Film Censorship: W

 

 

 

 

Web of Seduction

Directed by Blain Brown / 1999 / USA / IMDb

A 94m videotape of WEB OF SEDUCTION was banned by the OFLC in May 2000.

21st Century Pictures censored it down to 88:52 and were awarded an R18+ (Medium level sex scenes) rating in July 2000. The cover of the video incorrectly claims the rating to be R18+ (High level sex scenes).

 

 

WEB OF SEDUCTION: Unrated vs. rated

Thanks to Matt for this review.

It looks like the version of WEB OF SEDUCTION that the OFLC banned was the 93:49 (NTSC) unrated US tape. I compared this with the 88:52 21st Century Pictures VHS, and found the following differences. I suspect that the R-rated Australian VHS is the same as the US R-rated version. Times refer to the US unrated version.

00:00 to 06:00 - The opening credits show Jenni stripping for Damon. The Aus version removes the shot of her removing her underwear. In the unrated version, we can see her vagina. The scene continues until they have sex. In the Aus version, Jenni teases Damon for what seems like an eternity. In the unrated version, they get down to business much quicker. Both scenes end at the same time, which seems to indicate that the Aus tape is also NTSC. The extended bra removal scene in the Aus tape also shows that it contains footage not found in the unrated tape.  

10:00 to 13:00 - The redhead is shown stripping by the spa. She removes her bra, and then the Aus version cuts. The unrated version shows her removing her underwear and masturbating. The Aus version continues in a much softer way.  

14:50 to 17:30 - The girl is shown by the pool. She then goes for a swim, removes her underwear, and masturbates as the pool cleaner guy looks on. This scene is not included in the Aus tape at all, even though it is no more graphic than what has gone before.  

It was there that I gave up, and stopped comparing. I think that I can safely say that all of the remaining sex scenes are cut in the Aus tape, and that both versions probably have footage that is exclusive to both. The sex in the unrated version is explicit, but remains soft-core. Therefore, it is strange that the OFLC banned the film at all. Even if they could not award it an R18+, then it should have fitted an X18+.

 

 

Showtime screening

WEB OF SEDUCTION premiered on Foxtel's Showtime channel in January 2005. The print ran, around two minutes shorter than the 21st Century Pictures VHS.

 

Web of Seduction - 21st Century Pictures [au] VHS

 

 

 

 

Werewolf Woman

aka Naked Werewolf Woman / Legend of the Wolf Woman

Directed by Rino Di Silvestro / 1976 / Italy / IMDb

In January 1978, Blake Films had a 77m 35mm print of LEGEND OF THE WOLF WOMAN classified. This print lost 30s of footage before being rated R.

 

 

Banned and censored VHS

In 1994, Force Video had an 88m videotape of WEREWOLF WOMAN banned by the OFLC. We suspect the gang rape scene would have been the sequence that caused RC-rating.

During the mid 90s, a local video distributor began importing UK prints of films, packaging them as adult titles, and releasing them with fake R-ratings. These were put out on labels such as Blue Climax, Private and Colour Climax (see also CONFESSIONS OF A BLUE MOVIE STAR). All were very tame affairs; cut by the British censors, with some still having 18-ratings before the movie.

THE NAKED WEREWOLF WOMAN was released on a label called Blue Climax. The print ran 88:48, and was preceded by a British 18-rating symbol. The cover incorrectly claimed the tape was rated R18+ (Completely concerned with sex). This censored version (missing the rape scene) would have definitely passed with an R18+ rating had it been submitted to the OFLC.

Daybill image courtesy of moviemem.com

 

Werewolf Woman (1976) - Blake Films [au] Daybill     Werewolf Woman - Blue Climax [au] VHS

 

 

 

 

Wham Bam Thank You Spaceman

Directed by William A. Levey / 1975 / USA / IMDb

In the early 80s, Starbase Video released a 75:22 version of WHAM BAM THANK YOU SPACEMAN on tape.

 

In May 1994, Showtime Video had a 90m video passed with an X-rating. The reason given for the decision was sex, which was described as:
Frequency: Frequent
Explicitness/Intensity: High
Purpose: Gratuitous

There is no evidence to suggest this was ever released. If you know otherwise then please get in touch.

 

 

Banned on video

In March 1985, the Victorian Police submitted an 87m videotape. It was banned because of 'gratuitous sexual violence'.

In February 1986, the Victorian Police submitted a 90m videotape of WHAM BAM THANK YOU SPACEMAN. Again, it was banned because of 'gratuitous sexual violence'.

