British movies made in 1970, cut and banned before the November 1971 liberalisation of the Australian censorship system.
Hello-Goodbye
Directed by Jean Negulesco / 1970 / UK / IMDb
Date: 07-1970 / Rated: SOA / Length: 9056 feet / Time: 100:37 / Censored by 00:08 / Reason: indecency
Love Is a Splendid Illusion
Directed by Tom Clegg / 1970 / UK / IMDb
Date: 07-1971 / Rated: Banned / Length: 7921 feet / Time: 88:01 / Reason: indecency
Date: 09-1971 / Appeal: Against refusal of the Film Censorship Board to register / Length: 7921 feet / Time: 88:01 / Result: Decision of the Film Censorship Board confirmed
Post-November 1971 rating
A ‘reconstructed version’ was submitted by A. Chester and passed with an R-rating in November 1971. The print ran 7816-feet (86:51), over a minute shorter than the version that was previously banned.
The Man Who Had Power Over Women
Directed by John Krish / 1970 / UK / IMDb
Date: 11-1970 / Rated: SOA / Length: 8839 feet / Time: 92:39 / Censored by 01:06 / Reason: indecency
Post-November 1971 rating
Resubmitted by Communications and Entertainment and passed with an M rating in July 1984. The tape ran 87-minutes.
The Music Lovers
Directed by Ken Russell / 1971 / UK / IMDb
In November 1970, a 11105-feet (123:23) print of THE MUSIC LOVERS was passed with a Suitable Only for Adults rating.
Although not listed as such, it had been modified before submission.
Censored footage
Shane Harrison reports.
MGM (uk) – DVD – 118:00 (PAL) – Includes 00:21 MGM and United Artists logos
Censored at 91:46 by 00:07 – Nina (Glenda Jackson) is shown, from the waist up, having sex. Given that Tchaikovsky’s backing music was uninterrupted; it suggests the 00:07 were replaced with non-sexual footage before submission.
Her full-frontal nude scene was left untouched in Australia.
Post-November 1971 rating
In April 1991, Warner Home Video received an M (Sexual references) rating for a 119-minute tape.
Further reading
For more Ken Russell, see WOMEN IN LOVE (1969) in this database and THE DEVILS (1971) in the Film Censorship Database No. 1.
My Lover My Son
Directed by John Newland / 1970 / UK – USA / IMDb
Date: 06-1970 / Rated: AO / Length: 8593 feet / Time: 95:29 / Censored by 01:52 / Reason: violence and indecency
No Blade of Grass
Directed by Cornel Wilde / 1970 / USA / IMDb
Date: 03-1971 / Rated: A / Length: 8752 feet / Time: 97:15 / Censored by 03:06 / Reason: violence and indecent language
Performance
Directed by Donald Cammell – Nicolas Roeg / 1970 / UK / IMDb
Date: 11-1970 / Rated: Banned / Length: 9491 feet / Time: 105:27 / Reason: violence and indecency and drug encouragement
Date: 12-1970 / Appeal: Against rejection / Length: 9491 feet / Time: 105:27 / Result: Appeal dismissed by Review Board
Date: 04-1971 / Rated: Banned / Length: 8058 feet / Time: 89:32 / Reason: indecency and violence and encouragement to drug abuse / Comment: Reconstructed version
Date: 07-1971 / Appeal: Against refusal of the Film Censorship Board to register / Length: 8058 feet / Time: 89:32 / Result: Decision of the Film Censorship Board confirmed / Comment: Reconstructed version
Post-November 1971 rating
In his censorship overview, David Stratton states there was a submission after the introduction of the R-rating, but before the following festival screenings. The FILM CENSORSHIP BULLETIN does not record these decisions.
In June 1973, a 2970.30-meter (108:16) print was passed with an R-rating under ‘Festival conditions’. It went on to screen at the Melbourne and Sydney Film Festivals.
This was followed in September 1973 by a 2865.60-meter (104:27) print that was classified with an R-rating. Warner Bros released it theatrically.
January 1974
When a print found its way to Australia in 1971 it was promptly banned. The distributor made cuts, but the “reconstructed” version was banned too.With the introduction of the R certificate late in 1971, the distributor tried again. The film was banned again and the ban was upheld by the Board of Review. [No record of either in the FILM CENSORSHIP BULLETIN].
The film was exported, and there the matter rested until it was re-imported by the Sydney and Melbourne Film Festivals for a special season of “lost” films presented as part of the 1973 Festivals. Following these screenings, the film was finally registered R without cuts and could be publicly screened in Australia, five years after it was made.
– David Stratton
– Cinema Papers No. 1
Resubmitted by Corporate Video and passed with an R (Occasional violence, Sexual activity) rating in June 1989. The tape was released by Warner Home Video.
Toomorrow
Directed by Val Guest / 1970 / UK – USA / IMDb
Date: 11-1970 / Rated: G / Length: 8534 feet / Time: 94:49 / Censored by 00:01 / Reason: indecent language
Further reading
For more Val Guest, see WHEN DINOSAURS RULED THE EARTH (1970) in this database and AU PAIR GIRLS (1972) in the Film Censorship Database No. 1.