99 Women is a 1969 Liechtenstein/Spain/Italy/West Germany/UK women in prison film by Jesus Franco.
With Maria Schell, Luciana Paluzzi and Mercedes McCambridge.
Banned in the UK by the BBFC and later cut. Uncut elsewhere as the Director's Cut. There is also a French Version with hardcore inserts.
The newest batch of detainees arrives at a remote women's prison. The fortress-like prison is ruled with an iron hand by Thelma Diaz (Mercedes McCambridge), a woman who has no qualms against death or torture. But when a new
state official takes notice of the body count coming out of the prison, Diaz must prove her ability and hide the truth. As the powers that be turn up the pressure it sets up a daring escape by several of the ladies.
"Women in prison" flicks can be a mixed bag. Many offer the usual softcore action (usually of the lesbian variety) and / or nasty torture sequences that often exploit. But 99 Women doesn't really offer too much of either. 99
is actually more artistic than most of the "W.I.P." films that I've seen and as a result it comes off as a bit bland. The photography is fine but with most of the action taking place indoors the camera-work is not flashy. The acting is
pretty decent but the script is a bit "talky" in an unnecessary way.
The softcore action is not awfully titillating since many of the scenes are shot in an "artistic" fashion the X-rated version does offer some hardcore inserts but you can easily tell they were added much latter
since they don't match. "99 Women" has some style but not a lot of substance. A bit disappointing.
Availability
Current UK Status: Passed 18 with 1:00s of cuts
US: The Director's Cut is uncut and MPAA Unrated for:
2016 Blue Underground Limited Edition [Director's Cut + Hardcore Version] (RA) Blu-ray/(R1) DVD Combo
at US Amazon
2016 Blue Underground [Director's Cut only] (RA) Blu-ray/(R1) DVD Combo
at US Amazon
2013 Blue Underground Bad Girls Behind Bars Collection R0 DVD
at US Amazon
491 is a 1964 Sweden drama by Vilgot Sjöman.
With Lars Lind, Leif Nymark and Stig Törnblom.
Banned by the BBFC for:
UK 1968 cinema release
Summary Review: Shocking
It is written that 490 times you can sin and be forgiven. This motion picture is about the 491st.
This movie was an absolute bombshell when it opened in 1964. Proved shocking at the time with scenes including tacit allusions to sodomy and a scene depicting (out of shot) a dog rape!
Apart from that there was the naked portrait of a society in change where young people behave in a way unknown to their parents. This was unnerving, unsettling.
But the Problem with the movie is that despite its good intentions it doesn't work.
Ain't Misbehavin' is a 1974 UK collection of video clips by Peter Neal & Anthony Stern. With Lou Abelardo, Elsie Carlisle and Nat 'King' Cole .
Banned by the BBFC for 1974 cinema release
Summary Review: Music Videos and Porn
Billed as: A Risqué Walk Down Memory Lane.
A large proportion of the film consists of soundies - short black & white films made for an early kind of video jukebox . So we get to see Fats Waller doing the title song, for instance. But there are also pieces from sound
shorts, and features - an eclectic collection, from both sides of the Atlantic.
Interspersed between the musical numbers there are rather tame and clumsy vintage porn films. Surreal!
All Together Now is a 1970 US sex drama by William Louis Allan.
With Arianna, Thomas Baker and Robert Corder.
Banned by the BBFC for:
UK 1970 cinema release
Promotional review: Novel
Marsha's immature, animalistic husband neglects and mistreats her. She is driven to embark on an affair with a romantic Frenchman, but this likewise ends unhappily. Floundering, she sets out to write a series of love and sex novels.
She consults a woman doctor who is considered an authority on the subject of sexuality, and the doctor promptly seduces her. She uses her experiences as the basis for her novels but is finally unable to continue writing; and she takes her own
life.
1968 West Germany sex drama by Hans Schott-Schöbinger.
With Dagmar Lassander, Ralph Clemente and Arthur Brauss.
UK: Banned by the BBFC for:
UK 1969 cinema release titled Andrea
UK: Passed X (18) after BBFC cuts for:
UK 1970 cinema release titled Andrea
UK 1970 cinema release titled The Nympho
UK: Presumably uncut for the pre-cert video:
UK Market VHS
UK 1981 Derann VHS
Summary Review: A Good Appetite
Andrea is a young woman with innocent looks, but a ravishing sexual appetite. By using her sexuality she can get most anything she wants, but as each days passes she gets deeper and deeper into a world that she despises and fears she will never
escape.
Availability
Current UK Status: No release since pre-cert video
Maybe the nude version of Mermaids of Tiburon which was created a couple of years after the clothed and black & white version of 1962. This nude version was titled The Aqua Sex.
As the Naked Wind from the Sea is a 1968 Sweden/West Germany sex comedy romance by Gunnar Höglund.
With Hans Gustafsson, Lillemor Ohlsson and Barbro Hiort af Ornäs.
Banned by the BBFC for:
UK 1969 cinema release
Then passed X/18 after ~2:53s of BBFC cuts for
UK 1987 Sheptonhurst VHS titled Sex on the Beach
UK 1979 Intervision Pre-cert VHS titled As the Naked Wind from the Sea
UK 1971 cinema release (subtitled) titled As the Naked Wind from the Sea
UK 1970 cinema release titled As the Naked Wind from the Sea
Summary Review: Forgotten Gem
One Swedish Summer (which was the US title) is a forgotten gem from the days when skilled directors were at the helm of exploitation films, and while a fascinating viewing experience, it also serves to demonstrate just how thoughtless and
pedestrian these kinds of films have become lately.
A handsome young male classical violinist experiences his sexual awakening one summer in the middle of teh Swedish nowhere.
One Swedish Summer boasts beautiful location photography as well as exquisitely beautiful music on the soundtrack, a combination of classical baroque and late 60's Europop. This is contrasted with close-up shots of female pubic regions,
full-frontal male nudity, and several brushes with themes of voyeurism and sadomasochism.
Availability
Current UK Status: Passed 18 after about 2:53s of BBFC cuts
The Awakening of Emily is a 1976 USA adult film by
Starring Holly McCall, Stephanie Bonds and Herschel Savage.
Rejected by the BBFC for a 1983 cinema release.
Summary Notes
One of Holly McCall's greatest performances came in 1976's The Awakening Of Emily, in which she starred as a virginal young teacher who was introduced to the wanton wonders of sex
Bamboo House Dolls is a Hong Kong prison drama by Chin Hung Kuei. With Birte Tove, Lieh Lo and Hsieh Wang.
Banned by the BBFC for the 1975 cinema release
Summary Review: Done Very Well
A nurse in a Japanese women's POW camp during World War II masterminds an escape.
I bought this film on DVD and expected an over-the-top, Women In Prison exploitation ride that would have me guffawing and slapping my knee as I had a good old time watching the girls get taken advantage of. It's a guy thing. However, I was
pleasantly surprised to find that BHOD kept me glued to the screen from beginning to end. It's an exploitation film no doubt, but it's done very well!
The female prisoners are very attractive, and the actors portraying the villains are really digging into their roles. The sex scenes, while violent, are choreographed very well, and are done tastefully. Many of the erotic scenes have a comedic
nature, and are welcome pauses in an otherwise non-stop action fest.
Availability
Current UK Status: No release since the ban
There's an uncut Danish release but it has Chinese audio and Scandinavian subtitles
Summary Review: Comical, disorienting and depressing
Women in Prison movies come in several styles, ranging from tongue-in-cheek camp to disturbingly sadistic shockfests. Barbed Wire Dolls is a Jess Franco flick, so, as expected, it doesn't really fit into any
pigeonhole.
Watching Frauengefangnis is like performing an experiment on yourself. The painfully slow pace, downbeat soundtrack, eternal scenes of pointless verbal abuse, mock torture, and idiotic dialog gradually turn your brain into
glue. The movie is so sleazy, depressing, and confusing, that it's almost unwatchable in one sitting.
A Bay of Blood is a 1971 Italian horror by Mario Bava.
With Claudine Auger, Luigi Pistilli and Claudio Camaso.
UK Censorship History
A perverse reworking of La Ronde involving 11 graphic murders.
The BBFC refused this a cinema certificate in 1972 titled A Bay of Blood
The uncut version was released on the Hokushin label in February 1983 titled Blood Bath . It was listed as a
video nasty in March 1984. It stayed on the list throughout so became one of the collectable DPP39s
Re-released after 43s of BBFC cuts as
Bay of Blood (Redemption, 1994)
The BBFC waived their cuts for the 18 rated 2010 Arrow DVD/Blu-ray
The US R rated version is uncut.
Summary Review : Granddaddy of all slasher movies
Bay of Blood is often called the "Granddaddy of all slasher movies". After watching Bay of Blood you can definitely see where Friday the 13th (made in 1980) got a lot of it's ideas. Saying that, Bay
of Blood does not possess the single element that defined the slasher film, the indestructible, omnipresent killer.
