Mondo Shockumentary movies that were cut or banned in Australia.
Pre-November 1971 decisions are here.
The Nudest Show on Earth
Directed by Luciano Martino / 1971 / Italy / IMDb
In February 1972, a 9268-foot (102:58) print of THE NUDEST SHOW ON EARTH was banned because of ‘indecency’.
An unsuccessful appeal was made to the Films Board of Review in April 1972.
Filmways Australasia was the applicant.
Possible problems
Mike reports
Unknown source – 88:57 – Italian language, English subtitles
There is admittedly quite a bit of nudity, but it is not wall-to-wall. However, other scenes may explain the ban:
A man has his toe amputated, but the special effects are laughable.
A tribeswoman’s punishment for adultery is to have her body sliced in a scarification ritual. It is also unrealistic.
Some apparently real footage of breast enlargement surgery.
An alleged ritual in Africa depicts a widow forced to spend six months in a small hut with her dead husband’s decaying body. As his body putrefies, she smears the fluids on her face as makeup.
It reuses footage from WAGES OF SIN (1969) and AMERICA OUR HOME (1970), two Mondo films directed by Sergio Martino. Both had censorship issues in Australia before the introduction of the R-rating.
Naked Magic
aka Mondo Magic
Directed by Alfredo Castiglioni – Angelo Castiglioni – Guido Guerrasio / 1975 / Italy / IMDb
In May 1976, 20th Century Fox submitted a 100-minute 35mm print of NAKED MAGIC for classification in New Zealand. The Chief Censor of Films rejected it, stating ‘…the film depicts matter that is contrary to public decency and its exhibition is undesirable in the public interest’.
Two months later, 20th Century Fox received a similar outcome from Australia’s Film Censorship Board. The 2660.71-meter (96:59) print was Refused Registration due to ‘indecent and excessive violence’. The shorter running time suggests a pre-cut version was submitted.
Following an appeal, the Films Board of Review overturned the rejection and awarded an R-rating in August.
What is the true uncut running time?
In December 1974, a version of MAGIA NUDA running 2885:00-meters (105:10) was submitted for an Italian Censorship Certificate. Three cuts, totalling 8.10-meters (00:17), were requested. The V.M. 18 was finally awarded to a print that ran 2864.00 meters (104:24).
In the US, where it was known as MONDO MAGIC, Magnum Entertainment released a VHS in 1986. Massacre Video issued a ‘fully uncut’ DVD in 2014. Both reportedly run approximately 99:15.
Australian ‘No Name’ VHS & DVD
Intermedia Video/Woodhaven Entertainment, a US label, released MONDO MAGIC on VHS in 1999 and DVD in 2004. Both were missing a significant amount of the nudity and ritual footage. The Woodhaven version available on the Internet Archive runs only 83:06.
In the early 2000s, unauthorised releases of Woodhaven’s VHS appeared on sell-through in Australia. Copies of the DVD appeared around 2005. Both had fake R18+ (High level violence, Nudity, Adult themes) ratings on their covers.
The same ‘No Name’ label also duplicated Woodhaven’s MONDO CANE (1962) and MONDO CANE 2 (1963).
Savage Man Savage Beast
Directed by Antonio Climati – Mario Morra / 1975 / Italy / IMDb
In January 1976, a 2588.90-meter (94:22) 35mm print of SAVAGE MAN SAVAGE BEAST was Refused Registration due to ‘excessive and indecent violence’.
The Films Board of Review upheld this decision in March. For unknown reasons, the same print received the same ruling in April.
It was Refused Registration again in July for ‘excessive and indecent violence’ after submission of a 2496.00-meter (90:59) ‘reconstructed version’. That totals 03:23 of cuts.
Roadshow Distributors were the applicant in all instances.
In October 1979, newly appointed Chief Censor Janet Strickland ranked SAVAGE MAN SAVAGE BEAST among the five worst banned films she had encountered. She was Deputy Chief Censor during the original submissions.
Censored VHS
In June 1986, Palace Home Video had an 88-minute ‘edited version’ receive an R-rating. The sex and violence was found to be.
Violence
Frequency: Frequent
Explicitness/Intensity: Medium
Purpose: Gratuitous
Sex
Frequency: Infrequent
Explicitness/Intensity: Medium
Purpose: Gratuitous
It was released on their Palace Explosive Video label.
