Film Censorship: H

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Hail Mary

Directed by Jean Luc-Goddard / 1985 / France-Switzerland-UK / IMDb

This film has never had problems with the Australian censors. It is included because it was a controversial title

 

In April 1986, a 2935.01-meter print of HAIL MARY was awarded an R-rating. A 105m videotape received the same classification in July 1986. In both cases, Pan American Productions were the applicant.

 

 

Protests from Christian nuts

Although never banned in Australia, this title was the subject of legal action and an intense letter writing campaign by Christians. It went on to play theatrically with an R-rating.

The following are taken from the Censors 1986 Annual Report, and explains how the controversy evolved. We have included links to the original court hearings for the film.

 

The film 'Je Vous Salue Marie' ('Hail Mary'), by French director Jean-Luc Godard, was submitted for registration and classification and was screened by all Board Members in March 1986, The Board was aware that the release of the film overseas had caused controversy and that campaigns had been organised denouncing the film as blasphemous,

The Board was unanimously of the opinion that the film was not blasphemous, indecent or obscene and voted by a majority of six to classify it 'R', with five voting to classify it 'M',

In May 1986, the Board was advised by the President of a Catholic Marian group that a campaign and demonstration would be organised against the film and its forthcoming release in Australia.

The Board soon began receiving letters of protest - many identically worded and in roneoed form - which, by the end of August had totalled 39 816, It was clear that, with one or two exceptions, none of the correspondents had seen the film.

The campaign against the film also took other forms including petitions to Federal Parliament, media interviews and demonstrations outside the State Theatre where the film was first screened in Australia at the Sydney Film Festival early in June.

In July 1986, a Roman Catholic priest and an Anglican priest sought, in an action brought in the Federal Court, to have the Board's decision to register the film set aside on the grounds that the Board had failed to prohibit the importation of a blasphemous film as required by the Customs (Cinematograph Films) Regulations.

On 4 August 1986, in the Federal Court, Mr Justice Sheppard found that the two ministers of religion did not have standing as 'persons aggrieved' in terms of the Administrative Decisions (Judicial Review) Act and dismissed the application. In his judgment, Mr Justice Sheppard said: 'Notwithstanding their special position as ministers of religion, I do not think that they stand in any different position from countless other members of the community who, with varying degrees of commitment, profess the Christian faith.'

The applicants were granted leave to appeal to the Full Court on 24 October 1986 and on 13 February 1987, Justices Fisher, Lockhart and Wilcox handed down their decision that the ministers did have standing as 'persons aggrieved'.

The judges held that as ministers of religion the appellants were in a special position compared with ordinary members of the public, 'in that it was their duty and vocation to maintain the sanctity of the scriptures, to spread the Gospel, to teach and foster Christian beliefs and to repel or oppose blasphemy which was the denial of the basic tenets of their faith'.
The Film Censorship Board has not sought leave to appeal this decision and awaits any developments in relation to the substantive application.

 

 

Christian nuts fight on

Two years after the original action, Christians continued to protest against HAIL MARY. The following is taken from the OFLC and Films Board of Review Report on Activities 1988 to 1989.

Having been accorded standing as "persons aggrieved" within the meaning of the Administrative Decisions (Judicial Review) Act 1977 (see 1986 Report on Activities, page 16), Rev. Fr. Walter Ogle and Rev. Fr. John O'Neill initiated action in the Federal Court of Australia against the Film Censorship Board to have its decision to register Je Vous Salue Marie (Hail Mary) set aside and against Pan American Productions, importers of the film, to have the film exported or destroyed. When the action failed they sought to revive it early in 1988. However, it was discontinued upon receipt of evidence that the print of the film had been destroyed at the direction of the importer.

 

This final statement is rather odd. The film print may have been destroyed, after all, the theatrical run was well and truly over, however the videotape remained for rent.

 

 

Video and DVD releases

Following its theatrical releases Video Excellence released HAIL MARY on VHS. The cover played on the controversy with the words:

SHOULD THIS FILM BE BANNED?
JUDGE FOR YOURSELF!

Umbrella Entertainment released the film on DVD in March 2006.

