Movies from New Zealand that have been cut or banned in Australia.
Angel Mine
Directed by David Blyth / 1978 / New Zealand / IMDb
In April 1979, the Film Censorship Board passed ANGEL MINE with a ‘Special Condition’.
The 1821.00-meter (66:22) print could screen ‘…not more than twice at 1979 Sydney/Melbourne/Brisbane/Perth and/or Adelaide Film Festivals and then [be] exported’.
Neither Sydney nor Melbourne included it in their programs, so presumably, it played in one of the other capitals.
Censored sex
In February 1980, a 1812.72 (66:04) print received an R-rating after 12.1 meters (00:26) of cuts to remove ‘indecency’.
The R-rating was for:
Sex
Frequency: Infrequent
Explicitness/Intensity: High
Violence
Frequency: Infrequent
Explicitness/Intensity: Medium
Valhalla Films, the applicant, released it theatrically in March.
What was cut?
April 1980
– Cinema Papers No. 26
ANGEL MINE, a New Zealand short, was rated “R” after the deletion of a sequence. [David] Blyth claims, however, that the cut was made without his approval. This raises the difficult issue of whether a distributor should be allowed to make cuts in a film to satisfy the censorship rulings of individual countries. In many distribution contracts these rights are clearly spelt out; in others, not at all.
June 1980
– Cinema Papers No. 27
ANGEL MINE was shortened by the deletion of one scene where a blue movie is seen flickering on a screen in the background.
Matt reports
Screenline (nz) – DVD
At 26:00, a couple are in a cinema watching a film of them having sex with the man on top of the woman. There is no penetration, but his testicles are visible.
The scene cuts back and forth eight times between the on-screen sex and the couple watching the film. It matches nearly exactly the 00:26 deleted in February 1980.
July 2009
ANGEL MINE was about a young couple who relate to each other through media such as radio, TV commercials, films etc.I believe like you, the cut scene from ANGEL MINE is the young couple watching themselves on the big screen making love quite vigorously. The scene is not hardcore merely real. The soundtrack is a thumping African beat (gumboot stomping music) which I thought gave it a satirical edge.
I believe that Australia may have had a more conservative censorship system than New Zealand at the time, but it is certainly very interesting that both films [DEATH WARMED UP] were censored for Australian consumption.
Do I sniff some cultural discrimination against Australia’s country cousins New Zealand?
Because we were never consulted, we only discovered this situation after the event, so it was too late to do much.
As for the possible VHS release in OZ of ANGEL MINE, I know nothing about that. Both films are represented by the New Zealand Film Commission. ANGEL MINE was released on VHS in NZ initially in 1978, it’s possible it was reissued in 1982 in NZ as part of a VHS Kiwi Classic Film Series.
Both films have now finally been released on DVD this year [2009]. Both films have been released uncut as originally made by me.
– To: Refused-Classification.com
– From: davidblyth.com
Missing video releases
In August 1982, two 64-minute videotapes, described as ‘optically modified version[s]’, received R-ratings. The sex was said to be:
Frequency: Infrequent
Explicitness/Intensity: Medium
Purpose: Gratuitous
It is unknown if either applicant, Videoscope Australia and Valken Pty Ltd, released the tapes.
Smash Palace
Directed by Roger Donaldson / 1981 / New Zealand / IMDb
In May 1982, a 2880.15-meter (104:59) 35mm of SMASH PALACE received an R-rating.
The sex was said to be:
Frequency: Infrequent
Explicitness/Intensity: Medium
Purpose: Gratuitous
A 2852.00-meter (103:59) ‘reconstructed version’ dropped it to an M-rating in November. It was awarded for:
Violence
Frequency: Infrequent
Explicitness/Intensity: Medium
Purpose: Justified
Other: Adult concepts
The Film Censorship Board reported it had been ‘reduced by importer’s cuts to obtain lower classification’. It appears the 01:00 of cuts removed sex.
Roadshow Distributors, the applicant, released it theatrically in December.
Possible cuts
Matt reports
Arrow Academy (uk) – Blu-ray – 107:10
The sex scene (39:15) between Alan (Bruno Lawrence) and Jacqui (Anna Maria Monticelli) would have been trimmed for the M-rating. It runs just over one minute.
Another less likely cut would be Alan’s beating (69:30) at the hands of Frank (Sean Duffy) and his gang. Again, it runs for approximately one minute.
It is unclear why the initial R-rated submission ran only 104:59. Compared to overseas, New Zealand 108:00 September 1981 R16-rated and the UK 108:02 April 1983 18-rated, it is short.
VHS & Beta
Palace Home Video received an M-rating for a 110-minute tape in September 1984. The reasons were the same as the theatrical ‘reconstructed version’.
They issued it on their Palace Academy Video label.
