Film Censorship: L

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Laboratory of the Devil

Directed by Godfrey Ho / 1992 / Hong Kong / IMDb

In August 1992, a 95m 35mm print of LABORATORY OF THE DEVIL was banned because of 'extreme violence and cruelty'. Chinatown Cinema was the applicant.

 

 

1992: Review Board Appeal

An appeal to the Board of Review was unsuccessful and the RC-rating was confirmed.

Laboratory of the Devil purports to be a factual account of atrocities committed by a Japanese military unit as part of germ warfare and weapons experiments during the Second World War. It was refused registration by the Film Censorship Board on the ground that it contained prolonged and relished depictions of extreme violence and cruelty.

In their appeal the distributors argued that the film's purpose was to expose the cruelties and atrocities committed against human beings in war. Ms Cindy Lai and Mr Peter Yu, on behalf of Chinatown Cinema Pty Ltd, contended that the film was based on fact and was similar to an earlier film, Man Behind the Sun, which the Board of Review approved with an 'R' classification in April 1989.

In its decision on Laboratory of the Devil, the Film Censorship Board acknowledged the comparison with Men Behind the Sun, but argued that the present film was essentially a work of exploitation; that it lacked any real claim to historical or documentary seriousness and contained graphic scenes of prolonged and relished violence and cruelty which justified its refusal. In general the Board of Review concurred with this view.

While some of us felt the first film, was, if anything, more graphic and disturbing than the second, we agreed that the second trivialised its subject-matter in an exploitative and objectionable way, negating any claim to serious historical or documentary purpose such as a majority of the Board had been prepared to concede to Man Behind the Sun. In the present instance, while none of us objected in principle to the films subject matter or in the graphic depictions of atrocities, it seemed to us that the depictions in Laboratory of the Devil exceeded the bounds of acceptability under current classification guidelines to the extent that the film should be refused. We accordingly upheld the decision of the Film Censorship Board. 17 September 1992.

 

 

1992: Censored Theatrical Release

With the Review Board appeal unsuccessful, Chinatown Cinema censored LABORATORY OF THE DEVIL down from 95m to 91m. In October 1992, this version was passed with an R18+ (High Level Violence) rating. This print that played theatrically in Australian Chinese language cinemas.

In 1992, the Classification Board also banned Godfrey Ho's LETHAL PANTHER.

 

1994: Banned Video Release

In 1994, Eagle Entertainment applied to release a 91m videotape of LABORATORY OF THE DEVIL. Again the OFLC awarded it an RC-rating. The running time of 91m (PAL) would be equal to a 95m (35mm) print. This indicates that it was uncut.

Eagle Entertainment had been responsible for the 1992 video release of MAN BEHIND THE SUN. In 1989, this too was banned, before being R-rated on appeal. LABORATORY OF THE DEVIL is also known as MAN BEHIND THE SUN 2.

 

 

2004: Uncut DVD Release

It would take another ten years before LABORATORY OF THE DEVIL would again be rated by the Classification Board. In August 2004, Force Entertainment was awarded an R18+ (Graphic violence) rating for a 91:55 version. A DVD followed later that month.

This particular release was fully uncut; however, it only contained the terrible English dubbed version.

 

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LA Crackdown 2

Directed by Joseph Merhi /1988 / USA / IMDb

An 87m videotape of LA CRACKDOWN 2 was banned in 1988.

It was not until January 1990 that an 83m censored version was passed with an R18+ (Assaultive coarse language, Occasional graphic violence) rating. CBS/Fox released this version on videotape; it had an exact running time of 82:41.

The attack on Jamie at around the 60m looks to have been censored.

Flashback Home Entertainment issued a cheap DVD of LA CRACKDOWN 2 in 2002. The print ran 82:35 (not including the Troma intro), and would appear to be the same as the censored CBS/Fox videotape.

 

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Last Cannibal World

Directed by Ruggero Deodato / 1976 / Italy / IMDb

In April 1977, a 93m 35mm print of LAST CANNIBAL WORLD was banned for reasons of 'indecency and indecent violence'. An appeal to the Board of Review was unsuccessful.

Unitalia Films of Australia then censored the 93m print down to 83m, and in May 1977 LAST CANNIBAL WORLD was rated R. This censored print that went on to play theatrically in Australia.