The movie succeeds almost entirely thanks to Mario Bavo, who serves as both director and cinematographer, with his typical stylish flare which heavily influenced the great Dario Argento, his eye appealing use of color and interesting editing
techniques, which include a lot of blurry dissolves give Bay of Blood an almost dream-like, surrealistic feel.
Availability
Current UK status: Passed 18 uncut.
UK: Passed 18 with BBFC cuts waived for:
UK 2011 Arrow/ArrowDrome R2 DVD
at UK Amazon for release on 3rd October 2011
Bedtime is a 1967 UK drama short by John Irvin.
With Imogen Hassall and Michael Latimer.
UK: Banned by the BBFC for:
UK 1967 cinema release
Summary Notes: Inbetweeners
Film begins at the end of one act of love-making and ends at the beginning of the next. It is a dialogue between two people who are neither in love nor married to each other.
An explicit compilation of short films with just as strong scenes of sexual activity filmed during festival parties.
Compilation of 5 short prize winners from previous festivals:
Introduction
Eyetoon
Baby
The stripper
4. Norien ten (uncredited direction)
Life with video
Thanks to Rustin Mann on The Melon Farmers' Forum:
One of the shorts is directed by Penelope Spheeris. The story line is of a meek pharmacist hatching a plot to snag his loud sex-loving "hot" neighbour by making a simulated sex tape.
The Big Doll House is a 1971 USA / Philippines action drama by Jack Hill.
Starring Roberta Collins, Pam Grier and Judith Brown.
Banned by the BBFC for 1971 cinema release.
Cut by the BBFC for 1987 VHS.
Uncut for 2003 DVD.
Uncut in the US
Summary Review: Naive Silly Fun
Beautiful women prisoners are abused in a Philippine prison, until 5 of them plot an escape by taking the evil female warden hostage with the reluctant help of 2 male fruit vendors.
The whole film has a tone of naivety despite of its run of sex and violence. The plot couldn't be more simple: a group of women in prison, led by the resourceful Collier (top-billed Judy Brown), plan an escape. Guards torment
and molest prisoners. Prisoners get naked (though not as much as you'd expect for this genre). One evil head guard, Lucian tortures bad girls by tying them to tables and hanging snakes over them.
The fast paced film is surprisingly well acted, and delivers all the usual thrills you would expect, with a few witty lines and some hysterical monologues.
Availability
Current UK Status: Passed 18 uncut
UK: An extended version was passed 18 uncut with previous BBFC cuts waived for:
Nico Palmieri is a police inspector who battles against hoodlums terrorising a sleepy Italian village, extorting cash from the locals.
The Big Racket benefits immensely from a strong leading performance courtesy of Fabio Testi. Testi's portrayal of the angry police officer is perfectly judged to fit the movie, and I don't think there is an actor who could be better suited to
playing the lead in this movie.
The script is really good, and finds time to flesh out its characters as well as deliver witty dialogue that is always a part of this movie's bigger budget American cousins. It all boils down to a fabulous conclusion which serves in ensuring
the movie gets the bloody end it deserves, as well as rounding off the story perfectly.
Availability
Current UK Status: Passed 18 after 14s cuts
US: Uncut and MPAA Unrated for:
US 2012 Blue Underground [Midnight Movies Triple Action Feature] R0 DVD
at US Amazon
Family Jewels is a 1975 France adult film by Jean-Claude Laureux.
With Françoise Brion, Corinne O'Brien and Michel Fortin.
Initially banned by the BBFC for 1975 cinema release.
Later cut for cinema releases in 1976, 1985 and 1992.
Also cut for 1987 VHS.
Summary Review: What might have been
Between Just Jaeckin's Emmanuelle packing Champs Elyse'es theaters to the rafters and the dirty movie deluge that was just around the corner, Continental carnal cinema got a taste of what might have been had the
budding genre been allowed to progress logically without stringent government interference ruining its potential. French fornication filmmakers believed that their explicit sexual content would eventually be assimilated by mainstream
entertainment. Alas, this was not to be, the country's draconian X Law - slapping humongous taxes on all aspects of adult film production and distribution - to blame only in part for this evolution or rather lack thereof.
The sole directorial effort of Jean-Claude Laureux, erstwhile cherished collaborator of the late great Louis Malle, remains an ambitious attempt to blend traditional cinema with the plentiful pulchritude and still simulated
yet surprisingly graphic sexual activity allowed by recently relaxed censorship laws. By way of knee jerk reaction, the movie was briefly banned altogether by the commission for film classification until progressive Cultural Secretary of State
Michel Guy overrode their decision, liberating the title for release with an 18 certificate.
This mild-mannered social satire of the country's privileged upper middle classes, themselves close to extinction post May 1968, plays out like a mixture of neutered Claude Chabrol and French boulevard theater.
Availability
Current UK Status: Passed 18 after 22s of BBFC cuts
The Black Alley Cats is a 1973 US action film by Henning Schellerup. With Sunshine Woods, Sandy Dempsey and Charlene Miles.
UK: Banned by the BBFC for:
UK 1984 cinema release
Summary Review: Crude and Tasteless
Wanting revenge on a street gang for a rape attack, four young girls get together, take kung-fu lessons, learn how to shoot, form a gang called the Black Alley Cats and search out the gang that attacked them.
It's all very cheap, crude and tasteless but the background music during the lengthy sex scenes should be of interest to fans of lounge/psych music.
Black Sunday is a 1960 Italy horror by Mario Bava.
With Barbara Steele, John Richardson and Andrea Checchi.
Censorship History
UK: Banned by the BBFC for 1961 cinema release UK: The cut US Version (Black Sunday) was passed 15 without BBFC cuts for 1986 Stablecane VHS. The shorter re-edited US print which was
missing around 3 minutes of dialogue and violence .
UK: Uncut European Version (Mask of Satan) was passed 15 uncut for 1992 Redemption VHS
Summary Review: Wonderful black and white film
A vengeful witch and her fiendish servant return from the grave and begin a bloody campaign to possess the body of the witch's beautiful look-alike descendant.
Italian director Mario Bava exploded onto the horror scene with Black Sunday. The movie succeeds fantastically at conveying a bleak atmosphere of horror.
Availability
Current UK Status: Passed 15 uncut
UK: Passed 15 uncut for:
UK 2013 Arrow [Mask 0f Satan + Black Sunday + I vampiri] RB Blu-ray/R1 DVD
at UK Amazon
Blindman is a 1971 Italy/1971 western by Ferdinando Baldi.
With Tony Anthony, Ringo Starr and Lloyd Battista.
Initially banned, but soon resubmitted and cut for an X rated 1972 cinema release.
Summary Review: A Great Movie
A blind, but deadly, gunman, is hired to escort fifty mail order brides to their miner husbands. His business partners double cross him, selling the women to bandit Domingo. Blindman heads into Mexico in pursuit.
This is currently a comic book western. But that doesn't mean that it's bad! It's a great movie and it's violent for a movie made in 1971, one scene at the end is really disgusting.
A great music score by Stelvio Cipriati, good action scenes and an amazing Tony Anthony makes it to one of the better spaghetti westerns. Don't miss!
The Bloody Fists is a 1972 Hong Kong martial arts film by See-Yeun Ng With Sing Chen, Kuan Tai Chen and Ta Chuan Liu.
Banned by the BBFC for UK 1973 cinema release
Passed X after BBFC cuts for UK 1976 cinema release A short version was passed 18 after 57s of cuts for UK 1986 Sheptonhurst VHS titled The Bloody Fist
A Re-edited Version was passed 18 uncut with previous BBFC cuts waived for UK 2004 Firefly R2 DVD titled Dragon Showdown.
Summary Review: A Classic!
Basically it's about a bunch of Japanese martial arts experts harassing a Chinese village on the lookout for the secret dragon herb . The Japanese face hard resistance from the Chinese fighters who run a martial arts
academy up in the mountains. Unanticipated assistance in terms of fighting expertise, however, comes from a refugee on the run.
The fighting scenes are not very realistic but cool anyway. A classic!
Availability
Current UK Status: Passed 18 uncut
A Re-edited Version was passed 18 uncut with previous BBFC cuts waived for:
Bloody Friday is a 1972 West Germany/Italy bank heist film by Rolf Olsen and Lee Payant.
With Raimund Harmstorf, Amadeus August and Gianni Macchia.
Banned by the BBFC for 1973 cinema release.
Summary Review: Gratuitous Violence
Based on an actual Munich bank robbery.. Things don't go exactly as planned (wouldn't you know it); and, the heist turns into a hostage situation. Bloody Friday offers plenty of gratuitous violence, which must have
been considerably more shocking in its day.
Passed 18 after 11s of BBFC cuts for the 1986 Rank VHS
Passed 18 uncut for strong violence, sexual violence and incest references with previous BBFC cuts waived for the 2009 Optimum R2 DVD
Summary Review: Humour and repugnancy
Machine gun totin' Ma Barker lead her family gang (her sons) on a crime spree in the Depression era. Her loyal brood have every perversion imaginable. The sadistic Herman sleeps with his Ma and Lloyd Barker is a spaced-out drug addict who sniffs
glue.