Reclassified after 21 years
In November 2005, a DVD received an M (Moderate themes, Moderate violence, Moderate coarse language, Brief incidental nudity).
Magna Pacific, the applicant, issued it on a double-bill with SLEEPING DOGS (1977) as part of THE ROGER DONALDSON COLLECTION.
Presumably, it was the uncut version.
Death Warmed Up
Directed by David Blyth / 1984 / New Zealand / IMDb
In June 1985, a 2271.00-meter (82:47) 35mm of DEATH WARMED UP was Refused Registration.
The violence was said to be:
Frequency: Infrequent
Explicitness/Intensity: High
Purpose: Gratuitous
An 82-minute video was refused for the same reason in July.
A 2221.83-meter (80:59) ‘Reconstructed Version’ passed with an R-rating in November. The violence had been reduced to:
Frequency: Frequent
Explicitness/Intensity: Medium
Purpose: Gratuitous
The following month, an 81-minute video received the same rating.
CBS/Fox Video were the applicants in all cases.
Banned in Queensland
In March 1986, the Queensland Films Board of Review prohibited the censored R-rated version of DEATH WARMED UP.
It featured prominently in future advertising.
Uncut screening
In March 1987, DEATH WARMED UP had its’ Australian premiere at Sydney’s Chauvel Cinema as part of the Kiwi Kino film festival.
The screening billed it as ‘Rated R-Full uncut version’ and ‘Banned in Queensland’. If it was indeed uncut, then it certainly was not R-rated.
It played again in April as part of Kiwi Kino at Canberra’s Electric Shadows cinema.
Video release
CBS/Fox Video released the tape in early 1987.
The accompanying trailer promoted it as ‘Prohibited in Queensland’.
There are images of a second VHS with the Australian R-rating on the cover.
An added R16 rating sticker indicates it may be a New Zealand release.
What was censored?
Matt reports.
CBS/Fox Video (au) – VHS – 77:51 (PAL)
Many of the cuts are brief and just tone down existing violent scenes.
Michael shoots his parents – 12:00
00:01 – Michael’s father (David Weatherley) recoiling from a gunshot wound to the stomach.
00:05 – Michael (Michael Hurst) standing and blinking rapidly. Followed by images of his dead father and mother (Tina Grenville) with blood flowing from her body.
Brain operation No. 1 – 14:30
00:08 – A drill going into a skull and a shot of Sister Scott (Eva Radich). Second shot of drill and Sister Scott.
00:02 – Longer shot of grinding tool working on the skull.
00:01 – Brief shot of skull being cut and the grinding tool slipping.
Tex’s accident – 44:15
00:02 – Metal rod going through the back of Jannings (Geoff Snell).
00:10 – Metal rod sticking out of his back with blood spurting as Spider (David Letch) lifts him off.
Wounded Tex – 47:15
00:02 – Jannings on stretcher showing his stomach wound.
00:02 – Spider’s face in the stomach wound of Jannings.
Neck wound – 59:15
00:04 – Spider cutting the throat of a man and blood spurting as he falls to the ground.
Scissor Death – 65:30
00:03 – Nurse (Rochelle Lawrence) screaming on the floor with scissors in her chest and blood spurting from the wound.
Brain operation No. 2 – 67:00
00:03 – Drill going into a skull.
00:02 – Longer shot of the skull being cut.
00:05 – Groove being cut into the skull.
00:06 – Dr Archer sticking his finger into the brain.
00:02 – Second shot of Archer’s fingers in the brain.
00:03 – Close-up of his fingers removing an object from the brain.
Death of Dr Archer – 70:45
00:11 – Michael frantically stabbing Dr Archer and a close-up shot of the knife entering his body.
July 2009
In both films cases [ANGEL MINE], distributors in Australia made cuts without the filmmakers permission to get censorship ratings that I believe suited their commercial aspirations. i.e. by removing knifing scenes from DEATH WARMED UP, a lower certificate rating was possible.It has taken 15 years to compile an original version of DEATH WARMED UP because the original negative was destroyed by mistake and all the subsequent prints had been cut by distributors/censors. I believe in New Zealand distributors carried out self-censorship of prints themselves simply removing footage at will. Bizarre but true.
– To: Refused-Classification.com
– From: davidblyth.com
DVD & Blu-ray
Umbrella Entertainment released DEATH WARMED UP on DVD and Blu-ray in April 2019.
Matt reports
With the original negative lost, the Blu-ray presents two different versions.
Restored version – 78:54
This is an HD master, taken from a surviving 35mm print, with brief footage inserted from the VHS and workprint. Other shots and scenes are missing due to damaged or destroyed elements. David Blyth and Michael Heath provide a commentary and highlight the issues.