 

 

Censored Video Classics tape

Video Classics released a heavily censored 79:26 version on tape in the early 80s. This was presumably the same as the Australian theatrical version.

The classification database claims that in February 1984, a Video Classics tape was reviewed and rated M. We presume this is a mistake as the running time claims to be 88m, which would make it uncut.

 

Here is a detailed look at exactly what was missing from the Video Classics release.

Video Classics (Australia) - 79:26 (cut)
Video City International (Greece) - 87:56 (uncut)

 

OPENING CREDITS

20s missing from the start of the Video Classics tape. Over a black background, the footage shows the name of the production company, followed by "A Ruggero Deodato Film". We are then shown a shot looking down from above the plane as it flies over the jungle.

The next shot of the story behind the film takes place over a black background on the VCI tape. The Video Classics version shows more shots of the plane flying over the jungle.

 

ROBERT IN THE JUNGLE

Before - Robert runs down the riverbank. Ralph follows and calls out, "Oh Robert, only a lunatic would go barging into the jungle like that"

CENSORED AT 08:47 (14s missing) - Robert "Do me a favour, I'm in no mood for one of your lectures on jungle survival. Now get us out of here". He looks away and then says "Sorry Ralph". Ralph replies, "That's okay, we mustn't start fighting now"

After - Ralph continues, "I won't get us far". Robert then climbs back up from the riverbank.

 

DEATH OF CHARLIE THE PILOT

Before - Charlie picks up a piece of the girls dress, which sets off a trap. A spiked ball swings down and pins him to a tree. Blood splatters on Ralph's face.

CENSORED AT 14:15 (3s missing) - Close up shot of the spikes in his chest, followed by a shot of him still alive and pinned to the tree.

After/Before - Robert looking down from the vine.

CENSORED AT 14:19 (10s missing) - Ralph vomiting followed by another shot of the now dead Charlie pinned to the tree. Blood is shown dripping to the ground.

After/Before - Robert coming down from the vine.

CENSORED AT 14:20 (20s missing) - Robert gets to the bottom of the vine. He checks that Charlie is dead, then moves around behind him and over to Ralph.

After - Robert helps Ralph to his feet and tells him to "Snap out of it!"

 

DEATH BY ANTS/CANNIBAL CHILDREN

Before - The prisoner is tied up and his arms are slashed. Shot of ants crawling over the wounds.

CENSORED AT 33:18 (15s missing) - Robert looks up at the prisoner who screams as the ants eat at the wound.

After - Robert putting his hands to his ears to drown out the screams.

Before - Robert looks up from the cage.

CENSORED AT 33:39 (10s missing) - Two shots of the prisoners arms eaten through to the bone. Shot of Robert's face followed by the cannibals.

After/Before - Robert looking down to the ground.

CENSORED AT 33:43 (10s missing) - Robert being awoken by the cannibal children urinating on him from above. He calls out "What the hell, get away!"

After - Followed by "You little monkeys, leave me alone!"

 

PALAN AND ROBERT

Before - Palan touches Robert on the face.

CENSORED AT 36:21 (69s missing) - Palan touches Robert's body and between his legs.

After - Cannibals trying to start a fire.

 

CROCODILE SLAUGHTER

Before - Crocodile is hit on the head for a second time. Brief shot of Robert in the cage.

CENSORED AT 45:12 (80s missing) - A Knife is stuck in the Crocodile's head before it is skinned.

After/Before - Shot of a cannibal looking on.

CENSORED AT 45:26 (4s missing) - A cannibal reaches down and picks up the Crocodile's decapitated head.

After - Shot of Robert. His voice over says "The eagle...."

Before - Crocodile meat being picked up from the floor.

CENSORED AT 46:29 (8s missing) - Cannibal walking away with the meat. Shot of male cannibal eating.

After - Shot of female cannibals eating.

 

THE BIRTH

Before - A native woman gives birth. Holding the baby, she walks to the rivers edge.

CENSORED AT 50:29 (8s missing) - She throws the baby into the water. A Crocodile is shown diving into the river.

After - Shot of Robert's face before him and Palan turn and leave.

