Film Censorship: R

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Rabid Grannies

Directed by Emmanuel Kervyn / 1988 / Belgium / IMDb

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

 

In July 1989, Roadshow Home Video had a 90m VHS of RABID GRANNIES passed with an M (Horror) rating. This was a censored version that was missing most of the extreme gore. It was released by Applause Video.

 

 

 

RABID GRANNIES: Stomp Visual DVD

In May 2005, Stomp Visual had a DVD passed with an MA15+ (High level violence, Sexual references) rating.

This was released in May 2005 as part of Stomp Visual's re-issue of the Troma back catalogue. On the back cover, the following was written:

"Troma Intelligence Test and Trailers are not available on the Australian version of Rabid Grannies"

See the separate entry for THE TROMA INTELLIGENCE TEST for an explanation of why this extra was dropped from the DVD.

Both THE TROMA INTELLIGENCE TEST and COMING DISTRACTIONS extras are listed on the DVD menu, but have been removed.

 

 

Censored movie trailers

The COMING DISTRACTIONS extra is simply a series of trailers for other Troma titles. It is a mystery why it was removed by Stomp Visual.

A comparison to the US disc shows the missing titles are:

• RABID GRANNIES
• COMBAT SHOCK
• CRY UNCLE
• A NYMPHOID BARBARIAN IN DINOSAUR HELL

 

 

Uncut gore footage

The Stomp Visual DVD of RABID GRANNIES runs 88:25, and contains the censored version, which was missing the more extreme gore scenes. This was presumably the same as the Applause VHS released in 1989.

The DVD does however allow the option of viewing the missing scenes in the RABID GRANNY GORY FOOTAGE, and RABID OUTTAKES extras.

 

 

RABID GRANNIES Directors Cut

Troma claims that the 88:25 censored version, released by Stomp Visual, was the Director's cut.

Anyone who listens to Emmanuel Kervyn's commentary track on the DVD will soon understand that this is false. He describes the exact location of the censored footage and apologises that it is missing.

Here is a small part of what he has to say at the start of the censored gore:

"I want to warn you right now. Most of the horror shots are out. I believe they are back on the DVD on some bonus part. I hope they are. I think it's pretty sad that those shots are out because it gives sometimes a missing piece in the puzzle, and I really think it hurt the energy of the film.

I really cannot blame anybody [for the cuts], especially because I do not know what happened."

 

Movie-Censorship has a detailed examination of the RABID GRANNIES censored scenes.

 

 

 

Jigsaw Entertainment Re-release DVD

In September 2010, RABID GRAMMIES was re-released on DVD by Jigsaw Entertainment, through Gryphon Entertainment.

 

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Raped by an Angel

Directed by Wong Jing / 1993 / Hong Kong / IMDb

In July 1993, Yu Enterprises had a 94m (35mm) print of RAPED BY AN ANGEL banned by the Classification Board.

It was censored down to 91m (35mm) and on July 29 1993, was passed with an R18+ (High level violence, Sex scenes) rating.

In their Annual Report, the OFLC list that the cuts were for:

"some lengthy sequences of sexual violence".

This censored version of RAPED BY AN ANGEL went on to play in Raymond Yu's Australia Cinema in Sydney, followed by Chinese cinemas around the country.

 

 

Censored in Hong Kong

In Hong Kong, the censors demanded cuts before awarding RAPED BY AN ANGEL a Category 3 rating. It is probably fair to speculate that the 94m print originally submitted to the OFLC was the censored Hong Kong version.

In 1993, Star Entertainment released the film in Hong Kong on VHS and laser disc. The VHS runs 95:03, which seems to indicate that it was NTSC.

 

 

Reasons for the Australian ban

Here is a rundown of what scenes in RAPED BY AN ANGEL may have caused problems with the OFLC. We have also included details of Hong Kong censorship.

The running time relates to the Hong Kong Star Entertainment VHS.

 

Chuck Chi-Sing Rapes May Wong 

At approximately 01:00 - The film opens with Chuck Chi-Sing raping a woman, who we later learn is his girlfriend, May Wong. Although we eventually find out that the two are just role-playing, the actual rape is quite strong, and may have caused problems for our censors.

 

Chuck Chi-Sing's girlfriend

At approximately 18:00 - Chuck Chi-Sing allows his friend to have sex with his girlfriend against her will. Again, this may have caused problems with the OFLC.

