Between 1984 and 1985, Hoyts Distribution had to censor EXTERMINATOR 2 three times to tone down the 'excessive violence'. However, these 90m, 89m, and 88m prints were all Refused Registration. A heavily censored 83m version was finally passed with an R-rating in 1985.

 

 

EXTERMINATOR 2: Censored on video and TV

In 1985, RCA/Columbia Home Video released the 79:27 (PAL) censored print on tape.

 

EXTERMINATOR 2 premiered on Foxtel's Encore channel in November 2002 and had a running time of 84:29. Although it definitely contained footage missing from the RCA/Columbia VHS, it needs to be confirmed if it was uncut.

Daybill image courtesy of moviemem.com

 

    

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Eyes of a Stranger

Directed by Ken Wiederhorn / 1981 / USA / IMDb

Warner Brothers had a 2312.5-meter (84:31) print of EYES OF A STRANGER Refused Registration in February 1981. The reason given was violence, which was described as:
Frequency: Infrequent
Explicitness/Intensity: High
Purpose: Gratuitous

An appeal to the Review Board saw the ban overturned, and an R-rating awarded in February 1981. A theatrical release followed.

 

 

EYES OF A STRANGER - Uncut VHS

Warner Home Video released the film on tape in 1982.

In February 1984, it became law for all video tapes to be classified and the censors began the slow task of reviewing all the titles that had been released up until that time. They finally got to EYES OF A STRANGER in January 1985. The R-rating was confirmed for the 81m tape, though now the violence was described as:
Frequency: Frequent
Explicitness/Intensity: Medium
Purpose: Justified

 

Until the 2007 release of an uncut U.S. DVD, the Australian tape remained one of the best ways to view EYES OF A STRANGER. It was sought after by overseas collectors because it contained 30s of footage removed from the U.S. R-Rated version.

Daybill image courtesy of moviemem.com

 

    

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