American adult movies from 1976 that have been cut or banned in Australia.
The X-rating, for hardcore sex, was introduced in February 1984.
Sex Wish
Directed by Victor Milt / 1976 / USA / IMDb
In April 1978, a 2107.90-meters (76:50) print of SEX WISH was banned because of ‘indecency’.
A 1994.6-meter (72:42) ‘reconstructed version’ was refused for the same reason in January 1979.
GH Photography was the applicant.
MUFF vs. the Classification Board
In 2007, SEX WISH was programmed to play at the eighth Melbourne Underground Film Festival (MUFF).
September 2007
Zebedy Colt Double feature: SEX WISH and THE FARMER’S DAUGHTER.Two short features (absolute 70s erotica classics) from Zebedy Colt aka Edward Earle Marsh. SEX WISH features a cool electronic soundtrack as Zebedy plays a rapist who breaks into women’s homes with a bag of unusual tricks. Zebedy’s performance is truly bizarre…
Then comes THE FARMER’S DAUGHTER – clocking in at one hour in length, it’s sort of an erotic version of LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT. Look out for cheap and nasty sex scenes about home invasion, incest and violation. There’s also an early appearance from comedian and political commentator Spalding Gray getting up to no good… This is true Psychopathology, raw 70s style!
9 pm, Saturday 29 September at Loop
– The Melbourne Underground Film Festival
The SEX WISH screening was scrapped after the Classification Board’s Amy Wooding refused to grant film festival exemptions to it and six other features.
For more information regarding this case, see ASHLEY AND KISHA: FINDING THE RIGHT FIT (2007) in Film Censorship Database No. 1.
Sip the Wine
Directed by Dan Caldwell / 1976 / USA / IMDb
In October 1976, a 2322.87-meter (84:40) print of SIP THE WINE was banned because of ‘indecency’.
Garron International was the applicant.
Banned in Queensland
On 17 June 1977, SIP THE WINE was prohibited by the Queensland Films Board of Review.
The distributor was Garron International.
Rated on appeal
In February 1979, a 2282.00-meter (83:11) print was censored by 66.40-meters (02:25) and awarded an R-rating. The cuts were made to remove ‘indecency’.
The Film Censorship Board noted that they had originally rejected it, but the Films Board of Review had overturned the decision and authorised it to be registered ‘R’ with eliminations.
The applicant is unknown.
Tanya
Directed by Nate Rodgers / 1976 / USA / IMDb
In October 1978, a 1920.10-meter (69:59) print of TANYA was censored by 1.90-meters (00:04) for an R-rating. The cuts were made to remove ‘indecency’.
14th Mandolin was the applicant.
Tapestry of Passion
Directed by Alan Colberg / 1976 / USA / IMDb
In September 1981, a 1884.80-meter (68:42) print of TAPESTRY OF PASSION was banned because of sex. It was said to be:
Frequency: Frequent
Explicitness/Intensity: High
Purpose: Gratuitous
The running time indicates that it had been precensored before submission.
A 1756.94-meter (64:02) ‘reconstructed version’ was passed with an R-rating in December 1981. The sex was now described as being:
Frequency: Frequent
Explicitness/Intensity: Medium
Purpose: Gratuitous
In both cases, 14th Mandolin was the applicant. It was released on their King of Video label.
Behind the scenes at 14th Mandolin
May 29, 1982
The sex film is now established enough to have its own stars and series. John C. Holmes, the Robert Redford of porn (his definitive works were FANTASM and FANTASM COMES AGAIN) plays a private eye as Bogart was never quite required to do in TAPESTRY OF PASSION’ (‘She Required His Services … But She Got More Than She Bargained For!!’ says the cassette cover blurb).TAPESTRY started life as hard core, but took enough cuts to warrant an R rating in Australia and is now the top-selling cassette with King of Video, a Melbourne-based distribution company with a turnover of over $1 million. The managing director who does not want to be named, as he is involved in other businesses said they began trading with 60 per cent horror and Kung Fu cassettes, but switched to R-rated movies because they were so much in demand. Now more than 100 adults-only titles make up two-thirds of his sales to video shops and libraries.
– The lust for video sex shows
– theage.com.au
Cut video
In July 1986, a 62-minute ‘edited version’ of TAPESTRY OF PASSION was passed with an R-rating. The sex was again said to be:
Frequency: Frequent
Explicitness/Intensity: Medium
Purpose: Gratuitous
Video Excellence submitted the film on tape.
Temptations
aka I Feel it Rising
Directed by Bill Milling / 1976 / USA / IMDb
In October 1981, a 2190.20-meter (79:50) ‘pre-censor cut version’ of TEMPTATIONS was banned because of sex, which was said to be:
Frequency: Frequent
Explicitness/Intensity: High
Purpose: Gratuitous
AZ Associated Theatres was the applicant.
Banned UK pre-cert
A 79-minute tape was Refused Registration for the same reasons in January 1982.
The applicant, Anjohn International, submitted it as I FEEL IT RISING. This may have been an imported tape, as it was under this title that UK pre-certs were released on the Intercity and Poseidon labels.
Censored & Refused
AZ Associated Theatres resubmitted the film in a 2063.00-meter (75:12) ‘reconstructed pre-censor cut version’.
In February 1982, it was banned yet again, with the sex being at the same level as the October 1981 decision.
Failed appeal
In May 1982, Anjohn International made an unsuccessful appeal to the Films Board of Review.
Their video, under the title I FEEL IT RISING, remained banned in Australia.
Twice censored & R-rated
TEMPTATIONS was finally passed with an R-rating in September 1982.
This 2036.00-meter (74:13) print, submitted by AZ Associated Theatres, was referred to as the ‘second reconstructed pre-censor cut version’.
The sex was described as being:
Frequency: Frequent
Explicitness/Intensity: Medium
Purpose: Gratuitous
Video releases
In February 1984, a 79-minute tape of TEMPTATIONS was passed with an R-rating. It was submitted by Video Classics, who went on to release it as part of their Movies at Midnight range.
This was presumably a precensored version.
It was later rereleased on Palace Vibrant Video.
Through the Looking Glass
aka L’Inferno Di Una Donna
Directed by Jonas Middleton / 1976 / USA / IMDb
In August 1977, a 2252.60-meters (82.06) print of THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS was banned because of ‘indecency’.
The film was produced in both hardcore and softcore versions. It is safe to presume this was the latter.
A censored 2085.00-meter (76:00) print was passed with an R-rating in October 1977.
Blake Films released it theatrically.
Banned import
In October and November 1983, the 79-minute videotape was Refused Registration because of sex, which was described as being:
Frequency: Infrequent
Explicitness/Intensity: High
Purpose: Gratuitous
The applicants were A.M. Alessi Films and Video and Phoenix Video Centre.
This was an import of the Italian L’INFERNO DI UNA DONNA tape on the CVR Realvision label.
The Film Censorship Board described it as being the ‘reduced version’.