 

Tat's mother verbally abuses Pauline

At approximately 32:00 - In the Hong Kong version there are two beeps to remove Cantonese audio of Tat's mother verbally abusing her son's ex-girlfriend.

 

Brother Tat shouts on boat

At approximately 39:00 - Brother Tat is on a boat with Yau Yuk-Nam. He begins to shout out. There are several bleeps to remove Cantonese bad language.

 

Chuck Chi-Sing

At approximately 41:00 - This scene has several obvious jumps indicating that the Hong Kong censors removed footage. The OFLC may have also demanded cuts.

 

Death of Chu Kit-Man

At approximately 70:00 - Chu Kit-Man is killed and her body is cut up with a chainsaw. Again, there are obvious jumps indicating that the Hong Kong censors had been busy.

 

The Ending

The film concludes with scenes of Chuck Chi-Sing masturbating, having sex with Pauline, and raping Cindy. They do not look cut by the Hong Kong censors, and it is doubtful that the OFLC would have had problems with them.

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Rape Squad

aka Act of Vengeance

Directed by Bob Kelljan / 1974 / USA / IMDb

In October 1975, Roadshow Film Distributors had a 90m 35mm print of RAPE SQUAD rated R. It was released theatrically in Australia under the title ACT OF VENGEANCE.

In 1984, Palace Explosive released the film on videotape under the alternative tile RAPE SQUAD. This 86:25 video was reviewed by the Censorship Board, and banned in 1984 because of 'gratuitous sexual violence'. This tape is now very sought-after by collectors of Australian videotapes.

 

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The Rapist

Directed by Chuen-Yee Cha / 1994 / Hong Kong / IMDb

In February 1995, a 90m 35mm print of THE RAPIST was banned because of 'gratuitous sexual violence'.

In March 1995, Chinatown Cinema cut it down first to 88m, and then to 87m, but both were Refused Registration by the OFLC.

A fourth heavily censored submission was eventually passed with an R18+ rating. This went on to play Chinese language cinemas.

 

In their 1994 to 1995 Year in Review, the OFLC provided the following reasons for the RC-rating

The Rapist, a Cantonese language, Hong Kong produced feature about a police team's search for a serial rapist was Refused Registration for gratuitous scenes of sexual violence against women. Mindful of community concerns about sexual violence the board refused registration of this film on three occasions until a fourth edited version was deemed suitable for Restricted exhibition

 

 

THE RAPIST (1995) review

Thanks to Simon for this review.

Ocean Shores DVD (Hong Kong) – 89:15

I remember seeing posters for THE RAPIST in 1995 at Sydney’s Chinatown Cinema where the OFLC cut R18+ version eventually played. A short time later, I rented the uncut Ocean Shores laser disc from a store only a couple of minutes away from that very cinema.

THE RAPIST is supposedly based on the true story of Lam Kwok-wai, known as the Tuen Mun Rapist, who attacked and murdered women between 1992 and 1993. I have no idea how close it is to the truth, but the character must have been popular as the same year his story appeared in PORTRAIT OF A SERIAL RAPIST (1994). He also showed up in Wong Jing’s not so serious RAPED BY AN ANGEL 4: THE RAPIST’S UNION (1999).

It looks like the R18+ version was cut by least three minutes, so I suspect, the following scenes would have lost footage.

 

VICTIM # 1
05:00 to 07:30 – The Rapist attacks a girl in a lift. She fights back, so he strangles her until she is unconsciousness. At 05:45 he drags her body to a stairwell where he touches her bare breasts and between her legs. At 06:45 he begins to assault her as she regains consciousness.

 

FLASHBACK TO VICTIM #1
12:30 to 13:00 – Several flashbacks to the first rape are inter-cut with the Inspector walking the crime scene.

 

VICTIM #2
20:00 to 21:20 – The Rapist hits the old women’s head against a wall until she is unconsciousness. At 20:20 she wakes up with a gag in her mouth, and being assaulted from behind.

 

FLASHBACK TO VICTIM #2
23:35 to 23:40 – A brief flashback to the attack on the old woman is shown as the police investigate the crime scene.

 

FLASHBACKS TO PREVIOUS VICTIMS
28:00 to 31:40 - Four brief clips are shown of the Rapist’s previous attacks. One of these is of Victim #2. The 'offending' footage would total no more than 00:40.