 

 

Produced by the devil in the studios of hell

In his 2004 review of THE PASSION OF CHRIST, Fred Nile had this to say about the film.

"I have condemned many anti-Christian, blasphemous, pornographic films during the years, such as Hail Mary and The Last Temptation of Christ, which I said were produced by the devil in the studios of hell"

 

To read about more Christian hysteria, see our separate entry for THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST.

 

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Halloween 3: Season of the Witch

Directed by Tommy Lee Wallace / 1982 / USA / IMDb

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

 

In the early 80s, Thorn EMI released HALLOWEEN 3: SEASON OF THE WITCH on video in Australia. The print was uncut, and ran 90:38.

In 2001, Infogrames released a censored version on DVD that ran 92:06.

 

 

Censored HALLOWEEN 3 DVD

Thanks to Craig S for the following description of the missing footage.

During the scene where Harry Grimbridge is murdered, the assassin enters the room and poises his fingers above his head, before using them to kill him. Only a couple of seconds of his death is shown, before it cuts to the mask laying on the floor.

When Starker is killed, they do not show the second shot of the assassin's face after the fountain of blood sprays from Starker's neck. It cuts straight to Ellie jumping in shock after Marge accidentally hits her car horn, and is missing the scene where she is walking through the parking lot.

Similarly, when Marge is killed, only a quick shot of her hands covering her face is shown, before it fades out.

During the Halloween montage towards the end of the movie, the scene showing the trick-or-treaters in Phoenix, Arizona, is cut out, and goes straight from the shot of the Silver Shamrock van in Seattle to the aerial view of Phoenix at the end of the scene.

Again, when Teddy is killed, the scene is cut. It shows the assassin forcing the drill into her face, but cuts out the part at the end where it gets up and walks off.

A final change occurs at the hospital when Harry Grimbridge is admitted. Some of the dialogue between Walter Jones and Challis is missing. When we see the shot of Grimbridge on the stretcher in front of the TV, the lines "Hey, can I leave now?", and "Sure, I don't see why not" are missing, and cuts straight to Challis shaking Walter's hand and saying, "Thanks a lot for bringing him."

 

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Hands of the Ripper

Directed by Peter Sasdy / 1971 / UK / IMDb

In February 1972, a 7836-feet (87:18) print of HANDS OF THE RIPPER was banned because of 'excessive violence'. U.I.P censored it down to 2333.54-meters (85:17), and in December 1972 it was awarded an M-rating. This cut version played theatrically in Australia.

HANDS OF THE RIPPER 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 DEMONS OF THE MIND (1972) and VAMPIRE CIRCUS (1972).

 

 

Video and DVD releases

In February 1984 and April 1985, Pioneer Electronic twice had 85m tapes passed with an M-rating.

Thorn EMI Screen Entertainment had an 85m tape passed with an M-rating in October 1985.

All three were awarded for violence, which were described as being:

Frequency: Infrequent
Explicitness/Intensity: Medium
Purpose: Gratuitous

We do not believe either of these tapes were released in Australia.

 

In 2005, MRA Entertainment released an 81:38 (PAL) version of HANDS OF THE RIPPER on DVD. The film was part of a HAMMER HORROR COLLECTION box set that also included VAMPIRE CIRCUS (1972) and TWINS OF EVIL (1971).

 

 

HANDS OF THE RIPPER (1971): The censored scenes

Thanks to Simon for this information.

The scenes of ‘excessive violence’ that caused HANDS OF THE RIPPER to be banned in 1972 would be:

14m: The aftermath shot of Mrs Golding pinned to the door with a pole.

36m approx: Anna slashes the throat of Dolly, and then stabs her in the neck. This is a very graphic murder for a Hammer film.

53m approx: Anna stabs Long Liz in the eye with hatpins. A short time later, we see her staggering through the street with the pins protruding from her eye.

These are the most graphic scenes in the film. However, at the time, distributors often targeted an M-rating for horror films. The two minutes of cuts may have been made with the aim of securing this lower rating.

The MRA Entertainment DVD runs 81:38, which despite the few seconds difference, I would guess is the same as the UK release from Network.

DVD Compare has some interesting information about the international censorship of HANDS OF THE RIPPER, including claims that the murder of Dolly exists in a longer version.

