Film Censorship: G

 

 

 

 

The Gallant

Directed by Su Yang / 1972 / Taiwan / IMDb

In February 1973, a 3030.00-meter (110:27) print of THE GALLANT was banned because of 'excessive violence'. A censored 2909:00-meter (106:02) version was passed with an M-rating in July 1973.

At the time, distributors of martial arts films favoured the M-rating. Fewer cuts would have presumably been necessary had the aim been an R-rating

Chastonn Enterprises was the applicant.

 

 

 

 

Gator Bait 2: Cajun Justice

Directed by Beverly and Ferd Sebastian / 1988 / USA / IMDb

In April 1989, CIC-TAFT Video has a 97m VHS of GATOR BAIT 2: CAJUN JUSTICE Refused Classification by the OFLC. The reason given was 'gratuitous sexual violence'. A 95m edited version was banned again in December 1989 resulting in the abandonment of the Australian release.

 

Thanks to Matt for this review of GATOR BAIT 2: CAJUN JUSTICE.

The version that I viewed ran 94:41, which is a few minutes shorter than the 97m print that you list as being submitted to the Aussie censors. Not sure why this is as it didn't look obviously censored, though I can't rule out the existence of a harder version.

Problem scenes would have had to have been between 37-47min when the hillbilly gang invade Angelique's house and threaten her before her Big T arrives. Although she is not raped, parts of this scene may have caused the censors some problems.

After being taken back to the home of the hillbilly gang, from 55-58min, three of them take turns raping her. This would have definitely been the primary source of the 'gratuitous sexual violence' that the censors listed as the reason for banning it.

Another possibility is the final scene at 92min where the hillbilly leader catches Angelique and holds a knife against her crotch, before Big T appears and shoots him.

Overall, it's an overlong standard rape revenge thriller, and in 2008 it is hard to see the censors not awarding it an uncut R18+.

 

 

 

 

Genius is Lying

Directed by Ann Harding / 1982 / Australia

GENIUS IS LYING was a 21m film school work that was submitted to the Censorship Board in December 1982. Swinburne Institute of Technology were awarded an R-rating after one cut was made. The controversy began when the producer pushed to have the uncut film included in the 1983 Melbourne Film Festival.

 

 

The following piece from the 1983 Film Censorship Board Report explains the situation.

SYDNEY-MELBOURNE FILM FESTIVALS
Amendments to the Customs (Cinematograph Films) Regulations, made in April, removed the anomalies which were inherent in the so-called Film Festival 'agreement' of 1975.

These amendments enable 'approved organizations' to exhibit films at 'approved events' without being subject to the registration provisions of the Regulations.
Approval of organizations and events is at the discretion of the Attorney-General, who shall have regard to:

(a) the purposes for which the organization was formed;
(b) the extent to which the event is in keeping with the purposes of the organization;
(c) the extent to which the organization carries on activities of a cultural or artistic nature;
(d) the reputation of the organization with respect to the screening of films;
(e) the conditions imposed on the organization with respect to the admission of persons to the screening of films by the organization.

Decisions of the Attorney-General either to refuse or revoke approvals may be reviewed by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.

Approved organizations may import films for approved events upon submission of applications and synopses to the Chief Censor. Permissions to import are granted subject to permission holders observing certain conditions, which include limiting admission to screenings of the films to subscribers aged 18 years or over and exporting the films within six weeks after the conclusion of the approved event.

The amendments have the effect of conceding to film festivals named as 'approved organizations' the freedom from censorship restraints which they have long sought.

The Board welcomed these amendments, as they implicitly confirmed that the Board had no legal mandate to grant the concessions previously sought by the festivals.

In 1983, the Sydney and Melbourne Film Festivals were named as 'approved organizations' and 'approved events'. They were granted a total of 356 'permissions to import', 102 to Sydney and 254 to Melbourne.