 

THE RAPE OF PALAN

Before - Robert hits Palan. Close-up shot of her face and bleeding nose.

CENSORED AT 54:18 (62s missing) - Robert pulls off her loincloth. She tries to run away but he catches and rapes her.

After - Palan walking into the jungle as Robert wakes up.

 

HELICOPTER SEARCH

Before - Helicopter flying away.

CENSORED AT 62:08 (11s missing) - Robert breaking down and crying followed by Palan walking through the jungle.

After - Robert walking through the jungle.

 

RALPH'S DIALOG

Before - "Maybe it is terrible in our world, but not in theirs"

CENSORED AT 63:54 (2s missing) - "Everyone becomes a link in the chain of survival"

After - Shot of a Crocodile entering the water.

 

PALAN BECOMES DINNER

Before - Cannibals lifting Palan's body. Robert helping Ralph walk.

CENSORED AT 71:27 (106s missing) - Palan is decapitated and her head placed in the fire. She is then disembowelled and her body filled with food before it is cooked.

After - Cannibals gathering around followed by shots of them eating.

This scene was edited into Umberto Lenzi's EATEN ALIVE (1980). That film also had censorship problems in Australia.

 

ROBERT THE CANNIBAL

Before - Robert raises the stone axe above the cannibal.

CENSORED AT 73:37 (4s missing) - Shot of the axe wound on the victims body followed by a shot of Robert holding the bloody axe.

After/Before - Shot of the cannibal's faces as they look on. Robert's arms are shown doing something off screen.

CENSORED AT 73:45 (23s missing) - Robert reaches into the wound and removes the intestines. He begins to eat them as the cannibal's look on.

After/Before - Shot of the cannibal's faces.

CENSORED AT 73:46 (15s missing) - Further shots of Robert eating the flesh before he breaks down and sobs.

After - Robert helping Ralph through the jungle.

 

END CREDITS

Before - Ralph's body slumps to the seat of the plane.

77:58 - No cuts, however the credits on the Greek tape play out over a black background, whilst the Australian tape shows the credits over a still shot of the jungle.

 

 

Customs Confiscation

In 1992, customs forwarded an uncut videotape to the OFLC who confirmed it as being Refused Classification.

 

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The Last House on the Left

aka Krug and Company

Directed by Wes Craven / 1972 / USA / IMDb

During the 1970s, THE LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT was never picked up for Australian distribution. This was most probably due to the inevitable censorship problems that would have eventuated.

 

 

KRUG AND COMPANY: Banned on Video

In 1987, Video Excellence submitted an 82m videotape to the Censorship Board under the alternative title of KRUG AND COMPANY. Unsurprisingly, it was banned.

 

 

Failed Review Board Appeal

Video Excellence then took the film to Board of Review who confirmed the RC-rating.

The Board of Review's response was as follows.

Krug and Company (aka The Last House on the Left), directed in 1972 by Wes Craven, is a relentless, gross and insensitive exploitation film that, in the unanimous opinion of the Film Board of Review, should not be approved for classification. It depicts in a highly objectionable way the implied rape, slashing, terrorization, butchery and murder of two young women by psychotic thugs.

In his verbal submission to the Board of Review, Mr Allan Tibbits of Video Excellence expressed the view that the Censorship Board had been influenced by the fact that the violence is perpetrated against women. The Board of Review noted that among the acts of mayhem is one strongly implying oral severing of male genitalia by a women.

The Board of Review felt that, regardless of the degree of explicit sexual violence, butchery and cruelty remaining after heavy editing, the film is inherently so dehumanised and insensitive (and totally unrelieved by the inappropriate comic interludes) that release on video could not be justified The Film Board of Review accordingly confirms the decision of the Censorship Board to Refuse to approve the classification of Krug and Company (aka The Last House on the Left) pursuant to Section 25 (3) of the A.C.T Classification of Publications Ordinance 1983

7 May 1987

 

 

LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT and Customs

There are two reports videotapes being confiscated by the Australian Customs Service. The first was in 1992, and the second in 1998.

 

 

Uncut DVD Release

On June 8, 2004, Umbrella Entertainment had a DVD of THE LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT passed with an R18+ (Strong sexual violence, Medium level violence) rating. It was passed for a second time on September 23, 2004 and was again rated R18+ (Strong sexual violence, Medium level violence). This second submission was presumably due to additional extras being added to the DVD.