It's a morbidly colourful mixture of negative southern poor white trash stereotypes, encapsulated in a family of sociopaths, with a vintage Shelly Winters bringing her trademark intensity to the role of Ma Barker and a great cast as her sons.
A mishmash of humour and repugnancy, it's definitely not for the squeamish.
Availability
Current UK Status: Passed 18 uncut
UK: Passed 18 uncut for strong violence, sexual violence and incest references with previous BBFC cuts waived for:
Bloody Pit of Horror is a 1965 Italy/US horror by Massimo Pupillo. With Mickey Hargitay, Walter Brandi and Luisa Baratt.
UK: Banned by the BBFC for 1967 cinema release.
Summary Review: Pyschovision
A photographer and his models go to an old, abandoned castle to shoot some sexy covers for horror novels. Tragically for them, the castle is inhabited by a lunatic and closet torturer.
Bloody Pit of Horror is one weird Gothic horror film with a creepy castle, a legend of a ruthless torturer promising vengeance from the grave, and really cool instruments of death lying round in abundance. It was even filmed in Psychovision
.
On the negative side reviewers have found the plot silly and/or just weird. But on the whole the positives have outweighed the negatives and the general result is very much thumbs up.
Availability
Current UK Status: Never released after ban
US: The Original Italian Version is uncut and MPAA Unrated for:
The Born Losers is a 1967 USA action thriller by Tom Laughlin (as TC Frank).
Starring Tom Laughlin, Elizabeth James and Jeremy Slate.
Banned by the BBFC for 1969 cinema release. A shortened re-release was passed X without BBFC cuts for 1975 cinema release. The BBFC required cuts for the 18 rated full length 1987 VHS. Uncut and MPAA PG rated in the US. Cinema releases were also
banned in New Zealand and Sweden.
Summary Notes
A malicious motorcycle gang harasses the residents of a small California town, intimidating most residents to not report them to the police. Among the gang's crimes is the rape of four young women. As the gang attempts to threaten the women into
not testifying at the indictment hearing, one of the women, Vicki, comes under the protection of Billy Jack, who has also had several altercations with the gang. The gang escalates their pressure on both Vicki and Billy Jack to keep her out of the
courtroom.
Availability
Current UK Status: Last release cut for 18 rated VHS in 1975
Brute Corps is a 1971 USA action drama by Jerry Jameson.
Starring Paul Carr, Joseph Kaufmann and Jennifer Billingsley.
Banned by the BBFC for 1972 cinema release
Summary Notes
A couple runs into a strange Marine camp where soldiers perform training exercises. The girl gets tormented, and the guy goes after them.
A beautiful hitchhiker and a draft dodger travel to Mexico and encounter a pack of mercenaries awaiting their next mission in Central America. A terribly psychotic merc takes a liking to the girl which sets the couple on a
brutal and violent course of torture and rape. Gritty and exciting, this one is not for the faint of heart.
Candy Snatchers is a 1973 US crime film by Guerdon Trueblood. With Tiffany Bolling, Ben Piazza and Susan Sennett.
Banned by the BBFC for 1973 cinema release.
Summary Review: Classic exploitation
The Candy Snatchers is a very good example of the exploitation genre. It boasts a good plot with fine one liner dialogue and a wicked black sense of humour. The actor is also good. And to add to the mix, the plot
featuring incest, drugs, murder, rape, and kidnapping is described as sleazy but light on violence.
There are several scenes that seem to have inspired Quentin Tarantino's homages to the genre.
The Case of the Smiling Stiffs is a 1973 USA comedy horror by Sean S Cunningham and Brud Talbot.
Starring Sheila Stuart, Jed Ziegler and Cathy Walker.
Banned by the BBFC for 1974 but was passed later that same year after cuts. Uncut in the US but there is an unconfirmed report of a harder version
Summary Notes
Is Emma a voyeur vampire who can turn into a bat? Apparently, and she leaves many smiling faces on her victims after going down on them during a full moon. When they're not having sex with their suspects, two cops investigate the murders.
Long before Friday The 13th Sean Cunningham made this little beauty. It's actually the best movie he's ever made!
Chelsea Girls is a 1966 USA drama by Paul Morrissey and Andy Warhol.
With Brigid Berlin, Randy Borscheidt and Ari Boulogne.
Banned by the BBFC for 1967 cinema release and not released since. It was broadcast by Channel 4, presumably uncut, in December 1993.
Summary Notes
Lacking a formal narrative, Warhol's art house classic follows various residents of the Chelsea Hotel in 1966 New York City, presented in a split screen with a single audio track in conjunction with one side of screen.
For four odd hours Warhol, using the double-screen technique, declares war against every sensory logic we have grown used to in the movies. Sometimes, the movie just doesn't move. Sometime it does, but at an odd speed. But if you endure,
your perception of the art of motion pictures is in for a ride! Depicting the lives of underground characters known from Lou Reed and Velvet Underground songs, this movie is not only cinematic beauty at its extreme, but also a fascinating
documentation of an era in which modernist art reached its climax.
Close Encounters of a Handyman is a 1976 West Germany adult comedy by Johnny Wyder.
With Jan Boven, Rainer Peets and Tina Traven.
Banned by the BBFC for 1978 cinema release. Not released since
Summary Notes
Buddies Frank and Fred have their own company, "Frank & Fred's All-Around Service", a maintenance company that services a large apartment complex. However, the main "services" they provide are to the lonely and horny
housewives who live in the complex.
Coffy is a 1973 USA action crime thriller by Jack Hill.
With Pam Grier, Booker Bradshaw and Robert DoQui.
Initially banned by the BBFC for 1973 cinema release. Resubmitted and then cut for 1974 cinema release. Passed 18 uncut in 1988. Uncut in the US
Summary Review : Blaxploitation classic!
Coffy is a nurse whose younger sister gets involved in drugs and is severely injured by contaminated heroin. Coffy sets out on a mission of vengeance and vigilante justice, killing drug dealers, pimps, and mobsters who cross her path.
Maxim magazine lists Coffy as number 7 on its list of the 50 best B-movies of all time, and there can clearly be no mistake about its status as a B-movie. Pam Grier shines in this hilarious action-packed blaxploitation flick where she first
got her name as a 'black pin-up queen' during the early 70's.
This brilliant film mixes comedy right in there with the action. From the campy catfight scenes when Coffy dumps a salad bowl onto a blonde girl's head, to when King George makes his first appearance and steps out of his car in his pimp outfit,
complete right down to the feather in his hat! The action is fairly consistent. There are a lot of guns firing off and endless catfights.
The softcore film was originally made as The Coming of Seymour but was released in the US as The Fabulous Fanny to relate it to a cartoon strip in Playboy. It was not a success and was reworked with extra scenes and
re-released in 1977 as The Boob Tube Strikes Again!
The film is about a couple interacting with an X rated film on hotel TV. The film within a film is about the voluptuous cartoon character of Fanny, who dominates the daydreams of young Seymour. This sexual obsession stands in
the way of his siring a child that will enable him to inherit the family fortune. Seymour thoroughly enjoys his attempts to impregnate as many beautiful women as possible, but each time he is unable to reach that million dollar climax.
Confessions of a Blue Movie Star is a 1978 West Germany documentary by Wes Craven & Andrzej Kostenko.
With Carl Amery, Josephine Bayerl and Sonja Embriz.
The BBFC banned the 1978 cinema release
The BBFC passed the 1978 cinema release X after cuts.
A cut version was then passed 18 for the 1986 Sheptonhurst video
Summary review: Mockumentary
A mockumentary showing the process of casting a porn movie, the legalities of underage wanna-be participants and the effects of becoming a porn star.
Trying to play it as an actual documentary, it doesn't really work but it is interesting nonetheless. A so-called snuff element comes into it at the very end but is rather disappointing. The only redeeming feature is actual
deleted scenes from Wes Craven's Last House On The Left, which they play up as actual snuff footage.
Crash is a 1996 Canada / UK drama by David Cronenberg.
Starring James Spader, Holly Hunter and Elias Koteas.
British newspapers whipped up a moral panic and the film was banned in Westminster. No problems for the BBFC though and it was passed 18 uncut for cinema and home video. In the US the NC-17 version is uncut whilst the R rated version is
significantly cut.