 

VICTIM #3
49:05 to 50:15 – A girl is stripped and attacked. Intercut with shots of the police running to her rescue.

 

VICTIM # 4
72:00 to 76:40 – The Rapist chases a screaming girl. At 74:00 he tears off her top, and kisses her. She fights back when he attempts to remove her underwear, but he eventually prevails.

80:40 to 80:50 – Victim # 4 is again shown being raped.

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The Ravager

Directed by Charles Nizet / 1970 / USA / IMBb

In June 1982, Impact Films had a 2163.90-meter (79:05) print of THE RAVAGER Refused Registration. The reason given was 'sexual violence'.

A censored version running 1920.10-meters (70:11) was eventually passed with an R-rating in April 1983. Again, the reason for the decision was 'sexual violence'. Presumably, this heavily cut version (missing 9m) was given a theatrical release, as no videotape was ever issued.

 

Thanks to Matt for these comments on the film.

I wonder what THE RAVAGER was doing getting a theatrical Australian release in 1983! Overall it's quite a sleazy little film, and it is not hard to understand why the censors banned it.

The opening scene (supposedly) set in Vietnam where two men rape, beat, and blow-up a girl with dynamite is supposed to act as the trigger for the killer when he returns to the USA. What follows are various scenes of rape and murder as the killer attempts to recreate the scene he witnessed in Vietnam.

The version that I viewed was the old Something Weird VHS which runs 73:29. It's a very old and jumpy print which according to your site compares with to 79:05 for the print originally submitted to the Australian Censorship Board. The only scene that did look a bit censored in the SW VHS was around the 17m mark where the couple are making love in the car. Again, this may not have been deliberate, and could have simply been down to print damage.

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Rebekah

Directed by Tony Ma Tin Yiu / 1996 / Hong Kong / IMDb

In December 1996, Yau's Entertainment was refused a rating for REBEKAH because of 'sexual violence'.

In February 1997, the 35mm print was censored down from 88 to 86m for an R18+ (High level sex scenes) rating. This went on to play in Chinese language cinemas

 

Thanks to Matt for this review.

The fact that REBEKAH was banned demonstrates how pathetic the OFLC had become in 1996. After all this was the year they also banned Jim Jarmusch's DEAD MAN for sexual violence.

This is a typical Hong Kong Category 3 comedy with lots of full frontal nudity. It remains a comedy just about all the way through (complete with stupid music) and does not suddenly go off into nasty territory as some Cat 3 films tend to do.

I am quite sure that the scene that the censors would have objected to involves Brother Meng and two of his gang picking up a very drunk mainland Chinese girl. At around the 48m point they take it in turns having sex with her. All the time she is saying in Mandarin "I have VD". When they have all finished the Cantonese speaking Brother Meng thinks she is saying that he was the best at sex. The sex ends at around the 50min point which adds up just about right to the cuts in the R-rated version. This (and the DEAD MAN case) illustrates that at the time the OFLC were strict on just about any rape scenes. This scene in REBEKAH contains no violence, and is played as comedy to demonstrate how stupid Brother Meng and his gang are.

There is a second scene at 68m where Han B grabs a traffic warden into his van who he thinks is a hooker. He says "I must punish you". The traffic warden radios for help saying "I'm being raped by Han B". The scene lasts a minute and is played for laughs. I doubt this would have been a problem.

Thought you may like to know that there is a scene that runs from 25 to 28m where Rebecca is acting in an UNTOLD STORY rip-off which the subtitles refer to as either LUST BUN or HORNY BUN. Cammy Choi shows she can suffer for her art as in one scene a mixture of fake blood mixed with real worms is poured over her to make her look like a rotting corpse.

The Hong Kong VCD from Universe Laser and Video Co runs 88:08 and would seem to be the uncut version.

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Red Light in the White House

Directed by Paul Leder / 1977 / USA / IMDb

In March 1983, Feature Video Distributors had a 100m videotape of RED LIGHT IN THE WHITE HOUSE passed by the censors.

In 1986, Apple Den had the same 100m print Refused Classification because of 'gratuitous sexual violence'.

The tape was released in Australia by VideoTech, and actually ran 89:20. This was a direct dub of the old UK Video Unlimited pre-cert. Nothing would appear to be censored, and scene(s) that the Australian censors referred to as 'gratuitous sexual violence' would have been:

At approximately 15m, Su Shan is raped in the boxing ring. This would definitely have been main scene that caused problems.

