Film Censorship: F #1

---

 

 

 

 

Fairy Tales

Directed by Harry Hurwitz / 1978 / USA / IMDb

In August 1978, a 2112.00-meter (76:59) 'pre-censor cut version' of FAIRY TALES was passed with an R-rating. Seven Keys Films was the applicant.

 

An 85m import videotape was banned in April 1979 because of 'indecency'. It was submitted by Videobrain.

 

Video Classics released FAIRYTALES in the early 80s as part of their Movies at Midnight series. We require the running time of this tape.

 

In August 1985, an 81m tape was passed with an R-rating. It was awarded for sex, which was described as being:
Frequency: Frequent
Explicitness/Intensity: Medium
Purpose: Gratuitous

Seven Keys Video were the applicant.

 

Harry Hurwitz’s AUDITIONS (1978) also had problems with the Censorship Board.

 

---

 

 

 

 

The Farmer

Directed by David Berlatsky / 1977 / USA / IMDb

In July 1977, a 2663.40-meter (97:05) print of THE FARMER was banned because of 'indecent violence'.

Columbia Pictures was the applicant.

---

 

 

 

 

The Farmer's Daughter

Directed by Zebedy Colt / 1976 / USA / IMDb

THE FARMER'S DAUGHTER was due to be shown at the 8th Melbourne Underground Film Festival in 2007.

 

 

MUFF 8 Program Notes

Melbourne Underground Film Festival 8
Program Notes
Zebedy Colt Double feature: Sex Wish and The Farmer’s Daughter

Two short features (absolute 70s erotica classics) from Zebedy Colt aka Edward Earle Marsh. Sex Wish features a cool electronic soundtrack as Zebedy plays a rapist who breaks into women’s homes with a bag of unusual tricks. Zebedy’s performance is truly bizarre… Then comes The Farmer’s Daughter - clocking in at one hour in length, it’s sort of an erotic version of Last House on the Left. Look out for cheap and nasty sex scenes about home invasion, incest and violation. There’s also an early appearance from comedian and political commentator Spalding Gray getting up to no good… This is true Psychopathology, raw 70s style!
9pm Sat 29 Sept
LOOP

 

 

The OFLC prevent MUFF from screening THE FARMER'S DAUGHTER

The screening was scrapped after the OFLC's Amy Wooding refused to grant film festival exemptions to it, and six other features. This was not the first time that MUFF had run into problems with the censors. In 2004, the OFLC demanded that THE TOOLBOX MURDERS (1978), WIFE TO BE SACRIFICED, GUINEA PIG: DEVILS EXPERIMENT and GUINEA PIG: FLOWERS OF FLESH AND BLOOD be pulled from the festival.

The Melbourne Underground Film Festival issued the following press release on September 20, 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!

---

 

 

 

 

 

Fast Times at Ridgemont High

Directed by Amy Heckerling / 1982 / USA / IMDb

In October 1982, United International Pictures had a 2413.84-meters (88:14) 35mm print of FAST TIMES AT RIDGEMONT HIGH passed with an R-rating. The rating was given because of language, which was described as:

Frequency: Infrequent
Explicitness/Intensity: Medium
Purpose: Gratuitous

It was also awarded because of sexual concepts.

Despite the harsh classification, the Australian censors still demanded 0.7 meters (2s) of cuts. The reason given for the deletions was 'sexual activity involving a minor'.

 

At the time, Cinema Papers Magazine summed up the cuts very well.

Amy Heckerling's Fast Times (Fast Times at Ridgemont High in the U.S): cut by two seconds for showing 'sexual activity involving a minor'. It is hard to know what the Commonwealth Film Censor expects a filmaker to do when making films about teenage sexuality; pretending it doesn't exist is no answer.

 

We assume that the cuts were made to one, or both of Stacey's two sex scenes. These are with Ron at 19m, and with Mike at 58m.

 

 

VHS and DVD releases

FAST TIMES AT RIDGEMONT HIGH was eventually released on tape by CIC-TAFT Video. This 89m version was rated R in July 1984 for reasons of:

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

Language
Frequency: Frequent
Explicitness/Intensity: Medium
Purpose: Gratuitous

Other
Sexual Allusions

Although it needs to be confirmed, we assume that this was the same as the censored Theatrical version. Thanks to Sarge for the cover scan.