They reissued it in 1992 as part of a low-cost SHOCK PACK that included THIS VIOLENT WORLD (1976).
Palace Explosive Video – The cuts list
Matt reports
Palace Explosive Video – VHS – 88:39 (PAL)
Stag hunt
Before – The hunter shoots the stag. The scene cuts to a distant view of it bucking, followed by a profile shot of the hunter’s face.
Censored at 03:30 by 00:26 – A slow-motion close-up of the bucking stag before it falls to the ground, followed by a close-up of its face.
After – The hunter looks down at the stag before taking out his knife.
Fox hunt
Before – A hunt saboteur says, ‘I mean, do they call that fair play?’.
Censored at 22:16 by 00:05 – The hounds tearing the dead fox to pieces.
After – The narrator says, ‘These unusual characters…’
Pit Dernitz vs. Lions – Part 1
The victim leaves his car to film a feeding lion, before a second animal attacks him. The tourists continue filming as the animals proceed to eat his body. The scene is generally considered to be fake.
Before – The narrator says ‘…it contained the last scene filmed by Pit Dernitz’.
Censored at 37:04 by 00:17 – The animals eating the body, which is now reduced to a mass of meat. A severed leg is visible next to a lion’s head. This shot appeared on the cover of the Palace Explosive Video release.
After – The lions scattering once the Ranger arrives.
Pit Dernitz vs. Lions – Part 2
HellToPay27 reports
The 00:17 of cuts listed above is only the first part. It is further censored as follows.
Before – A man in a white shirt waves in an attempt to scare away the lions. The narrator says, ‘…the animals were driven off only after the arrival of a game warden.’
Censored by 00:18 – Footage of the lions eating Pit. A man with a beard and glasses waves frantically at the cameraman. A brief shot of Pit’s daughter looking dismayed is inserted between the scenes of the lions feeding.
After – The lioness picks the camera up in her mouth.
Narration Note – The line, ‘…the lioness sees the victim’s movie camera…’, was relocated in the Palace Explosive VHS. It was moved to when the lioness picks up the camera. In the uncut version it begins 00:04 earlier when the lions are eating followed the last footage shot by Pit Dernitz.
Before – Pit’s footage of the lioness ends with his camera falling to the ground.
Censored by 00:15 – More graphic footage of the lions eating Pit. At this point, he has been torn in two. The game warden’s vehicle arrives and scares the animals away.
After – The lions scatter.
Matt reports
Amazonian Indio hunt
Mercenaries hired by a construction company are sent to remove natives from a jungle area. The hunt, torture and murder of the inhabitants are recorded on film. This scene is considered to be fake.
Before – The narrator says, ‘The executioner had made an agreement with the photographer to have himself filmed at the moment of killing’.
Censored at 75:14 by 00:24 – In the uncut version, the explanatory text scrolls over footage of the mercenaries walking and the Indio lying on the ground. In the Palace Explosive VHS, this text scrolls against a black background. Palace may have been supplied with this black-background version, as the original footage contains nothing that would have required censoring.
After – The narrator says, ‘These men who hunt the Indio…’.
Before – The Indio is held down, legs spread apart, as a man with a knife grabs his penis.
Censored at 77:29 by 01:17 -The Indio is tortured, killed and scalped. Finally, his head is shown being placed in a bag.
After – Shot of a sea eagle catching a fish.
Unofficial DVDs
In 2007, I Entertainment issued SAVAGE MAN, SAVAGE BEAST on DVD. The consumer advice attached to the R18+ was fake. Reportedly, the print used was a copy of the censored Palace Explosive Video VHS.
HellToPay27 reports that the version included on the US GRINDHOUSE EXPERIENCE: 20 FILM FEATURE COLLECTION DVD (2007), also utilised the Palace Explosive VHS master. Duplicates of this release subsequently appeared in Australia with a locally applied R18+ added to the cover.
A third Australian DVD emerged around 2017 on a ‘No Name’ label.
It is presumed to have been sourced similarly from the Palace Explosive VHS.
This Violent World
Directed by Antonio Climati – Mario Morra / 1976 / Italy / IMDb
In August 1977, a 2653.60-meter (96:44) print of THIS VIOLENT WORLD was banned because of ‘indecent violence’. Roadshow Distributors were the applicant.