THE LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT had its long delayed Australian premiere on November 4, 2004 at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image in Melbourne.

The Umbrella DVD followed on November 15, 2004. This release was taken from an NTSC source, and not including the MGM logo, ran 84:09.

 

The first commentary track features Director Wes Craven on which he says.

"In England and Australia this film has never been allowed to be publicly viewed"

This track was recorded for the 2002 US MGM DVD.

 

In October 2007, Umbrella Entertainment re-released the film as past of a Wes Craven box set, that also included the original THE HILLS HAVE EYES and its sequel.

In February 2008, Umbrella Entertainment re-released it again as part of a so-called VIDEO NASTIES box set, which also included BASKET CASE and MANIAC.

 

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The Last Judgement

Directed by Wong Fung / 1979 / Hong Kong / IMDb

In April 1980 JS and WC International Film removed 19s from THE LAST JUDGEMENT in order to gain an R-rating. The cuts were required for 'gratuitous, frequent, medium intensity violence'. The censored 97m 35mm print of the Shaw Brothers production went on to have a Chinese Language cinema release.

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The Last Savage Part 2

Directed by Alfredo Castiglioni -  Angelo Castiglioni / 1982 / Italy / IMDb

In October 1985, Palace Home Video had a 96m tape of THE LAST SAVAGE PART TWO Refused Registration. It was banned because of violence, which was described as being:
Frequency: Infrequent
Explicitness/Intensity: High
Purpose: Gratuitous

Palace Home Video had success in the mid-80s releasing other mondo titles such as SAVAGE MAN SAVAGE BEAST, and THIS VIOLENT WORLD.

 

 

THE LAST SAVAGE 2: The gratuitous violence

Thanks to Simon for this review.

Onscreen title: The Last Savage Part Two (Shocking Africa)
Viprodis / Video Power (Dutch or Belgium)
Running time: - 92:50

THE LAST SAVAGE PART TWO is one of the more interesting mondo films that I have seen. There appeared to be fewer fake scenes than normal, and some of the tribal rituals were genuinely interesting.

It contains the usual animal cruelty. Chickens, goats, camels, and snakes are killed, and baby pigs are shown being thrown to crocodiles. The censor may have had an issue with these. However, I believe it would have been some of the following scenes that resulted in the RC-rating. This is especially true of those involving children in obvious pain.

16:15 to 21:00 – A seemingly never-ending sequence of around twenty young boys being circumcised by the tribe. This is a very real sequence, and difficult to watch. The boys cry and scream as their foreskins are stretched and chopped off with a knife.

27:00 to 29:00 – Another group of young children have their teeth filed away to sharpen them. For me, this was more painful to watch than the aforementioned circumcision scene.

31:00 to 31:30 – A snake is shown being put inside a woman’s vagina in a fertility ritual.

59:00 to 60:45 – Another tribe is shown performing circumcisions on young boys.

70:00 to 72:30 – Boys are shown having their faces cut with a razor blade in a scarification ceremony.

75:30 to 76:30 – A woman is shown having her chest cut with a razor blade in a scarification ceremony.

77:00 to 78:00 – Women are shown having their back and wrists cut during scarification.

86:00 to 89:45 – Film of young girls being circumcised.

 

 

The Mondo films of the Castiglioni brothers

Other mondo films by Alfredo and Angelo Castiglioni have had censorship problems in Australia.

In January 1971, an SOA rated SECRET AFRICA (1969) was censored by five minutes because of ‘indecency’. This was followed in 1976 by NAKED MAGIC (1975), which was banned, then R-rated by the Review Board.

 

 

The other SHOCKING AFRICA (1989)

THE LAST SAVAGE PART TWO is also known under the alternative title of SHOCKING AFRICA. In July 1991, the OFLC passed a film called SHOCKING AFRICA on VHS. 1st Call Video Rights had the 70m tape classified with an M (High level violence) rating. The 69:44 tape was released by Eagle Entertainment. Despite the OFLC awarding it an M-rating, we seem to recall that the cover stated R18+.