At approximately 82m, the President slapping Su Shan, before having sex with her. This may have caused a problem.

 

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Redneck Zombies

Directed by Pericles Lewnes / 1987 / USA / IMDb

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

 

In July 1989, Roadshow Home Video had a VHS of REDNECK ZOMBIES passed with an M (Coarse language, Horror) rating. This was the censored US R-rated version, and ran only 83:51. It was released by Applause Video.

 

 

Uncut Stomp Visual DVD

In May 2005, Stomp Visual had the uncut U.S. version passed with an MA15+ (High level violence, Sexual references) rating.

This was released in May 2005 as part of Stomp Visual's re-issue of the Troma back catalogue. On the back cover, the following was written:

"Troma Intelligence Test and Trailers are not available on the Australian version of Redneck Zombies"

See the separate entry for THE TROMA INTELLIGENCE TEST for an explanation of why this extra was dropped from the DVD.

Both THE TROMA INTELLIGENCE TEST and COMING DISTRACTIONS extras are listed on the DVD menu, but have been removed.

 

Movie-Censorship has a comparison between the U.S. unrated and R-rated versions of REDNECK ZOMBIES.

 

 

Jigsaw Entertainment Re-release DVD

In December 2010, REDNECK ZOMBIES was re-released on DVD by Jigsaw Entertainment, through Gryphon Entertainment.

 

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The Red Nights of the Gestapo

Directed by Fabio De Agostini / 1977 / Italy / IMDb

In January 1980, THE RED NIGHTS OF THE GESTAPO was Refused Registration in print running 2816.10-meters (102:56).

The reason given for the ban was sex and violence, which were described as being:
Frequency: Frequent
Explicitness/Intensity: Medium
Purpose: Gratuitous

The RC-rating was also awarded for sado-masochism and child abuse.

 

In March 1980, Nathan Scheinwald censored the print down to 2539.80-meters (92:50) and received an R-rating.

With ten minutes missing, the rating was awarded for sex, which was described as being:
Frequency: Infrequent
Explicitness/Intensity: Low
Purpose: Gratuitous

 

 

X-rated version

In February 1984, VCL Communications had a 102m videotape passed with an X-rating.

The X-rating had only been introduced in February 1984. There was a brief period where it was considered not just for sex films, but also for material that was too extreme for R18+. During this time, violence could exist in the X18+ category, and films such as CALIGULA, PINK FLAMINGOS, and ROSEMARY'S KILLER were awarded this rating. Despite pro-censorship groups trying to claim otherwise, the guidelines were soon tightened up to remove violence.

We do not believe that VCL Communications ever released an X-rated version of THE RED NIGHTS OF THE GESTAPO.

 

 

Censored R-rated tapes

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

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

In December 1983, an 80m videotape of THE RED NIGHTS OF THE GESTAPO was passed with such a warning. The applicant was Monash Records.

 

In August 1985, VCL Communications had a censored 79:21 videotape passed with an R-rating. The rating was awarded for sex, which was now described as being:
Frequency: Frequent
Explicitness/Intensity: Medium
Purpose: Gratuitous

 

This same version was re-released in 1988 by Virgin Video.

 

 

Censored VCL tape vs. Uncut DVD

Thanks to George in the UK for this review.

Back in the 90s, I imported the Australian VCL tape of RED NIGHTS OF THE GESTAPO in the hope that it would be longer than the one we had here in the UK. I can confirm that both versions are the same. I would assume that your release was sourced from the British tape.

I recently viewed the US DVD that was released by Exploitation Digital. It ran 109:54 (NTSC), and was uncut. Converted to PAL this gives 105:30. This shows that the VCL releases were missing over 26m of footage. Almost all of the sex scenes have been removed, or censored. This includes some very tame footage.

You mention that one of the reasons the Australian censor banned the film was because of ‘child abuse’. This refers to the character of Friedrich Schatz, who is identified by the Nazi’s as being a paedophile. They arrange to get a young girl called Hilda to trap him. They rename her Eva to match the name of his daughter. This is a case of the censor being overly dramatic, as obviously no child abuse could appear in a legal DVD, either here or overseas.

Instead, they refer to two scenes that occur in the Exploitation Digital DVD at the following points. Both are entirely missing from the VCL tape.