Uncut New Zealand VHS – 79:44 – Corrected to 83:04 on the US Severin Blu-ray
This is the same 4:3 master used for the Endeavour Roadshow VHS. It contains all the footage missing from the ‘Restored version’ and is the only way to view the uncut film.
Deleted/Missing Scenes – 15:56
This extra shows the footage missing from the ‘Restored version’ and places it in context. Again, David Blyth and Michael Heath provide a commentary.
Bad Taste
Directed by Peter Jackson / 1987 / New Zealand / IMDb
In April 1989, BAD TASTE was banned due to violence that was said to be:
Frequency: Frequent
Explicitness/Intensity: High
Purpose: Gratuitous
CBS/Fox Video submitted the 88-minute tape.
August 27, 2013
The first group of members who viewed BAD TASTE couldn’t reach a decision, and so they asked for more members’ opinions. This is called a split vote. The second group also had a split vote. A third, and fourth group, followed, but none of them reached a unanimous decision.During these OFLC judgements, one of the censors was laughing uproariously throughout the entire screening of BAD TASTE. Said board member’s decision, ultimately, was to refuse BAD TASTE a classification, because she’d claimed that BAD TASTE was too violent!
Eventually, every member of the OFLC, including the chief censor and the deputy chief censor, had seen BAD TASTE. The Board had a meeting: it was a split-vote to ban or not to ban, with a couple of fence-sitters in the mix. One fence-sitter claimed that he had a tummy-ache at the screening time, and so he decided to ban it because he didn’t feel well!
The point is that there was no genuine, considered consensus. Half of the Board preferred an R-rating, while the other half preferred refused classification. In the end, there was a vote, and BAD TASTE was banned…by one vote. One single fucking vote.
– The Bad Taste Fiasco: Leaving a Bad Taste in Your Mouth
– Media Censorship in Australia
CBS/Fox Video wrote to the OFLC requesting an explanation of the ban.
May 4, 1989
I refer to your letter of 19 April 1989 seeking reasons for the Board’s decision to refuse classification for the above named film.The Board refused to classify the film by a majority of 5 voting for Refusal to 4 voting for ‘R’.
The Board’s report on this film reads in part:
“A majority of the Board were of the opinion that the cumulative impact of the depictions of unduly detailed and relished acts of extreme violence warranted a Refuse classification”.
The Board noted in particular the following areas:
- – male implicitly shot in head with close-up visuals of partially dismembered head and blood-spray
- – close-up blood-burst wounds to male’s stomach with gun barrel pushed through open wound, protruding on other side
- – male’s arm implicitly severed, with hammer embedding into skull of other male
- – male has bayonet driven into the sole of his shoe
- – male’s body cut in half after being hit by car, with upper-half trying to push back spilled entrails
- – male implicitly shot in head with repeated shots of male pushing brain matter back
- – close-up chainsaw dissecting male’s face with head falling into two halves.
Any reconstruction aimed at gaining a classification for this videotape would need to take account of the above elements with substantial reductions being required.This advice is given on the understanding that it is without prejudice to any decision the Board may make upon screening any edited version submitted.
– To: Ken Taylor, Creative Services Co-ordinator, CBS/Fox Video
– From: John Dickie, Chief Censor
– via Media Censorship in Australia
The Refused Classification decision was released on 9 May.
M-rated – A cut too far
CBS/Fox Video resubmitted an 82-minute ‘Edited Version’ to secure an R-rating.
The nearly 6-minutes of cuts proved too extreme and, in July 1989, it received an M (Frequent violence) for violence that was now said to be:
Frequency: Frequent
Explicitness/Intensity: Medium
Purpose: Gratuitous
August 27, 2013
Regardless, the local distributor was keen to release BAD TASTE, and asked for guidance on what to trim to attain an R 18+ classification. Back in the bygone days of local censorship, the Australian censor would nominate the scene that needed to be cut, and at what time said scene occurred.But in a politically-correct climate, the OFLC claimed that it had moved on from those dark prohibitive days, and it did not “censor” or “ban” movies anymore. It simply refused to classify them. However, in Australia at the time, if a film was refused classification, it was effectively banned from being legally distributed to any Australian state or territory.
All it (the review) does is to provide a report with a general description of the elements that caused the submitted film to be “refused”, i.e. be given a higher rating than that desired by the local distributor. From this vague report, the distributor must decipher which images or scenes need attention to attain the desired R 18+ classification.
And so…a censored BAD TASTE was submitted back in the 1980s. But without any specific guidance, the local distributor had gone too far; the Board members, who viewed this cut version, gave it an M classification.
– The Bad Taste Fiasco: Leaving a Bad Taste in Your Mouth
– Media Censorship in Australia
Modified & R-rated
A longer ‘Edited Version’ finally received an R (Graphic horror effects) in February 1990. At 87-minutes, it ran around 5-minutes longer than the previous M-rating.