 

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The Hangover

Directed by Todd Phillips / 2009 / USA / IMDb

This film has never had problems with the Australian censors. It is included because the distributor chose to censor it to achieve a more commercial rating.

 

Roadshow Films had a 99m version of THE HANGOVER rated MA15+ (Strong sexual references, Coarse language and nudity) in May 2009.

It was later discovered that Roadshow had submitted a pre-censored version to avoid an R18+ rating.

 

 

Censored MA15+ Theatrical Release

The Hangover censorship controversy answered!
blog.quickflix.com.au, June 19, 2009

The risqué shot occurs during the end credits, but was blurred out when it appeared on screen. I won't reveal the contents of the shot, but if I tell you it involves an elevator and a prosthetic penis, you can probably put two and two together.

A representative at Roadshow Films (with a sense of humour, thank God) informed me that it was the studio's decision to cut the shot. Keeping the image would have increased the film's MA15+ rating to an R18+.

In America (where the shot remains fully visible), the picture is rated R. This means anyone under the age of 17 must be accompanied by a parent or adult guardian.

The Australian R rating restricts anyone from under the age of 18 from entering the cinema. Meanwhile, an Australian MA rating means anyone under the age of 15 must be accompanied by an adult or parent guardian. Confused yet?

BASICALLY, the Office of Literature and Classification must have informed Roadshow that The Hangover would be rated R18+ if that particular shot remained in the picture. Considering a large portion of the film's audience would most likely be boys aged 15-21, it would have been a massive blow to the grosses to restrict those under the age of 18. Therefore, the shot was cut and an MA rating was approved.

 

 

UK censorship same as Australia

In the UK, THE HANGOVER had the exact same problems. Here is what the BBFC had to say.

THE HANGOVER
Classified 15 May, 2009
The BBFC advised the company that the film was likely to receive an '18' classification but that the requested '15' certificate could be achieved by making one change to visuals in the closing credits. The BBFC suggested that brief shots in which a man is being fellated by a woman, with clear sight of an apparent erect penis in the woman's mouth, be removed. When the finished version of the film was submitted, the shots had been removed and the film was classified '15'.

 

 

MA15+ and R18+ DVD releases

On October 16, 2009, a 128m DVD of the extended version of was passed with an R18+ (High impact sexual images) rating.

October 23, 2009, saw a DVD of the 124m theatrical cut rated MA15+ (Coarse language and nudity; Strong sexual references).

On November 2, 2009, a 127m version received an MA15+ (Coarse language and nudity; Strong sexual references) rating. In all cases, Warner Bros Entertainment was the applicant.

 

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Hard Bounty

Directed by Jim Wynorski / 1995 / USA / IMDb

An 89m video of HARD BOUNTY was Refused Classification in 1995. 21st Century Pictures censored it down to 84m (84:23), and in February 1996 were awarded an M (Medium Level Violence and Sex Scenes) rating. The tape that was eventually released incorrectly claimed the rating to be MA15+ (Medium Level Violence and Sex Scenes).

There does not appear to be any obvious instances of censorship in the 21st Century Pictures VHS. However, the large amount of footage that has been removed would seem to indicate that a whole scene has been deleted. On-line descriptions of this title mention a rape, while the Australian release contains no such scene.

 

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Hardcore: Volume 2

Directed by Richard Kern / 1986-93 / USA

This second volume of short film films from New York filmmaker Richard Kern was banned by the Classification Board in May 2006. It was submitted by the Victorian Police following a raid on a Melbourne bookstore. HARDCORE: VOLUME 1 was also taken (and not returned), but does not appear in the censor's database.

 

The VHS tape is listed as running 99m. It is difficult to pin identify exactly which films were on this volume, though one on-line source lists it as:

Another volume of unpredictable and aggressive short films from notorious New York realist Richard Kern. Starring an assortment of underground musicians and performance artists- most notably Lydia Lunch. Described as "violent" and "offensive" by some, embraced by others as perversion at its most cinematic. Not for the young, impressionable or easily offended! Contains five short films: Fingered ('86), Submit To Me Now ('87), My Nightmare ('93), Horoscope ('91), X is Y ('90).