40:15 to 41:00: Colonel Werner von Uhland talks to Eva, her promises her chocolate cake, and tells her he will return and show her a game to play.

77:15 to 79:00:  Eva approaches Fredrick, and asks him to come and play with her. She asks his name, and tells him hers. He responds that he has a Daughter called Eva, to which she replies 'then you are Papa Fredrick'. They continue to talk, and Fredrick tells her he is afraid. Eva then asks him to tell her a story. That is what the censors defined as 'child abuse'.

The two appear again at 104:45 as the SS burst in to the room and machinegun Fredrick to death. Eva is shown in the corner looking on. Fredrick’s death is in the VCL tape, but all shots of Eva have been removed.

Eva appears again from 105:30 to 106:30. She is the only survivor in the castle. She walks passed the dead bodies and the man hanging from the doorway. Again, this is missing from the VCL tape. Instead, it ends with the death of Colonel Werner von Uhland.

For the record, the opening credits of the Exploitation Digital DVD are shown over a red velvet curtain, and the end credits are black. In comparison, the VCL opening credits are over black, and the end credits are over the red curtain. As well as being censored, the VCL tape is a horrible washed-out, full screen print that crops off much of the picture. The Exploitation Digital DVD is windscreen and the colours are beautiful.

 

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Red Spells Spells Red

Directed by Titus Ho / 1983 / Hong Kong / IMDb

In June 1985, a 2550.00-meter (93:12) 35mm print of RED SPELLS SPELLS RED was submitted to the Censorship Board. It was passed only after Yu Enterprises removed 35.6-meters (78s) of 'animal cruelty'. The R-rating was awarded for sex and violence, which were described as:

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

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

This censored version went on to have a Chinese Language cinema release.

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Return of the Evil Dead

Directed by Amando de Ossorio / 1973 / Spain / IMDb

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

 

In May 1995, Siren Entertainment had an 84m VHS of RETURN OF THE EVIL DEAD passed with an MA15+ (Medium level violence). It was released as part of their short-lived Redemption label.

The original film, TOMBS OF THE BLIND DEAD, was banned in the 70s and 90s by the Australian censors.

 

 

The uncut version

At the time, it was thought that the Siren Entertainment VHS of RETURN OF THE EVIL DEAD was uncut. However, it soon became known that a longer version existed on a Spanish video release.

Thanks to Marc Morris for this list of footage that was missing from the Siren Entertainment tape.

 

The Spanish version, entitled EL ATAQUE DE LOS MUERTOS SIN OJOS, runs 86m 36s at 25 fps.

The Atlas version released by Redemption as RETURN OF THE EVIL DEAD lasts 83m 24s at 25 fps (not including the Atlas logo). It is missing the following material:  

 

The flashback in which the Templars sacrifice a female victim appears 11m 7s into the Spanish version. The Atlas print turns this into a pre-credits sequence, and also makes some heavy cuts - all the shots of the knife plunging between the woman's breasts have been removed, as have the shots of a Templar pulling out the woman's heart.

2m 29s in. Atlas have removed an additional line of dialogue from the Templar (just before he is blinded by the villagers).

12m 9s. The flashback used at the beginning of Atlas' edition should appear here. It was originally followed by a brief recap of the Templars being killed by the villagers which Atlas have removed.

12m 31s. A shot of a woman tied and gagged in the boot of a car (inserted into the middle of the fireworks display) has been removed.

12m 47s. A complete sequence has been cut in which the woman from the previous shot is tied to a wall by Murdo, the village idiot, and stabbed between the breasts. The woman does not appear at all in the Atlas edition, in which it is no longer clear why the Templars return from the grave - this scene establishes that Murdo deliberately summons the Templars by offering them a human sacrifice (all of Murdo's subsequent actions thus appear in a very different light).

32m 23s. A single shot of blood dripping down a telephone and onto the floor has been cut (this is included in the German print as well as the Spanish edition).

63m 1s. Two shots of Bert's stomach being punctured in close-up by swords have been cut (as has an intervening shot of the Mayor watching from a nearby window).

65m 57s. The scene in which the little girl, Nancy, leaves a room and encounters the Mayor (just before he leads her outside) has inexplicably been cut. This can be found in the German and Spanish editions.

67m 19s. Various close-up of swords entering the Mayor's body.

72m 20s. A single close-up of a sword penetrating Amalia's stomach.