Perhaps in the light of the continuing media onslaught against the film, Westminster Council - who had previously given permission for the film to be premiered in their area as part of the 1996 London Film Festival - parted
company with the BBFC at this point, insisting that cuts should now be made to the film before it was shown in the West End. The distributors declined to make cuts solely for screenings in Westminster and the film was therefore effectively banned
from screens in the West End, including Leicester Square. However, cinema goers could easily see the film in neighbouring Camden where the council allowed the film to play uncut with its BBFC certificate
Summary Review: Brave Attempt
The film adaptation, directed by David Cronenberg, becomes a futuristic love story set in the present . James (James Spader) and Catherine (Deborah Kara-Ungar) are a married couple so filled with inertia that they are
desperate for some emotional connection by any means necessary. After a series of extra martial encounters they find themselves attracted to a group of disturbed members of a bizarre car-crash sect who enact famous car crashes for kicks. The pair
soon find themselves willing accomplices in a tableaux of violence and desire until finally they attain some provisional approximation of actual love. Kara-Ungar's portrayal of Catherine exemplifies perfectly the icy detachment of a woman who
appears to be observing herself from another galaxy.
Crash is, above all, a brave attempt to explore an almost un-bearable subject - the death of affect and our unconscious desire for violence.
Availability
Current UK Status: Passed 18 uncut for cinema (except Westminster cinemas). Uncut on home video
Cry Uncle is a 1971 USA sex comedy by John G Avildsen.
With Jackson Beck, Pamela Gruen and Allen Garfield.
Banned by the BBFC for 1972 cinema release
Soon resubmitted and passed X after BBFC cuts still for 1972 cinema release
A pre-cut version was assed 18 after 1:10s of further BBFC cuts for 1987 Global Sales VHS titled American Oddballs
Summary Notes
Private detective takes on a case and gets mixed up in murder, sex and blackmail.
Cry Uncle! is a real curiosity piece...a raunchy, sex- and naked body-filled detective yarn with decent acting, some genuine laughs, some amazingly tasteless scenes, and one brief bit of hardcore porn involving a 65-year-old man. Oh, yeah,
and it was directed by the guy who would eventually bring you Rocky and The Karate Kid.
Daddy, Darling is a 1970 Denmark/USA drama by Joseph W Sarno.
With Helli Louise, Gio Petré and Ole Wisborg.
Banned by the BBFC for:
UK 1970 cinema release
But then passed X (18) uncut for
UK 1973 cinema release
Summary Review: Intelligent erotica
A young Danish girl (Helli Louise) seduces everything in sight after daddy refuses her naughty come-ons. She'll have a lesbian affair with her teacher, pretend that her teenage boyfriend is dear old dad and finally get to her stepmother
The taboo of incest is explored/exploited by Joe Sarno in this flick, but it's the daughter lusting after Dad and not the other way around.
For a film made in 1969, it's notoriety lies in its stretching the limits and possibilities of soft-core erotica, just before the advent of hardcore movies. It helps that the actresses are attractive, the nudity abundant, and the exploitation
envelope pushed. All in all, a good example of reasonably intelligent erotica from a lost era, well-handled and well-executed.
Availability
Current UK Status: Passed 18 uncut for cinema but never released on video.
The Demons is a 1972 France/Portugal horror by Jess Franco.
With Anne Libert, Britt Nichols and Doris Thomas.
Banned by the BBFC for 1972 but the GLC awarded a local X rating for screenings in London. The video was seized by the police during the video nasties moral panic in the early 80s. The Director's Cut was passed 18 uncut by the BBFC for 2008 DVD.
The Original Version was passed 18 uncut for 2017 Blu-ray.
Summary Review : A decent effort
The UK DVD of the Demons by Redemption is 103 minute directors cut restored by Franco in 2003 and is longer than the previous UK VHS release (which ran for less than 80 minutes). It is a decent effort not as good as some of
Franco's earlier work but definitely better than the stuff he directed in the early 80's for Eurocine. Some scenes are in French without English subtitles!
Availability
Current UK Status: Passed 18 uncut
UK: The Original Version was passed 18 uncut for strong sex, nudity, violence for:
Deported Women is a 1976 Italian women in prison film by Rino Di Silvestro. With John Steiner, Lina Polito and Stefania D'Amario.
Banned by the BBFC for 1977 cinema release. Available in the US
Summary Review: Sombre
A classic of Nazi filth & degradation according to one enthusiastic website. Deported Women of the SS Special Section offers not just women in prison, but women in a Nazi concentration camp.
This 1976 film is written and directed by Rino Di Silvestro ( Werewolf Woman ), who mixes and matches characters and plots to keep our attention beyond the nudity.
We start with a train car full of women, who are brought to the concentration camp and inspected by the medical staff. This means they get to be naked, which is obviously a main goal of this film.
As a sexploitation film this one is rather depressing, with appropriately somber music, and a tacit acknowledgment that there is some history behind some of what we are seeing. Still, there are several interesting vignettes as Silvestro comes up
with plausible vignettes for the sex in this one, although provoking thought would not seem to be an obvious goal for a sexploitation film.
Derek and Clive Get the Horn is a 1979 UK comedy by Russell Mulcahy.
Starring Dudley Moore, Peter Cook and Richard Branson.
Banned by the BBFC for 1980 cinema release. Unbanned and uncut for home video
The film was banned on the grounds of the supposedly abusive overuse of the swear words: Fuck & Cunt.
Summary Notes
Look... this isn't for everyone. It's Peter Cook and Dudley Moore going back for one last excursion into the world of Derek and Clive. For the uninitiated, Pete and Dud hit on an unsurpassed comic concept of wallowing
in vulgarity and absurdity which knew no bounds. Fortunately, Cook was a brilliant comic who was at his best at improvisation. Moore could not have been a better foil and was able to keep up with Cook's ideas and helped taking them all the
way to their - sometimes very clever or dreadful - end.
This is great fun and highly recommended to anyone who appreciates extremely ribald, imaginative comedy.
The Devil's is a 1971 UK drama by Ken Russell
With Vanessa Redgrave and Oliver Reed.
Cut by Warners and the BBFC for cinema release. The BBFC X rating was overruled and banned by 17 local councils. Further cut in the US for an R rating. The Director's Cut has been found but never released except for 100 years of the BBFC cinema
event.
UK: A pre-cut version was passed X (18) after BBFC cuts for:
1971 cinema release
UK: banned on by 17 local authorities who overruled the BBFC X rating, including Surrey, Blackpool, Sevenoaks, Plymouth and Nottingham.
In Tunbridge Wells, the film was in the middle of its run when it was subject to pickets from local church bodies and, despite a petition signed by 2,500 people in support of the film, the decision was made to cease screenings.
US: The cut UK Cinema Version was passed X for its US release but was further cut for an R Rating. UK: The cut UK Cinema version/X Rated US Version was passed 18 without further cuts for:
2012 BFI R2 DVD
This version restores the US cuts made for an R Rating and so is the cut/pre-cut UK Cinema Version. Note that this is misleadingly noted in the US as a Special Uncut Restored Version.
Availability
Current UK Status: Passed 18 after significant distributor cuts and BBFC cuts.
The cut footage has been relocated along with a pre-cut scene known as the Rape of Christ. However these have yet to be incorporated into any release. Much to the irritation of genre fans Warner's are sitting on the Director's Cut and refuse to
release it. The Director's Cut was shown at an event celebrating 100 years of the BBFC UK: The cut UK Cinema version/X Rated US Version was passed 18 without further cuts for:
Jack 'n Jill 2 is a 1984 USA adult film by Chuck Vincent.
Starring Samantha Fox, Jack Wrangler and Carol Cross.
Banned by the BBFC for UK 1985 cinema release
Promotional Review: Classic porn!
VCA Gold Classics brings you a tale of orgies gone wild! Jill wants Jack to stop engaging in his carnal desires of group sex and tasting forbidden fruit. Tired of his exploits, she has some of her own. Filled with drama,
laughs and some good old fashioned group trysts, Jack n Jill 2 will take you back! Classic porn!
Django is a 1966 Italy/Spain western by Sergio Corbucci.
With Franco Nero, José Bódalo and Loredana Nusciak.
The BBFC banned the 1969 cinema release. The BBFC commented on Twitter in 2014:
When the BBFC saw Django they were concerned by the excessive violence in the film & the moral tone
Django was refused a certificate unless heavy cuts were made to violence in the film
The distributor decided the film would be of little value to him if heavily cut & so withdrew it
The film was passed 18 without BBFC cuts for the 1993 Arthouse VHS.
The film was passed 15 without BBFC cuts for the 2004 Argent DVD.
Summary Review: Best non-Leone spaghetti Western
Don't listen to any claims made made for Bullet For A General, Django is without a doubt the best non-Leone spaghetti Western of all time. Corbucci's direction is more controlled here than anywhere else--less zooms, less
jarring close-ups, and neater editing. And Django has to be one of the first action heroes to fire a heavy machine gun from the hip (without even pulling the trigger, no less!).
But make no mistake. This is Italian exploitation--love it or hate it. An ear is cut off, prostitutes fight in the mud, and our hero's hands are crushed in gory detail that would make One-Eyed Jacks mumble in disgust.
Escape from Hell is 1980 Spain/Italy prison drama by Edoardo Mulargia. With Anthony Steffen, Ajita Wilson and Cristina Lay.
