American adult movies from 1975 that have been cut or banned in Australia.
The X-rating, for hardcore sex, was introduced in February 1984.
Beach Blanket Bango
Directed by James Bryan / 1975 / USA / IMDb
In August 1977, a 2194.00-meter (79:58) print of BEACH BLANKET BANGO was censored by 27.90-meters (01:01) for an R-rating.
The cuts were made to remove ‘indecency’.
The uncut version contains hardcore sex, so it would appear to be precut before submission.
Lestrig Trading was the applicant.
Banned in Queensland
On 22 April 1978, the censored R-rated version of BEACH BLANKET BANGO was prohibited by the Queensland Films Board of Review.
The distributor was Lestrig Films.
The Bite
Directed by Jerry Denby / 1975 / USA / IMDb
In July 1977, a 1684.30-meter (61:23) print of THE BITE was banned by the Film Censorship Board. The reason given was ‘indecency’.
The running time indicates that it was precut before submission.
An unsuccessful appeal was made to the Films Board of Review in August 1977.
In November 1977, a 1618.20-meter (58:59) ‘reconstructed version’ was passed with an R-rating.
In all cases, Lestrig Trading was the applicant.
VCA X-rated video
In September 1984, an 81-minute tape of THE BITE was passed with an X-rating. It was awarded for sex, which was found to be:
Frequency: Frequent
Explicitness/Intensity: High
Purpose: Gratuitous
Visual Communication of Australia (VCA) was the applicant.
Pink Video X-rated & R-rated
In August 1985, a 62-minute tape was passed with an R-rating.
This was followed in November 1985 by a 79-minute tape, which was X-rated. It was awarded for sex, which was found to be:
Frequency: Frequent
Explicitness/Intensity: High
Purpose: Gratuitous
In both cases, 14th Mandolin was the applicant. The tapes were released on their Pink Video/Essex Video label.
Christy
Directed by Steve Harris / 1975 / USA / IMDb
In September 1976, a 2199.40-meter (80:10) print of CHRISTY was banned because of ‘indecency’.
A 2037.00-meter (74:15) ‘reconstructed version’ was refused for the same reason in November 1976.
This decision resulted in an unsuccessful appeal to the Films Board of Review in February 1977.
In all cases, Garron Int. Dist. Pty Ltd was the applicant.
Who were Garron International?
Garron distributed several American adult films. Several of these, such as LOVE, YOLANDA (1971), also had censorship issues.
In the mid-1970s they tried their hand at producing their own film with Gary Young’s NUTS, BOLTS AND BEDROOM SPRINGS (1975).
This Australian sexploitation comedy was classified with an R-rating in October 1975.
Fantasy in Blue
Directed by Richard Kanter / 1975 / USA / IMDb
In February 1976, a 2222.00-meter (81:00) print of FANTASY IN BLUE was banned because of ‘indecency’.
Roadshow Distributors was the applicant.
R-rated for 14th Mandolin
A censored 2007.94-meters (73:11) version received an R-rating in July 1980. The running time indicates that it had been modified before submission.
It was awarded for sex, which was described as being:
Frequency: Frequent
Explicitness/Intensity: Medium
Purpose: Gratuitous
In this case, 14th Mandolin was the applicant. They released it on their King of Video label in the early 1980s.
Banned in Queensland
On 4 March 1981, the censored R-rated version of FANTASY IN BLUE was prohibited by the Queensland Films Board of Review.
The distributor was 14th Mandolin.
Love, Lust and Violence
aka Hot Line
aka Mafia Girls
Directed by Norbert Meisel / 1975 / USA / IMDb
In February 1980, a 2095.50-meter (76:23) print of LOVE, LUST AND VIOLENCE banned because of sex, which was said to be:
Frequency: Frequent
Explicitness/Intensity: Medium
Purpose: Gratuitous
… and for violence, which was:
Frequency: Frequent
Explicitness/Intensity: Medium
Purpose: Gratuitous
Esquire Films was the applicant.