This was the second in the ‘Savage Trilogy’ of mondo films. In 1976, Roadshow had similarly failed to get the first, SAVAGE MAN SAVAGE BEAST (1976), passed by the Film Censorship Board.
Video release
In May 1986, Palace Home Video had a 91:22 (PAL) tape passed with an R-rating. It was awarded for violence, which was described as being:
Frequency: Frequent
Explicitness/Intensity: Medium
Purpose: Gratuitous
…and also for ‘Adult Concepts’.
Palace Explosive Video released it in August.
They included it, along with SAVAGE MAN SAVAGE BEAST (1976), in a cheap 1992 SHOCK PACK.
The Last Savage Part 2
aka Shocking Africa
Directed by Alfredo Castiglioni – Angelo Castiglioni / 1982 / Italy / IMDb
In October 1985, a 96-minute tape of THE LAST SAVAGE PART 2 was Refused Classification due to violence, which was described as:
Frequency: Infrequent
Explicitness/Intensity: High
Purpose: Gratuitous
Palace Home Video, the applicant, would likely have planned to release it on their Explosive Video label.
This record is absent from the National Classification Database.
Why was in banned?
Simon reports
Video Star (be) – VHS on-screen title THE LAST SAVAGE PART TWO (SHOCKING AFRICA) – 92:55
This is one of the more interesting mondo films. There appear to be fewer fake scenes and some of the tribal rituals are genuinely interesting.
It contains the usual animal scenes; chickens, goats, camels and snakes are killed, and piglets thrown to crocodiles. The Film Censorship Board may have had an issue with these, but I believe some of the tribal practices were more likely the reason for the refusal. They include male and female circumcision and scarification rituals, teeth filing and a fertility ceremony in which a snake is placed inside a vagina.
Not to be confused with…
In July 1991, a company called 1st Call Video Rights received an M (High level violence) for a video titled SHOCKING AFRICA. Eagle Entertainment released the 69:44 VHS but changed the cover rating to a more exploitative R (High level violence).
THE LAST SAVAGE PART 2 is more commonly known as SHOCKING AFRICA, but in this case it is not the same film. Instead, it is a compilation of scenes from MONDO CANE (1962), MONDO CANE 2 (1963), SLAVE TRADE IN THE WORLD TODAY (1964) and AFRICA ADDIO aka AFRICA BLOOD AND GUTS (1966) put together in 1989 by Hurricane Pictures. The cover credits on the Eagle Entertainment VHS match those of MONDO CANE TEIL V (MONDO CANE 5). It is likely the same film, despite being listed as a 1993 production on the IMDb.
Further reading
THE LAST SAVAGE PART 2 was Alfredo and Angelo Castiglioni’s fifth and final mondo film.
In Australia, both SECRET AFRICA (1969) and NAKED MAGIC (1975) had censorship issues. AFRICA UNCENSORED (1971) and THE LAST SAVAGE (1978) were never acquired for local distribution.
Sweet and Savage
Directed by Antonio Climati – Mario Morra / 1983 / Italy / IMDb
In January 1984, a 2550.99-meter (92:59) print of SWEET AND SAVAGE received an R-rating. It was granted due to violence, described as:
Frequency: Frequent
Explicitness/Intensity: Medium
Purpose: Gratuitous
Roadshow Distributors, the applicant, released the it theatrically. In Sydney, it premiered in June at Village Cinema City and Parramatta.
Video censorship troubles
It remains unclear whether the version of SWEET AND SAVAGE approved in January 1984 was uncut, as a planned video release encountered difficulties.
The initial submission, an 81-minute cut from Palace Home Video, was Refused Classification in January 1985 due to violence, described as:
Frequency: Frequent
Explicitness/Intensity: High
Purpose: Gratuitous
This record is absent from the National Classification Database.
The plan was to complete the ‘Savage Trilogy’, joining SAVAGE MAN SAVAGE BEAST (1975) and THIS VIOLENT WORLD (1976) under their Explosive Video label. Palace appeared confident of securing an R-rating, advertising a December launch in their 1984 ‘Catalogue of Horror’ and distributing hanging mobile advertisements to retailers.