Banned by the BBFC for UK 1980 cinema release titled Escape from Hell
A version of
Hell Prison substantially reworked for the US market with additional material featuring Linda Blair and re-titled
Savage Island . This was passed 18 after 22s of BBFC cuts for UK 1986 EIV VHS
Original version was passed 18 after
3:46s of BBFC cuts for UK 1988 Sheptonhurst VHS titled Hell Prison
Summary Review: Eurotrash
All the girls look sweaty, stinky & dirty as they work, fight and make out with each other. That's about it for plot until they do escape and most of them get killed. Europeans love those downbeat endings.
It's always nice to see Peter Lorre lookalike Luciano Pigozzi in another piece of low-rent Eurotrash like this. It's OK.
Availability
Current UK Status: Passed 18 after 3:46s of BBFC cuts
Exhibition is a 1975 France adult documentary by Jean-François Davy.
Starring Claudine Beccarie, Benoît Archenoul and Noëlle Louvet.
Banned by the BBFC for a UK 1976 cinema release
A softcore version played in London cinemas with a GLC X certificate
A softcore version was released on pre-cert video for UK 1979 World of Video 2000 VHS.
The Director's Cut is complete and MPAA Unrated for US DVD release coupled with Transgression.
Summary Review: French Success
This is a documentary about French porno star Claudine Beccarie, the original containing several staged hardcore scenes.
Jean-Francois Davy's motivation was noble he really tried to present his subject as a fully rounded human being who just happened to be working in the sex industry. The result was a huge commercial hit in France where it played regular cinemas
packed to capacity, before the 1976 X -law relegated it to more specialized venues until 1983 when Minister of Culture Jack Lang removed the X-rating which enabled Davy to re-release the film with added footage, again with great success.
Availability
Current UK Status: Not submitted to the BBFC since the ban
US: The Director's Cut is complete and MPAA Unrated for:
2015 Artsploitation Films [Transgression + Exhibition] R1 DVD
at US Amazon released on 28th July 2015
Fanny Hill: Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure is a 1964 USA/West Germany comedy by Russ Meyer and Albert Zugsmith.
With Letícia Román, Miriam Hopkins and Ulli Lommel.
Banned by the BBFC for 1965 cinema release. A number of local authorities overruled the BBFC ban and allowed the film to be shown.
Summary Notes
Young, pretty and innocent Fanny Hill has lost her parents and must find her way in life amidst the perils of turbulent 18th century London. She is fortunate enough to find rapidly a place as chambermaid of the effusive Mrs. Brown. Mrs. Brown
lives in a large house teeming with female "relatives" in négligée and with very relaxed manners. She also insists that Fanny meets alone various gentlemen who show an ardent interest in Fanny.
Inane dialogue in this Russ Meyer burlesque farce/love story....but the naughty subject matter and low cut dresses were probably enough to keep the viewing public interested.
Availability
Current UK Status: Banned by the BBFC
US: Uncut and MPAA Unrated for:
2013 Vinegar Syndrome (RA) Blu-ray/(R1) DVD Combo
at US Amazon
Fantasm is a 1976 Australia comedy by Richard Franklin (as Richard Bruce).
Starring John Holmes, Uschi Digard and Candy Samples.
Banned by the BBFC for 1977 cinema release but passed X the next year after very heavy cuts. Still
heavily cut by the BBFC for 2010 DVD. Uncut in the US.
Summary Notes
Professor Jurgen Notafreud explores the 10 most common female sexual fantasies.
Thanks to Gary:
The film is softcore bit you can glimpse John Holmes's erection very briefly in an underwater sex scene (which was mostly cut by the OFLC on original release) but it really is blink and miss it. There is also brief penis kissing in the pool
scene. Does that count as fellatio?
Reviews
This is an erotic film, quite advanced for its time. A must see for those wishing to see softcore stars Rene Bond, Uschi Digart in the nude with their hairy bushes.
All the outrageous nudity is innocently explained away in scientific jargon by a Professor to get under the oppressive censorship of those times.
Fiebre is a 1971 Argentina drama by Amando Bo.
With Isabel Sarli, Armando Bo and Horacio Priani.
Banned by the BBFC for 1975 cinema release
Summary review from IMDB: Atmosphere of strangeness
In 1968 and 1969, Amando Bo and Isabel Sarli produced their three masterpieces: Carne , Fuego y Fiebre , three films that are unique in the world, three films that influenced John Waters big time and were a clear precedent to
his revolutionary work.
Fiebre is an amazing piece of experimental film-making. The idea is Isabel falls in love with a horse . An so we see shots of her touching her breast over imposed with shots of the horse's organ for an hour nd a half. It sounds
boring. It's not.
Bo's movies have an atmosphere of strangeness. They deserve a place in film history.
Fight for your Life is a 1977 Canadian crime drama by Robert A Endelson. With Robert Judd, Catherine Peppers and Lela Small.
Banned by the BBFC for 1981 cinema release.
The 1982 uncut video release from Vision On was banned as a
video nasty in September 1984 a nd remained on the DPP list throughout the panic and so became one of the collectable DPP39's
Not seen since in the UK.
Summary Review : Disturbing Scenes
Strange entry in the list in that most of the video is taken up by talking about vengeance rather than getting on with the job.
Three escaped convicts seek refuge at the home of a black minister and his family, there the family is humiliated and beaten. When his daughter is violated the family begin to embark on some vengeance.
A film which has very little to offer other than racial hatred and some rather disturbing scenes of violence. But so became a grindhouse classic.
Garden of Torture is a 1976 France by Christian Gion.
With Roger Van Hool, Jacqueline Kerry and Tony Taffin.
Banned by the BBFC for 1976 cinema release
Summary Review historical Softcore
Combining softcore pornography and historical romance, this film tells the story of a Antoine, a physician (Roger Van Hool) who, in 1888, was exiled to China due to his drug habit.
This very curious completely silent comedy includes some dramatic sequences and some fairly pornographic ones. The movie is made with titles, very much in the manner of early silent films.
Ginger is a 1971 USA crime drama by Don Schain.
With Cheri Caffaro, Duane Tucker and Herbert Kerr.
Banned by the BBFC for 1971 cinema release
Passed 18 after 14:20s of BBFC cuts for 1983 cinema release
Not released on UK home video
Summary Review
A rich society girl is recruited to go undercover and expose a drug/blackmail/prostitution ring in her small town.
This is pure 70s sexploitation. Yes it is sexist, unPCand everything modern Hollywood tries not to be. But that's its charm. It is about cute women toting unfeasible weapons and getting naked in an unbelievable B-movie plot.
A Girl Called Jules is a 1970 France / Italy drama by Tonino Valerii.
With Silvia Dionisio, Gianni Macchia and Esmeralda Ruspoli.
Banned by the BBFC for 1971 cinema release. Unbanned for 1975 cinema release and uncut on home video.
Summary Review: Worth the effort.
Teen girl Jules must deal with her budding sexuality, and the fact that some men and women want her adds to her confusion.
A distinctly Bergmanesque sexual melodrama. Silvia Dionisio is perfect in the title role and this remains her best film. A bit difficult to trace but well worth the effort.
Hells Angels on Wheels is a 1967 USA crime thriller by Richard Rush.
Starring Adam Roarke, Jack Nicholson and Sabrina Scharf.
Banned by the BBFC for 1967 cinema release. Unbanned after cuts for 1977 X rated cinema release. Massively cut for 18 rated 1988 VHS, and slightly less cut for 2005 15 rated DVD. Uncut and MPAA Unrated in the US.
Summary Notes: Classic
At first gas station attendant Poet is happy when the rockers gang "Hell's Angels" finally accepts him. But he's shocked when he learns how brutal they are - not even murder is a taboo to them. He gets himself in trouble when the
leader's girlfriend falls in love with him - and he welcomes her approaches.
Anyone with a more than curious interest in the Hells Angels will enjoy this piece of nostalgia. This is one of the few films to be openly supported by the Hells Angels themselves.
While the story line may seem somewhat dated by modern standards, it does encompass what I feel to be some of the most classic aspects of the Angels lifestyle of the time. A real treat for the biker movie buff.
The Horror of Party Beach is a 1964 USA musical horror by Del Tenney.
Starring John Scott, Alice Lyon and Allan Laurel.
Initially banned by the BBFC for 1964 cinema release but later passed 'X' after cuts. Passed 12 uncut for 2004 DVD. Uncut and MPAA Unrated in the US.
Summary Notes
While the hot-rodders and motorcyclists are having a rock-and-roll beach party, a barrel of radioactive material is unloaded from a passing ship, plunges to the bottom, and splits against a jagged rock. A black liquid oozes out and covers a
shapeless mass on the ocean floor, which suddenly moves and becomes an encrusted vicious monster. Soon there are several monsters who must have human blood to survive. Tina is the first victim, and football hero Hank Green and airhead Elaine Gavin
enlist the aid of her science-professor father, Dr. Gavin, to find and capture the killer. Not working fast enough to prevent the attack on 20 teenagers at a slumber party or the killing of three girl motorists, Dr. Gavin finds an arm lost by one
of the monsters and discovers that only sodium will destroy the monsters, whose composition is mostly water. Can they gather enough salt in southern California to put an end to this horror?