There was widespread misunderstanding about the legal status of Australian-made films used in film festivals. Few seemed to realise that the exhibition of such films is essentially a matter for State Governments, which may grant exemption to any film (whether imported or Australian made) from the operation of certain provisions of the relevant State Censorship Acts.

Misunderstanding focused on the film Genius is Lying. This was submitted to the Film Censorship Board by the Swinburne Institute of Technology in December 1982, with a request that it be classified for normal public exhibition. Members of the Board decided, by a majority vote, to classify the film 'For Restricted Exhibition', subject to one deletion. It should be emphasised that this decision was made outside the context of film festivals.
When the film's producer later sought to have the 1983 Melbourne Film Festival include Genius is Lying in its program, it was suggested that the deletion required by the Film Censorship Board for the film's public exhibition precluded its exhibition at the festival, as the festival's policy is to show only uncut films.

However, the film could have been shown uncut at the festival had the Melbourne Film Festival successfully sought the approval of the Government of Victoria for its exhibition.

The Chief Censor issued a press release stating the correct position, in an attempt to dispel the media-created impression that the Board had acted obstructively vis-a-vis the Melbourne Film Festival. But, perhaps inevitably, the press release received less exposure than the allegations which prompted it.

 

 

2006 St Kilda Film Festival Screening

Here is how Stella Kinsella described GENIUS IS LYING in an article at the Screen Hub site. The film had been included as part of the Victorian College of Arts Retrospective at the 2006 St Kilda Film Festival.

Genius Is Lying by Ann Harding would never make it to the screen today (let alone though a funding round) and more’s the pity. Overlong, coarse and technically very basic it wasn’t so much a genre hybrid but a feast and famine sort of filmmaking. Made in 1982, the AIDS HIV scourge was yet to be recognised and in what must have been a groundbreaking piece of reportage for its time, it focused on the life and times of the gay scene of the St Kilda beats, candidly discussing the cons and pros of incest and transgender issues for its day.

 

 

 

 

The Ghastly Ones

Directed by Andy Milligan / 1969 / USA / IMDb

In the early 80s, there was no law that compelled distributors to have video tapes classified. For a period, the Censorship Board simply viewed the tapes and passed them as 'Special Condition', the definition of which was:

That the film/tape will not be exhibited in any State in contravention of that State's law relating to the exhibition of films.

The Prestige Video release of THE GHASTLY ONES was passed in October 1983 with such a warning.

 

 

Video release banned

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. They finally got to THE GHASTLY ONES in October 1984. The 71m (71:14) Prestige Video VHS was Refused Classification due to violence, which was described as being:

Frequency: Infrequent
Explicitness/Intensity: High
Purpose: Gratuitous

The violence consists of three or four unconvincing and poorly shot gore scenes and includes.

 

Despite the ban, THE GHASTLY ONES VHS remained on the shelves of many video stores until the arrival of DVD.

 

 

DVD Rated R18+

In August 2005, THE GHASTLY ONES was passed with an R18+ rating as part of a double-bill with Milligan's SEEDS OF SIN. The consumer advice for the combined titles was 'High Level Violence, High Level Sex Scenes, Adult themes'. Siren Visual Entertainment released the DVD in September 2005. The running time was 71:41.

 

The Ghastly Ones - Prestige Video [au] VHSThe Ghastly Ones - Siren Visual Entertainment [au] DVD

 

 

 

 

Ghost Festival

Directed by Law Kei / 1985 / Hong Kong / IMDb

In May 1987, an 89m 35mm print of GHOST FESTIVAL was Refused Classification. Yu Enterprises were awarded an R-rating after censoring it down to 86m. This print went on to have a Chinese language theatrical release.

 

 

 

 

Ghost Talker's Daydream

Directed by  Osamu Sekita / 2004 / Japan / IMDb

We have one report of GHOST TALKER'S DAYDREAM being taken by customs in late 2009 for reasons of 'sexualised violence'.