Following the refusal, Palace made no further submissions.
In January 1986, Blake Films obtained an M-rating for a 77-minute version. This was granted for violence, now assessed as:
Frequency: Infrequent
Explicitness/Intensity: Medium
Purpose: Gratuitous
…and ‘Adult Concepts’
Blake Films likely aimed for an R-rating but over-censored the material, resulting in an M-rating instead.
They attempted again in April 1986, receiving classifications for two additional cuts. The first, running 83 minutes, secured an M-rating for the same reasons cited in January.
The second, labelled an ‘edited version’, ran 87 minutes. It received an R-rating for violence described as:
Frequency: Frequent
Explicitness/Intensity: Medium
Purpose: Gratuitous
…and ‘Adult Concepts’
Roadshow issued this 87:35 (PAL) tape on their Premiere Home Video label in 1987. The flip box capitalised on the controversy with a cover letter watermarked ‘Banned’ and a ‘Keep out of reach of children’ warning.
1987
TO OUR AUSTRALASIAN VIDEO VIEWERS
RE: “SWEET AND SAVAGE”Dear Viewer
For the past two years “SWEET AND SAVAGE” has been banned from public audiences because of the graphic cruelty and violence that the film depicts.The Commonwealth Censor has only recently decided to release “SWEET AND SAVAGE” for viewing by “ADULT AUDIENCES ONLY.”
We wish to warn our valued customers that this film could prove to be disturbing to some and should not be viewed by the feint hearted.
“SWEET AND SAVAGE” footage contains genuine acts of torture, cruelty and murder. It is for this reason that Premiere have deliberated for months over the actual release of “SWEET AND SAVAGE.”
We at Premiere believe that life is full of sweet and savage experiences and that mankind should be the judge of this film.
Premiere hereby releases “SWEET AND SAVAGE” to the adult public audience with a sincere warning regarding its contents.
Yours faithfully,
– Premier Home Video cover
DAVID GLASS
NATIONAL MANAGER
Such marketing is typical for distributors promoting a contentious title. However, Roadshow conveniently failed to inform viewers that SWEET AND SAVAGE had been censored.
Uncut VHS comparison
Matt reports
Greca Vision Home Video (gr) – VHS – 88:44 (PAL)
Premiere Home Video (au) – VHS – 87:35 (PAL)
The Greca Vision VHS is reportedly uncut and runs over a minute longer. Unfortunately, I lack access to the Premiere VHS, so cannot specify exactly what has been excised.
Two scenes from the Iran-Iraq war may have caused issues. The first depicts an Iranian sniper being executed by a shot to the head (41:45). The second, purported to have occurred on 16 November 1982, shows an Iraqi prisoner tied between two jeeps. One vehicle drives away, tearing his arm off (44:00). He is dragged along before being shot dead.
The Greca Vision VHS includes part of the fox hunt sequence from SAVAGE MAN SAVAGE BEAST (1975). Footage of hounds tearing apart the fox (13:30) was excised from the Palace Explosive Video release. It needs to be determined whether the Premiere VHS underwent similar cuts.
The Savage Zone
Directed by Mario Morra / 1984 / Italy / IMDb
A 95-minute version of THE SAVAGE ZONE was banned because of ‘gratuitous sexual violence’. The decision is missing from the National Classification database but took place sometime between 1 February 1986 and 31 January 1987.
An ‘edited version’, running 93 minutes, received an R-rating in March 1987 due to violence, which was described as:
Frequency: Frequent
Explicitness/Intensity: Medium
Purpose: Gratuitous
A second ‘edited version’, now running 91 minutes, received the same rating for an identical reason in September 1987. It is unclear why this submission occurred when a longer version had already been classified.
Palace Home Video, the applicant in all cases, never released THE SAVAGE ZONE on VHS. Had they done so, it would likely have joined the other mondo titles on their Palace Explosive Video label.
Italian censorship
Mario Morra had co-directed the ‘Savage Trilogy’ with Antonio Climati. DIMENSIONE VIOLENZA was his solo project and final mondo film.
The July 1984 Italian Censorship Certificate awarded a V.M. 18 classification to a 2663.00-meter (97:04) print. It was noted that Morra had agreed to censor 07-meter (00:15) of footage of a craniotomy during an autopsy sequence.