In August 1986 the NSW Police, and in September 1986 the Victorian Police both had videotapes banned by the Australian censors. Again, the reason was for 'gratuitous sexual violence'. In both cases, the running time had shrunk to 80m.

 

 

Australian DVD release

WHAM BAM THANK YOU SPACEMAN was passed with an R18+ (High level sex scenes, Coarse language) rating in October 2007. We have yet to see evidence that MRA Entertainment released the DVD before they went out of business.

 

Wham Bam Thank You Spaceman - Starbase Video [au] VHS

 

 

 

 

Where Truth Lies

Directed by William H. Molina / 1996 / USA / IMDb

In June 1996, a 96-minute VHS of WHERE TRUTH LIES was banned by the OFLC because of sexual violence. Network Entertainment was the applicant.

 

 

Thanks to Matt for this review.

It is very easy to spot the scenes that caused WHERE TRUTH LIES to be banned in Australia.

77:00 to 78:00 – Joe starts to kiss Wendy, She pushes him back and says ‘No’. He puts his hands around her neck, and strangles her to death as he rapes her.

86:00 to 87:10 – Joe punches Teresa to the ground, rapes her, and snaps her neck. The scene is mixed in with flashbacks to the previous rape of Wendy.


The 96-minute version that the censors banned was presumably an NTSC print as the version I viewed looked uncut and ran 93:07 (PAL)

 

 

 

 

While the Cat's Away...

Directed by Chuck Vincent / 1972 / USA / IMDb

In April 1978, a 2084.68-meter (76:12) print of WHILE THE CAT’S AWAY was censored by 45.20-meters (01:39) for an R-rating. Roadshow Distributors made the cuts to remove ‘indecency’.

Image courtesy of moviemem.com

 

While the Cat's Away... (1972) - Roadshow Distritutors [au] Daybill 

 

 

 

 

Whore

Dir Isabelle McEwen / 2006 / Germany

WHORE was due to be shown at the 8th Melbourne Underground Film Festival in 2007.

 

 

MUFF 8 Program Notes

Melbourne Underground Film Festival 8
Program Notes
Mini MUFF
Local & International Short films curated by Jason Turley
SESSION 5
7pm Wed 26 Sept LOOP
WHORE
Dir: Isabelle McEwen/2006/Germany/4 mins/Experimental
A whore guides us through a vision of hell.

 

 

The OFLC prevent MUFF from screening WHORE

The screening was scrapped after the OFLC's Amy Wooding refused to grant film festival exemptions to it, and six other features. This was not the first time that MUFF had run into problems with the censors. In 2004, the OFLC demanded that THE TOOLBOX MURDERS (1978), WIFE TO BE SACRIFICED, GUINEA PIG: DEVILS EXPERIMENT and GUINEA PIG: FLOWERS OF FLESH AND BLOOD be pulled from the festival.

The Melbourne Underground Film Festival issued the following press release on September 20, 2007.

 

MUFF 8 films banned!
September 20th 2007

The Following films have been banned from the OFLC:

70k
Schulmädchen-Report: Was Eltern nicht für möglich halten (aka The Schoolgirl Report)
Sex Wish
The Farmer's Daughter
Ashley & Kisha: Finding the Right Fit
Whore
60 Second Relief

We will replacing them with other films from the MUFF program.

This Sunday 70k will be replaced with a second screening of Streetsweeper… a good MUFF Neu that we can play. Whore and 60 Second Relief are withdrawn and nothing will fill their place. The Other films will be replaced. More details on Monday.

Will the media even cover this? Do people care about censorship in this country?

Letter to OFLC

Here is a copy of a letter sent to our OFLC contact Amy Wooding. Any response we will share with our MUFF audience:

 

Hi Amy, I thought I'd write to you about this year's decision.

So the films I cannot play at MUFF 8 are the following:

70k, Schulmädchen-Report: Was Eltern nicht für möglich halten (aka The Schoolgirl Report), Sex Wish, The Farmer's Daughter, Ashley & Kisha: Finding the Right Fit, Whore and 60 Second Relief

Is this correct?

I will comply and withdraw them from screenings and replace them with films you have granted permission for me to play (like Moonlight and Magic, Left Ear, etc).

A few small questions, you might be able to answer or maybe the OFLC director can answer them (If you have his email I'll cc this to him):

Why is pornography of the most gross and offensive nature (like shitting and pissing films) available for sale in most Adult bookshops in Victoria?

Also: Are not X rated films only supposed to be available in Canberra but for sale in 90% of Adult shops in Vic and NSW and in other states?