 

 

 

 

Ginger

Directed by Don Schain / 1971 / USA / IMDb

In March 1974, a 2761.18-meter (100:39) print of GINGER was passed with an R-rating.

Effie Holdings was the applicant.

 

 

Banned on video

In March 1985, a 96m tape of GINGER was refused classification because of 'gratuitous sexual violence'.

For some reason, this G.A. International tape was indeed released to video stores, possibly before the censors decided to ban it. It remained relatively easy to find a copy for rent during the 80s through to the mid-90s.

The exact running time for the video was 95:09. There are various examples of sexual violence during the film. However, we would guess that the Australian censors mainly objected to the climax of the film where Ginger is punched, raped, and injected with heroin by Rex.

 

 

Was the GA International tape censored?

Interestingly, the G.A. International video release did look slightly cut during one scene.

Before - Jimmy says, "Spread your legs". It is followed by Jimmy naked on top of the girl.

This scene fades and is followed by a (very) brief shot of another scene coming into view. This shows Rodney's body naked from the waist down.

After - The soundtrack then jumps and there is a shot of Ginger saying to Rodney "Just enjoy the view".

 

 

Don Schain and the Australian censors

A sequel titled THE ABDUCTORS (1972) was also Refused Classification in December 1984. GIRLS ARE FOR LOVING (1973), the second sequel had an R-rated theatrical release in the early 70s.

Despite the box of the G.A. International release of GINGER promising "One of 3 Action-Packed Ginger Movies", we have yet to see proof that they got around to releasing them.

A PLACE CALLED TODAY (1972) was another of Don Schain's films to be banned in Australia.

 

Ginger - GA International [au] VHS

 

 

 

 

Girl Next Door

Directed by Teruaki Murakami / 2000 / Japan / IMDb

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.

 

In December 2003, Siren Visual Entertainment had a DVD of GIRL NEXT DOOR passed with an R18+ (High Level Sex Scenes, Adult Themes) rating by the OFLC.

Despite being listed as the ORIGINAL version, the DVD had actually been pre-cut prior to submission. According to Siren,

"..minor cuts were made, but only in relation to any sexual violence connotations, which would not pass under any circumstances".

GIRL NEXT DOOR was eventually released on DVD in 2004 on a double-bill with CAMPUS.

 

Siren re-released the film as a single feature in May 2007 as part of their Hentai Collection.

Siren are to be congratulated for admitting the censorship. Unfortunately, the statistics now record it as never having had censorship problems. This situation is widespread in the X18+ category.

 

Girl Next Door (2000) - Siren Visual Entertainment [au] DVD1Girl Next Door (2000) - Siren Visual Entertainment [au] DVD2

 

 

 

 

Godfather's Fury

Directed by Chung Sun / 1978 / Hong Kong / IMDb

In July 1979, a 2831.90-meter (103:30) 35mm print of GODFATHER'S FURY was banned by the Censorship Board. The reason given for the refusal of this Shaw Brothers production was 'excessive violence'.

There is no record of the applicant, JS & WC International Film, making any cuts to gain an R-rating.

 

 

 

 

The Godson

Directed by William Rotsler / 1971 / USA / IMDb

In February 1982, an 89m tape of THE GODSON was censored to remove 'sexual violence'.

It was then awarded an R-rating for sex, which was described as being:
Frequency: Frequent
Explicitness/Intensity: Medium
Purpose: Gratuitous

The applicant was K&C Video, who released it on their Starbase Video sub-label.

 

Thanks to Simon for this information about the US release.

The 'sexual violence' in THE GODSON is not particularly graphic. At 11:30 Marco threatens one of the hookers by grabbing her breasts and twisting her nipples. A similar scene takes place at 85:30 where the gangster rival has a topless girl strung up by her arms. He twists her nipples to make her scream and draw Marco’s attention. The scene ends at 89:30 with Marco shooting the girl in the chest.