 

This does appear to be the likely line up of films as FINGERED is one of Kern's most notorious titles and would definitely have problems with the Classification Board.

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Hard Target

Directed by John Woo / 1993 / USA / IMDb

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

 

United International Pictures had 93m 35mm and 16mm prints of HARD TARGET passed with MA15+ (High level violence; Medium level coarse language) ratings in September 1993, and February 1994.

In April 1994, United International Pictures had a 96m VHS passed with an R18+ (Medium level violence) rating. This was never released and the only tape that appeared was the MA15+ version on the CIC label.

All of these versions of HARD TARGET were missing a significant amount of violent footage, which had been removed for the US R-rating. These censored prints went on to play theatrically, and later to be released on video by Universal.

In 2000, Columbia-Tristar released HARD TARGET on DVD with an R18+ (Medium level violence) rating. This particular print restores around 4m of footage that was missing from the MA15+ tape.

For an excellent description of the cuts and censorship history of HARD TARGET, see Michael D's DVD site.

 

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The Healers

Directed by Eduardo Cemano/ 1972 / USA / IMDb

In May 1978, a 2066.20-meter (75:31) print of THE HEALERS was banned because of indecency. A censored 1562.10-meter (57:06) version was passed with an R-rating in August 1978.

The applicant was K&S Wilcsek.

 

Thanks to Simon for this review.

The sex in THE HEALERS is not fully hardcore, no erections, cum shots, etc, but it does push the boundaries. Surprisingly, for a movie of this type, there is a (simulated) gay sex scene. However, it is hard to understand why THE HEALERS lost 18m to the censor, as it is played for laughs, and the sex is shown to be fun.

In the US, After Hours Cinema released THE HEALERS as part of Eduardo Cemano's SEXUAL HEALING TRILOGY. This also included FONGALULI (1972), and MADAME ZENOBIA(1973). THE HEALERS runs 77:33 (NTSC).

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Hellbound: Hellraiser 2

Directed by Tony Randel / 1988 / UK / IMDb

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

 

In February and March 1989, both Roadshow Home Video and Village Roadshow Corporation had 93m 35mm prints of HELLBOUND: HELLRAISER 2 passed with R-ratings.

The prints presented to the OFLC were the already censored US R-rated versions. HELLBOUND: HELLRAISER 2 was released on tape by Roadshow Home Video with a runtime of 89:08. Thanks to Stephen F. for the cover scan.

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

 

 

Uncut VHS and DVD releases

Craig S reports on a print that runs around six and a half minutes longer.

The sell-through tape that Paramount issued in 2000 runs 95:42 and is uncut. It also includes the "Kirsty's room" sequence.

Kirsty finds herself in a normal-looking room she associates with her childhood; a framed photograph of her parents is displayed on a bureau. She admires the photo and looks yearningly at her mother. After taking a short look around the room, she finds that Julia has replaced her mother in the photo. Suddenly, it begins to ripple and a bevy of cockroaches burst forth from the frame. Roaches crawl forth from behind the bureau, toppling it, and she screams. This scene is inserted during the spinning shot of Kirsty screaming, but before the Cenobites appear. A subsequent shot of Kirsty running along a hellish path with Tiffany is also slightly extended.

 

 In October 2011, Umbrella Entertainment released HELLBOUND: HELLRAISER 2 on DVD and Blu-ray.

 

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Hellraiser

Directed by Clive Barker / 1987 / UK / IMDb

This film has never had problems with the Australian censors. It is included because the distributor chose to censor it to achieve a more commercial rating.

 

In September 1987, a 91m tape of HELLRAISER was passed with an R-rating. It was awarded for violence, which was described as being:
Frequency: Frequent
Explicitness/Intensity: Medium
Purpose: Gratuitous

It was also awarded for 'horror'.

 

In November 1987, a 2496.13-meter (91:14) print of HELLRAISER was passed with an R-rating. Village Roadshow Corporation censored the film down to 88m, and received an M-rating. This print played theatrically in Australia. At the time, the MA15+ rating had yet to be introduced.

