The hardcore. softcore and exploitation movies of Stu Segall that have been cut or banned in Australia. He directed some of these under the names Godfrey Daniels or Arthur Byrd.
Harvey Swings
aka Harvey
Directed by Stu Segall / 1970 / USA / IMDb
In March 1981, a 329.10-meter (29:59) 16mm print of HARVEY was censored by 1.70-meters (00:09) for an R-rating.
The cuts were made to remove sex, which was said to be:
Frequency: Infrequent
Explicitness/Intensity: High
Purpose: Gratuitous
In the R-rated version it was:
Frequency: Infrequent
Explicitness/Intensity: Medium
Purpose: Gratuitous
This was followed in April 1981 by a 647.23-meter (58:59) 16mm print, which was passed with an R-rating.
The sex was described as being:
Frequency: Frequent
Explicitness/Intensity: Medium
Purpose: Gratuitous
This submission was made under the title HARVEY SWINGS. The running time indicates it was precut.
In both cases, the applicant was 14th Mandolin and director Godfrey Daniels (AKA Stu Segall).
Presumably, these are the same film despite being classified only a month apart and having very different running times. The IMDb lists HARVEY SWINGS as Stu Segall’s first feature and makes no mention of a movie titled HARVEY.
HARVEY SWINGS played at Melbourne’s Club Cinema in October and November 1981.
Banned in Queensland
On 13 March 13 1982, the censored R-rated version of HARVEY SWINGS was prohibited by the Queensland Films Board of Review.
The distributor was 14th Mandolin.
Video release
In April 1982, Cinema Papers No. 37 published a ‘Feature Film Checklist’ of titles that had been issued on videotape in Australia.
It was compiled from information supplied by distributors, with HARVEY being listed on 14th Mandolin’s King of Video label.
Review
Mike reports
Alternative Cinema (us) – DVD – 51:56
Harvey (James Brand) and Sheila (Suzanne Fields) are a married couple who decide to try swinging. They go to a sex party with two other couples and spend the evening swapping partners. There’s a lot of dialogue involved in between the sex scenes and it takes 22 minutes before any nudity is seen.
The IMDb claims that the full version of HARVEY SWINGS runs 74 minutes. Although the Alternative Cinema print is quite choppy and is certainly missing content, e.g. one sequence abruptly finishes in the middle of a sex scene; it’s hard to believe that there was a 20+ minute extended version.
In the early 1970s, a longer version would usually mean one extended for hardcore, but it’s difficult to imagine this fairly light-hearted, tame comedy existing in a more explicit version. Most of the actors involved were only known as softcore performers, and although Suzanne Fields eventually did hardcore, at this point she was in her softcore phase.
In the absence of any evidence of a longer version, I’m inclined to believe that HARVEY SWINGS was softcore all along, and that the second 14th Mandolin submission of 59 minutes was more or less the complete. This fits with the US newspaper ads which all imply that the runtime was 55-60 minutes. It played as HARVEY and HARVEY SWINGS in the US, apparently slightly more frequently under the former title.
It’s difficult to imagine what the initial submission of a version less than 30 minutes would have been like, or why it was submitted, However, I have a possible explanation for why it was cut by the Film Censorship Board when a longer one passed intact.
There is a two minute scene before Harvey and Sheila arrive at the swingers’ party in which we see them driving around an unfamiliar neighbourhood trying to find the house. At one point they stop a hippy to ask for directions, and while Harvey is distracted looking at his map, the hippy reaches through the car window and gropes Sheila for several seconds. This scene isn’t especially credible, but it’s the only element of non-consensual sexual behaviour in the film. This two minute scene isn’t especially funny and adds nothing to the plot and could have been quite easily removed. Perhaps it only featured in the shorter version. There is also a rather jarring moment in what is otherwise a fairly upbeat film in which a partygoer becomes annoyed that Harvey won’t have sex with her and attempts suicide. But this is played for comedy as she tries to do so with an electric razor.
The Suckers
Directed by Stu Segall / 1972 / USA / IMDb
In August 1975, a 2290.00-meter (83:28) print of THE SUCKERS was banned because of ‘indecency and excessive violence’.
Regent Trading Enterprises was the applicant.
16+ minutes cut
In April 1982, a 1816.80-meter (66:13) ‘pre-censor cut version’ was Refused Registration because of violence, which was described as being:
Frequency: Infrequent
Explicitness/Intensity: High
Purpose: Gratuitous
A ‘reconstructed pre-censor cut version’ running 1837.81-meters (66.59) was finally passed with an R-rating in August 1982.