Apart from a couple of brief shots in the opening and closing credits of a gun being run over a woman’s breast, that is it for the 'sexual violence'. Presumably, some of this was missing from the Starbase Video release.

The 2003 Something Weird DVD of THE GODSON is uncut, and runs 91:28 (NTSC). The disc also contains Bethel Buckalew’s BELOW THE BELT (1971).

 

 

 

 

Golden Ninja Warrior

Directed by Joseph Lai / 1986 / Hong Kong / IMDb

In March 1989, Videobizn (S.A.) had an 85m VHS of GOLDEN NINJA WARRIOR Refused Classification by the OFLC. The reason given was 'gratuitous sexual violence'.

 

Thanks to Matt for this review.

GOLDEN NINJA WARRIOR is the first Joseph Lai Ninja movie that I had viewed and it proved to be a great introduction. It's badly made, but hugely enjoyable. It's very easy to spot the two scenes that would have been responsible for the censors awarding it an RC-rating.

03:45 to 05:45 - Here a woman in her underwear is tied by her hands between two bunk beds. Her father has sold her to the brothel and a she is refusing to work. She is viciously whipped by a gangster who pulls her bra off and punches her in the stomach. He eventually pulls off her underwear so they she is totally naked before he continues to whip her.

60:30 to 64:00 - Sherri has been tied with her hands behind her back. Eagle chases her around the room as she resists. He eventually captures her and punches her in the stomach. He then proceeds to strip her naked and rape her.

The uncut version that I viewed ran 85:23.

 

 

 

 

Les Grandes Jouisseuses

aka The Grand Sensualist

Directed by Claude Bernard-Aubert / 1977 / France / IMDb

The censors banned a 92m 35mm print in September 1978 under the original French title of LES GRANDES JOUISSEUSES. In October 1978, Consolidated Exhibitors were awarded an R-rating after censoring it down to 80m.

Video Classics released this on tape in the early 80s with a running time of 75:24. The video box title was THE GRAND SENSUALIST.

In 1985, two video companies had LES GRANDES JOUISSEUSES banned of 'gratuitous sexual violence'. Prestige Video lost a 90m tape, and CBS-Fox an 80m tape. We are not aware of these being released, censored or otherwise by these companies.

 

 

 

 

Greta, the Mad Butcher

aka Ilsa, the Wicked Warden

Directed by Jess Franco / 1977 / Switzerland-USA-West Germany / IMDb

In October 1977, Blake Films had a 90m 35mm print of GRETA, THE MAD BUTCHER banned for reasons of 'indecency and indecent violence'.

 

 

The ILSA series and the censors

The original ILSA, SHE WOLF OF THE SS was banned in 1976.

In August 1982, A M Alessi Film and Video Service had an 87m Italian video tape of ILSA, HAREM KEEPER OF THE OIL SHEIKS passed with an R-rating. It was classified under the title ILSA DE BELVA DEL DESERTO.

 

 

The ILSA series and customs

In January 2005, there is a report of customs delaying delivery of the Anchor Bay Ilsa DVD box set. The titles in the shipment were ILSA: SHE WOLF OF THE SS, ILSA: HAREM KEEPER OF THE OIL SHEIKS, as well as ILSA: THE WICKED WARDEN. The package was eventually delivered with a letter informing that they had been delayed because they were suspected of falling within the scope of Regulation 4A of the Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulations 1956.

 

 

 

 

Grimms Marchen von lusternen Parchen

aka Grimms’ Maerchen Von Lusten Paerchen

aka The New Adventures of Snow White

Directed by Rolf Thiele / 1969 / West Germany / IMDb

In November 1971, a 9173-feet (101:55) print of GRIMMS' MAERCHEN VON LUSTEN PAERCHEN was banned because of 'indecency'.

Roadshow Distributors made an unsuccessful appeal to the Film Board of Review in February 1972.