 

 

Video, DVD, and Blu-ray releases

In 1988, Roadshow Home Video released the R-rated version on tape. The cover stated:

GRAPHIC UNCUT VERSION – Not seen in Australian cinemas

 

In October 2011, Umbrella Entertainment released HELLRAISER on DVD and Blu-ray with an M-rating on the cover.

Thanks to Craig S for this review of the Blu-ray.

The recent Umbrella Entertainment release of HELLRAISER on Blu-ray is cut at the first hammer murder. I picked up the Umbrella release because it was cheap, and have checked it against my uncut US DVD. Not only is it cut, but it also has no extras or menu. I believe they have used an old cut UK print. See Movie-censorship for details.

The running time is 93:22, also the picture quality is pretty sub-par as well.

 

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Hidden Rage

Directed by Shuki Levy / 1988 / USA / IMDb

The TAFT HARDIE Group had a 100m 35mm print of HIDDEN RAGE Refused Classification in September 1988 for reasons of 'gratuitous sexual violence'. The plot to this one is certainly tasteless; a rapist with AIDS tries to infect his victims.

The 1990 Hong Kong laserdisc from Universe Laser and Video ran 98:39

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High Tension

Directed by Alexandre Aja / 2003 / France / IMDb

There are two confirmed reports of HIGH TENSION being confiscated by customs before it had been submitted to the Classification Board. One took place in May 2004, and the other in June 2004.

The second confiscation was of a French DVD, and the reason given was:

Material of this nature is deemed to fall within the scope of Regulation 4A(1A)(a) of the Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulations 1956 and therefore subject to the seizure provisions of Section 203 of the Customs Act 1901.

Customs claimed that HIGH TENSION had excessively high impact violence. However, their main attention was focused on a scene where the killer is shown getting a blowjob from what turns out to be a severed head. This ten-second sequence ends with him dropping the head out of the window, and driving off.

 

 

Film Festival and R18+ DVD release

On the 23rd and 31st of July 2004, HIGH TENSION played at the Melbourne International Film Festival.

In October 2005, Accent Film Entertainment had a DVD of HIGH TENSION passed with an R18+ (High Level Violence) rating. Accent released the DVD in February 2006.

This proves beyond doubt that customs were wrong to seize the film.

 

 

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Hitch Hike

Directed by Pasquale Festa Campinile / 1978 / Italy / IMDb

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

 

In February 1978, Blake Films had a 104m 35mm print of HITCH HIKE passed with an R-rating.

 

It was released on video by K-Tel/Filmways /VTC in the early 80s.  This tape was reviewed by the censors in 1984, and confirmed with an R-rating with a running time of 100m. Thanks to Stephen F for the cover scan.

This actual running time was 93:54, and it was missing the following

The rape scene by the campfire is the 'so called' soft version; here the fire hides much of the nudity.

Missing also is a scene where the second highway patrol cop is shot in the head.

The ending is very different. The Australian tape ends with Franco Nero and Corinne Clery being killed in a car crash. The car starts to burn, and the credits role. Other releases of this show the couple surviving the crash. Nero gets out, and then sets light to the car, which still contains his injured wife. Nero then begins to hitch a lift, the credits role.

 

The early 80s UK tape on the VTC label was fully uncut at 99:30; this was around five and a half minutes longer than the Australian print.

 

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Hollywood Cop

Directed by Amir Shervan / 1988 / USA / IMDb

In 1988, a 101m tape of HOLLYWOOD COP was banned because of 'gratuitous sexual violence'. In June 1988, Outland Promotions were awarded an R-rating after censoring it down to 100m. This 99:56 cut tape was released by Vestron Video.

 

 

The censored rape scene

Thanks to Simon for this comparison.

Vestron Video [au] – 99:56 (NTSC)
Uncut version – 100:47 (NTSC)

The Australian version of HOLLYWOOD COP is missing part of a rape scene. An Arab man and his wife are being held in their hotel room by a group of thugs. They tie him to a chair, and strip his wife. The scene and the gang are very similar to the rape of the maid sequence in DEATH WISH 2. Following the attack, the husband breaks free and decapitates one of the rapists with a sword.

Here is the full list of censored scenes. The times refer to the uncut print.

Before – Shot of Arab man tied and gagged with a sword held to his throat.