House on the Edge of the Park is a 1980 Italian horror thriller by Ruggero Deodato
With David Hess and Annie Belle.
The BBFC banned a 1981 cinema release.
It was released on video uncut by Skyline in October 1982. It was listed as a video nasty in July 1983. It stayed on the list throughout the panic so became one of the collectable DPP39s
The 2002 Protected/Vipco DVD was p assed 18 with 11:43s of
heavy cuts .
Passed 18 after 43s of BBFC cuts for the UK 2011 Shameless DVD.
Summary Review: Interesting yet Chilling
A couple of rapists Alex and Ricky who are invited to a rich person's party. They decide to make their own cruel and twisted kind of fun such as murder and rape.
A harsh and unsettling Italian horror thriller from director Ruggero Deodato who definitely knows how to shock his audience.
The acting isn't all that great but the music is good with a funky disco song, some gory violence with torture, nudity, and sleaze abound.
How Sweet It Is! is a 1978 USA adult fantasy by David Worth (as Sven Conrad).
Starring Jon Roy Jones, Maggie Williams and Brigitte Maier.
Banned by the BBFC for 1982 cinema release and not released since. Uncut in the US.
Summary Notes
A couple lies in bed and are turned on reading fantasy letters to a sexually oriented newspaper and the fantasies are acted out in vignettes as they read. Finally we see them perform themselves. Ordinary 70s pornography but notable for the
performance of 1974 Penthouse Cover Girl Brigitte Maier who appeared in several vignettes, which may have been edited in from 8mm loops done earlier.
How to Seduce a Virgin is a 1974 France erotic drama by Jesús Franco.
With Alice Arno, Robert Woods and Howard Vernon.
Banned by the BBFC for cinema in 1974 and not released since.
Promotional Material
The beautiful Countess Martine de Bressac is released from the expensive asylum where she was incarcerated after castrating her former lover. She returns to her luxurious villa on the coast and goes at once down into her private underground
dungeon. It's here that she indulges herself in the perverse sexual practices that give her life meaning, surrounded by the bizarre human statues of her previous victims. Her husband, Charles, feeds his wife's sick fantasies, aware that she is his
meal ticket to a life of luxury. He announces that he has a new game for her - they will befriend and seduce the young and virginal daughter of a rich neighbor. But things do not go exactly as planned... Games of decadence and debauchery lead to
mayhem and murder.
From cult director Jess Franco. His most outrageous film.
I Love You, I Don't is a 1976 France drama by Serge Gainsbourg.
With Jane Birkin, Joe Dallesandro and Hugues Quester.
Banned by the BBFC for its 1976 cinema release. Passed uncut for home video in 1993
Summary Review: Twisted Love Story
The petite waitress Johnny works and lives in a truck-stop, where she's lonely and longs for love. She develops a crush on the garbage truck driver Krassky, although her sleazy boss Boris warns her that he's gay. Maybe because of her boyish looks,
Krassky likes her too. Both don't notice the growing jealousy of Krassky's boyfriend Padovan - until an escalation.
I went in with high hopes and wasn't disappointed. People familiar with Gainsbourg's body of work will know to expect to unexpected, what with his love for the surreal, bizarre and perverted.
The sex scenes are genuinely uncomfortable, but the two stunningly beautiful leads are perfect for this twisted love story.
Availability
Current UK Status: Passed 18 uncut
UK: Passed 18 uncut for strong sex and violence for:
2007 Optimum R2 DVD titled Je t'aime moi non plus
at UK Amazon
Iguana with the Tongue of Fire is a Italy/France/West Germany giallo by Riccardo Freda.
With Luigi Pistilli, Dagmar Lassander and Anton Diffring.
Banned by the BBFC for 1972 cinema release. Uncut in the US
Summary Review: Brutal Gaillo
In Dublin, a young woman is brutally murdered in her home by a maniac that throws acid in her face and then slits her throat with a razor. The Swiss Ambassador, who was the dead woman's lover, refuses to cooperate with the police due to his
diplomatic immunity. John Norton, an ex-cop famed for his brutal working methods, is brought in to help and gets too deeply involved when he starts an affair with the Ambassador's beautiful step-daughter, Helen. Meanwhile, the brutal killings
continue.
Ilsa, Harem Keeper of the Oil Sheiks is a 1976 Canada/US women in prison film by Don Edmonds.
With Dyanne Thorne, Max Thayer and Jerry Delony.
Banned by the BBFC from 1973 cinema release. Unbanned and uncut in 2013. The US R rated version is heavily cut for violence
Presumably there is a date error in the BBFC database as the ban is 3 years before the worldwide release
Summary Review : Resplendent in khaki shorts
Dyanne Thorn returns in the storming sequel to She Wolf , and it seems to have been given a budget boost, as the setting moves to an Arabian oils sheik's kingdom in the middle of the desert, where Ilsa presides over
his palace as right hand security guard and keeper of his harem of kidnapped beauties.
The film doesn't quite match the excesses of the first film in bad taste, and the camp comedy elements have all been increased, but there are still many gruesome scenes as the harem women are abused and tortured for various
reasons, including a pretty revolting sub-plot to assassinate the sheik by deploying a bomb placed inside a woman's body that will detonate during sex!
Uniform fans will be pleased to see Ilsa resplendent in her khaki shorts and boots, but she does not have the same presence as in the previous film because she is herself punished at one point by despotic sheik, and its a
shame to see that the film recycles her weakness of falling in love with a hunky American, which once again leads to her downfall.
Ilsa , She Wolf of the SS is a 1974 US/W Germany film by Don Edmonds. With Dyanne Thorne, Gregory Knoph and Tony Mumolo.
Banned by the BBFC for UK 1975 & 1976 cinema release. No submission since the bans.
Summary Review : Brutal
This film takes place in a Nazi concentration camp dedicated to pseudo medical experimentation on its prisoners. Ilsa, the commandant is portrayed in ruthless fashion by the stunning Dyanne Thorne. Thorne designs and carries
out the most excruciatingly painful and torturous experiments on her helpless victims.
Thorne is the essence of cruelty for cruelty's sake. Thorne is the screen's incarnation of pure evil. I can think of no other film that is as disturbing as this one. The explicit sadism portrayed in this film may or may not
have actually occurred as depicted. But unthinkable sadism, torture, cruelty and debauchery did actually occur in Nazi camps.
This is an unbelievably difficult film to watch because the brutality depicted is extremely graphic. After viewing this film I was shocked and I had a feeling of just how brutal the Nazis actually were.
The Incident is a 1967 USA crime drama by Larry Peerce.
Starring Victor Arnold, Robert Bannard and Beau Bridges.
Banned by the BBFC for 1968 cinema release. Passed 12 uncut for 2014 DVD.
Summary Notes
Stark melodrama about two thrill seeking tough guys who terrorize late-night passengers on a New York City train. The random victims are more concerned with their own problems than helping each other and pray that they won't be next. But it's
going to take a lot more than prayer to end this nightmare of fear and violence. Film debut of both Martin Sheen and Tony Musante as the hoodlums.
Availability
Current UK Status: Passed 12 uncut
UK: Passed 12 uncut for moderate threat, violence, discriminatory language, sex references for:
This Pakistani comedy seizes on the controversy where Muslims were wound up by Salman Rushdie's Satanic Verses. Salman Rushdie is depicted in the film played by Afzaal Ahmad. He is portrayed as a criminal mastermind, working for an international
organization devoted to destroying Islam.
The film was banned by the BBFC. The board cited the safety of Salman Rushdie as an argument for refusing the certificate, arguing that it could inflame some to violence.
Although the film portrayed Salman Rushdie very negatively, he opposed the ruling of the BBFC, arguing that:
As a writer, I am opposed in principle to the use of the archaic criminal laws of blasphemy, sedition and criminal libel against creative works, even in the case of a film which quite plainly vilifies me.
The ban was then overturned on appeal and the film was passed 18 uncut.
Rushdie later said:
If that film had been banned, it would have become the hottest video in town: everyone would have seen it.
While the film was a great hit in Pakistan, it enjoyed only a limited release in the West, where it went virtually unnoticed.
Jungle Love is a 2012 Philippines drama by Sherad Anthony Sanchez.
Starring Gloria Morales, Mei Bastes and Martin Riffer.
Banned by Thurrock Council from The Thurrock International Celebration of Film in September 2018. Councillor Deborah Huelin, Portfolio Holder for Communities, explained:
Based on an initial review by the council, it was identified that two of the films could likely be rated R18 if a full assessment were carried out under the guidelines issued by the BBFC. These types of films can only be shown in specially
licensed sex cinemas or supplied by licensed sex shops. The entertainment license for the Thameside Theatre does not allow them to show R18 films which means that these two films cannot form part of the festival.
