Motorcycle movies, cut and banned before the November 1971 liberalisation of the Australian censorship system.
See also, BLACK ANGELS (1970) in the Film Censorship Database No. 1.
The Born Losers
Directed by Tom Laughlin / 1967 / USA / IMDb
Date: 05-1970 / Rated: AO / Length: 8625 feet / Time: 95:50 / Censored by 00:51 / Reason: violence and indecent language / Comment: Reconstructed version
Censored footage
Shane Harrison reports.
In 1970, I saw BORN LOSERS on a double-bill with THE TOMB OF LIGEIA (1964). It was cut to pieces, with all the violence from the action scenes completely deleted. In 1974, it was reissued to cash in on the enormous success of the BILLY JACK series.
The sequel, BILLY JACK (1971), also had to be censored for an SOA rating.
Post-November 1971 rating.
In April 1974, Roadshow Distributors had a 3090-00-meter (112:38) print passed with an R-rating. This was nearly 17-minutes longer than the version that was censored back in May 1970.
It was again passed with an R-rating in August 1985. The 108-minute tape was submitted by Communications and Entertainment and released on their Star Video label.
Devil’s Angels
Directed by Daniel Haller / 1966 / USA / IMDb
Date: 07-1970 / Rated: Banned/ Length: 7331 feet / Time: 81:27 / Reason: violence and indecency
Date: 09-1970 / Appeal: Against rejection / Length: 7331 feet / Time: 81:27 / Result: Appeal dismissed by Review Board
Post-November 1971 rating.
In May 1974, Roadshow Distributors had a 2234.00-meter (81:26) print passed with an R-rating.
It was R-rated again in April 1985, this time in the form of a 78-minute tape. Roadshow Home Video released it as part of a ‘Value 4 Movie Pack’. It included three other American International Pictures (AIP) pictures, THE UNHOLY ROLLERS (1972), SIXPACK ANNIE (1975) and THE SAVAGE SEVEN (1967).
Easy Rider
Directed by Dennis Hopper/ 1969 / USA / IMDb
The original theatrical release was censored for a ‘Suitable only for Adults’ rating.
Censored footage
Shane Harrison reports.
Australia had to wait until Easter 1970 for EASY RIDER to arrive on our screens. The censor had many problems with the drug scenes, the detail of which was unprecedented for a major studio release.
Censored at 01:21 by 00:29 – Wyatt (Peter Fonda) and Billy (Dennis Hopper) snort cocaine to test the quality.
Censored at 03:35 by 00:18 – Connection (Phil Spector) tests the coke before buying it from Wyatt and Billy.
Censored at 23:10 – Wyatt, Billy and the hitchhiker (Luke Askew) smoke dope around a campfire. Cuts were made to parts of the conversation where they are stoned and enjoying it.
Censored at 53:00 by 02:10 – Wyatt encourages George (Jack Nicholson) to smoke dope. He talks him through breathing it in and holding it in his lungs.
Censored at 59:40 by 00:47 – The scene where Little Feat sings ‘Don’t Bogart That Joint’ on the soundtrack was removed.
Censored at 79:46 by 00:48 – Wyatt and Billy dropping acid with two prostitutes in a New Orleans cemetery during Mardi Gras.
Censored at 80:34 – The four-minute acid trip was halved. It is difficult to know why, as what remained was no less intense than what was trimmed. Detailing what was missing is hard as it is such a disjointed sequence. The trip suddenly ended after clothes were removed and the four begin to have an emotional breakdown.
Post-November 1971 rating
In April 1985, RCA/Columbia Pictures/Hoyts Video had a 91-minute tape passed with an M-rating.
This was followed in May 1990 by an M (Drug use) rating for a 95-minute 35mm print. The theatrical rerelease was distributed by Hoyts Fox Columbia Tristar Films.
EASY RIDER was increased to MA15+ (Drug use) on DVD in February 2000 and Blu-ray in July 2010. Both were submitted by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.
Run, Angel, Run!
Directed by Jack Starrett / 1969 / USA / IMDb
Date: 12-1970 / Rated: Banned / Length: 8558 feet / Time: 95:05 / Reason: violence and indecency
Post-November 1971 rating
In November 1973, Filmways had a 2608.00-meter (95:04) print passed with an M-rating.
Another M-rating was awarded in April 1985 for a 93-minute tape. Blake Films was the applicant.
Angel Unchained
Directed by Lee Madden / 1970 / USA / IMDb
Date: 09-1970 / Rated: Banned / Length: 7851 feet / Time: 87:14 / Reason: violence and indecency
Date: 10-1970 / Appeal: Against rejection / Length: 7851 feet / Time: 87:14 / Result: Appeal dismissed by Review Board
Post-November 1971 rating
In February 1974, Roadshow Distributors had a 2632.00-meter (95:56) print passed with an M-rating. The version that was banned back in September 1970 ran only 87:14, indicating that it had been heavily precut before submission.
Another M-rating was awarded in January 1985 for an 83-minute tape. It was submitted by Roadshow Home Video.
C.C. and Company
Directed by Seymour Robbie / 1970 / USA / IMDb
Date: 12-1970 / Rated: Banned / Length: 8549 feet / Time: 94:59 / Reason: violence and indecency
January 1972
– Film Censorship Bulletin
Previously notified in FILM CENSORSHIP BULLETIN No. 8/70 [December 1970] when length incorrectly given by importer as 8139 feet; correct length for unreconstructed version is 8549 feet.
Post-November 1971 rating
A ‘reconstructed version’ was submitted by 20th Century Fox and passed with an R-rating in January 1972. The print ran 8433-feet (93:42), over a minute shorter than the version that was previously banned.
Magnetic Video issued C.C. AND COMPANY on tape in the early 1980s. This particular release was never classified.
In September 1984, Communications and Entertainment received an M-rating for an 85-minute videotape. It was released on their Embassy Home Video label.
Showtime issued a DVD in the early 2000s. This was followed by one from Destra Entertainment/Payless Entertainment, which double-billed it with EVEL KNIEVEL (1971). Both discs are listed as being M-rated and were never resubmitted for classification.
The Hard Ride
Directed by Burt Topper / 1971 / USA / IMDb
Date: 07-1971 / Rated: SOA / Length: 8047 feet / Time: 90:31 / Censored by 02:39 / Reason: violence
Post-November 1971 rating
In August 1986, RCA/Columbia Pictures/Hoyts Video received an M-rating for an 86-minute tape.