This version was produced in the US by Hurricane Pictures in 1989. It is nothing more than a compilation of scenes from MONDO CANE (1962), MONDO CANE 2 (1963), SLAVE TRADE IN THE WORLD TODAY (1964), and AFRICA ADDIO (1966).

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Lethal Panther

Directed by Godfrey Ho / 1990 / Hong Kong / IMDb

In November 1991, a 96m 35mm print of LETHAL PANTHER was Refused Classification by the OFLC. It does not appear that Yu Enterprises resubmitted a censored version.

In 1992, the Classification Board also banned Godfrey Ho's LABORATORY OF THE DEVIL.

 

 

LETHAL PANTHER: The banned scene

Thanks to Matt for this review and screencaps.

The Hong Kong VHS from Ocean Shores that I viewed ran 92:35 (PAL). It is easy to spot the scene that caused the OFLC to ban it.

RC scene: 68:11 to 69:21 – The gang have broken into the room of a sleeping woman. They run a pistol over her breasts and face. She wakes, and one gang member grabs her by the hair and flips her on her stomach. He runs the pistol over her underwear, puts it between her legs, and pulls the trigger on the unloaded gun. She screams.

She is then lifted off the bed by her hair, and punched in the stomach. In the next scene, she is being raped from behind as another gang member watches on.

In 1995, the British censor removed 43s from this rape scene. In the UK, Eastern Heroes went to release this version of LETHAL PANTHER on VHS under the title DEADLY CHINA DOLLS. To add to the confusion, they re-titled Phillip Ko’s LETHAL PANTHER 2 (1993) to LETHAL PANTHER.

 

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Lethal Weapon 4

Directed by Richard Donner / 1998 / 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 August 1998, a 127m 35mm print of LETHAL WEAPON 4 was rated MA15+ (Medium level violence) by the OFLC.

Roadshow Film Distributors decided the MA15+ was not commercial enough, and re-submitted a censored 126m 35mm version. This was passed with an M (Medium level coarse language; Medium level violence) rating on August 26, 1998. It was this version that played theatrically in Australia.

In January 1999, Warner Home Video had a DVD of LETHAL WEAPON 4 passed with an MA15+ (Medium Level Violence) rating.

For the videotape premiere of LETHAL WEAPON 4, Warner issued the censored M-rated version. This was rectified for the later sell-through videotape and DVD which, were rated MA15+.

 

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Let Me Die a Woman

Directed by Doris Wishman / 1977 / USA / IMDb

In May 1981, Video Classics had LET ME DIE A WOMAN rated R by the Censorship Board. This was following the removal of 59s of footage of 'gross surgical detail'.

The now very rare Video Classics tape that followed ran only 72:55. This compares to the uncut 75:11 of the pre-cert UK Derran Video tape.

 

The censored scenes in the Video Classics release seem to have been.

At approximately the 15m: There is a definite edit in the scene where a man castrates himself.

At approximately the 40m: The sex-change operation has been toned down.

 

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Linda

Directed by Jess Franco / 1980 / Spain - West Germany / IMDb

In June 1982, Filmways removed 2s of medium level sex from Jess Franco's LINDA in order to gain an R-rating. A censored 85m 35mm theatrical release followed.

Filmways Home Video subsequently issued LINDA on videotape in a print that ran 81:02. This release was confirmed with an R-rating in February 1984. According to the now closed Mondo Erotico website, this was the longest print available anywhere on tape.

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The Living Dead at Manchester Morgue

aka Let Sleeping Corpses Lie

Directed by Jorge Grau / 1974 / Italy - Spain / IMDb

Roadshow Distributors had a 2488.1-meter (90:56) version of THE LIVING DEAD AT MANCHESTER MORGUE banned in 1978 for reasons of 'excessive violence'. A censored print was never submitted, and the film went unreleased on tape in Australia.

The Chauvel Cinema in Sydney screened the film in March 2003 as part of their National Cinematheque series. Unfortunately a heavily censored American print under the title DON'T OPEN THE WINDOW was used.

In May 2009, Umbrella Entertainment had an uncut DVD passed with an MA15+ (Strong horror violence and drug use) rating. The disc was released in June 2009 under the alternative title of LET SLEEPING CORPSES LIE.

