Film Censorship: P #2

 

 

 

 

The Porn Brokers

Directed by John Lindsay – Laurence Barnett  / 1973 / UK / IMDb

In March 1974, a 2708.00-meter (98:59) 35mm print of THE PORN BROKERS was passed with an R-rating. To achieve this, Consolidated Exhibitors had to remove 30.48-meters (01:07) of footage. The Censorship Board had demanded the cuts because of ‘indecency’.

 

A ‘reduced version’ of THE PORN BROKERS was next classified in October 1982. This time, Blake Films had a 2633.28-meter (96:15) 35mm print passed with an R-rating.

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

 

In February 1984, Blake Films had a 96m videotape passed with an R-rating. It was awarded for the same reasons as the October 1982 submission.

THE PORN BROKERS was released on tape by Palace Vibrant Video with a running time of 94:54.

 

 

THE PORNBROKERS (1973): Softcore vs. Hardcore versions

Thanks to Mike for this comparison.

Palace Vibrant Video (Aus) – 94:54
X-rated version (US) – 76:42

I located the Australian version of THE PORNBROKERS through e-bay, and compared it to our US print.

These two versions of THE PORNBROKERS are very different, and contain footage that is exclusive to each. Both are edited completely differently. An exact side-by-side comparison would be a nightmare.

 

Some observations.

The X-rated version is missing most of the credits that are shown being printed out by a typewriter. The PVV has the full credits.

The X-rated version contains non-stop hardcore. This is either film, or still shots. It also includes bestiality stills of a woman and a horse. This is missing from the PVV version.

The PVV version only shows a handful of hardcore stills. The filmed sex is softcore. There is however some graphic female masturbation footage.

The PVV version contains an interview with UK artist Nicholas Treadwell. This is missing from the X-rated version.

The X-rated version contains a hardcore scene with two guys and a girl on a park bench. This looks like it was filmed in the US, as one of the actors appears to be Jamie Gillis. This is missing from the PVV version.

The making of John Lindsay’s WET DREAM short runs for around 30 minutes in the PVV version. The X-rated version shortens it considerably, but does include hardcore footage.

The Lasse Braun interview is longer in the PVV version.

 

The interview with Dutch pornographer Joop Wilhelmus is much longer in the PVV version. It also contains an interesting audio cut.

Joop Wilhelmus in PVV version: “…the same child of mine can sit in front of a television set at seven o’clock in the evening, and see the seven o’clock news, and see how in Vietnam, the Americans are destroying a people, you know, a very poor people, in any disgusting way you can imagine, and even some ways you can’t imagine.”

Joop Wilhelmus in X-rated version: An audio cut has been made to remove “...how in Vietnam, the Americans are destroying a people, you know, a...”

In the longer PVV version, Wilhelmus continues talking about how the Scandinavian countries were the first to oppose the Vietnam war.

Joop Wilhelmus's daughter, joins him and her mother, and sits silently while the interview takes place. Wilhelmus talks about how he has allowed his daughter to see any pornography from a very young age, and that he is more concerned about violence. This is in both versions, and although it is a bit unsettling to watch, it is only what he is saying that is controversial. However, this scene took on a completely new meaning when I found an entry for Wilhelmus on Dutch Wikipedia. It claims that he produced a child pornography magazine called Lolita, and in the late 80s was charged with the rape of his daughters. He served four years in prison, and died in 1994.

 

Overall, THE PORNBROKERS is an interesting snapshot of the early-70s European sex industry. Of the two versions, the PVV one is the more interesting. It contains longer interview footage, and extended shots of locations such as the Copenhagen and Hamburg red-light districts. As I mentioned, they are edited completely differently, so deducing what was censored from the PVV version would be very difficult.

Incidentally, in April 1973 the BBFC banned THE PORNBROKERS in the UK. It was only passed with an X-rating in 1977 after being censored down to 58:40! 