In both cases, 14th Mandolin was the applicant.
Indecency & excessive violence
Matt reports.
Vinegar Syndrome (us) – DVD – 79:36 (NTSC)
Sex and violence looks complete, even though it is 03:52 shorter than the August 1975 submission.
The print is very scratched and is missing some footage. The end credits are a reprise of the opening ones but edited in a different order. Presumably, the print was missing the originals. The final ‘The End’ title has been spliced in from a different film, as it lists a copyright date of 1976 and the owner as Lee Ming Film Co.
The opening 48:00 are slow, with nearly half of it comprising of three softcore sex scenes. The Censorship Board would have toned these down in some way.
14:00 to 19:00 – George (Norman Fields) and Cindy (Barbara Mills). This is most graphic of the three.
26:00 to 36:00 – Baxter (Richard Smedley) and Barbara (Laurie Rose).
41:00 to 46:00 – Barbara and Joanna (Sandy Dempsey).
The big game hunt begins after 48:00 and contains all the ‘excessive violence’.
56:00 to 62:30 – Joanna is raped and eventually stabbed to death by one of Vandemeer’s henchmen. This is a particularly graphic sequence that I suspect would have been entirely removed from the Australian version.
64:00 to 68:00 – This is followed by Karl (the second henchman) catching Cindy and struggling with her on the ground. She eventually allows him to have sex with her in return for her life.
73:40 to 73:45 – Baxter and Barbara are shown coming across Cindy’s body. A 00:05 shot shows her naked corpse, with blood near her vagina.
74:30 to 75:30 – Vandemeer (Steve Vincent) has Barbara tied to a tree. He cuts open her blouse, caresses her breasts and runs the knife over her.
Tramp Women
aka Tough Guns
aka Saddle Tramp Women
Directed Stu Segall / 1972 / USA / IMDb
In May 1980, a 1673.18-meter (60:59) print of TRAMP WOMEN was censored by 44.1-meters (01:36) of sex and violence for an R-rating. This was described as:
Frequency: Infrequent
Explicitness/Intensity: High
Purpose: Gratuitous
Following the censorship, sex and violence were now described as being:
Frequency: Frequent
Explicitness/Intensity: Medium
Purpose: Gratuitous
SHS Box Office Gold was the applicant.
Banned in Queensland
On 12 October 1981, the censored R-rated version of TRAMP WOMEN was prohibited by the Queensland Films Board of Review.
The distributor was SHS Box Office Gold.
Retitled VHS refused
In 1994, Peacock Films submitted a tape for classification under the title TOUGH GUNS.
It was Refused Classification by the OFLC. Presumably, sexual violence would have been the reason.
The mid-1990s is a strange time for a distributor to try to release a title such as this on home video.
The problem scene
Simon reports.
Alpha Blue Archives (us) – 1996 VHS as SADDLE TRAMP WOMEN – 63:03 (NTSC)
The gang rape and beating of Ms Novak (Heather Vale) would have been the reason for the censorship and later refusal. Billy (John Alderman) and four of his gang are shown chasing her until they finally get her off her horse.
47:00 to 49:30 – They carry her away, strip and take turns raping her. Finally, Billy sits on top and proceeds to beat her unconscious. In the Alpha Blue tape, the music jumps during the beating sequence. This may indicate either slight censorship or print damage.
The Dirty Dolls
Directed Stu Segall / 1973 / USA / IMDb
In February 1976, a 2167.12-meter (78:59) print of THE DIRTY DOLLS was censored by 44.10-meters (01:37) for an R-rating. The cuts were made to remove ‘indecency’.
Rebelz was the applicant.
Review
Mike reports
Vinegar Syndrome (us) Blu-ray – 73:00
Johnny (John Alderman) runs a criminal gang of women who commit robberies and other crimes for him. The women are quite prepared to have sex with or kill anyone who gets in their way.
Clearly influenced by the activities of the Manson family, THE DIRTY DOLLS is a softcore film which focuses on nonconsensual sex. There are three scenes which would potentially have posed problems for the Film Censorship Board:
1. The women steal some uncut diamonds from a bank, and during their getaway they take two hostages – a male security guard and a woman who happened to see them without their disguises. Back at their hideout, two of the women sexually assault the female captive quite graphically. Despite asking them to stop for some time she eventually says that it’s an experience she’s always wanted.