Summary Notes
A jungle in an undisclosed Philippine location hosts a middle-aged woman who runs off with a baby, two juveniles lost in sexual games, military cadets leisurely wandering about and a guide with an obscure presence. All consumed with the game of
their own lives until the jungle comes to play.
The film won an Honorable Mention (Feature Film), at the Porn Film Festival Berlin 2013.
Justine and Juliette is a 1975 Sweden adult comedy by Mac Ahlberg (as Bert Torn).
Starring Marie Forså, Anne Bie Warburg and Harry Reems.
Banned by the BBFC for 1975 cinema release.
Summary Notes
Two sisters, Justine and Juliette, are as different as it's possible to be, but they both wind up working as prostitutes. The main difference between the two, however, is that Juliette enjoys every minute of it, romping with the rich and powerful
in the lap of luxury, while Justine detests her position, lives in squalor and poverty and is dragged deeper and deeper into degradation and perversion.
1964 US Sci-Fi comedy by Peter Perry Jr.
With Max Gardens, Frank A. Coe and Natasha.
Banned by the BBFC for UK 1971 cinema release.
Passed 18 uncut for strong sex, sexualised nudity for UK 2012 Freemantle/Revelation Harry Novak Collection R2 DVD
Summary Review: Staggeringly bad
This was the first film produced by Harry Novak
Sterilox, asexual ambassador from a distant planet, comes down to earth in search of feminine breeding stock. A mad scientist treats the alien to dancing sex robots.
OK Kiss Me Quick is one quirky film with very little plot and enough bare chested women to go around for all. The make-up/FX are so lame you have to laugh.
Staggeringly bad. But of course that makes it bad enough to be good.
Availability
Current UK Status: Passed 18 uncut.
UK: Passed 18 uncut for strong sex, sexualised nudity for:
UK 2012 Freemantle/Revelation Harry Novak Collection R2 DVD
at UK Amazon for release on 23rd April 2012
Distributor pre-cuts reduced the length of a masturbation scene and removed some of the more explicit shots from the dream sequence, in which the heroine imagines having intercourse with the beast .
In spite of the reductions already made, the Board was sceptical about whether the film would be acceptable to the majority of local authorities, on whose behalf the BBFC classified films. Part of the problem was the film's sexual explicitness,
even in the reduced version, which exceeded the standards currently accepted for the X category. However, a more serious problem was whether the central dream sequence might raise legal issues because of its suggestion of bestiality.
James Ferman wrote to the distributor:
We see considerable problems in passing this film as it stands, although I realise you have made a few cuts of [sic] the most extreme sexual material. Certainly, there are still a great many shots which we feel might be
vulnerable at law, and beyond that, there is also much footage which we feel vastly exceeds the standards accepted by the vast majority of local authorities. The problem is that, with a director of Borowczyk's stature, the cutting required might
be such as to damage the film artistically, and I do not think the Board would want to become involved in a war of attrition on a film of such consequence .
The film was further pre-cut to address James Ferman's concerns of:
sight of horses copulating in explicit detail;
a line drawing of a woman being mounted by an animal;
close shots of masturbation
close shots of genital detail;
the more explicit moments in the dream sequence , including the beast rubbing his penis against a tree, the beast masturbating and placing his head between a woman's legs, and sight of the beast's semen
flowing over the woman's buttocks, breasts and stomach.
But to no avail as the film was still banned by the BBFC
The extensively pre-cut version banned by the BBFC was passed X by London's council, the GLC in 1978. The film was also shown in cinema clubs without a BBFC certificate.
The Director's Cut was passed 18 uncut for the 2001 cinema release and Nouveaux Pictures DVD of 2001
Summary Review : Most controversial film of the decade
An insane adult reworking of The Beauty and the Beast tale. This erotic fable was originally to be part of the Immoral Tales (1974) anthology, yet was put aside due to it's controversial subject matter then
later transformed into this film.
The financially unstable son, Mathurin (Pierre Benedtti), and very rich, and horny Lucy Broadhurst (Lisbeth Hummel) are soon to be arranged in marriage. The home is full of history relating to the families most famous
ancestor, Romilda. Lucy immediately becomes fascinated with Romilda, and stumbles upon her diary.
The tale is told of the day she was brutally attacked in the woods by a comical man / beast creature with a extra large penis. This scene is both shockingly powerful and hilariously funny all at once. Combining black humour,
with graphic sexuality.
La Grande Bouffe is a 1973 France / Italy comedy drama by Marco Ferreri.
Starring Marcello Mastroianni, Michel Piccoli and Philippe Noiret.
Banned by the BBFC for 1973 cinema release but was allowed to be shown in London cinemas with a GLC X rating. Later passed 18 uncut for 1994 VHS.
From IMDb:
The film was originally shown unlicensed in the UK at the Curzon Cinema in Mayfair, and led pro-censorship campaigner Mary Whitehouse to bring a prosecution against the film under the Vagrancy Act (accusing the cinema owners of keeping a
disorderly house ). The case was thrown out and led censor James Ferman to extend the Obscene Publications Act to cover films, thus preventing movies with artistic merit from suffering prosecution. The film was eventually passed fully
uncut for video in 1994.
Summary Notes
Four successful middle-aged men Marcello, a pilot; Michel, a television executive; Ugo, a chef; and, Philippe, a judge go to Philippe's villa to eat themselves to death. After the first night, Marcello insists that women should join them. Three
prostitutes make it through a day or two; Andrea, a local school teacher, stays to the end. The villa, the food, and a Bugati roadster are essential props.
Availability
Current UK Status: Passed 18 uncut
UK: Passed 18 uncut for strong sex for:
2015 Arrow Academy RAB Blu-ray/R12 DVD Combo
at UK Amazon
2015 cinema release
2006 Nouveaux Pictures R2 DVD
1994 Arthouse VHS
UK: Passed X uncut by the GLC for screening in London:
Lady Hermit is a 1971 Hong Kong martial arts film by Meng Hua Ho.
With Pei-pei Cheng, Lieh Lo and Szu Shih.
Banned by the BBFC for the UK 1972 cinema release.
Summary Review: Quite spectacular
The film offers two wonderful swordswomen for the price of one. Shaw Bros.' top female martial arts star of the late 1960s, Cheng Pei Pei, stars as the title character, a famous veiled crusader who fights bad guys with her
sword but has dropped out of sight when the film opens. Shih Szu plays an eager, whip-wielding aspiring swordswoman who seeks to track down Lady Hermit and become her student.
The villains are a gang of evil Taoist monks, led by Lady Hermit's old adversary, Black Demon. Lady Hermit and her two followers engage the gang in a series of extremely lively sword battles which are spread throughout the
entire film. There are several great set pieces, including a bit where the characters fight on one of those perilous rope bridges across a gorge and the bad guys cut the ropes and Shih Szu has to hang on to the dangling remains of the bridge and
climb and fight her way to the top. The climactic battle in a towering pagoda is quite spectacular.
Transferred from old 1970s video tape. content dated and not what I call erotic. It is about old duffers talking about sex. not recommended for viewing.
Availability
The BBFC banned the 1970 cinema release
No cuts noted for the 1973 X rated cinema release
A short version was passed 18 without BBFC cuts for the 1988 Sheptonhurst video
The film was passed 18 uncut for the 2008 Revelation DVD.
The Last House on the Left is a 1972 USA horror by Wes Craven.
Starring Sandra Peabody, Lucy Grantham and David Hess.
In the US the Original Theatrical Version was uncut and X rated but was soon heavily cut for local censorship requirements and then for a series of attempts made in attaining an R rating. Much of the material cut for an R rating has now been
declared lost. In 1986 director Wes Craven assembled his best remaining material previously cut from the film and declared that this version was his Director's Cut. It was released in the US Unrated by the MPAA.
The R rated version was banned from 1974 UK cinema release by the BBFC and the Greater London Council. The film, presumably still in the R rated version was released in the UK when BBFC certificates were not required but it was soon banned as a
'video nasty'. The BBFC continued its ban with the Unrated version being banned from cinema release in 2000.
In 2001 the DVD was resubmitted and was again banned, but this time cuts were being discussed. A resubmission in 2002 resulted in a BBFC offer of an 18 rating after cuts. The distributors appealed against the cuts but lost their case, and ended up
with even more cuts than requested by the BBFC. The film was released in the following year with the same BBFC cuts but in two versions, including an alternative cut called Krug & Co.
By 2008 the BBFC had relented and the film was released without BBFC cuts in both the Unrated Version and the alternative Krug & Company.
While I think that people tend to get a bit hyperbolic when they talk about The Last House on the Left , I do think it's a fairly good film, especially given what the filmmakers were trying to do and considering their
lack of experience, the era and the budget. Also, despite a filmic precursor, it just may be the earliest example of the horror subgenre of brutal, realist tragedy . However, it has flaws that would be difficult to overlook in a distanced
assessment of the film.