 

Australia Media had a 91m version of FAST TIMES AT RIDGEMONT HIGH reclassified M15+ (Adult Themes, Low Level Coarse Language) in May 1995.

 

It was back before the board in January 2002 when Sony Pictures Home Entertainment were again awarded an M15+ rating, only this time with a revised consumer warning of 'Medium Level Sex Scenes, Low Level Course Language, Drug Use'. This DVD was eventually released on the Universal-Columbia Tristar label. The print had a longer running time of 89:30, indicating that it was an NTSC to PAL conversion. Despite it being rated M15+, we would assume that the above-mentioned cuts have been restored.

Daybill image courtesy of moviemem.com

 

    

---

 

 

 

 

Fear Chamber

aka La Camera Del Terrora

Directed by Jack Hill - Juan Ibanez / 1968 / Mexico / IMDb

In November 1971, an 8665-feet (96:17) print of FEAR CHAMBER was banned because of 'excessive violence'. Columbia Pictures made an unsuccessful appeal to the Film Board of Review in December 1971.

In February 1972, a censored 8261-feet (91:47) version was again banned because of 'excessive violence'. Once again, Columbia Pictures appealed to the Film Board of Review, who confirmed the ban in April 1972.

 

FEAR CHAMBER: 'Excessive violence' in the uncut version

Thanks to Matt for this information

I cannot believe that a version censored by over four minutes still could not get an R-rating back in 1972. This level of violence would probably see it get an M-rating in 2012! For the record, the violent scenes are as follows. In the opening credits, a woman is put on a rack over hot coals; the same fate befalls two other women in a scene that begins at 15:30, with results in one being stabbed in the stomach. At 60:30, a bloody woman is shown strung up by her arms, whipped and a syringe held against her eye, and at 68m, Roland strangles Sayed to death.

The Elite Entertainment [us] DVD runs 86:00. It includes a deleted scene where Pamela Rosas continues her striptease to reveal her breasts. This is reportedly included in the film in the earlier Retromedia DVD. The cut scene should appear in the film at 56:49 as she begins to undo her bra strap. Although the deleted scene runs 05:52, it does not get to the bra strap point until 03:33, meaning the actual film is missing only a couple of minutes. This is still significantly shorter than the 96:17 version presented to the Australian Censor back in 1972.

---

 

 

 

 

Fear City

Directed by Abel Ferrara / 1984 / USA / IMDb

Seven Keys had a 2642.00-meter (96:34) print of FEAR CITY Refused Registration in January 1985. It was eventually passed in November 1985 when Thorn EMI was awarded an R-rating for a 93m (92:24) print. Although it was not listed as such, this version appears to be slightly censored.

 

Two further VHS releases of FEAR CITY appeared in Australia. One from Warners, and one from Polygram. Neither was uncut, but both were different to the Thorn EMI tape. A more in-depth look at these versions can be found at the Chopping List site.

The 92m Polygram version was passed MA15+ (High Level Violence) in November 1994.

 

 

FEAR CITY: Censored DVD

In 2007, MRA Entertainment released FEAR CITY on a double-bill DVD with Ferrara's 'R XMAS. This ran 90:50 (not including the Castle Hill Productions intro) and was the US R-rated version.

It was missing both the Rae Dawn Chong and Melanie Griffith lesbian kisses mentioned on the Chopping List site. These are included on the old Thorn EMI videotape.

Movie-Censorship has a comparison between the unrated and US R-rated version.

 

The censorship problems of Abel Ferrara's THE DRILLER KILLER are covered in our database.

 

---

 

 

 

 

Fear Has 1000 Eyes

Directed by Torgny Wickman / 1970 / Sweden / IMDb

In March 1972, Blake Films submitted a 9679-feet (107:50) print of FEAR HAS 1000 EYES. It was passed with an R-rating following the removal of 76-feet (00:51) of 'indecency'.

In September 1972, Blake Films submitted a second 2733.75-meter (99:55) print. The censor noted this as the 'English dubbed version'. This too lost 23.16-meters (00:51) of 'indecency' before the R-rating was awarded.

Image courtesy of moviemem.com

 

---

 

 

 

 

The Female Response 

Directed by Tim Kincaid / 1973 / USA / IMDb

In November 1972, a 2502.00-meter (91:12) print of THE FEMALE RESPONSE was banned because of 'indecency and incitement to drug abuse'.

Roadshow Distributors made an unsuccessful appeal to the Film Board of Review in January 1973.