2. One of the women handcuffs the male captive to a bed and force him to have sex with her.
3. One of the female gang members, who we’re told is Johnny’s sister, tells him that he is going too far. This is immediately after he has killed one of the other gang members for being disloyal. Johnny reacts by attacking his sister and taking her outside and raping her up against a tree. She starts to enjoy it very quickly.
These three scenes last in excess of 8 minutes, whereas the Board’s cuts for indecency were only 01:37. The third scene could potentially have been minimally cut to remove the nonconsensual set up, but it’s difficult to see how scenes one and two could have been treated similarly as they both feature restrained victims who have been previously abducted and are clearly there against their will.
Teenage Jailbait
Directed by Stu Segall / 1973 / USA / IMDb
In May 1980, a 482.68-meter (43:59) 16mm print of TEENAGE JAILBAIT was censored by 106-meters (09:40) for an R-rating. The cuts were made to remove violence, which was said to be:
Frequency: Infrequent
Explicitness/Intensity: High
Purpose: Gratuitous
The violence in the R-rated version was then found to be:
Frequency: Infrequent
Explicitness/Intensity: High
Purpose: Gratuitous
While the sex was:
Frequency: Frequent
Explicitness/Intensity: Low
Purpose: Gratuitous
Esquire Films was the applicant.
Extra footage, but still cut
In October 1980, 14th Mandolin submitted a longer 35mm version of the film. It is unclear why this was done only six months after Esquire Films.
This 1722.50-meter (62:47) print was censored by 208.80-meters (07:37) for an R-rating. The reason for the cuts and rating was the same as the May 1980 submission.
This was advertised as being released by 14th Mandolin on their King of Video label.
Banned in Queensland
On 10 March 1982, the censored R-rated version of TEENAGE JAILBAIT was prohibited by the Queensland Films Board of Review.
The distributor was 14th Mandolin.
Review
Mike reports
Video Erotica (us) – VHS as TEEN-AGE JAIL BAIT – 53:17
Sue (Rene Bond) and Amanda (Kris Kross) stop at the side of the road to mend a flat tyre. Joey (John Alderman) and Gus (Chesley Noone) turn up in a dune buggy and offer to help. After sexually assaulting the girls, all four of them decide to stage a home invasion at Amanda’s parents’ house and steal the money they keep in their safe.
The original runtime of TEENAGE JAILBAIT was 65 minutes, but the 2026 extant version, Video Erotica’s VHS, runs only 53 minutes and is missing all the violence and gore. This results in massive gaps in the narrative and characters disappear for no obvious reason and their motivations make little sense. For example, the film ends on a freeze frame of a bloody Amanda holding a knife with no indication of how she was injured.
The first part has the same basic plot as WRONG WAY (1972). The second half is incredibly similar to HOUSE ON THE EDGE OF THE PARK (1980), even to the extent that I wondered if Ruggero Deodato had seen this film. When the home invasion takes place in TEENAGE JAILBAIT, there’s a sex scene between one of the thugs and the mother which could be interpreted as a rape scene or one in which the victim is experiencing Stockholm syndrome. One of the victims is graphically tortured in front of everyone else, and eventually the two thugs fall out and one tries to drown the other in a swimming pool. Overall, TEENAGE JAILBAIT is much sleazier than both the aforementioned films.
The scenes which would have been most problematic for the Film Censorship Board happen early on.
1. Joey is talking to Amanda in some woodland and casually asks her if she has any diseases that he should know about. When she says no, he grabs her, slaps her around and verbally abuses her, then has graphic softcore sex with against her will. Eventually she starts to enjoy the experience. This scene lasts 06:30.
2. Sue and Gus are also getting to know one another when he grabs her, rips off her clothes and rapes her. This lasts only 02:15 because he climaxes prematurely and becomes embarrassed, after which Sue comforts him.
It may be that these were the two scenes removed from the 14th Mandolin submission of October 1980. Why the Esquire Films release of May 1980 was so much shorter isn’t clear.
Later in the film, Amanda decides to torture her sister along with the two thugs. We see her sister naked and tied to the dining room table with her legs spread apart. If anything happened to the sister it hasn’t survived into the extant version.
Another plot point which is never resolved occurs when Amanda decides to take her mother to the bathroom at knifepoint to ‘teach her a lesson’. We never see what happens in the bathroom and her mother is never mentioned again.