American adult movies from 1977 that have been cut or banned in Australia.
The X-rating, for hardcore sex, was introduced in February 1984.
The Abduction of Lorelei
Directed by Richard Rank / 1977 / USA / IMDb
In April 1983, a 1281.00-meter (46:41) ‘pre-censor cut version’ of THE ABDUCTION OF LORELEI was banned because of sex, which was described as being:
Frequency: Infrequent
Explicitness/Intensity: High
Purpose: Gratuitous
It was also refused because of ‘sexual violence’.
14th Mandolin was the applicant.
Illegal Melbourne screening
Robert Hoskin reports.
THE ABDUCTION OF LORELEI played in Melbourne’s Club Cinema from the 1st to the 14th of September 1983. 14th Mandolin screened the ‘pre-censor cut version’ that had been banned by the Film Censorship Board.
He (name withheld) appeared in Federal Court and received a severe fine of an unknown amount. Club X took over the Club Cinema on 24th November 1983 after paying 14th Mandolin’s fine.
Banned twice more
A 1206.92-meter (43:59) ‘reconstructed version’ was Refused Registration for the same reasons in January 1984.
The X-rating was introduced in February 1984, but THE ABDUCTION OF LORELEI was still too much for the Film Censorship Board. In August of that year, it was banned again, this time in a 1009.00-meter (36:46) version. It was now refused only due to ‘sexual violence’. The submission was described as being the fourth reconstructed version.
In both cases, 14th Mandolin was the applicant.
Captain Lust
Directed by Beau Buchanan / 1977 / USA / IMDb
In November 1977, a 2212.80-meter (80:39) print of CAPTAIN LUST was banned because of ‘indecency and excessive violence’.
A 1886.30-meter (68:45) ‘reconstructed version’ was submitted in February 1978. This too was banned, but now only for ‘indecency’.
The following month, this print was taken to the Films Board of Review who upheld the decision of the Film Censorship Board.
In all cases, D. Dunningham Films was the applicant.
X-rated hardcore is go
In July 1984, a 78-minute tape of CAPTAIN LUST was passed with the newly introduced X-rating. It was awarded for sex, which was said to be:
Frequency: Frequent
Explicitness/Intensity: High
Purpose: Gratuitous
W. B. and J. E. Wathen was the applicant.
Desires Within Young Girls
Directed by Richard Kanter / 1977 / USA / IMDb
In October 1980, a 2228.70-meter (81:14) print of DESIRES WITHIN YOUNG GIRLS was banned because of sex, which was said to be:
Frequency: Infrequent
Explicitness/Intensity: High
Purpose: Gratuitous
Presumably, this was a precensored version.
A 2119.49-meters (77:15) ‘reconstructed version’ received an R-rating in April 1981. The sex had been reduced to:
Frequency: Infrequent
Explicitness/Intensity: Medium
Purpose: Gratuitous
AZ Associated Film Distributors was the applicant.
R-rated & X-rated videotapes
The X-rating was introduced in February 1984. That month saw a 90-minute tape of DESIRES WITHIN YOUNG GIRLS passed with such a classification.
W.B. and J.E. Wathen was the applicant
Video Classics released an R-rated version on tape as part of their Movie at Midnight range.
It was rereleased by Palace Vibrant Video.
Eruption
aka Big John is Here
aka “Big” John Holmes is Here
Directed by Sam Norvel / 1977 / USA / IMDb
In January 1978, a 1838.70-meter (67:01) print of ERUPTION was banned because of ‘indecency’. The running time indicates that it had been precut before submission.
A 1686.18-meter (61:27) ‘reconstructed version’ was passed with an R-rating in March 1978.
Lestrig Trading (aka Lestrig Films) was the applicant.
Pre-February 1984 hardcore videos
In the early 1980s, ERUPTION was released in Australia on the Mature Video Movies label.
This label existed during the early days of the video revolution and released hardcore titles at a time when they were not yet regulated.
In October 1981, a 78-minute tape was banned because of sex, which was said to be:
Frequency: Frequent
Explicitness/Intensity: High
Purpose: Gratuitous
Videolink was the applicant.