 

The Pornbrokers (1973) - Palace Vibrant Video [au] VHS

 

 

 

 

The Porno Kings

aka Les Pornocrates

Directed by Jean-Francois Davy / 1976 / France / IMDb

In March 1977, a 2493.60-meters (90:53) print of LES PORNOCRATES was banned because of 'indecency'. A heavily censored 1645.00-meter (59:57) 'reconstructed version' was passed with an R-rating in July 1977.

Consolidated Exhibitors was the applicant.

 

 

 

 

Portraits of Women

Directed by Jorn Donner / 1970 / Finland / IMDb

In March 1972, an 8010-feet (89:00) print of PORTRAITS OF WOMEN was censored by 174-feet (01:50) to remove 'indecency'.

Roadshow Distributors released the cut R-rated print theatrically.

 

 

 

 

The Possession 

Directed by ? / 1974 / USA / IMDb

In December 1981, a 658.60-meter (60:01) 16mm print of THE POSSESSION was banned because of sex, which was described as being:
Frequency: Frequent
Explicitness/Intensity: High
Purpose: Gratuitous

A censored 493.65-meter (44:58) version was passed with an R-rating in March 1982. The sex was now found to be:
Frequency: Frequent
Explicitness/Intensity: Medium
Purpose: Gratuitous

14th Mandolin was the applicant.

 

Thanks to Simon for this information.

THE POSSESSION (onscreen title, POSSESSED) was released on DVD by After Hours Cinema in the US as part of their GRINDHOUSE POSSESSION TRIPLE FEATURE COLLECTION. It also includes THE DOCTOR DISCIPLES and THE MEDALLION.

At 58:02, the film runs slightly shorter than the one submitted for rating. The 15 minutes of censorship would have been to the hardcore sex. There would be little to recommend about the film with this gone.

 

 

 

 

Predator 2

Directed by Stephen Hopkins / 1990 / USA / IMDb

In January 1991, an uncut 107m 35mm print of PREDATOR 2 was passed with an R18+ (Assaultive coarse language, Drug abuse, Some graphic violence) rating.

Hoyts-Fox-Columbia Tristar chose to censor the print down to 105m to remove the more explicit scenes of violence. For their efforts, in March 1991, they were awarded a more commercial M (Assaultive coarse language, Frequent violence) rating. The introduction of the MA15+ rating was still two years away.

It was this version that was released theatrically and on tape by CBS/Fox Video. Thanks to Stephen F. for the cover scan.

 

Thanks to Peter F for pointing out that PREDATOR 2 was also available uncut on an R18+ VHS.

Predator 2 was released UNCUT on VHS
Time on VHS 103:28 (approx) (Fox Logo and Credits included) (PAL)
Time on DVD (Special Edition) 103:33 (PAL)

 

 

Uncut on DVD

In 2001, Fox Home Entertainment released the uncut R-rated print of PREDATOR 2 on DVD. This restored around 40 seconds. Michael D's has a detailed look at the missing footage.

 

Ironically, at the same time we were given the chance to see the extra footage in PREDATOR 2, the original PREDATOR was for the first time given a censored release in Australia. This was due to Fox Home Entertainment sourcing a cut print.

 

 

Re-rated MA15+

In March 2005, disc one of the PREDATOR 2: SPECIAL EDITION was passed with an MA15+ (Drug use; High level violence; Medium level coarse language; Medium level sex scene) rating. Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment released it on DVD.

 

Predator 2 (1990) - CBS/Fox Video [au] VHSPredator 2 (1990) - Fox Entertainment [au] DVD1Predator 2 (1990) - Fox Entertainment [au] DVD 2

 

 

 

 

Prey

Directed by Norman J. Warren / 1978 / UK / IMDb

In September 1979, a 2314.70-meter (84:36) print of PREY was submitted for classification. It was passed with an R-rating after 6.4-meters (00:14) of ‘excessive violence’ was removed.