Why is MUFF referred to the justice department for wishing to screen a couple of classy or forgotten pieces of erotica with artistic merit to an audience over 18 (who are keen to see them) and nothing done about the illegal X rated sale of videos and DVD's in sex shops that is rampant?

Is there not a hint of corruption or hypocrisy and definitely absurdity here?

Why are X rated films banned at all! It begs the question given the ready availability of it in on the Internet? Available on any PC, anywhere.

A MUFF screening is a minor problem compared to the flaunting of your rules every day of every year by the Adult Sex Industry.

Why are films like Shortbus and 9 Songs passed though they clearly contravene some of your guidelines?

Why is MIFF allowed to play a film like Exterminating Angles in a section that focussed on perversity and erotica though that too contravenes your guideline? And we cannot do it? We will comply with your absurd ruling out of fear of prosecution to our small festival but register our complaint also that this is neither fair or just. We believe strongly it represents a violation of the basic human rights of Australian citizens to freedom of speech, assembly and expression.

Enabling a festival like MUFF or MIFF to play whatever they choose from the classy end of the sex industry will lift both festivals standing in the International community and not reveal a backward 1950's attitude to sex and censorship in Australia. Your own guidelines date from over 50 years ago. Surely a review is in order?

I am cc-ing this email to the MIFF Festival Director Richard Moore for his interest. His comments and feelings on the matter I would be interested to hear.

Any answers to these questions or our complaint will be greatly appreciated from the OFLC.

This letter is not written in disrespect but in a wish for better clarification of the important issues it contains.

Best Regards Richard Wolstencroft

PS. Why is 70k banned it has no sex or violence at all does it?

MUFF opens tonight at Toff in Town come down and support a festival that believes in fighting censorship!

 

 

 

 

Whore 2

Directed by Amos Kollek / 1994 / USA / IMDb

In 1995, Columbia Tri-star Hoyts Home Video had an 81m (PAL) videotape of WHORE 2 banned by the OFLC.

 

Thanks to Simon for this review and screen caps of WHORE 2.

Vidmark Entertainment (us) VHS -  84:02 (NTSC)

One scene would have caused the OFLC ban of WHORE 2. Earlier in the film, Lori has stolen money from a client called Bob. Later, she and Mary Lou are picked up by two men called Tony and Nicko, who take them back to a warehouse for sex. When they arrive, Bob is present, and despite being nervous, Lori starts giving one of the men a blowjob. 

The RC-scene begins at 68:10 and runs until 69:26. Suddenly, Bob gets behind Mary Lou and lowers his trousers. He then pulls out a gun, and points it at her head. Lori looks on in terror. He puts a cushion over Mary Lou’s head, and shoots. Lori manages to break free, but is wrestled to the ground by the men. One gets between her legs and lowers his trousers. Neither of the women is shown being raped, but I believe that the OFLC would have still considered this scene to be sexual violence.

The film itself is not bad. It mixes the fiction of an author writing a book about prostitution, with interviews with real life streetwalkers. These are the most interesting parts of the film, and reveal their motivations for working as prostitutes.

 

Whore 2 (1994) - Censored Scene 01Whore 2 (1994) - Censored Scene 02

 

 

 

 

Wife to be Sacrificed

Directed by Masaru Konuma / 1974 / Japan / IMDb

WIFE TO BE SACRIFICED was due to screen on July 17th, 2004 at the Melbourne Underground Film Festival. It is rumoured that the OFLC became aware of this and contacted the organisers who pulled it, and three other features from the program.

 

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

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

 

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

IKENIE FUJIN (a.k.a. WIFE TO BE SACRIFICED)
JAPAN | 1974 | 71 min

Gorgeous “pink” actress Naomi Tani stars as a woman who nurtures her ex-husband’s deluded fantasies in this arty, deliberately-paced Nikkatsu shocker from Masaru Konuma, a talented practitioner of the “Erotic Eastern” whose best work was done throughout the seventies and into the early eighties. Not big on plot, but heavily focused on the shifting power structures of dysfunctional relationships. As was the case with many Nikkatsu productions, this is impeccably shot and scored and has no equivalent outside Japan.

Saturday July 17th 7pm | Gertrudes

 

 

WIFE TO BE SACRIFICED review

Thanks to Simon for this review.

WIFE TO BE SACRIFICED is a simple tale of an escaped prisoner who kidnaps his ex-wife and holds her captive in a remote cabin. Here he ties her up, and uses her for his pleasure. Later he finds a couple who have made a failed suicide attempt. They too are taken back to the cabin, held captive, and abused.

