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.
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.
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.