The running time indicates that it had already been precut before submission.
Pre-cut & R-rated
In March 1983, 14th Mandolin had an 823.00-meter (75:00) 16mm ‘pre-censor cut version’ passed with an R-rating.
It was awarded for sex, which was described as being:
Frequency: Frequent
Explicitness/Intensity: Medium
Purpose: Gratuitous
Retitled & rereleased
In 1983, a videotape of LOVE, LUST AND VIOLENCE was issued as MAFIA GIRLS by Rodox. The tape is listed as Number 425 in the series.
The National Classification Database does not show it as ever receiving an X-rating.
Title No. 3
In the mid-1980s, 14th Mandolin retitled the film again, this time to HOT LINE.
September 1985 saw a 68-minute tape banned due to ‘gratuitous sexual violence’.
It was followed in February 1986 by an R-rated 76-minute tape. The sex was said to be:
Frequency: Frequent
Explicitness/Intensity: Medium
Purpose: Gratuitous
… and the violence:
Frequency: Infrequent
Explicitness/Intensity: Medium
Purpose: Gratuitous
It is unclear if this video was released.
Targeted by the State Police
MAFIA GIRLS could have achieved an X-rating in early 1984; however, the guidelines were continually tightened during that year. This may explain how in September 1985 the Victorian Police came to submit an 89-minute tape and why it was banned due to ‘gratuitous sexual violence’.
Three more submissions followed, one by the NSW Police in November 1985 and two by the Victorian Police in March and August 1986. They were Refused Registration because of ‘gratuitous sexual violence’. All ran 89-minutes, apart from the final one which was 91-minutes.
Love, Lust and (Gratuitous Sexual) Violence
Simon reports.
Something Weird (us) – VHS – 90:16
The actual running time should be slightly shorter, as a couple of scenes are shown twice.
The ‘gratuitous sexual violence’ consists of a two-minute sequence of Lila (Serena) being raped by one of the gangsters. The scene is intercut with her husband, Roger (Al Moore), being beaten by the other gangster.
Surprisingly, the film is not wall-to-wall hardcore and has a relatively ambitious plot. It may explain how 14th Mandolin managed to get it R-rated with only around 15-minutes removed.
Massage Parlor Wife
Directed by Barry J. Spinello / 1975 / USA / IMDb
In July 1975, a 2249.00-meter (81:59) print of MASSAGE PARLOR WIFE banned by the Film Censorship Board.
A censored 2023.60-meters (73.46) version was Refused Registration in October 1976.
In both cases, the reasons for the refusals were listed as ‘indecency’.
Regent Trading Enterprises was the applicant.
Success for 14th Mandolin
A heavily censored 1810.38-meter (65:59) version was finally passed with an R-rating in January 1979. The cuts had reduced the running time by sixteen minutes.
In this case, 14th Mandolin was the applicant.
They went on to release it on their King of Video label in the early 1980s.
Banned K&C Video
In May 1981, K&C Video had an 81-minute tape banned by the Film Censorship Board.
The reason given for the refusal was sex, which was described as being:
Frequency: Infrequent
Explicitness/Intensity: High
Purpose: Gratuitous
Special Condition K&C Video
In September 1983, K&C Video had a 73-minute censored version of MASSAGE PARLOR WIFE passed with the Special Condition ‘that this film/tape will not be exhibited in any State in contravention of State’s law relating to the exhibition of films’.
Missing erections?
Chris reports.
Something Weird (us) – VHS – 80:44 (NTSC)
Just over a minute shorter than the 81:59.
This version does not show hardcore, so it is unclear if something was missing. Maybe Harry Novak just cut it down for distribution. However, a couple of erections would have been a target of the Australian censor.
12:00 – Melanie (Serena) pulls the towel back to reveal a brief shot of Mr Edwards’ (Tyler Reynolds) erection.
74:00 – Tom (Steve Rogers) stands naked with an erection and shouts, ‘Tom is here, Tom is ready’.