 

 

LET SLEEPING CORPSES LIE Review

Thanks to Chris for this review.

The Umbrella Entertainment DVD runs 92:45 (NTSC) and is the same uncut print as the U.S. Blue Underground release.

I do not know why the banned Roadshow version ran only 90:56 when the DVD runs 92:45. If it were pre-cut then all the gore would have been removed, so why was it still banned? I suspect there was some other reason as there is hardly even two minutes of gore in the uncut version.

If we presume the gore was intact in the banned version then I would guess that the ‘excessive violence’ would have been.

55:30 – Guthrie pulling a stake from his neck.

62:00 to 63:00 – Police Officer Craig being killed and eaten by the three zombies.

82:00 – The hospital receptionist being killed and having her breast torn off.

84:00 – The Doctor hitting the Zombie on the chest with the axe. The Zombie then grabs the axe and hits the Doctor on the head.

The MA15+ rating is about right as the gore is graphic, but sparingly used.

 

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Lost Souls

Directed by T.F.Mous / 1980 / Hong Kong / IMDb

Applicant Joe Sui International Film Co had a 2365.3-meter (86:27) 35mm print of LOST SOULS banned in June 1981. The reason given for the ban was violence, which were described as:
Frequency: Frequent
Explicitness/Intensity: High
Purpose: Gratuitous

 

Thanks to Matt G for this brief review of the film:

I noticed this film was banned by the Australian Censors in the early 80s. I recently viewed the Celestial Pictures Hong Kong VCD from 2005 and thought you may be interested in my thoughts. The film runs 89:55, which compares with 86:27 that you quote as the original submission time. Maybe this means it was pre-cut before our censors viewed it. Whatever the story is, this would be a very difficult film to censor, and it's very easy to see why a cut version was not re-submitted.

The sex and violence begin at the 25m mark with a naked woman being tortured by having wax dripped on her, followed by a group of men throwing her around. It hardly lets up from then on. Some of the problem scenes would have to have included the rape of Chuen (31m), the torture of the girls (48m), and the rape of one of the male prisoners by the gang boss (63m).

 

Director T.F.Mous would again run into problems with the Australian Censorship Board in 1989 when they banned his MAN BEHIND THE SUN.

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Love by Rape

Directed by Roger Fritz / 1970 / West Germany / IMDb

In November 1971, an 8172-feet (90:48) print of LOVE BY RAPE was banned because of 'indecency and excessive violence'.

Consolidated Exhibitors were the applicant.

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Love Camp

Dir Jess Franco / 1977 / Switzerland / IMDb

Filmways had a 78m 35mm print of Jess Franco's LOVE CAMP passed with an R-rating in June 1981. This was only after 02:43 of footage had been removed for reasons of frequent, high and gratuitous violence.

In the early 80s, Filmways Home Video released the 70:17 censored version on tape.

 

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Love Camp 7

Directed by Lee Frost / 1968 / USA / IMDb

A 2094.43-meter (76:33) 35mm print of LOVE CAMP 7 was originally Refused Registration in February 1974. The reason for the ban was given as 'indecency and excessive violence'. A reconstructed version was finally passed with an R-rating in July 1974. This was only after the submitted print of 2630.40 meter (96:08) was cut by a further 59.13-meters (02:09). The reason for these extra cuts was given as 'indecency'.

It is unclear why the original submission was so short. It is possible that this was a transcription error by the Censorship Board.

 

 

Banned in Queensland

In 1974, the Queensland Government established 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.

"Love Camp 7 was shown to the board privately prior to any theatrical release being set for the film in Queensland. We were subsequently advised that although the board would not officially ban the film, they would go ahead and do so if we attempted to release it in Queensland."

 

 

Censored video releases

In the early 80s, LOVE CAMP 7 was released on tape by Starbase Video with a running time of 83:13.

A re-release in the late 80s/early 90s appeared on a No Name Label. It appears to be taken from the same print as the Starbase Video release as it also runs 83:13. The cover gives the film the title NAZI LOVE CAMP 7.

Both of these Australian tape releases were missing over eight minutes of footage.

