American adult movies from 1973 that have been cut or banned in Australia.
The X-rating, for hardcore sex, was introduced in February 1984.
Fleshpot on 42nd St
aka Erotic Diary of a Happy Hooker
aka Fleshpots on 42nd St
Directed by Andy Milligan / 1973 / USA / IMDb
In September 1974, a censored 2343.00-meter (85:24) print of EROTIC DIARY OF A HAPPY HOOKER was passed with an R-rating.
An unsuccessful appeal was made to the Films Board of Review to prevent it from being cut.
Studio Films was the applicant.
A title change was noted in the December 1976 edition of the FILM CENSORSHIP BULLETIN from EROTIC DIARY OF A HAPPY HOOKER to FLESHPOTS ON 42ND ST.
The original title change was done to cash in on Xaviera Hollander’s book THE HAPPY HOOKER: MY OWN STORY (1971). The film adaptation, THE HAPPY HOOKER (1975), was R-rated in June 1975. Presumably, by December 1976 the publicity had subsided and it made sense to revert to the original title.
Softcore vs. Hardcore version
Matt reports.
Something Weird Video (us) – VHS – 74:40 (NTSC)
Vinegar Syndrome (us) – 2019 Blu-ray – 87:17 (NTSC)
The IMDb states that William Mishkin Motion Pictures made available two different cuts. The original XXX hardcore version, under the title FLESHPOT ON 42ND STREET and the X softcore version titled THE GIRLS OF 42ND STREET.
The Something Weird release is very choppy and all of the sex scenes are shortened. Although it is missing the title, this is the softcore THE GIRLS OF 42ND STREET version.
Vinegar Syndrome’s FLESHPOT ON 42ND STREET is the uncut hardcore version. The censored Australian print ran 85:24, which suggests that it began as the hardcore version.
Fongaluli
Directed Eduardo Cemano / 1973 / USA / IMDb
In April 1976, a 2331.00-meter (84:58) print of FONGALULI was censored by 232.90-meters (08:29) for an R-rating. The cuts were made to remove ‘indecency’.
Rebelz was the applicant.
The Harder They Fall
Directed by Gil Kenston / 1973 / USA / IMDb
In January 1981, a 640.70-meter (58:23) 16mm print of THE HARDER THEY FALL was banned because of sex and violence, which were both found to be:
Frequency: Frequent
Explicitness/Intensity: Medium
Purpose: Gratuitous
Esquire Films was the applicant.
The following month it was resubmitted as a 661.00-meter (60:14) ‘pre-censor cut version’. This too was banned for the same reasons as before.
In August 1981, it was seen for a third time, now in a 611.20-meter (55:42) ‘reconstructed version’. Once again, it was banned, this time for ‘sexual violence’.
Both the second and third submissions were made by 14th Mandolin.
Why was it banned?
Matt reports.
Vinegar Syndrome (us) – 2016 DVD as COME DEADLY – 60:23
Part of STOREFRONT THEATRE COLLECTION: VOLUME 2 BIZARRE ART SET
The print appears to be uncut and is in great shape. It is hard to believe that 14th Mandolin ever thought they could slip this past the Film Censorship Board. The plot concerns a rapist who is attacking and strangling women in a theatre. When the numerous hardcore rape scenes are not on the screen, we get hardcore sex between the various theatre actors and the undercover cop.
In the film’s defence, it is so poorly made that the subject matter does not seem half as disturbing as it should be.
The Hooker Convention
Directed by Unknown / 1973 / USA / IMDb
In July 1976, a 676.60-meter (61:39) 16mm print of THE HOOKER CONVENTION was banned because of ‘indecency’.
Regent Trading Enterprises were the applicant.
Success for 14th Mandolin
In September 1980, a 1868.50-meter (68:06) print was submitted and passed with an R-rating following the removal of 25.20-meters (00:54) of footage.
The rating was awarded for sex, which was found to be:
Frequency: Frequent
Explicitness/Intensity: Medium
Purpose: Gratuitous
While the cuts were made to remove sex that was considered to be:
Frequency: Infrequent
Explicitness/Intensity: High
Purpose: Gratuitous
14th Mandolin was the applicant. Advertisements list it as being released on their King of Video label.
Banned in Queensland
On 11 December 1981, the censored R-rated version of THE HOOKER CONVENTION was prohibited by the Queensland Films Board of Review. This decision was subsequently revoked.
The distributor was 14th Mandolin.
Hot Connections
Directed by James Hong / 1973 / USA / IMDb
In July 1974, a 2363.00-meter (86:08) print of HOT CONNECTIONS was banned because of ‘indecency’.
A 1972.30-meter (71:53) ‘reconstructed version’ lost a further 52.00-meter (01:53) before being awarded an R-rating in June 1975. The cuts were made to remove ‘indecency’.
Roadshow Distributors was the applicant.
Cut on video
In October 1982, Blake Films had a censored 83-minute tape of HOT CONNECTIONS passed with an R-rating, the length of the cuts were not listed.
The rating was awarded for sex, which was described as being:
Frequency: Frequent
Explicitness/Intensity: Medium
Purpose: Gratuitous
Identical reasons were given for the 83-minute tape that Blake Films had classified with an R-rating in February 1984.
In the same month, Pakenham Video Library had an 87-minute tape passed with an R-rating.
HOT CONNECTIONS was released on tape in Australia on Roadshow’s Vibrant Video label.
Meet Sweet Myra
aka Pleasure is My Business
Directed by Joseph F. Robertson / 1973 / USA / IMDb
In September 1975, a 1631.80-meter (59:29) print of MEET SWEET MYRA was banned because of ‘indecency’.
The film was resubmitted in April 1978 in a slightly longer 1645.92-meter (60:00) print. It was passed with an R-rating following cuts to remove 97.3-meters (03:32) of ‘indecency’.
In both cases, the applicant was 14th Mandolin.
First video release
In the early 1980s, 14th Mandolin issued MEET SWEET MYRA on their King of Video label.
This was presumably the same as their censored theatrical version.
Banned, then cut for video
In August 1985, a 53-minute tape was Refused Classification because of ‘gratuitous sexual violence’.
This was followed in August 1986, by a 49-minute ‘edited version’, which was passed with an R-rating. It was awarded for sex, which was described as being:
Frequency: Frequent
Explicitness/Intensity: Medium
Purpose: Gratuitous
In both cases, the film had been retitled PLEASURE IS MY BUSINESS and was submitted by 14th Mandolin.
The R-rated version was released on their Pink Video label. Although there is no mention of it in the National Classification Database, they reportedly also issued an uncut X-rated version.
The Mermaid
aka Deep Down
Directed by Dan Martin / 1973 / USA / IMDb
In August 1981, a 2219.00-meter (80:53) print of THE MERMAID received an R-rating after the removal of 11-00-meters (00:22) of ‘sexual violence’.
The R-rating was awarded for sex, which was said to be:
Frequency: Frequent
Explicitness/Intensity: Medium
Purpose: Gratuitous
…and for violence, which was:
Frequency: Infrequent
Explicitness/Intensity: Medium
Purpose: Gratuitous
Cinerama Films was the applicant.
The one-sheet poster lists Greg Lynch Film Distributors (GLFD) as the distributor.
Retitled & released on video
In June 1985, a 76-minute tape of THE MERMAID was passed with an R-rating under the title DEEP DOWN.
It was awarded for sex, which was said to be:
Frequency: Frequent
Explicitness/Intensity: Medium
Purpose: Gratuitous
14th Mandolin released the video on their Blue Angel label.