Greater Union Film Distributors released the censored version theatrically.

 

During the late 70s and early 80s, Norman J. Warren had a bad run in Australia. As well as PREY, his SATAN’S SLAVE (1976) and TERROR (1978) were both censored for R-ratings.

 

 

PREY: The censored scene

Thanks to Matt for this review and screencaps.

The uncut UK Anchor Bay DVD runs 77:43 (PAL).

The 14s removed by the Australian censor would have been taken from the climatic scene where Anders kills and eats Jessica. It runs as follows.

73:08 to 74:17 – Anders and Jessica are having sex. He begins to get rough, and starts to change into his real Alien self. He kills Jessica with a bite to the neck. Jo enter the room and sees him over the body of Jessica. He turns and looks at her.

Until the 2004 Anchor Bay DVD, all British prints were censored during the cannibal scene. The 1977 theatrical release was censored down to 84:36, the same running time as our version.

 

 

Featured in TERROR ON TAPE (1983)

The censored cannibalism scene from PREY (identified as ALIEN PREY) was shown in the TERROR ON TAPE (1983) compilation. This was banned by the Censorship Board in March 1985.

 

Prey (1978) - Censored Scene 01Prey (1978) - Censored Scene 02

 

 

 

 

Prison Girls

Directed by Tom DeSimone / 1972 / USA / IMDb

In June 1974, a 2044.90-meter (74:32) print of PRISON GIRLS was censored by 56.69-meters (02:04) for an R-rating. The cuts were made to remove 'indecency and excessive violence'.

Roadshow Distributors was the applicant.

 

 

 

 

Prison Heat

Directed by Joel Silberg / 1993 / USA / IMDb

In 1993, Warner Home Video had a 91m videotape of PRISON HEAT banned by the OFLC.

A 95m version was passed with an R18+ (Medium level violence) rating in June 1993. We are unsure why this version was four minutes longer, and if it was ever released.

 

 

PRISON HEAT: The sexual violence

Thanks to Simon for this look at the uncut version. All the scenes that he mentions are documented in this Schnittberichte report.

The US Cannon Video release runs 91:08. The OFLC definitely banned the film for sexual violence. Here are the scenes that I suspect would have been the problem.

28:25 to 29:30 – Hellena throws Bonnie to the ground, and tears off her top. She then puts her hand down Bonnie’s underwear and sexually assaults her.

35:10 to 36:30 – Saladin pulls off Bonnie’s top and pushes her over the desk. He rips off her underwear and rapes her. This is probably the most explicit sexual assault scene in the film and would have definitely have been the main cause for the ban.

 

These following scenes are not quite as strong, but some may have been a problem.

48:40 to 48:50 – Bonnie is told to strip naked. She does so while looking scared.

51:10 to 52:50 – Bonnie is shown naked on the floor of the shower as Saladin is getting dressed. He says, “Soon you will learn to enjoy this” before he leaves. She walks to the mirror, smashed it, and holds a piece of glass to her wrist.

73:55 to 74:20 – Saladin tears Bonnie’s top open and rubs her breasts. He demands she tell him what is going on. She refuses so he slaps her to the ground. He tells the Lebanese brothel owner that she is his.

75:38 to 75 51 – The Lebanese man is shown on top of Bonnie as she fights back.

77:50 to 78:25 – Bonnie continues fighting the Lebanese man and stabs him in the back before Saladin returns.

 

 

 

 

Private Lessons

Directed by Alan Myerson / 1981 / USA / IMDb

The first recorded submission of PRIVATE LESSONS comes from August 1981, when Star Video had an 86m videotape banned by the Censorship Board. The reason given was 'sexual exploitation of a minor'.

In November 1981, the Australian censors again banned PRIVATE LESSONS. The problem for the 2370.60-meter (86:39) print was once more 'sexual exploitation of a minor'. Sunn Classic Productions appealed to the Review Board, but lost in December 1981.

