This unique 63 minute documentary movie called [CENSORED] (2018) was entirely created using the banned motion picture film footage that had been removed from movies by the censors working at the “Australian Film Censorship Board” located in Sydney Australia, between 1951 and 1978.
Since 2018 this documentary movie has a “Film Festival Only” classification, and still can not be shown in Australian Cinemas, and is not available on DVD – http://www.arenamedia.com.au/censored/
Melbourne archivist and filmmaker Sari Braithwaite after making her initial short film SMUT HOUNDS (2015) containing seventy-seven seconds of 1960s forbidden celluloid, famously gained unprecedented access to Canberra’s World Cinema storage archive of many many thousands of banned movie clip sequences.
Film frames that were cut from international and continental films, that were screened in very very heavily edited versions, with reduced running times, in Australian Cinemas between 1951 and 1978. Cleverly re-edited scenes, typically/usually there were no obvious signs that image and soundtrack had been permanently removed.
CUSTOMS (CINEMATOGRAPH FILMS) REGULATIONS 1956 No.94 was the Australian Government Commonwealth Legislation, that prevented Australians from sitting in a cinema watching the original version of films that without cuts would be “blasphemous, indecent or obscene, OR likely to be injurious to morality, OR to encourage or incite to crime, OR a matter the exhibition of which is undesirable in the public interest.
Thus began a lifetime interest, in going to the cinema every week, and became a passionate cinephile by watching all those very heavily edited “Australian Film Censorship Board” true cinéaste versions of brand new release “Cinematograph Films”. As one of the Australian Cinema Pioneers and apparently have already seen far too much cinema, but always wanting to experience more and more cinema each year.
The legislation was applied to ensure that “brief female nudity” was never seen by Australians, such as Diamonds Are Forever (1971). The legislation was applied to ensure that “female removing her bra” was never seen by Australians, such as Psycho (1960). The legislation was applied to ensure that “drug use” was never seen by Australians, such as BlowUp (1966) and Easy Rider (1969). The legislation was applied to ensure that “how to commit a crime” was never seen by Australians, such as Skyjacked (1972). The legislation was NOT applied to fully ensure that “how to commit a crime” was seen by Australians, so of course the crime was then committed by an Australian, such as Breakout (1975).
The legislation was freshly applied to Forbidden Planet (1956) for the 1959 MGM cinema re-release, and the Australia Film Censorship Board ordered the elimination of “all shots of alleged nuclear monster” i.e. the Australia Film Censorship Board insisted that the Id Monster is never seen, and typically the Id Monster was never seen by Australians from 1959 until recent years.
Our Australian Film Censorship Board apparently lived in another universe, however what does worry me, is that no matter what Commonwealth legal requirements are in place, in relation to “Distributors Cuts” our Commonwealth Government remains unable to legislate against stupidity, arrogance and entitlement.
* Yes all the best of the best bits which are held in Australia’s National Film and Sound Archive (NFSA), located in Australia’s capital city of Canberra ACT. Finally see the unseen, that Australians were never ever supposed to see, carefully curated and thoughtfully compiled from 2000 never-before-seen snippets of visual vice. Australian audiences in 2018 are challenged with unanswered questions about nanny-state censorship, and the ultimate power of uncensored cinema. This clever documentary screened during the 65th Sydney Film Festival 6-17 June 2018.
Director – Sari Braithwaite
Writer – Sari Braithwaite
Producer – Chloé Brugalé
Film Censorship In Australia. Our “Australian Film Censorship Board” typically issues just one censorship certificate for each movie film cinema release, and that one censorship certificate includes Australian home video releases on VHS BETA LASERDISC DVD BLU-RAY 4K-UHD. However, the “Australian Film Censorship Board” does NOT issue censorship certificates for Australian free-to-air television, Australian Foxtel cable television, Australian internet video streaming services such as VIMEO, YouTube, YouTube Premium, Foxtel GO, Foxtel Binge, Foxtel Kayo, Foxtel Hayu, HBOmax, Amazon Prime, Apple TV+, Disney+, Paramount+ . . . et cetera. Now you know why an uncut show is rated MA15+ when on Foxtel, and the exact same show containing the exact same content (i.e. uncut) is rated R18+ when issued on Australian DVD BLU-RAY 4K-UHD.
“Disney VOD Disney+ Version Cuts” are usually equivalent to “Airline Version Cuts” where sound and image are permanently altered to reduce the existing MPA classification rating down to MPA rated G rather than MPA rated PG.
“Censor Cuts” made by the “Australian Film Censorship Board” located in Sydney Australia, deliberately prevented Australians from watching movie film, exactly as intended by the director of each movie.