CENSORED at 11:49 to 12:09 – Two thugs hold his wife on the bed. She struggles as they remove her underwear so that she is fully naked. Another shot of her distressed husband looking on.

After/Before – Turkey and the cops going upstairs.

CENSORED at 12:15 to 12:18 – Shot of the gagged woman’s bloody and bruised face, with one of the thugs on top of her.

After/Before – Turkey and the cops in the corridor.

CENSORED at 12:20 to 12:22 – Face of one of the thugs looking down. We hear the others laughing, and the woman crying.

After/Before – Another shot of the distressed husband. Turkey and a cop outside the door. He knocks, and one of the thugs shouts, "What the hell do you want". Turkey replies, "It’s the fucking manager". Another shot of the husband.

CENSORED at 12:34 to 12:44 Another shot of the gagged woman struggling. One thug looks on and laughs.

After/Before – One thug looks up as Turkey knocks again. They get dressed and pull their guns.

CENSORED at 13:13 to 13:25 – They run passed the naked woman on the bed. She rolls over crying, and pulls the cover over herself.

After – One of the thugs peers out of the doorway and shoots the cop in the arm.

 

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Hooligan

Produced by Shiyuuta Biwajima and Chikara Niki / 2001 / Japan / IMDb

In March 2006, HOOLIGAN was banned by the OFLC. Siren Visual Entertainment had submitted this hentai DVD.

This would join a number of other titles in Siren's Hentai collection that were either banned or censored in Australia. See the Film Censorship Database entry for HOLY VIRGINS for a full listing.

A trailer for HOOLIGAN can be found on Siren's THE STORY OF LITTLE MONICA and NAUGHTY NURSES DVDs.

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Horrible High Heels

Directed by Wai On Chan - Cheng Chow / 1996 / Hong Kong / IMDb

There is one report from 2004 of customs taking HORRIBLE HIGH HEELS. The DVD was the Hong Kong release on the City Laser and Video Company label. The reason given was:

"This disc portrays scenes of intercourse immediately followed by the beating and cutting murder of the female. Another scene shows the dismemberment of another murder victim in such a way that it offends the stands of morality, decency and propriety generally accepted by reasonable adults."

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Horror Rises from the Tomb

Directed by Carlos Aured / 1973 / Spain / IMDb

In February 1974, 29.87 meter (66s) of footage had to be removed from a 2743.30-meter (100:15) print of HORROR RISES FROM THE TOMB to achieve an R-rating. It went on to have an Australian theatrical release, but was never issued on video.

 

 

HORROR RISES FROM THE TOMB Review

Thanks to Matt for this review.

This is a great piece of 70s Spanish horror cinema. The violence in the uncut version would now easily get an R-rating, or maybe even an MA15+. Some of the footage that the censors would have removed back in 1974 would possibly have included:

The pre-credit decapitation of Alaric de Marnac, the thief shot in the face (20min), Chantal getting her neck cut with a scythe with her breasts exposed (37min), the topless body of the girl being put on the skeleton and being killed with a scythe (53min), and the climax where the heart is ripped out and Alaric once again looses his head. There are various other violent scenes, but these are the most explicit.

The print that I viewed ran 88:37 which included the Victory Films title card. The copyright at the end is listed as 1977. Interestingly you list the print that was viewed by the censors back in 1974 as running 100:16. If correct, this is far and away the longest version that I have heard about.

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Hot Times

Directed by Jim McBride / 1974 / USA / IMDb

Blake Films had this teenage sex-comedy Refused Registration in June 1981. The 2210:00-meter (80:46) print of HOT TIMES was banned due to sex, which was described as being:
Frequency: Infrequent
Explicitness/Intensity: High
Purpose: Gratuitous

In March 1982, 8.7 meter (00:19) of cuts were made. The sex in the R-rated version was now described as being:
Frequency: Frequent
Explicitness/Intensity: Medium
Purpose: Gratuitous

It was this cut print that Blake Films released to theatres.

 

 

CBS/Fox video release

In June 1985, CBS/Fox Video had an 81m videotape of HOT TIMES passed with an R-rating. It was awarded for sex, which was described as being:
Frequency: Frequent
Explicitness/Intensity: Medium
Purpose: Gratuitous

The actual running time of the CBS/Fox tape was 77:17 (PAL).