74m 6s. A single shot of blood spurting from Murdo's neck after he has been beheaded.

76m 59s. A few shots of Howard's face (just before the pan down his body that reveals he has fallen against a sword).

79m 8s. A single shot of the village square just before Vivian, Jack and Nancy leave the church has inexplicably been cut. This can be found in the German and Spanish editions.

The end credits are considerably shorter in the Atlas edition.  

 

A few seconds are missing from the Spanish version due to print damage:

17m 32s in, a very dark shot of a Templar rising from his grave has been cut;

42m 37s in, part of the attack on the village fete has been cut (it actually looks like someone has stopped the tape and then restarted it);

61m 13s, a few seconds of the Mayor pausing before approaching Bert.

All of this material can be found in both the Atlas and German editions

 

Movie-Censorship has screen grabs of the missing RETURN OF THE EVIL DEAD footage.

 

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The Return of the Streetfighter

Directed by Shigehiro Ozawa / 1974 / Japan / IMDb

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

 

In April 1997, Roadshow Entertainment had a 72:45 videotape of THE RETURN OF THE STREETFIGHTER passed with an M (Medium level violence) rating. This was the heavily censored U.S. R-rated version.

Around 2000, Avenue One released the fully uncut 82:26 (NTSC) version on DVD. Converted to PAL the running time would be 79:04, meaning the Roadshow tape was missing around six minutes of footage. A similar situation occurred with THE STREETFIGHTER release on Avenue One. Both DVDs were not submitted to the Classification Board.

In August 2005, Payless Entertainment submitted THE RETURN OF THE STREETFIGHTER as part of a DVD titled MARTIAL ARTS DISC 5. Three other films were on the disc. These were THE STREET FIGHTER, FIGHTING MAD, and RETURN OF THE KUNG-FU DRAGON. The whole package was rated R18+ (High level violence). It needs to be confirmed which version of THE RETURN OF THE STREET FIGHTER this contains.

The original STREET FIGHTER film had problems with the Australian censors during the 70s.

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Ricco

aka Cauldron of Death

Directed by Tulio Demicheli / 1973 / Italy / IMDb

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

 

In the mid-80s, Delta Home Video tape released a censored 89:52 VHS of RICCO. It was missing a graphic castration scene should take place at apprimately 71m.

In April 1989, Video Distribution Company had a censored 88:17 version passed with an M-rating. This was released on the Movies/American Video label.

In July 2009, Umbrella Entertainment released an uncut version on DVD under the alternative title of CAULDRON OF DEATH.

 

 

RICCO uncut

Thanks to Joe for this information.

Umbrella’s CAULDRON OF DEATH DVD (onscreen title RICCO) runs 93:31 (NTSC) and is uncut. The castration scene, missing from the Australian tapes, can be found at 74 minutes. The guy is beaten, castrated, and his penis stuffed in his mouth before he is thrown in the acid bath. This is no M-rated scene!

I also noticed another cut to the 1989 Video Distribution Company release. The pre-credits sequence shows a gangster being shot in the head. The Umbrella DVD (at 02:40) lingers for a couple of seconds longer on the victim’s skull, and shows blood coming from his eyes.

 

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Rivelazioni di uno psichiatra sul mondo perverso del sesso

Directed by Renato Polselli / 1973 / Italy / IMDb

There is one report from 2004 of customs confiscating a DVD of RIVELAZIONI DI UNO PSICHIATRA SUL MONDO DEL SESSO.

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Robot Ninja

Directed by J.R. Bookwalter / 1989 / USA / IMDb

In 1990, Palace Entertainment had a 90m VHS of ROBOT NINJA banned by the OFLC.

Thanks to Matt for this review.

Excessive violence would have to have been the reason that the censors banned ROBOT NINJA. There is a rape scene at around the 10min point, but this is not presented particularly graphically. The violence however is!

Problem scenes may have been, Susan getting shot in the face (13:30m), Buddy Revelle stabbed in the eyes by Robot Ninja (33m), Robot Ninja cutting off a guys hand, Sanchez stabbing Robot Ninja in the wrist, cop shooting guy in chest (39-42m), Sanchez putting gun in Dr Goodknight's eye and shooting (55m), and the climax where various gang members are shot and stabbed, before Robot Ninja commits suicide by shooting himself in the head (64-70m).

