The adult movies of Bethel Buckalew that have been cut or banned in Australia.
Country Cuzzins
Directed by Bethel Buckalew / 1970 / USA / IMDb
In December 1973, a 2573:00-meter (93:47) print of COUNTRY CUZZINS was banned because of ‘indecency’.
The same month, Filmways Australasia made an unsuccessful appeal to the Films Board of Review.
Filmways Bob Ward on censorship
December 1974
CP: Have Filmways got any other films that they consider sufficiently artistic to be unsuitable for the Star or the Albany, but which are encountering censorship problems?WARD: No. We do have NOTORIOUS CLEOPATRA, COUNTRY CUZZINS and THE SINFUL DWARF from Harry Novak banned. They are probably a little bit above the Star, probably Roma material.
CP: Is Filmways fighting these decisions?
WARD: Not really, what can you do to fight? LANGUAGE OF LOVE was an intelligent medical film that you can fight on appeal constructively, but these?
– Robert Ward, Dendy Filmways
– Cinema Papers No. 4
Filmways accept cuts
In June 1976, Filmways was finally awarded an R-rating for a 2180.80-meter (79:29) ‘reconstructed version’.
This censored print, missing fourteen minutes, played theatrically in Australia.
Banned K&C Video
In May 1981, K&C Video had a 90-minute tape of COUNTRY CUZZINS Refused Registration because of sex. It was described as being:
Frequency: Infrequent
Explicitness/Intensity: High
Purpose: Gratuitous
K&C Video vs. The Censor
At the same time as COUNTRY CUZZINS, the Censorship Board also banned four other K&C Video tapes for the same reason. They were THE DIRTY MIND OF YOUNG SALLY (1973), SOUTHERN COMFORTS (1971), TOBACCO ROODY (1970) and Barry J. Spinello’s MASSAGE PARLOR WIFE (1975).
A censored version of Bethel Buckalew’s MIDNITE PLOWBOY (1971) was released by K&C on their Starbase Video label.
In July 1981, K&C Video also had a tape of THE TAKERS (1971) Refused Registration.
Softcore cuts
Carlos reports.
Something Weird (us) – 2002 DVD – 89:36
This is 04:27 shorter than the version that was banned in 1973.
72:00 to 73:00 – Jeeter (Steven Hodge) having sex with a girl is as graphic as it gets. She sits on top of him and we get a glimpse of what looks like a semi-erection.
To find another fourteen minutes of softcore sex to cut just goes to show how out of touch was the Film Censorship Board.
Tobacco Roody
Directed by Bethel Buckalew / 1970 / USA / IMDb
In August 1975, a 2358.98-meter (85:59) print of TOBACCO ROODY was banned because of ‘indecency’.
Regent Trading Enterprises was the applicant.
R-rated for 14th Mandolin
A 2238.80-meter (81:36) ‘pre-censor cut version’ was passed with an R-rating in January 1979.
14th Mandolin was the applicant. Advertisements list it as being released in the early-1980s on their King of Video label.
Refused on K&C Video
In May 1981, K&C Video had an 85-minute videotape of TOBACCO ROODY banned because of sex, which was described as being:
Frequency: Infrequent
Explicitness/Intensity: High
Purpose: Gratuitous
Why was it banned?
Carlos reports.
Something Weird (us) – 2002 DVD – 84:47
The sex is not exactly graphic and I have seen worse on some of the other K&C Video releases. There is no frontal male nudity and everything is pure softcore.
A likely reason for the refusal may have been the incestuous sex scene between two sisters that runs from 27:00 to 39:00.
Midnite Plowboy
Directed by Bethel Buckalew / 1971 / USA / IMDb
In October 1978, a 1810.38-meter (65:59) print of MIDNITE PLOWBOY was passed with an R-rating.
This version had been precensored by 14th Mandolin before submission. Approximately four minutes appear to have been removed, as Something Weird’s uncut DVD runs 70:23 (NTSC).
Starbase Video censored
In July 1981, K&C Video had a ‘reduced version’ 68-minute tape passed with an R-rating. It was awarded for sex, which was described as being:
Frequency: Frequent
Explicitness/Intensity: Medium
Purpose: Gratuitous
The tape was released on Starbase Video, K&C’s subsidiary label.
Southern Comforts
Directed by Bethel Buckalew / 1971 / USA / IMDb
In August 1975, a 2194.00-meter (79:58) print of SOUTHERN COMFORTS was banned because of ‘indecency’.
Regent Trading was the applicant.
R-rated cut
In March 1979, 14th Mandolin was awarded an R-rating for a 2057.25-meter (74:59) ‘pre-censor cut version’.
Video releases
14th Mandolin first released SOUTHERN COMFORTS on Video Budget and later on their King of Video label.
Stephen F. reports.
None of these Video Budget titles seems to have any opening logos or intros and most of them miss a few seconds from the start of each film. SOUTHERN COMFORTS is like this and runs 72:58. There appears to be a bit missing at the start as the print cuts in partway through the credit sequence. The cover refers to it as SOUTHERN COMFORT.
K&C Video’s censor troubles
In May 1981, K&C Video had an 80-minute tape banned because of sex. It was described as being:
Frequency: Infrequent
Explicitness/Intensity: High
Purpose: Gratuitous
Softcore indecency
Carlos reports.
Something Weird (us) – 2002 DVD – 80:28 (NTSC)
The softcore sex is not exactly explicit and far worse can certainly be found in other K&C Video releases.
66:00 to 39:00 – Junior (John Tull) chases a girl around the yard and then strips and has sex with her. In a previous scene, the girl had seduced him, and although she now protests, it is not played as a graphic rape.