In December 1973, a censored 2366.00-meter (86:14) print had a further 15.84-meters (00:34) removed for an R-rating. These extra cuts were made to remove 'incitement to drug abuse'.

Roadshow Distributors released the film theatrically.

Image courtesy of moviemem.com

 

---

 

 

 

 

Female Vampire

aka The Bare Breasted Countess

Directed by Jess Franco / 1973 / France / IMDb

In March 1980, Cosmopolitan Motion Pictures received an R-rating for a censored 80m print with the title THE BARE BREASTED COUNTESS. To achieve this it had 02:02 removed for reasons of 'indecency and excessive violence'.

 

In 1983, Syme Home Video had a 90m tape banned.

In September 1985, Platinum Video received an X-rating for an 88m tape. We do not believe that this was ever released.

 

 

Banned Redemption VHS

The Redemption video label was launched in the UK in 1993, and immediately ran into problems with the British censors. In 1995, Redemption launched their label in Holland and Australia (through Siren) with the promise that the films could now be seen uncut in the free world. This turned out to be true for Holland, but unfortunately not for Australia.

The combination of violence and actual sex saw a 98m tape of THE FEMALE VAMPIRE banned in 1995.

TOMBS OF THE BLIND DEAD and VIRGIN AMONG THE LIVING DEAD were two other Redemption titles that were banned by the Classification Board. Siren censored both for R-ratings, but FEMALE VAMPIRE was never resubmitted.

 

 

FEMALE VAMPIRE: OFLC Report

Here is what the OFLC had to say about the film on viewing it in 1995.

 

Report to applicant 1995

In the Board's opinion, this erotic nudity-laden and heavily sexually-orientated horror video warrants a Refuse classification under ACT COPO 25 (3) for explicit sex depictions and the inclusion of a separate scene portraying sexual violence against a non-consenting person.

25-26min: glimpses of erect shaft and head of penis in woman's hand and near her mouth as she implicitly fellates him.

45mins: Close up explicit visuals of a woman moving her hand across her pubic hair and genitals in masturbatory action, with her rear to the camera.

Other visuals warrant an R classification, in the Board's opinion, for frequent depictions of sexualised female nudity and implied cunnilingus, fellatio, masturbation and intercourse including implies necrophilia.

A scene from 64-67mins has particular strength however and is key to the overall classification decision. In this scene the Countess is implicitly whipped by a woman who is instructed to do so by a dominatrix. The woman then attacks the dominatrix with assistance from the Countess. As the dominatrix sobs, she is breast mouthed and in close up her underpants are removed. This is followed by implied cunnilingus which she apparently enjoys but which leads to her implied death as the Countess performs implied cunnilingus. This scene could be accommodated in an R classification, in the Board's opinion, but because it is included in a film that contains X rated visuals and 'no depiction of sexual violence, coercion or non-consent of any kind is permitted in this classification' , the scene actually warrants Refuse classification.

---

 

 

 

 

The Final Executioner

Directed by Romolo Guerrieri / 1984 / Italy / IMDb

In February 1985, Filmways had an 87m videotape of THE FINAL EXECUTIONER banned because of 'gratuitous sexual violence'.

A censored 85m version was passed in June 1985. The R-rating was awarded for sex and violence, which were both described as:

Frequency: Infrequent
Explicitness/Intensity: Medium
Purpose: Gratuitous

The actual running time of the censored Filmways VTC/K-TEL Video release was 87:58.

 

 

THE FINAL EXECUTIONER: What was censored?

Thanks to Matt for this review.

Despite THE FINAL EXECUTIONER being banned for gratuitous sexual violence I have always thought the Filmways VTC tape was uncut as it contains the rape scene that was censored in some overseas prints. I finally picked up a copy of the U.S. MGM/UA Home Video release and can confirm that the Australian version has been censored, but for a very strange reason.

From approximately 28 to 30 minutes, the Filmways VTC tape contains a scene where a girl is raped and murdered. Melvin (one of the gang members) pulls her to the ground, rips open her top to expose her breasts, and then rapes her. The rest of the gang look on. Finally, the youngest member of the gang shoots her dead in the chest. This scene is the same as the uncut U.S. tape.

 

CENSORED SCENE #1

The scene that was removed in the Australian version should take place around the 54-minute mark. See images below.

Before (in Australian version): The hero is hiding in a cellar and looks out as the legs of a guard pass by.