I would have had it down as an R18+, but some of the fetish scenes were obviously too much for the OFLC. Early in the film, Akiko defecates as Kunisada watches. Nothing is explicit really shown during this scene. Akiko goes on to be raped by two hunters, and Kunisada puts a candle put in her vagina, and drips hot wax on her body. Later, he performs an enema on Kaoru, and Akiko collects the results in a bag.

The film looks great, and is much more than just porn. The sex is purely softcore, and this being a Japanese film, no pubic hair is shown. It makes me wonder if the OFLC just read the synopsis before refusing to give MUFF permission to screen it. The US disc from Image is uncut and runs 70:38.

 

 

 

 

The Wings of Honneamise

Directed by Hiroyuki Yamaga / 1987 / Japan / IMDb

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

 

Siren Entertainment had a 122m videotape of THE WINGS OF HONNEAMISE passed with an M (Low level violence) rating in February 1995.

This was followed in June 1995 by Valhalla Holdings who had a 122m 35mm print passed with an M (Low level violence) rating.

 

Siren Entertainment released THE WINGS OF HONNEAMISE on their Manga Video label. Unfortunately, this was a British print that had been censored to achieve a PG rating in the UK.

Melon Farmers has the following information regarding the cut.

Attempted rape scene removed, but apparently not by the BBFC. As described by one of their examiners:

Wings of Honneamise was cut in one place. It was a wholly gratuitous sexual assault in the middle of a film which was otherwise a wonderful experience for younger viewers. But, and this is important as other distributors often do the same, it was voluntarily cut by Manga Video to lower the certificate from its cinema classification of 15 to a PG for the video release. When this happens, it is not registered as a cut.

 

In the late 90s, a complete version of THE WINGS OF HONNEAMISE played on SBS.

 

 

 

 

The Women of Inferno Island

Directed by Erwin C. Dietrich / 1980 / Switzerland / IMDb

In November 1982, a 2534:00-meter (92:37) 35mm print of THE WOMEN OF INFERNO ISLAND was Refused Registration. It was banned because of sex, which was described as being:
Frequency: Infrequent
Explicitness/Intensity: High
Purpose: Gratuitous

In March 1983, Filmways censored the film down to 2139:54-meters (78:12), and were given an R-rating. It was awarded for sex, which was now described as being:
Frequency: Infrequent
Explicitness/Intensity: Medium
Purpose: Gratuitous

This print, censored of fourteen minutes, went on to be released theatrically.

 

 

CAGED WOMEN DVD review

Thanks to Matt for this review.

The film is known as CAGED WOMEN on the Swiss DVD, and runs 88:21 (PAL). It is more commonly known as ISLAND WOMEN.

The CAGED WOMEN title should not confuse it with Jess Franco’s 1975 WIP film of the same name. This incidentally, was also banned in Australia. The film actually shares a few links to that earlier work, in the involvement of Erwin C. Dietrich and Eric Falk playing a prison guard.

It is easy to see why the censor banned it in 1982, but less clear is why it lost fourteen minutes for an R-rating. As can be expected of a woman in prison film, it is full of sex and nudity, but contains far less violence than similar works. Although the sex is not hardcore, it definitely goes beyond softcore when it shows numerous close-up shots of vaginas and female masturbation.

There are many sex scenes, but these are the most explicit shots that would have no doubt been snipped by the censor.

06:00 - Carla lies naked with her legs open and masturbates in front of Marco.

12:30 - A man runs his hand over Lisa’s vagina.

17:30 to 17:45 – Four soldiers hold a naked girl by her arms and legs, while another (fully clothed) soldier rapes her. This is the only real example of sexual violence in the film. In all the other scenes, the girls are portrayed as enjoying the sex.

26:51 to 26:55 - The Doctor puts his finger in the prisoner’s vagina. This is probably the most explicit shot in the movie.

38:45 – Close up of the guard masturbating the prisoner.

 

 

 

 

World Sex Report

Directed by Richard R. Rimmel / 1971 / West Germany / IMDb

In July 1974, a 2202.20-meter (80:29) print of WORLD SEX REPORT was passed with an R-rating. The censor noted it as being a ‘reconstructed version’. This indicates that it was cut by an unknown amount prior to submission.

MGM and BEF Film Distributors released it theatrically.

Image courtesy of moviemem.com

 

World Sex Report (1971) - MGM-BEF Film Distritutors [au] One sheet poster

 

 

Next Films: Welcome to Greensborough (2005)