An 86-minute 35mm ‘Edited Version’ received an identical R-rating in March. Reid & Puskar, the applicant, opened it at Sydney’s Valhalla Cinema in April.
Late screenings at the Hoyt’s Centre followed in mid-1990.
Death of a Censorship Board
The R-rated ‘Edited Version’ of BAD TASTE played in Brisbane for three weeks before being ‘Prohibited’ by the Queensland Films Board of Review.
The decision proved too much for the recently elected and reform-minded Labor Government of Wayne Goss. In late June 1990, Minister for Justice Glen Milliner announced its axing.
The Queensland Films Board of Review had been established in 1974 and prohibited 350+ theatrical movies and videotapes during its sixteen-year run. Since the mid-1980s, distributors commonly used ‘Banned in Queensland’ as a selling point on VHS covers.
VHS options
CBS/Fox Video issued the 86:31 (PAL) VHS in September 1990.
JVB Movie Distributors rereleased it in the mid-1990s. It ran 86:25 (PAL) and carried an identical R (Graphic horror effects).
A ‘no name label’ VHS utilised the JVB cover but added fake consumer advice of R (High level violence, High level sex scenes, Frequent coarse language). It appeared pre-2005.
All three VHS releases promoted it as ‘Banned in Queensland’.
What was censored?
Matt reports
JVB Movie Distributors (au) – 86:25 (PAL) – censored – CBS/Fox Video presumably identical
Universal Pictures Video (au) – DVD – 91:33 (NTSC) – uncut
This is not an exact side by side comparison, so there may be other minor cuts.
Location times refer to the DVD.
Barry shoots the alien – 03:26
00:07 – The alien stumbling around with the top of his head missing.
Derek’s hammer – 14:08 to 15:42
00:04 – Derek (Peter Jackson) hammering the knife into the alien’s boot.
00:01 – A second shot of him hitting the knife into the boot.
00:01 – The knife entering the boot and blood coming out.
00:01 – Derek hitting the knife twice more.
Stomach gun – 18:53 to 19:22
00:01 – Derek shooting the alien in the stomach.
00:01 – His gun entering the alien’s stomach.
00:07 – Derek pushing the gun through the alien’s stomach.
00:01 – The gun firing out of the back of the alien.
Hammerhead – 22:44 to 23:02
00:04 – The alien dropping the hammer on the head of a second.
00:04 – His arm being torn off in the process and shown attached to the hammer embedded in the head of the second.
Split head – 80:07
00:01 – The alien’s head opening up after Derek used a chainsaw to cut it in half.
The uncut UK Colourbox VHS ran approximately a minute longer at 87:42 (PAL). The British Board of Film Classification passed it uncut in 1989 at the height of James Ferman’s reign. At the time, the BBFC routinely cut or banned films that the OFLC would leave untouched.
BAD TASTE is a rare example of a late 1980s movie rated more harshly in Australia and demonstrates the error in the OFLC decision.
Customs seizure
In October 1991, the uncut version of BAD TASTE was part of a package of VHS confiscated by the Australian Customs Service. After being forwarded to the OFLC, they recommended it be released.
See also NEKROMANTIK (1987) in the Film Censorship Database No. 1 for more information regarding this case.
Uncut at last
In July 2004, a DVD ‘Collector’s Edition’ of BAD TASTE received an R (Medium level violence).
Universal Pictures Video, the applicant, issued this uncut 91:33 (NTSC) DVD.
A Taste of Kiwi
Directed by Peter Wells / 1990 / New Zealand / IMDb
A TASTE OF KIWI, a two-minute short, played in Sydney in early 1992 as part of the Gay and Lesbian Film Festival.
Sydney’s Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) programmed it on 30 May as part of their season of Moving Images from Aotearoa (NZ). The screening never took place after the Film Censorship Board found the ‘explicit depiction of fellatio and anal intercourse’ to be ‘indecent’.
Confirmed as ‘indecent’
The MCA made an unsuccessful appeal against the refusal.
June 18, 1992
Applicant: Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney
Decision Reviewed: Refuse to register by the Film Censorship BoardDecision: This short film, depicting footballers leaving the field and scenes of male sexual activity, was intended for presentation in a program of films at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney.
The Chairman [Frank Williams] declared an interest in the Museum of Contemporary Art, through its association with the NSW Ministry of the Arts, of which he is the Secretary, and withdrew from the discussion.
The Deputy Chairman, Mr Keith Connolly, took the chair.
The members of the Review Board were in unanimous agreement with the Censorship Board that A TASTE OF KIWI contains indecent scenes, and accordingly confirmed the decision of the Censorship Board to refuse to register the film.
– Film and Literature Board of Review report