 

 

Uncut DVD

Siren Visual Entertainment gave LOVE CAMP 7 an Australian DVD release in October 2005. This NTSC print ran 95:37 and was fully uncut.

 

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Love Doll

Produced by Shiyuuta Biwajima and Chikara Niki / 2004 / Japan

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

 

The Classification Board awarded LOVE DOLL an R18+ (High level animated sex scenes) rating in September 2007. It was released as part of Siren Visual's Hentai Collection in December 2007.

 

Geoff W reviewed the DVD and found that it may have been pre-cut before submission.

LOVE DOLL was released as part of Siren's Hentai collection. I have not seen the uncut version, and am basing these observations on the end credits which contain footage not in the preceding episode, and on on-line reviews.

Having watched it I can confirm that it has been censored. this should be a four part OVA, however Siren have simply removed episode one altogether, and have included only episodes two to four. To cover their tracks these have been renamed these as episodes one to three. Confused yet! Let me explain.

 

Missing first Episode (Originally Episode 1)

A synopsis of the missing episode one goes something like this.

Rachel grows up in a convent following the death of her mother. During her time there she is used as a sex slave by the nuns and the bishop, and is bullied and tortured by a girl called Marcia. The episode reputedly includes a scat scene involving the Bishop, and Rachel being raped by a vase with roses in it. Siren obviously felt that that it was not worth attempting to make any cuts, and removed it altogether.

 

Episode 1 (22:29) (Originally Episode 2)

From 32s-37s there is a brief flashback to a scene which I can only assume comes from the missing episode 1.

At least three scenes are definitely censored in this episode.

Scene 1
Between 06:30 to 07:07 a masturbating Rachel is whipped around the face, and told not to enjoy herself so much. This ends with two naked men walking in with erections and leaning over her. The scene ends at 07:07. The end credits reveal that it should have continued. From 19:43 to 19:56 the credits show four shots that were removed.
Shot 1 - Rachel's face with sperm on it.
Shot 2 - A bowl of what I originally thought looked like dog food. However on-line reviews mention a brief scat scene which makes me suspect this is the result!
Shot 3 - Rachel on all fours in front of Duke Dusse?
Shot 4 - Rachel laying on floor and looking back over her shoulder.

Scene 2
Rachel is shown sleeping as the shadows of four men gather over her. At 11:20 the screen fades to black, before coming back with the four men having sex with her. The end credits reveal that the 11:20 fade-out removed the start of the scene. It was no doubt taken out to make it look less like a rape. The missing shots turn up between 20:04 and 20:10 in the end credits.

Shot 1- Rachel having her top torn off, revealing her breasts.
Shot 2 - The face of the four men are shown looking menacingly down at her and laughing.
Shot 3 - Close up of Rachel's eyes.

Scene 3
The following happens between 19:10 and 19:13. Rachel walks back to the castle, opens the door, and says "Alsid" A voice says "I've been waiting for you" Again the end credits reveal that the scene should have continued on from 19:13 From 20:56 to 21:07 the credits show four shots that were removed.

Shot 1 - A shot of Duke Dusse, George, the female assistant, and two Dobermans .
Shot 2 - Duke Dusse shouting in anger.
Shot 3 - Rachel cowering in the doorway
Shot 4 - The exterior of the castle with the moon in the background.

An online-line review mentions implied bestiality with the Dobermans becoming aroused as they move towards Rachel. It is shots like this that make you understand the reasons for Siren's censorship.

 

Episode 2 (27:36s) (Originally Episode 3)

It's unclear if this episode has been censored, as the end credits do not seem to reveal any missing footage. However between 23:30 and 24:07 the following takes place. Rachel is chained up, and Duke Dusse picks up a whip. He then says "I'm going to make you keep your promise Rachel" At 24:07 the end credits begin. Directly after the end credits between 26:03 and 26:25 we are shown a beaten Rachel laying on the floor as Duke Dusse asks her if it hurt. It is unclear if this scene has been censored as at no time are we shown the beating.

 

Episode 3 (28:28) (Originally Episode 4)

This episode does not look obviously cut. For the first time we are introduced to the character of Marcia who bullied Rachel in the (original) episode 1. However because that episode is missing from the Siren disc we know nothing of their relationship.