Censored R-rated version
A 581.41-meter (52:59) 16mm ‘pre-censor cut version’ of ERUPTION was passed with an R-rating in April 1982.
It was awarded for sex, which was said to be:
Frequency: Infrequent
Explicitness/Intensity: Medium
Purpose: Gratuitous
14th Mandolin was the applicant. It was released on their King of Video label.
More pre-X hardcore
Tabu Video released ERUPTION on tape around 1983.
The cover claims that it ran 85-minutes and was X-rated. There is no record of this in the National Classification Database.
X & R-rated on Pink Video
The X-rating was introduced in February 1984. That month, 14th Mandolin had a 78-minute tape passed with the new classification.
This was followed in June 1985 by a heavily censored R-rated version, which was awarded for sex, which was said to be:
Frequency: Frequent
Explicitness/Intensity: Medium
Purpose: Gratuitous
The film was submitted by 14th Mandolin under the new title BIG JOHN IS HERE. It was released on their Pink Video label as “BIG” JOHN HOLMES IS HERE.
Late 1980s & Early 1990s videos
In July 1987, a 74-minute tape of ERUPTION was passed with an R-rating. It was awarded for sex, which was said to be:
Frequency: Frequent
Explicitness/Intensity: Medium
Purpose: Gratuitous
The applicant was Supreme Entertainment.
This was followed in May 1991 by an 83-minute tape which was passed with an X (Contains sexually explicit material) rating.
Dusk Delta Pty Ltd was the applicant.
The Lusty Ladies of Capitol Hill
Directed by William J. Condon / 1977 / USA / IMDb
In February 1982, a 2684.00-meter (97:50) print of THE LUSTY LADIES OF CAPITOL HILL was banned because of sex, which was said to be:
Frequency: Frequent
Explicitness/Intensity: High
Purpose: Gratuitous
A ‘reconstructed version’ running 2386.41-meters (86:59) was passed with an R-rating in February 1983. The sex was now described as being:
Frequency: Frequent
Explicitness/Intensity: Medium
Purpose: Gratuitous
In both cases, Greg Lynch Film Distributors was the applicant.
Paul, Lisa and Caroline
Directed by Ted Roter / 1977 / USA / IMDb
In November 1981, a 2332.40-meter (85:01) ‘pre-censor cut version’ of PAUL, LISA AND CAROLINE was banned because of sex. It was said to be:
Frequency: Frequent
Explicitness/Intensity: High
Purpose: Gratuitous
This was followed in May 1982 by a 2258.93-meter (82:20) ‘reconstructed pre-censor cut version’, which lost a further 16-meters (00:35) before being awarded an R-rating.
The extra censorship was done to remove sex, which was now found to be:
Frequency: Infrequent
Explicitness/Intensity: High
Purpose: Gratuitous
While in the R-rated version it was:
Frequency: Frequent
Explicitness/Intensity: Medium
Purpose: Gratuitous
In all cases, Cinerama Films was the applicant.
Pink Video’s hard & soft
The X-rating was introduced in February 1984. In July of that year, a 107-minute tape of PAUL, LISA AND CAROLINE was passed with this new classification. The sex was now said to be:
Frequency: Frequent
Explicitness/Intensity: High
Purpose: Gratuitous
This was followed in April 1985 by a pre-censored 78-minute tape that was passed with an R-rating. In this version the sex was:
Frequency: Frequent
Explicitness/Intensity: Medium
Purpose: Gratuitous
In both cases, 14th Mandolin was the applicant. The R-rated and X-rated tapes were released on their Pink Video label.
Further reading
For more censored Ted Roter (AKA Peter Balakoff), see the database entries for A VERY SMALL CASE OF RAPE (1977) and THE MASTER AND MS. JOHNSON (1983).
A Very Small Case of Rape
Directed by Ted Roter / 1977 / USA / IMDb
In October 1981, a 2057.24-meter (74:59) ‘pre-censor cut version’ of A VERY SMALL CASE OF RAPE was passed with an R-rating. It was awarded for sex, which was said to be:
Frequency: Frequent
Explicitness/Intensity: Medium
Purpose: Gratuitous
Cinerama Films was the applicant.