Censored at 53:50 (02:25 removed) – One of the guards is shown putting out a call for help. The young gang member (who previously shot the girl) is shown wired up to a machine as Edra looks on. We are shown that he is watching a replay of Melvin’s rape of the girl, which plays on a TV screen in black and red. The scene continues going back and forth between the screen and Edra and the boy, before Edra kicks out Louis.

Despite 02:25 being removed, only around 35s consists of the rape scene. I may have missed something, but I could not work what the purpose was of watching the replay on the screen. In contrast to the actual rape where the gang is shown cheering Melvin on (uncut in the Australian tape), the TV screen replay shows the boy as distressed, and Edra and the gang looking on concerned (cut from the Australian tape). It is a mystery why this was removed and the earlier scene left complete.

After (in Australian version): The guy in black leaves the room as the girl in the red dress enters.

 

CENSORED SCENE #2

There is a second brief cut of the same footage. Watch carefully and you can see image jump.

Before (in Australian version): Edra looks at the TV screen and says “I want to stay here a while”

Censored at 58:36 (00:02 removed) – Another shot of the rape scene on the TV screen.

After (in Australian version): Edra still stares at the screen.

 

One other difference that I noticed was that the credits of the Filmways VTC tape run 01:25 and play out over a still shot of the hero. Whilst the MGM/UA Home Video credits play out over a black background and run 01:39 because of the longer fadeout music.

The inclusion of the original (28m to 30m) rape scene is definitely strange. Maybe this was released by mistake, as the tape runs 87:58; when you quote the R-rated version as running only 85m. If the rape scene had been removed then this would get it down to 85m

Uncut MGM/UA Home Video = 94:17 NTSC (Approximately equivalent to 90:31 PAL)
Censored Filmways VTC/K-TEL Video = 87:58 PAL

 

---

 

 

 

 

The First Time

Directed by Anthony Spinelli / 1978 / USA / IMDb

In September 1981, 14th Mandolin had a 1681.3-meter (61:17) 'pre-censor cut version' of THE FIRST TIME banned.

It was Refused Registration because of:

Sex
Frequency: Frequent
Explicitness/Intensity: High
Purpose: Gratuitous

Language
Frequency: Infrequent
Explicitness/Intensity: High
Purpose: Gratuitous

Other: Drug Abuse

 

In December 1981, a 1673.23-meter (60:59) 'reconstructed pre-censor cut version' lost a further 50.40-meters (01:50) before being awarded an R-rating. The cuts were made to remove sex, which was described as being:
Frequency: Infrequent
Explicitness/Intensity: High
Purpose: Gratuitous

The R-rating was awarded for sex, which was found to be:
Frequency: Frequent
Explicitness/Intensity: Medium
Purpose: Gratuitous

Other: Sexual Violence

14th Mandolin released this tape on their King of video label.

 

In February 1984, a 73m tape of THE FIRST TIME was passed with an X-rating. This version was presumably uncut.

It was awarded for sex, which was now described as:
Frequency: Frequent
Explicitness/Intensity: High
Purpose: Gratuitous

The X-rating was introduced in February 1984, making THE FIRST TIME one of the earliest titles to receive such a classification. Luhaze was the applicant.

 

---

 

 

 

 

A Fistful of 44's

Directed by Jaacov Jaacovi / 1971 / USA / IMDb

A 79m print of A FISTFUL OF 44'S was banned in May 1978 for reasons of indecency and indecent violence. 14th Mandolin censored it down to 73m and in November 1978 received an R-rating.

14th Mandolin's King of Video label released A FISTFUL of 44's on tape in the early 80s. It ran only 70:45, and was presumably the same as the cut theatrical print.

In February 1984, it became law for all video tapes to be classified. The censors began the slow task of reviewing all the titles that had been released up until that time. Their review of the R-rated King of Video tape resulted in A FISTFUL of 44's being banned. This was obviously due to the presence of several violent rape scenes.

 

---

 

 

 

 

Fist of Fury Part 2

Directed by Iksan Lahardi - Tso Nam Lee / 1977 / Hong Kong-Taiwan / IMDb

In September 1979, a 2733.02-meter (99:37) print of FIST OF FURY PART 2 was censored by 11-meters (00:24) for an R-rating. The cuts were made to remove 'excessive violence'.

JS and WC International Film Co were the applicant.