 

Extras on the DVD include trailers for MAPLE COLORS, CLASSES IN SEDUCTION, and SEX WARD. There is also an Art Gallery consisting of ten images. Several of these are from scenes censored in Episode 1 ((Originally Episode 2).

 

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Love Letters of a Portuguese Nun

aka Die Liebesbriefe Einer Portugiesischen Nonne

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

In June 1980, a 2430.50-meter (88:50) print of LOVE LETTERS OF A PORTUGUESE NUN was banned by the Censorship Board for reasons of sexual violence. It was submitted under the German title of DIE LIEBESBRIEFE EINER PROTUGIESCHEN NONNE.

Blake Films censored the print down to 2352.68-meters (85:59) and re-submitted it. It was only awarded an R-rating in September 1980 following the removal of a further 11.6 meters (25s) of footage.

 

 

2004: Confiscated DVD

The Swiss label VIP released LOVE LETTERS OF A PORTUGUESE NUN on DVD in 2002.

We have one report of customs in Melbourne confiscating a copy of this particular release in 2004. The reason given was:

"Were seized under the following provisions of the Customs act 1901 on the following grounds:
under subsection 203B(2), being goods suspected on reasonable grounds to be special forfeited goods."

"material of this nature is deemed to be fall within the scope of 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."

Image courtesy of moviemem.com

 

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Lucker the Necrophagous

Directed by Johan Vandewoestijne / 1986 / Belgium / IMDb

There is one report from 1998 of customs confiscating a VHS of LUCKER THE NECROPAHGOUS.

The necrophilia theme was no doubt the reason that the tape was seized.

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Lust for Freedom

Directed by Eric Louzil / 1987 / USA / IMDb

An 89m videotape of LUST FOR FREEDOM was banned in 1987 for reasons of 'gratuitous sexual violence'.

In May 1989, Roadshow Home Video was awarded an R18+ (Very frequent violence) rating for an 87m VHS. This censored 86:18 version was released on Roadshow's Applause Video label.

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Lust for Love of a Chinese Courtesan

Directed by Yuen Chor / 1984 / Hong Kong / IMDb

In November 1985, Joe Sui International Film Co received an R-rating for this Shaw Brothers feature. When submitted, LUST FOR LOVE OF A CHINESE COURTESAN ran 2694.00-meters (98:28), but lost 40-meters (87s) at the hands of the Censorship Board. The reason given for the deletions were 'gratuitous sexual violence'.

The censored version was rated R due to sex, which was described as being:
Frequency: Frequent
Explicitness/Intensity: Medium
Purpose: Gratuitous

The cut version went on to play in Chinese Language cinemas.

 

Twenty years later, in August 2005, LUST FOR LOVE OF A CHINESE COURTESAN was back before the Australian censors. This time the uncut version received an R18+ (High level sexual violence, High level sex scenes) rating.

Siren Visual Entertainment released the film on DVD in February 2006.

 

 

 LUST FOR LOVE OF A CHINESE COURTESAN: The censored scene

Thanks to Matt for this review.

 

The 01:37 of 'gratuitous sexual violence' that was censored in 1985 would have come from the scene where Madam Chun puts Ai Nu to work at her Merryland brothel.

She introduces four men to Ai Nu, who is shown bound and struggling on a bed. At 20:30 the men jump on the bed, and one begins to rape her. She breaks free, but is caught and raped again. Blood is shown several times on her clothes and the bed sheets.

The scene ends at 22:10 after Ai Nu cries, "You are not human beings. You’re bloody beasts! I’ll kill you"

The Hong Kong Celestial DVD runs 88:13.

 

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The Lustful Vicar

Directed by Torgny Wickman / Sweden / 1970 / IMDb

In January 1972, an 8360-foot (93:08) print of THE LUSTFUL VICAR was banned because of 'indecency'. In February, Blake Films appealed to the Film Board of Review, but this failed, and the ban remained.

In March 1974, a 2479.80-meters (90:38) of THE LUSTFUL VICAR was passed with an R-rating. This cut version was described by the Censorship Board as an 'English dubbed version'. This submission and eventual theatrical release was made by Filmways.

Image courtesy of moviemem.com

 

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Next Films: The Last Temptation of Christ (1988)

 

 

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