 

 

HOT TIMES review

Thanks to Matt for this review.

US VHS: 80:35 (NTSC) equivalent to 77:22 (PAL)
Aus CBS/Fox VHS: 77:17 (PAL)

I compared the CBS/Fox VHS with the US version and could not see any obvious censorship. The US tape features the same cuckoo sound that masks every utterance of 'Fuck' and 'Cunt' in the Australian tape. Maybe this is the only version that exists.

The sex is purely softcore, and it is hard to see which scene would have lost 19s for the 1982 theatrical release.

Converting the NTSC time to PAL gives a running time that is very close to the CBS/Fox version. Without doing a direct comparison, I would say that our tape is either uncut, or censored by a few seconds.

Daybill image courtesy of moviemem.com

 

    

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House by the Cemetery

Directed by Lucio Fulci / 1981 / Italy / 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 May 1982, Greater Union Film Distributors had an 85m 35mm print of HOUSE BY THE CEMETERY rated M for theatrical release. This was pre-cut prior to submission, as the uncut version should run around 87m. It was probably done on the assumption that the Censorship Board would ban a complete print.

In May 1985, Roadshow Home Video had an 81m videotape rated R. The actual running time was 81:10, and as the following comparison shows, it was missing around one minute from three different murders scenes.

During the 1980s, many of the films of Lucio Fulci, such as THE BEYOND, ZOMBIE FLESH EATERS, CITY OF THE LIVING DEAD, and THE NEW YORK RIPPER, were banned or heavily cut in Australia.

 

 

Roadshow Home Video: The censored footage

THE FIRST MURDER

Before - Girl screams, shot of knife held above her head.

CENSORED AT 02:06 (11s missing) - Knife being thrust into back of girls head, and exiting through her mouth. Shot of her body falling to the floor, with the knife sticking from her mouth.

After - Shot of dead girl's hand.

 

LAURA GITTLESON'S MURDER

Before - Shot of her being stabbed in stomach with a poker.

CENSORED AT 42:58 (20s missing) - Poker stabbing her in the heart.

After/Before - Two close up shots of her face.

CENSORED AT 43:01 (20s missing) - The poker moves up to her throat, and punctures her jugular vein. Blood flows out.

After - Shot of Freudstein dragging her away by the legs.

 

ANN'S MURDER

Before - Bob walking towards the camera.

CENSORED AT 58:37 (5s missing) - Further shots of Ann having her throat cut.

After/Before - Bob walking down, and around the back of the stairs.

CENSORED AT 58:41 (5s missing) - Close up shot of the knife cutting Ann's throat, and blood flowing out.

After - Brief shot of Ann falling towards the camera, before Bob walks into the room and calls her name.

 

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The House on the Edge of the Park

Directed by Ruggero Deodato / 1980 / Italy / IMDb

In 2001, there were two confirmed reports of customs confiscating copies of the Dutch EC Entertainment DVD release. The discs were forwarded to the OFLC, who refused them a classification. A third confirmed confiscation of THE HOUSE ON THE EDGE OF THE PARK took place in 2003, when a DVD imported from the USA was seized.

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The Hunchback of Notre Dame

Directed by Kirk Wise and Gary Trousdale / 1996 / USA / IMDb

This film has never had problems with the Australian censors. It is included because the distributor chose to censor it to achieve a more commercial rating.

 

In 1996, Roadshow Entertainment was awarded a PG (Low Level Violence) rating for Disney's THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME. Knowing that this would be bad for business, Roadshow appealed to the Review Board in an attempt to gain a G-rating.

 

 

Review Board confirms the PG-rating

The appeal failed and the rating was confirmed as PG (Low level violence).

Here is what the Review Board had to say in reaching their decision.

 

5. Findings on material questions of fact.

The plot

5.The film is an animated version of Victor Hugo's story of Quasimodo, the 'hunchback' of Notre Dame, his unrequited love for the gypsy girl Esmerelda, and her perils at the hands of the evil judge Frollo.

The themes and scenes of violence and menace.