Film Censorship In Australia, since the 1950s “Distributor Cuts” made by each “Australian Cinema Distributor” to obtain a reduction in the Censorship Classification”. In Australia since the introduction of the R censorship certificate – typically from R to M. In Australia since the introduction of the MA censorship certificate – typically from R to MA, alternately from MA to M. Sometimes from M to PG.
In recent years “Distributor Cuts” to remove/alter image/sound content for Australian cinema movie films, have included major cinema releases such as Bruno (2009); The Hangover (2009); Manchester by the Sea (2016); Lady Bird (2017); Bumblebee (2018); Jumanji- The Next Level (2019); and John Wick- Chapter 3 – Parabellum (2019) and YES all the many cuts are fully itemised online (use GOOGLE SEARCH) – – – Of course no-one is allowed to advertise that the Australian DVD version is uncut/cut.
In 2019 Margaret Anderson (Chief Censor) of the Australian Classification Board (ACB) was quoted as saying “censorship is not on the agenda and, unlike other equivalent offices around the world, the ACB does not recommend CUTS to film and game producers”. Originally called “Commonwealth Board of Film Censors” (CBFC); became “Film Censorship Board” (FCB); then became “Office of Film and Literature Classification” (OFLC); and currently called “Australian Classification Board” (ACB).
Many uncut/cut films remain BANNED in Australia, due to “offensive content” or “violent content” or “obscenity” or “graphic depictions of teenage sex, incest, and auto-erotic asphyxiation” or “cruel, disturbing, and sexually explicit content” OR “grounds of obscenity”; “deemed blasphemous”; “encouraged criminal activity and antisocial behaviour” OR “content that would be contrary to public decency and undesirable to public interest” or “graphic violent death” or “promotes and supports bestiality” or “uses an act of extreme violence with sexual gratification” or “promotes and supports the use of violence to compel any person to submit to sexual conduct” or “sexual violence involving young people” or “gore, violence and sexually explicit content” or “objectionable content” or “invitation to enjoy cruel and violent behaviour” or “sexual exploitation of children”.
In Australia, the Commonwealth Film Censorship Board was established in 1917, with the remit – TO CUT or COMPLETELY BAN – to register, to view, and then to censor all movie films imported from overseas, plus all Australian movie films.
Of course in Australia, the necessary Australian Censorship cuts, the total footage length deleted, and/or total number of seconds deleted, are as always, all that information can never ever be published, and can never ever be advertised. HOWEVER since 1971 Australian Cinemas have taken to advertising UNCUT, when Australian Cinemas re-release UNCUT versions of the same movie film.
* * * WHY FILMS ARE CUT BY CENSOR * * *
* In Sydney Australia, on Monday, The Commonwealth Film Censor (Mr. Alexander), explained (fully) today that there was no irrevocable film ban on expletives, such as “bloody” if they were used naturally, and without emphasis and were essential to the humour of the dialogue.
*** However, it was usual for the Film Censorship Board to ban the following scenes –
* Fight scenes depicting kicking.
* Scenes portraying new angles on criminal technique.
* Inaccurate overseas commentaries that would irritate Australian audiences.
* Films implying that crime pays dividends.
* Horror scenes likely to shock the minds of audiences.
* “We judge each scene on its merits, recognising the important part that the (cinema) screen plays in the national life,” Mr. Alexander added.
* Mr Alexander said he did not agree with a commonly expressed view that western and cowboy films and certain types of thriller encouraged juvenile delinquency.
* “I am convinced from the opinion of medical men and psychiatrists that the impact of such films on the child mind is very transitory, and seldom a great, as on the adult mind.” Mr. Alexander said.
* THE SUN – PAGE 3 – Tuesday 20th January 1948.
* * * Horror films like FRANKENSTEIN, were a particular problem for the Commonwealth Film Censorship Board. They were popular, but they were also a frequent subject of complaints by Parents and Citizens Associations, and church groups. Australia decided to banish all horror movies in early 1948, and that might have been just an easy win for the at-the-time Chief Film Censor, J. O. Alexander. It would appease pro-censorship groups, who were concerned about the influence of films on young minds, and since no horror movies were being released anyway, who would complain? Justified as being, UNDESIRABLE IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST, on Thursday 22nd April 1948, all horror movies were banned . * * *
QUEENSLAND BOARD OF FILM CENSORS (QBFC) from 1922 until 1983, was the state government body, responsible for cinema film censorship in Queensland, Australia. Queensland’s censorship history remains infamous, with many films being banned longer there, than anywhere else in Australia. Australia’s strictest censorship board, refused classification (BANNED) and/or heavily cutting, prohibited thousands of movie films from the 1920s, until its abolition in 1983.
This is the 1983 complete official list, of famous banned movie films (list compiled, despite the many missing Queensland Government records, bans were often decided case-by-case, and that files were destroyed and/or lost and/or missing, only in Queensland).