39:00 – The Colonel (Jack Richesin) has sex with Mindy. It ends with them in the sixty-nine position and is probably the most graphic shot in the film.
The Dirty Mind of Young Sally
Directed by Bethel Buckalew / 1973 / USA / IMDb
In May 1976, a 1042.00-meter (94:57) 16mm print of THE DIRTY MIND OF YOUNG SALLY was banned because of ‘indecency’.
Regent Trading Enterprises was the applicant.
14th Mandolin fail
A 2303.00-meter (83:57) version was banned because of ‘indecency’ in November 1978.
This was followed in May 1979 by a third refusal, this time for an even more heavily censored 2123.90-meter (77:25) print.
The Films Board of Review rejected an appeal against the banning of the 77:25 version in July 1979.
In each of these cases, 14th Mandolin was the applicant.
Possible video releases
In December 1980, a 105-minute videotape of THE DIRTY MIND OF YOUNG SALLY was Refused Registration because of sex, which was described as being:
Frequency: Infrequent
Explicitness/Intensity: High
Purpose: Gratuitous
Luhaze was the applicant.
Censored X-rated & R-rated videos
In May 1981, K&C Video had a 95-minute tape banned for the same reasons as December 1980.
They had a shorter 80-minute tape passed with an X-rating in February 1984. K&C Video appears to have gone out of business around this time.
In September 1987, Variety Video received an R-rating for a 64-minute ‘edited version’. It was awarded for sex, which was described as being:
Frequency: Frequent
Explicitness/Intensity: Medium
Purpose: Gratuitous
It is unclear if either of these videos were released in Australia.
Borderline Hardcore
Carlos reports.
Something Weird (us) – 2002 DVD – 95:33 (NTSC)
Censored by a few seconds of sex at 60:52. This occurs just after the girl moves down to kiss the man’s penis. Instead of cutting, the film slows down and shows his hand on the back of her head, followed by a shot of his face. This was presumably removed due to the disc being distributed by Image Entertainment.
THE DIRTY MIND OF YOUNG SALLY is one of Harry Novak’s most explicit releases. The sex borders on hardcore, so it is unsurprising it was refused in Australia.
A Scream in the Streets
aka Girls in the Streets
Directed by Carl Monson – Bethel Buckalew – Harry H. Novak – Dwayne Avery / 1973 / USA / IMDb
In January 1975, a 2514.00-meter (91:38) print of A SCREAM IN THE STREETS was Refused Registration for reasons of indecency.
A 2279.00-meter (83:04) ‘reconstructed version’ lost another 4.9-meter (00:10) before being awarded an R-rating in April 1976.
It was submitted and released as GIRLS IN THE STREETS by Regent Trading Enterprises.
Banned in Queensland
On 24 September 1976, the censored R-rated version of GIRLS IN THE STREETS was prohibited by the Queensland Films Board of Review.
The distributor was Regent Trading Enterprises.
KGC Video becomes K&C Video
In the early 1980s, KGC Video released GIRLS IN THE STREETS on tape.
The cover was a generic adult entertainment box, with only a name sticker to identify the film. It was rereleased by K&C Video with a running time of only 76:59.
KGC Video was the forerunner to K&C Video, so presumably, both versions were the same.
Platinum Video censored
In February 1985, applicant C. White had a 90-minute videotape banned because of ‘gratuitous sexual violence’.
A censored version running 69:06 was issued by Platinum Video with an R-rating. The submission and release title was A SCREAM IN THE STREETS.
C. White is Christopher C. White, the boss of Platinum Video. They released tapes during the mid-1980s and were known for their exploitation style slicks. Their eye-catching cover for THE MAD BUTCHER (1971) is a particular stand out.
A number of their submissions were either banned or released censored. These include MRS. STONE’S THING (1970), THE AFTERMATH (1982), CALIFORNIA AXE MASSACRE (1977), DEADLY SUNDAY (1982) and THE MUTILATOR (1985).
Sleazy sex and violence
Simon reports.
Something Weird Video (us) – DVD – 90:29 (NTSC)
This is such a sleazy film, that it was inevitable that it would have problems with our uptight censors. This is one of Harry Novak’s more explicit films, with some of the sex going beyond softcore, without quite getting into hardcore territory.
This is a rundown of the scenes that may have been a target of the censor back in 1975.
00:00 to 02:00 The transvestite rapist (Con Covert) grabs a woman and strips and kisses her. This plays out on the right of the screen as the opening credits roll on the left.
17:00 to 24:00 – The sex scene between Mr Heath (Norman Fields) and the masseur is borderline hardcore. At 21:20 he removes his semi-erect penis from his underwear and places it between her legs.
26:00 to 28:30 – Mr Heath savagely beats the masseur with a belt.
39:15 to 39:45 – The rapist stabs the undercover policewoman to death. This is followed by a shot of her topless and bloody body.
44:00 to 49:45 – A couple has sex on a waterbed as the peeping tom looks on.
54:45 to 59:00 – The police officer and his girlfriend have sex in bed. This is quite an explicit scene that pushes the boundary of softcore.
63:30 to 72:30 – An extended lesbian sex scene that takes place as the peeping tom looks on. This is another explicit sequence with shots of one of the woman’s vagina visible.
84:00 to 87:00– The transvestite rapist forces a woman to remove her clothes. After fondling her, he goes into a rage and stabs her to death.
The remaining sex is explicit but consensual.
I have never viewed the Platinum Video release of A SCREAM IN THE STREETS, which was missing around 17 minutes. They must have removed far more than just the ‘gratuitous sexual violence’, as this would only have consisted of the three scenes of the rapist at work, and possibly the Mr Heath sequence where he beats the masseur.
Bethel Buckalew is uncredited on the print.