 

Here is how CINEMA PAPERS saw it at the time.

"Private Lessons, the inane banning of which was reported in the previous issue went to appeal in December, but the Films Board of Review rejected the film. Australia, it seems, is about the only country that won't be seeing this film."

 

Following the ban, Sunn Classics censored PRIVATE LESSONS down to 2323-meters (84:54). This proved to be to no avail, and the 'Reduced Version' was Refused Registration in May 1982,. Again, the reason was for the 'sexual exploitation of a minor'.

 

 

Censored for R-rated theatrical release

PRIVATE LESSONS was finally passed in July 1982. The R-rating was awarded for 'adult concepts'.

This third submission ran 2112.11-meters (77:12), and was described as the 'Producer's Reduced Version'. This heavily censored print did not prevent the Censorship Board from insisting on another 0.5-meters (2s) of cuts before awarding the R-rating. This final snip of the scissors was once more for the 'sexual exploitation of a minor'.

It was this censored version that went on to be released theatrically in Australia.

 

 

Censored video release

In 1982, Rigby-CIC Video released a 77:12 censored print of PRIVATE LESSONS on videotape.

In February 1984, it became law for all videotapes 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 Rigby-CIC Video release of PRIVATE LESSONS in November 1984. It was confirmed as an R for 'sexual allusions'.

 

 

Censored DVD release

It would be over twenty years before PRIVATE LESSONS was again classified in Australia. In September 2005, the OFLC passed Umbrella Entertainment's VHS with an R18+ (Adult themes) rating. The DVD was released in January 2006. The fact that Umbrella submitted the film on VHS maybe provides a clue to what version they eventually released.

The running time of the full screen DVD was 77:12, exactly the same as the old Rigby-CIC VIdeo released twenty-three years earlier. It looks like Umbrella decided to play it very safe with PRIVATE LESSONS. Perhaps they sensed that the intervening years had not made it any easier for the subject matter to pass the censors.

 

 

PRIVATE LESSONS: The censored scenes

Despite being censored of nearly ten minutes of footage in Australia, it is not easy to identify what was removed. This may have something to do with the print being the Producer's Reduced Version.

Here is a rundown of the scenes that may have been a problem and subjected to cuts.

 

At 22m approx: Ms Mallow undresses in front of Philly. This scene does not seem cut, but it is the most obvious place for the often-mentioned full frontal nudity.

At 30m approx: Philly shares a bath with Ms Mallow. There is possibly a brief cut (the missing 2s?) after Ms Mallow says, "I'll wash your shoulders". Philly then smiles nervously. It seems slightly cut between this and the next front on shot where Ms Mallow kisses Philly on the cheek.

 At 39m approx: Philly and Ms Mallow arrive home and are going to have sex for the first time. The scene ends after Philly leaves the room when he senses Ms Mallow does not love him. Nothing seems cut here.

At 48m approx: Ms Mallow and Philly have sex for the first time. This scene has definitely been modified as none of the sex is shown. Philly shouting, "Ms Mallow are you okay" plays out over a slow motion pan over the bedroom floor. The footage seems to have been deliberately slowed to mask a cut.

At 73m approx: Ms Mallow and Philly say goodbye. The scene ends with them collapsing on the bed together. Nothing seems cut here.

 

The IMDb makes a mention of a TV version that removes the opening credits scene of the couple in the car, and of Philly sharing a bath with Ms Mallow. This is not the version we have on DVD and VHS.

 

In February 2006, Artisan in the U.S. released a 25th Anniversary DVD. Reviews mention that a couple of scenes of full frontal nudity have been optically fogged. Note that our version contains no full frontal nudity at all.

 

In February 2006, the Cinema Club label in the UK released PRIVATE LESSONS on DVD. Like Australia, the film has always had problems with the censors. So it was not surprising that that the DVD was also cut.