I don't know if the censors 90m running time is correct, as the uncut U.S. NTSC VHS release from Cinema Home Video clocks in at 79m 26s.

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The Rock

Directed by Michael Bay / 1996 / USA / IMDb

In June 1996, a 132m 35mm print of THE ROCK was passed with an R18+ (Medium level violence) rating.

Seeking a more commercial rating, Roadshow Film Distributors submitted a censored print. This was passed with an MA15+ (Medium level coarse language; Medium level violence) rating in September 1996. Strangely, the MA15+ version (135m) ran longer than the R18+ version (132m).

 

 

Censored VHS

In December 1996, Buena Vista Home Entertainment had a 131m videotape passed with an R18+ (Medium level violence) rating. However, Hollywood Pictures Home Video went with the censored 130:40 MA15+ version for video release.

 

 

Cut DVD vs. Uncut DVD

In May 1999, Warner Home Video had a DVD passed with an R18+ (Medium level violence) rating. This should have been the full version, but instead the print was sourced from a cut British R2 DVD

Buena Vista Home Entertainment corrected the mistake in 2001 when they released an uncut special edition of THE ROCK. In October 2001, this was again passed with an R18+ (Medium level violence) rating.

For a full explanation of this confusing situation, see Michael D's censorship information page.

 

 

Uncut Blu-Ray dropped to MA15+

In June 2007, Buena Vista Home Entertainment had an uncut Blu-Ray disc passed with an MA15+ (Strong coarse language; Strong violence).

 

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Rosemary's Killer

Directed by Joseph Zito / 1981 / USA / IMDb

In December 1982, ROSEMARY'S KILLER was Refused Registration when Video Classics submitted a 2413.8-meter (88:14) print.

The reason given for the ban was violence, which was described as:
Frequency: Frequent
Explicitness/Intensity: High
Purpose: Gratuitous

In February 1984, Video Classics had an 84:10 tape passed with an R-rating. This censored version was released on the Video Classics Gold label.

 

 

X-rated version

In July 1984, Video Classics had a 90m videotape passed with an X-rating.

The X-rating had only been introduced in February 1984. There was a brief period where it was considered not just for sex films, but also for material that was too extreme for R18+. During this time violence could exist in the X18+ category, and films such as CALIGULA, PINK FLAMINGOS, and THE RED NIGHTS OF THE GESTAPO were awarded this rating. Despite pro-censorship groups trying to claim otherwise, the guidelines were soon tightened up to remove violence.

We do not believe that Video Classics ever released an X-rated version of ROSEMARY'S KILLER.

 

 

Banned, but passed on appeal

In August 1985, the 84:10 Video Classics Gold tape was banned by the Censorship Board. Once more, the reason given for the ban was violence, which was described as:
Frequency: Frequent
Explicitness/Intensity: High
Purpose: Gratuitous

An appeal was immediately made to the Review Board. In August 1985, they set aside the decision of the Film Censorship Board, and awarded ROSEMARY'S KILLER an R-rating.

 

 

ROSEMARY'S KILLER: Censored Video Classics tape

Thanks to Daniel S for the following details of the cuts to the Video Classics Gold tape.

Movie-Censorship has details of the cuts to the British version. Although the Video Classic's tape was not as heavily censored, the cuts are to the same scenes as listed below.

 

The Video Classics tape has always seemed very graphic to me, however there are a number of minor cuts to five of the murders. These are very brief, and it is difficult to tell that footage has been removed. Considering what remains, it is a mystery why the Australian censors even bothered.

The quoted times are the approximate position in the Video Classics tape where the scene begins.

 

MURDER OF ROY AND ROSEMARY
08:30 approx - 2s missing

Before - The killer stabs Roy with the pitchfork, Rosemary screams "No!"

Censored - Shot of the killers boot pushing the pitchfork into Roy's Back.

After/Before - Rosemary screaming "No!"

Censored - Second shot of the killers boot pushing the pitchfork into Roy's Back.

After - Blood is shown gushing from Rosemary's back, followed by a shot of the killers boot (this time uncensored) pushing the pitchfork in even further.

 

MURDER OF CARL
21:15 approx - 3s missing

Before - Carl sits up, the killer grabs him and hold a knife above his head.

Censored - Shot of the blade entering the top of Carl's skull, and exiting through his throat.

After - Shot of Carl struggling with the knife through his head followed by a shot of Sherry in the shower.