Is this the same movie?
In July 1984, 14th Mandolin had a 78-minute film called EVERY INCH COUNTS passed with an X-rating.
This was followed in April of 1985 by a censored 66-minute version being awarded an R-rating.
In a video, once available on their YouTube channel, Something Weird’s Mike Vraney is shown visiting the headquarters of Harry Novak’s Box Office International Pictures. At one point, Novak discusses how his movies have sold all over the world. He then pulls out a copy of the Pink Video VHS of EVERY INCH COUNTS and confesses he has no idea which one it is.
Next, he shows the King of Video release of MASSAGE PARLOR WIFE and Starbase Video’s WHAM BAM THANK YOU SPACEMAN (1975).
The National Classification Database entry lists B. Spinello as the Director of EVERY INCH COUNTS. This must be Barry J. Spinello, the Director of MASSAGE PARLOR WIFE. Novak claims EVERY INCH COUNTS is his and Spinello only did one movie for him which indicates they are the same.
Could someone with a copy of the Pink Video release please confirm this?
Banned in Queensland
On 25 May 1985, the censored R-rated version of MASSAGE PARLOR WIFE was prohibited by the Queensland Films Board of Review.
This was the 66-minute EVERY INCH COUNTS release from 14th Mandolin/Pink Video.
The Naughty Victorians
Directed by Robert Sickinger / 1975 / USA / IMDb
In April 1978, a 2268.80-meter (82:42) print of THE NAUGHTY VICTORIANS was banned because of ‘indecency’.
A 2142.70-meter (78:06) ‘reconstructed version’ was submitted in September 1980, but this too was refused. The reason given was sex, which was described as being:
Frequency: Infrequent
Explicitness/Intensity: High
Purpose: Gratuitous
In both cases, Regent Trading Enterprises was the applicant.
Oriental Blue
Directed by Bill Milling / 1975 / USA / IMDb
In October 1981, a 2057.50-meter (75:00) ‘pre-censor cut version’ of ORIENTAL BLUE was banned because of sex, which was said to be:
Frequency: Frequent
Explicitness/Intensity: High
Purpose: Gratuitous
AZ Associated Theatres was the applicant.
Censored UK pre-cert?
In February 1982, a 59-minute tape, described as a ‘modified version’, was passed with an R-rating. It was awarded for sex and language, which were both described as being:
Frequency: Frequent
Explicitness/Intensity: Medium
Purpose: Gratuitous
Anjohn International was the applicant. This may have been an imported tape, as the running time matches the UK pre-certs released on the Intercity and Poseidon labels.
Second time lucky
In March 1982, AZ Associated Theatres resubmitted the film in a 1841.00-meter (67:06) ‘reconstructed pre-censor cut version’.
It was awarded an R-rating for the same reasons as the February 1982 decision.
Censored videos
A 67-minute tape of ORIENTAL BLUE was passed with an R-rating in July 1984. It was awarded for sex, which was said to be:
Frequency: Frequent
Explicitness/Intensity: Medium
Purpose: Gratuitous
It was submitted by Video Classics, who went on to release it as part of their Movies at Midnight range.
In the mid-1980s, it was rereleased on Palace Vibrant Video.
Further reading
For more censored Bill Milling (AKA Philip T. Drexler Jr., AKA Luis F. Antonero, AKA Dexter Eagle), see the database entries for BLONDE VELVET (1976) and TEMPTATIONS (1976).
Referral Service
Produced by B. Rogue / 1975 / USA / IMDb
In June 1980, a 504.62-meter (45:59) 16mm print of REFERRAL SERVICE was censored by 18.00-meters (01:38) for an R-rating.
The cuts were made to remove sex, which was said to be:
Frequency: Infrequent
Explicitness/Intensity: High
Purpose: Gratuitous
In the R-rated version, it was said to be:
Frequency: Frequent
Explicitness/Intensity: Medium
Purpose: Gratuitous
14th Mandolin was the applicant. It is listed as being released on their King of Video label.