5.2 The Review Board considered the themes and scenes cited by the Classification Board.

These were:

1) at 3 minutes, a gypsy mother (with baby in arms) is pursued by Frollo on a ferocious looking horse. She is flung on to the cathedral steps, hits her head and dies. Frollo attempts to dispose of the baby down a well.

2) at 30minutes, Quasimodo is tied up in the village square, pelted with rubbish and flogged.

3) at 35 minutes, Frollo grabs Esmerelda in the cathedral, sniffs her hair, and says 'I'm imagining a rope around your neck'.

4) at 50-52 minutes, Frollo sings of his feelings for Esmerelda. Images of Esmerelda appear in the flames: menacing images of red robed figures and black shadows appear.

5) at 53 minutes, while searching for Esmerelda, families with children are thrown in the water, or locked into houses which are set on fire.

6) at 75 minutes, the battle for the cathedral rages.

7) at 78 minutes, Frollo pursues Esmerelda and Quasimodo with sword and much menace.

It was noted that the language used including the use of song to tell parts of the story, was complex, and would hinder young children's perceptions of the plot, and eventual outcomes.

5.3 The majority of the Review Board found these themes and incidents were not treated in a manner consistent with the classification criteria for G, viz. the violence depictions were neither 'minimal, mild and incidental' nor characterised by 'a very low sense of threat or menace' or 'a light tone'. Further the majority found the basic premise for G classification, viz 'parents should feel confident that children may view material in this classification without supervision, knowing that no distress or harm is likely to be caused', was not met.

5.4 A minority of the Board found that the violence was not so impactful that it would disturb children, and that sufficient warning to parents could be obtained from classifying the film G with consumer advice 'Some Scenes May Be Unsuitable For Young Children'.

6. Reasons for the Decision

6.1 The Review Board based its decision to confirm the Classifications Board's decision to classify the film The Hunchback of Notre Dame PG, with the consumer advice 'Low Level Violence' on the content and impact of the film as set out in 5.2 and 5.3 above.

6.2 The applicant argued that while the film had been made for children, it was not made for very young children. The Board should not have applied a test of suitability for very young children. Further, the film had a moral message, lightened by humour, and wizardry; the violence was animated and children could distinguish between animated action and real.

The Review Board rejects these arguments. Films in the G category are required to be suitable for viewing by children of all ages without supervision and without causing anxiety or distress. The appropriate classification to be used where there are disturbing elements (such as violence which is not minimal, mild and incidental), is PG. The classification gives a signal to parents that there are elements which may disturb their children.

Further, the Review Board did not accept that elements such as 'humour and wizardry' would provide sufficient balance to the tone and impact of the darker and extended sequences. Further, the effect of animation can be to heighten the impact of some violent sequences, providing an unnatural focus on them.

6.3 The Review Board concluded that the film cannot be recommended for viewing by persons who are under 15 without the guidance of a parent or guardian, within the meaning of Paragraph 6 of the Table under the heading 'Films in the National Classification Code'.

6.4 The Review Board also concluded that the film contained scenes and themes of violence which when viewed by those under 15 years require the guidance of a parent or guardian.

7. Summary

The Review Board's decision is to confirm the decision of the Classification Board to classify the film The Hunchback of Notre Dame PG with the consumer advice 'Low Level Violence'.

This decision was taken after full consideration of the applicant's submission, and after assessing the film as a whole against relevant legislative criteria, including those contained in the National Classification Code, and in the current classification guidelines for films determined under section 12 of the Classification Act. 11 to 12 July 1996

 

 

Censored for a G-rating

Following the unsuccessful appeal, Roadshow decided to censor THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME to achieve a G-rating. The 35mm print was cut from 91m to 89m, and was awarded a G (Some scenes may be unsuitable for very young children) rating in September 1996. This print that went on to play theatrically in Australia, and be released on VHS by Walt Disney Home Video.

 

 

Uncut PG-rated releases

In May 1999, Roadshow Film Distributors again had a 91m 35mm print of THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME rated PG (Low level violence).

Buena Vista Entertainment also had a DVD passed with the same rating in October 2001.

 

 

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Next Films: The Hanging (2006)

 

 

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