 

MURDER OF SHERRY
22:15 - 3s missing

Before - The killer stabs Sherry in the chest with a pitchfork, her face is shown with blood coming from her mouth.

Censored - Shot of the fork in her chest with blood flowing from the wounds.

After/Before - Shot of the killer using the pitchfork to push Sherry up the wall.

Censored - A second shot of the fork in her chest and blood flowing from the wounds.

After - Shot of Sherry's face as she reaches forward.

 

MURDER OF LISA
48m approx - 5s missing

Before - The killer attacks Lisa in the swimming pool from behind. He cuts her neck with a blade, this is followed by several shots of her legs thrashing around in the water, and of the knife cutting her neck.

Censored - A shot of the killer moving the knife around in her neck.

After - Underwater shot of Lisa's body sinking.

 

MURDER OF MISS ALLISON
51:30 - 6s missing

Before - The Killer grabs Miss Allision from behind. He stabs her throat with a knife. A shot of the knife in her throat with some blood flowing out.

Censored - Another shot of her throat with much more blood flowing out.

After - Shot of her feet covered with blood.

 

 

1986: Censored scenes okay in SCREAM GREATS VOLUME 1: TOM SAVINI

Showing just how inconsistent they really are, in 1986 the censors passed three previously cut scenes when they were included in the Showcase Video release of SCREAM GREATS VOLUME 1: TOM SAVINI. These were:

• 08:09 - A shot of the killer moving the knife around in Sherry's neck.
• 08:20 - The knife going into Miss Allison's neck.
• 08:28 - Tom Savini is shown plunging the knife into the top of Carl's head, and the blade exiting his throat.

See our separate database entry for more information regarding the classification SCREAM GREATS VOLUME 1: TOM SAVINI.

 

 

Uncut DVD

In October 2007, Universal Pictures released a R4 DVD. The print ran 84:36, and was uncut.

 

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Rossa Venezia

Directed by Andreas Bethmann / 2003 / Germany – Italy / IMDb

The Chopping List reports that a DVD of ROSSA VENEZIA was confiscated by customs in 2004.

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RXXX: Prescription for Pain

Produced by Shiyuuta Biwajima and Chikara Niki / 2002 / 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.

 

In September 2007, RXXX: PRESCRIPTION FOR PAIN was passed with an R18+ (High level themes and sex scenes) rating. Siren Visual Entertainment released it on DVD as part of their Hentai Collection in December 2007.

It was re-released as part of THE NURSES COLLECTION box set, which included SEX WARD and NAUGHTY NURSES.

RXXX: PRESCRIPTION FOR PAIN would join a number of other titles in Siren's Hentai collection that were either banned or censored in Australia. See the entry for MY BROTHER'S WIFE for a full listing.

 

 

RXXX: PRESCRIPTION FOR PAIN review

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

 

RXXX: PRESCRIPTION FOR PAIN PART 1 runs 26:39 and looks to be cut. I have not seen the uncut version, and am basing this observation on the end credits which contain footage not in the preceding episode.

Between 25:10 to 25:16 in the end credits of this episode there are shots of Dr Shiozaki having sex with Serika that are not in the actual episode. I believe these have been removed from the following scene.

In the Siren disc between 08:35 and 12:37. Dr Shiozaki has a flashback to when he was treating the teenage Serika as she recovers from a car accident. We then go back to the present when Dr Shiozaki confronts Serika, now a rival Doctor, and she says:

"Stop joking around. I haven't forgotten"

At 09:52 the screen fades as if a flashback should be here.

The Siren version then continues with Dr Shiozaki saying "Hey Serika"

This is followed by another flashback in which we see the nearly recovered Serika. It ends with brief shot of Dr Shiozaki raping her.

 

RXXX: PRESCRIPTION FOR PAIN PART 2 runs 29:34, and did not look obviously cut.

Extras include three trailers for HOOLIGAN, I LOVE YOU, and LITTLE MONICA.

There is also an art gallery that runs 01:55 which also includes scenes not present in either episode. They involve shots of sex scenes with the other nurses indicating the censorship goes further than just Dr Shiozaki's rape of Serika.

The New Zealand Office of Film and Literature Classification gave this an Objectionable (banned) rating on February 19, 2008. I would hazard a guess that this was the same as the pre-cut Siren Visual version that was released in Australia with an R18+.

 

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Next Films: Robotrix (1991)

 

 

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