 

Video Classics had a 94m tape passed with an R-rating in August 1985. It was awarded for violence, which was described as being:
Frequency: Frequent
Explicitness/Intensity: Medium
Purpose: Gratuitous

 

Thanks to Matt for this information.

I viewed a 94:34 (PAL) version of FIST OF FURY 2. The censor may have cut some of the bloody stabbings, and the scene at 64m where one of the men is impaled on a stake. Apart from the usual martial arts scenes, I found very little else in the way of 'excessive violence'.

---

 

 

 

 

Five Fingers of Death

aka The Invincible Boxer

aka King Boxer

Directed by Chang-hwa Jeong/ 1972 / Hong Kong / IMDb

In January 1973, a 3080.00-meter (112:16) print of FIVE FINGERS OF DEATH was banned because of 'excessive violence'. It was submitted under the title THE INVINCIBLE BOXER.

Warner Bros made an unsuccessful appeal to the Film Board of Review in March 1973.

A censored 3025-meter (110:16) print was cut by a further 101:49-meters (03:41) for an M-rating in May 1973. At the time, distributors of martial arts films preferred the M-rating. Fewer cuts would have presumably been necessary had the aim been an R-rating

For this submission, Warner Brothers retitled it to FIVE FINGERS OF DEATH. It was under this name that it was released theatrically.

 

 

As KING BOXER on VHS and DVD

In May 1986, a 101m tape was passed with an R-rating. It was awarded for violence, which was found to be:
Frequency: Frequent
Explicitness/Intensity: Medium
Purpose: Gratuitous

Warner Home Video released it under the title KING BOXER.

 

The same title was used by Roadshow Entertainment for their Shaw Brother’s Classic Collection DVD release. This was passed with an R18+ (High level violence) rating in June 2007.

 

---

 

 

 

 

Five Savage Men

aka The Animals
aka Apache Vengeance

Directed by Ron Joy / 1970 / USA / IMDb

In November 1971, a 7899-feet (87:46) print of FIVE SAVAGE MEN was banned because of 'indecency and excessive violence'. MGM/BEF Distributors were the applicant.

 

 

THE ANIMALS and APACHE VENGEANCE video releases

A 2272-meter (82:49) print was passed with an M-rating in October 1982. It was submitted by 14th Mandolin, and released on their King of Video label as THE ANIMALS.

In June 1991, an 84m videotape was passed with an R18+ (Medium level violence) rating. It was released by RCA/Columbia Pictures/Hoyts Video under the title APACHE VENGEANCE.

In February 1994, an 84m videotape was again passed with an R18+ (Medium level violence) rating. It was released by Reel Entertainment as APACHE VENGEANCE.

 

 

APACHE VENGEANCE DVD releases

APACHE VENGEANCE was released on disc in 2005 by Reel DVD. The rating was a plain R18+, with no consumer advice.

Reel DVD released it for a second time in December 2011. The cover claims it was MA15+ (High level violence) rated.

 

---

 

 

 

 

Flesh

Directed by Paul Morrissey / 1968 / USA / IMDb

In October 1971, a 770- feet (85:33) print of FLESH was banned because of 'indecency'. We suspect that this was being considered for an R-rating, even though it was not introduced until November 1971.

Eric Dare was the applicant.

 

In July 1973, Blake Films had a 2250.60-meter (82:02) print was passed with an R-rating. There is no mention of this version being censored; however, the running time is several minutes shorter than the original submission.

 

 

FLESH on video and DVD

Palace Home Video had an 85:24 videotape of FLESH passed with an R-rating in August 1984.

Force Entertainment/Beyond Entertainment have released FLESH on DVD a number of times, either as a single disc, a seven film box-set called THE ANDY WARHOL COLLECTION, and a WARHOL TRIPLE FEATURE box set.

The original Force Entertainment DVD ran 89:28 (NTSC). 

 

---

 

 

 

 

Fox Tang Gi

Directed by Unknown / 198? / Taiwan / IMDb link required

A 66m 35mm print of this Taiwanese sex movie was Refused Classification in September 1989. Yu Enterprises censored FOX TANG GI down to 65m, and in November 1989 it received an R18+ (Frequent Sexual Activity) rating.

---

 

 

Next Films: F #2  or  A to Z Listing

 

 

Home | News | Censorship | Protest | Contact | Links | Top of Page

refusedclassification@gmail.com | Online Since April 2002