From Melon Farmers.
Cuts were made in several scenes under the Protection of Children Act. Basically every shot where you could see Kristel's nudity and the boy in the same shot was removed. The scenes affected were the striptease, the bath scene and the two sex scenes. In the storyline the boy was meant to be 15 years old

 

Private Lessons (1981) - Rigby-CIC Video [au] VHSPrivate Lessons (1981) - Umbrella Entertainment [au] DVD

 

 

 

 

Private Obsession

Directed by Lee Frost / 1995 / USA / IMDb

In 1995, Peacock Films had a 103m print of PRIVATE OBSESSION banned by the OFLC.

 

The plot concerns a man who kidnaps and hold prisoner a feminist fashion model. The plot is sleazy, and Shannon Whirry spends much of the time topless, but it contains zero scenes of sexual violence.

There are two instances where she seduces her captor in an effort to escape. However, these are not scenes that should have resulted in an RC-rating. We can only speculate that the Classification Board did not approve of the overall plot of the film.

The uncut U.S. DVD from Image ran 100:51.

 

Lee Frost's LOVE CAMP 7 (1969) also had problems with the Australian censors.

 

 

 

 

Private Parts 

Directed by Paul Bartel / 1972 / USA / IMDb

In October 1972, a 2440.00-meters (88:56) print of PRIVATE PARTS was banned because of 'indecency'.

The decision was confirmed by the Films Board of Review in December 1972. The unsuccessful appeal was made by MGM/BEF Film Distributors.

 

 

 

 

 

The Prodigal Son

Directed by Sammo Hung / 1981 / Hong Kong / IMDb

No doubt concerned that the violence would cause problems, the distributor submitted a 'pre-censor cut version' of THE PRODIGAL SON to the Censorship Board. This 2982.90-meter (109:01) print was awarded an R-rating in April 1982. It went on to a Chinese language theatrical release.

In January 2005, an uncut DVD of THE PRODIGAL SON was passed with an R18+ (Medium level violence) classification. Universal Pictures Video released it on DVD in May 2005.

 

The Prodigal Son (1981) - Universal Pictures Video [au} DVD

 

 

 

 

Prostitution 

Directed by Jean-François Davy / 1975 / France / IMDb

In May 1977, a 2977.00-meter (108:31) meter print of PROSTITUTION was banned because of 'indecency'.

Roadshow Distributors was the applicant.

 

 

 

 

Prostitution Italian Style

Directed by Italo Zingarelli / 1970 / Italy / IMDb

In June 1972, an 8799-feet (97:46) print of PROSTITUTION ITALIAN STYLE was censored by 132-feet (01:27) for an R-rating. The cuts were made to remove 'indecency'.

Roadshow Distributors were the applicant.

 

 

 

 

The Psycho Lover 

Directed by Robert Vincent O'Neill / 1970 / USA / IMDb

In May 1978, a 2194.40-meter (79:59) print of THE PSYCHO LOVER was censored by 11.00-meters (00:24) for an R-rating. The cuts were made to remove 'indecency'.

Natan Scheinwald Productions was the applicant.

 

 

Censored to remove sexual violence

Thanks to Simon for this information.

Something Weird’s DVD of THE PSYCHO LOVER is a double-bill with HEAT OF MADNESS (1966). The film goes under its original title of THE LOVING TOUCH, and is copyrighted 1969.

The plot involves a serial killer who rapes and strangles his female victims. This is a sleazy little gem, and it is easy to see why the Censorship Board demanded cuts.

Two scenes at 2m and 14m involve Marco raping and killing women. The latter also shows him having sex with the body. Cuts would probably have been made to one or both of these attacks. Two other women are attacked at 34m and 77m, but neither result in onscreen rape or murder.

Something Weird’s DVD runs 81:34 (NTSC), which compares to 79:59 for the version submitted to our Censorship Board, which may indicate pre-cutting.

 

 

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