 

In November 1981, L and M Imports had a 72m videotape passed under the title of THE NEW ADVENTURES OF SNOW WHITE.

The R-rating was awarded for violence, which was described as being:
Frequency: Infrequent
Explicitness/Intensity: Medium
Purpose: Justified

It was also awarded because of nudity.

The tape was most likely an import of the British Mountain Video release.

 

 

 

 

Guinea Pig: Devil's Experiment

aka Za Ginipiggu 1: Akuma No Jikken

Directed by Hideshi Hino / 1985 / Japan / IMDb

GUINEA PIG: DEVIL'S EXPERIMENT was due to screen on July 17th 2004 at the Melbourne Underground Film Festival. The OFLC became aware of this and contacted the organisers who pulled it, and three other features from the program.

 

The Melbourne Underground Film Festival issued the following press release on July 12th 2004.
STOP THE PRESS - MUFF films banned!!!!

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

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

Za Ginipiggu 1: Akuma No Jikken

JAPAN | 1985 | 46 min

Notorious splatter video series conceived by underground manga artist Hideshi Hino. Shot on videotape with minimal production values but reasonably convincing special effects, the series, running to six episodes, eventually turned comedic and a making-of was also released to counter a rumour that the first couple of eps were actual “snuff” films. In essence, the films are a special effects showcase and are one-dimensional in tone. Some palpable shock value is to be had.

Saturday July 17th 9pm Gertrudes.

 

 

 

 

Guinea Pig: Flowers of Flesh and Blood

aka Za Ginipiggu 2: Chiniku No Hana

Directed by BY Hideshi Hino / 1985 / Japan / IMDb

GUINEA PIG: FLOWERS OF FLESH AND BLOOD was due to screen on July 17th 2004 at the Melbourne Underground Film Festival. The OFLC became aware of this and contacted the organisers who pulled it, and three other features from the program.

 

The Melbourne Underground Film Festival issued the following press release on July 12th 2004.
STOP THE PRESS - MUFF films banned!!!!

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

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

Za Ginipiggu 1: Akuma No Jikken

JAPAN | 1985 | 46 min

Notorious splatter video series conceived by underground manga artist Hideshi Hino. Shot on videotape with minimal production values but reasonably convincing special effects, the series, running to six episodes, eventually turned comedic and a making-of was also released to counter a rumour that the first couple of eps were actual “snuff” films. In essence, the films are a special effects showcase and are one-dimensional in tone. Some palpable shock value is to be had.

Saturday July 17th 9pm Gertrudes.

 

 

FLOWERS OF FLESH AND BLOOD review

Thanks to Aidan for this information.

As your database states this film was refused exemption for the Melbourne Underground Film Festival. Having watched it I can tell you the motivation behind it being refused exemption and classification. Two scenes in particular are likely to have baited our censors.

Firstly around the 30 minute marks a woman has her hand graphically and convincingly cut open, then struck with a sledge hammer.

Secondly at the films conclusion, the woman has a "needle" (actually closer to a large nail really) poked through the side of her face and out the front, causing blood to slowly gather around her eyeball which is then pushed out of her head by the needles motion. This graphic and realistic scene was likely troublesome as (according to your database) the OFLC previously refused another Japanese film ("Evil Dead Trap") classification due to a similar needle/eye encounter.

Our censors also probably had trouble with the fact that the film is presented as a series of cruel vignettes (each with a title card implying what will follow, including Hit, Kick, Unconscious, Claw and of course Needle) presented in sequence in a monotonous fashion (fitting the "experiment" theme) rather than a full narrative plot.

The film and it's first sequel became infamous after viewers in the United States suspected them of being actual snuff films (most famously actor Charlie Sheen reported the sequel "Flower of Flesh and Blood" to the FBI after seeing it at a party) a view apparently influenced by the fact that most copies in the U.S. until the recent DVD release were 3rd to 10th generation bootleg video tapes with reduced quality resembling home movies.

 

 

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