American adult movies from 1970 that have been cut or banned in Australia.
The X-rating, for hardcore sex, was introduced in February 1984.
Raquel’s Motel
Produced by Fantasia Films / 1970 / USA / IMDb
In August 1979, a 1608.70-meter (58:38) print of RAQUEL’S MOTEL was banned because of ‘indecency’.
A 1416.96-meter (51:39) ‘reconstructed version’ was passed with an R-rating in October 1979.
In both cases, 14th Mandolin was the applicant.
It was released on their King of Video label.
Separate Vacations
aka Seperate Vacations (Classification Board title)
Directed by Unknown / 1970 / USA / IMDb
The National Classification Database provides no information other than the title. We presume the IMDb link refers to the same film.
In November 1981, a 416.86-meter (37:59) 16mm ‘pre-censor cut version’ of SEPARATE VACATIONS was censored by a further 1.00-meter (00:05) before being awarded an R-rating.
The cuts were made to reduce the sex from being:
Frequency: Infrequent
Explicitness/Intensity: High
Purpose: Gratuitous
…to Frequency: Frequent
Explicitness/Intensity: Medium
Purpose: Gratuitous
14th Mandolin was the applicant. It was reportedly released on their King of Video label.
Sexual Freedom in Denmark
Directed by John Lamb / 1970 / USA / IMDb
In June 1974, a 2166.00-meter (78:57) print of SEXUAL FREEDOM IN DENMARK was passed with an R-rating.
Columbia Pictures was the applicant.
The Censorship Board awarded the classification with the following condition attached.
June 1974
– Film Censorship Board report
Film passed subject to the special condition that all advertising carries the words ‘This is a Sex Education Film’.
SEXUAL FREEDOM IN DENMARK is an interesting example of Australian classification standards. The Censorship Board were prepared to allow scenes of actual hardcore penetration, as long as they were in the context of a sex education film.
In October 1973, Torgny Wickman’s LANGUAGE OF LOVE (1969) had passed through uncut with a similar warning attached.
Banned in Queensland
On 6 June 1977, the R-rated version of SEXUAL FREEDOM IN DENMARK was prohibited by the Queensland Films Board of Review.
The distributor was Columbia Pictures.
A genuine white-coater
Matt reports.
After Hours Cinema (us) – DVD – 75:44
SEXUAL FREEDOM IN DENMARK plays like three films in one. The first 45-minutes covers the lifting of censorship restrictions in Denmark in the late 1960s and compares it with the current state of play in America. We get interviews with porn actors and a look inside a Danish adult store. This leads to an interview with a woman who talks about the sex education book used in Danish schools.
At the 45-minute mark, we go to a full-on sex education film. This has nothing to do with the first part of the film. It is shot seriously and I am sure it was genuinely educational to a large number of people. It covers contraception, birth of a baby footage, STDs and finally sexual positions in which a couple are shown having hardcore sex in a variety of ways. A second couple is also shown having sex, only this time the woman is pregnant.
SEXUAL FREEDOM IN DENMARK is an interesting curiosity from the time where filmmakers tried any way they could to get hardcore onto the screens. It is interesting to see that the Australian censor would pass it a full ten years before the X-rating was introduced. I would have preferred more of the earlier censorship and sexual liberation footage and less of the sex education.
Further reading
For more censored John Lamb (AKA M.C. Von Hellen), see the database entry for SEXUAL LIBERTY NOW (1971).
Sexual Practices in Sweden
Directed by Karl Hansen / 1970 / USA / IMDb
In May 1977, a 2085.00-meter (76:00) print of SEXUAL PRACTICES IN SWEDEN was censored by 66.50-meters (02:25) for an R-rating. The cuts were made to remove ‘indecency’.
Seven Keys were the applicant.
Banned in Queensland
On 30 June 1978, the censored R-rated version of SEXUAL PRACTICES IN SWEDEN was prohibited by the Queensland Films Board of Review.
The distributor was Seven Keys Films.
Splendor in the Sack
Directed by Unknown / 1970 / USA / IMDb
In January 1982, a 592.00-meter (53:57) 16mm print of SPLENDOR IN THE SACK was banned because of sex. It was said to be:
Frequency: Frequent
Explicitness/Intensity: High
Purpose: Gratuitous
14th Mandolin was the applicant.
Sweets for the Suite
Producer Cine-Cal Productions / 1970 / USA / IMDb
In December 1981, a 678.00-meter (61:47) 16mm print of SWEETS FOR THE SUITE was banned because of sex, which was said to be:
Frequency: Infrequent
Explicitness/Intensity: High
Purpose: Gratuitous
14th Mandolin was the applicant.
6-9 the Daily Double
Produced by Leonard Kirtman / 1970 / USA / IMDb
In April 1980, a 1589.62-meter (57:56) print of 6-9 DAILY DOUBLE was censored by 10-meters (00:22) for an R-rating.
The cuts were made to remove sex, which was found to be:
Frequency: Infrequent
Explicitness/Intensity: High
Purpose: Gratuitous
The censorship reduced the sex in the R-rated version to:
Frequency: Frequent
Explicitness/Intensity: Medium
Purpose: Gratuitous
14th Mandolin released it theatrically and on tape through their King of Video label.