However censorship documents, film historians’ published research, historical archives, government reports, newspaper reports and newspaper archives, academic papers on Australian Censorship, National Film and Sound Archives, Queensland State Archives, do reveal the many famous banned movie film titles, that were prohibited in Queensland.
Films Banned by the QUEENSLAND BOARD OF FILM CENSORS (QBFC) – the QBFC had the authority to BAN, CUT, OR RESTRICT all films deemed morally or politically unsuitable for Queensland cinema audiences. Queensland was known for having some of the strictest censorship policies in Australia, often banning films that were permitted in other states. Famous movie films, banned by the QBFC included these six titles –
1. “FREAKS” (1932) – Banned due to its depiction of people with physical disabilities, considered exploitative and disturbing.
2. “THE WILD ONE” (1953) – Banned for glorifying motorcycle gang violence and rebellion.
3. “A CLOCKWORK ORANGE” (1971) – Initially banned for extreme violence and sexual content (later passed with cuts in 1973).
4. “MONTY PYTHON’S LIFE OF BRIAN” (1979) – Banned for blasphemy (eventually released in 1980 after public outcry).
5. “PINK FLAMINGOS” (1972) – Banned for obscenity and extreme content.
6. “THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE” (1974) – Banned for graphic violence (remained banned in Queensland until 1984).
Queensland politicians kept Strict Conservative Values, under the long-term Queensland Premier, JOH BJELKE-PETERSEN (1968–1987), ensured and kept the highly conservative government, that enforced strict moral standards. Strong lobbying from religious groups influenced censorship decisions. Some films were banned for Political Censorship reasons, particularly those seen to be promoting communism, or anti-authority messages.
– QBFC BANNED – Obscure low-budget films, such as roughies, sexploitations, exploitations (e.g., “Nazi exploitation” films), were banned without documentation; including –
– “ILSA, SHE WOLF OF THE SS” (1975) –
– “FACES OF DEATH” (1978) – Banned in most states.
– (A) EXTREMELY REALISTIC – MOVIE FILMS ARE STILL BANNED IN AUSTRALIA – and classified as “Refused Classification” (RC), meaning they cannot be imported or sold or screened n Australia.
– Some “animal cruelty” movie films.
– Some “rape revenge” movie films.
– “A SERBIAN FILM” (2010) – Extremely realistic, sexual violence.
– “THE BUNNY GAME” (2010) – Extremely realistic, torture scenes.
– (B) QBFC BANNED PRE-1960s (STRICT MORALITY ERA) –
1. “FREAKS” (1932) – Banned for exploiting people with disabilities; remained banned until the 1970s.
2. “THE WILD ONE” (1953) – Banned for glorifying motorcycle gang violence; unbanned in the 1960s.
3. “ECSTASY” (1933) – Banned for female nudity; Hedy Lamarr’s infamous swimming scene.
4. “MOM AND DAD” (1945) – A sex hygiene film banned for explicit content; later allowed, but with cuts.
5. “THE MOON IS BLUE” (1953) – Banned for sexual innuendo, and for speaking the word “virgin.”
– (C) QBFC BANNED 1960S–1970S (SOCIAL UNRESTS BANS, VIOLENCE CRACKDOWNS) –
6. “A CLOCKWORK ORANGE” (1971) – Banned for extreme violence; later passed with cuts (1973).
7. “THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE” (1974) – Banned until 1984 (a decade after other states).
8. “LAST TANGO IN PARIS” (1972) – Banned for sexual content; later released with heavy cuts.
9. “STRAW DOGS” (1971) – Banned for graphic rape scene; unbanned in the 1980s.
10. “SALÒ, OR THE 120 DAYS OF SODOM” (1975) – Banned Australia-wide, including Queensland.
– (D) QBFC BANNED LATE 1970s + EARLY 1980s (POLITICAL CRACKDOWNS, CONTROVERSY BANS) –
11. “MONTY PYTHON’S LIFE OF BRIAN” (1979) – Banned for blasphemy; released in 1980 after protests.
12. “PINK FLAMINGOS” (1972) – Banned for obscenity; remained restricted for many years.
13. “THE EVIL DEAD” (1981) – Initially banned for extreme gore; later unbanned but with cuts.
14. “I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE” (1978) – Banned for sexual violence; unbanned in the 1990s.
15. “SNUFF” (1976) – Banned for alleged real violence (fake hoax).
– (E) QBFC BANNED 1960s–1970s POLITICAL + DOCUMENTARIES –
16. “THE LITTLE RED SCHOOLBOOK” (1971) – (book to film adaptation) – Banned for promoting “total subversion.”
17. “FAHRENHEIT 451” (1966) – Initially banned for, its “pure anti-censorship themes”.
18. “IF . . . ” (1968) – Banned briefly for, “depicting school rebellion themes”.
-www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mtojt31IlQs&