But again, focusing on that amounts to hype now, and shouldn't be taken too seriously, lest it lead to inflated expectations. Just as surprising on a first viewing is that The Last House on the Left has an intermittent
goofy sense of humor and a groovy attitude that is firmly mired in the early 1970s. The two policemen are really comic relief characters (and very funny at that), but there is also a lot of humor surrounding the criminal quartet--this
almost becomes a black comedy at times. These sensibilities even extend to the music, which has a frequent hillbilly edge and lyrics that supply ex-positional material. Surprisingly, Hess, who plays Krug, wrote the music.
Availability
Current UK Status: Passed 18 uncut
UK: The Krug & Co Version was passed 18 uncut for:
2018 Arrow Limited Edition [Unrated Version + Krugg & Co + R rated Version] RB Blu-ray
at UK Amazon
2010 Metrodome/In2film Ultimate Edition [Unrated Version + Krug & Co Version] R2 DVD
at UK Amazon
UK: The Unrated Version was passed 18 uncut with previous BBFC cuts waived for:
2018 Arrow Limited Edition [Unrated Version + Krugg & Co + R rated Version] RB Blu-ray
at UK Amazon
2010 Metrodome/In2film Ultimate Edition [Unrated Version + Krug & Co Version] R2 DVD
at UK Amazon
Last Tango in Paris is a 1972 France / Italy romance by Bernardo Bertolucci.
Starring Marlon Brando, Maria Schneider and Maria Michi.
Cut by the BBFC for an X rated 1973 cinema release, although a few local authorities banned the film anyway. Later passed uncut for all releases since 1978. Also cut for an R rating in the US although the NC-17 rated version is uncut.
The Festival of Light, a pro-censorship pressure group, started a concerted campaign to prevent the film reaching British cinema screens, circulating copies of the script to MPs and writing to local authorities - with considerable success, since
several dozen banned it.
However, it received favourable write ups from the film critics and played unopposed in most areas.
Events took an unprecedented turn, however, when Edward Shackleton, a Salvation Army member, brought a private prosecution against the film's distributors for publishing obscene material. The case ultimately collapsed when it
was found that the Obscene Publications Act (OPA) did not apply to film.
Pre-release press hype suggested that the film would contain a blasphemous scene in which Christ fantasises on the cross about making love to Mary Magdelene. The Board received nearly two thousand letters and petitions from the public and
pressure groups, a majority anxious about what they regarded as potentially blasphemous content, and the minority supporting the film's uncut release in the UK. .
The BBFC took the unusual step of inviting twenty-eight representatives of the major Christian churches to view the film at the Board, and also took legal advice from a QC before making a decision. All who saw the film at the BBFC agreed that the
film was not blasphemous in the legal sense, although it might have the capacity to offend some Christian viewers.
The film was duly passed 18 in 1988 without cuts and subsequently viewed by the Director of Public Prosecutions who supported the BBFC's decision that the film was not likely to be found Guilty of blasphemy by a Jury.
A handful of local authorities took the decision to ban the film, on the grounds of possible offence (in response to petitions against it) rather than blasphemy.
Late Night Trains is a 1975 Italian horror by Aldo Lado.
With Flavio Bucci, Macha Méril and Gianfranco De Grassi.
The BBC rejected the cinema release in 1976 under the title Late Night Trains.
Video Warehouse International released a cut video as Late Night Trains in 1981.
Cinehollywood released an uncut video in November 1981 under the title Night Train Murders . This version was listed as a video nasty in July 1983. This was dropped from the list in March 1984
T his film borrowed heavily from Last House on the Left , but Night Train Murders is the better of the two. Good production values, excellent cinematography, an Ennio
Morricone score, decent acting and a tight script .
The first third of the film introduces the main characters, most of whom seem to be prone to indulging in one perversion or another.
The "defilement" section of the film is a gripping, harrowing affair that escalates in viciousness before climaxing in a very brutal fashion.
The final act does not live up to the scenes that precede it. The director's desire to keep from glamorizing violence is probably why the ending feels somewhat restrained.
Availability
Current UK Status: Passed 18 uncut
UK: Passed 18 uncut for strong scenes of sexual violence for:
UK 2011 Shameless Slasher Nasties Triple Bill R2 DVD
at UK Amazon
Leatherface: Texas Chainsaw Massacre III is a 1989 US horror film by Jeff Burr. With Kate Hodge, Ken Foree and R.A. Mihailoff.
Banned by the BBFC for cinema release in 1990. Uncut by 2004. In the US cut for an R Rating but the Unrated version is uncut.
The BBFC banned the 1990 cinema release
The BBFC passed the
cut US R rated version with no BBFC cuts for an 18 certificate for the 2004 Entertainment in video DVD.
The BBFC passed the US unrated version with an uncut 18 certificate for the 2004 Entertainment in video DVD.
Note that other cuts were implemented at an early stage of editing. These scenes were never completed and the unprocessed rough cuts have become DVD extras.
Summary Review : Unique and interesting
The film itself is extremely well-acted, especially by the lead, Kate Hodge. It is however, not the most pleasant film you will ever see and if the filmmakers intended it to be a gruelling and punishing experience, they
definitely succeeded.
Despite these strong performances and excellent (and very gruesome) special make-up effects, the completed film is left damaged and confused in several key places. But, it is still one of the better entries in this particular
series and is well-worth a look as a unique and interesting horror film.
Availability
Current UK Status: Passed 18 uncut
UK: The uncut US Unrated Version was passed 18 uncut for:
Rejected in 1981, unknown film but it appears to be one of a series of spanking films of which examples are also banned on video, see
Head Girl at St Winifreds
The promotional material reads: Not for the faint of heart
This hilarious and horrifying documentary on transsexuals includes actual surgical footage of the operations and close-up looks at the results inside and out. Not for the faint of heart.
Availability
The 1980 cinema release was banned by the BBFC.
Passed X after BBFC cuts for a 1982 cinema release
Little Miss Innocence is a 1973 USA drama by Chris Warfield.
Starring John Alderman, Sandy Dempsey and Terri Johnson.
Banned by the BBFC for 1976 cinema release. Uncut in the US.
Promotional Material
Two beautiful teenage hitchhikers are picked up by a wealthy older man and brought to his mansion, with lustful intentions. However, his erotic dream soon turns into a horrifying nightmare as the seemingly innocent girls
begin to reveal their own deadly intentions... Starring Sandy Dempsey in a career performance.
Love Letters of a Portuguese Nun is a 1977 West Germany / Switzerland horror adventure drama by Jesús Franco (as Jess Franco).
Starring Susan Hemingway, William Berger and Herbert Fux.
Banned by the BBFC from 1979 cinema release. Heavily cut on 2004 18 rated DVD to remove sexualised torture and nudity of an under 18 year old actress.
The DVD was passed 18 after 6:15s of BBFC cuts for UK 2004 Anchor Bay R2 DVD. The BBFC commented:
The cuts were Compulsory. Distributor was required to cut indecent images of a child under the terms of the Protection of Children Act 1978, and images of sexualised torture.
Resubmissions of old works highlighted the impact of the change in the definition of a child. Love Letters Of A Portuguese Nun featured sexualised nudity involving an actress who was under 18 at the time of filming. The BBFC
judged some of the images to be indecent and cuts were therefore made
Summary Notes
16-year-old Maria is forced into Serra D'Aires convent, secretly run by Satanists. Her confessor is in collusion with the Mother Superior. Maria is tortured, forced into sex with men, women, and the horned Devil, and told that it's all a bad
dream. She writes a letter to God, and a Knight rescues her, only to fall into the hands of the Inquisition, put on the rack, and condemned to death like Joan of Arc.
Love Variations , one of the first British sex education films to show nudity in the UK, consisted entirely of alternating scenes of a family doctor showing diagrams of sex positions and illustrative tableaux of posed figures faking
coition in increasingly unlikely and back-breaking postures.
The producers, of course, stressed their good intentions to the censors. The press book for Love Variations stated, a little disingenuously:
The film does not seek to entertain -- only to inform. The producers wish to point out that although the film is frank, comprehensive and explicit it will almost certainly prove unrewarding to those looking for titillation or sensation and will be
of interest only to those motivated by a sincere desire to be informed.
The BBFC, indecisive about how to treat sex education films, accepted this but nevertheless at first rejected Love Variations on the splendidly perverse grounds that since the film was not entertaining it was unsuitable for cinemas, which were
essentially places of entertainment.
When finally released, Love Variations smashed house records at the Jacey Tatler cinema in London,
Availability
Banned by the BBFC in April 1970 for UK 1970 cinema release
Passed X (18) uncut in November 1970 for UK 1971 cinema release
A short version was passed 18 without BBFC cuts for:
UK 2011 Odeon Slap & Tickle Double Bill R2 DVD
at UK Amazon
Madras Cafe is a 2013 Indian action drama by Shoojit Sircar.
With John Abraham, Nargis Fakhri and Rashi Khanna.
Passed by the BBFC but banned by UK cinema chains. Similarly banned by cinemas in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu
UK: Passed 15 uncut for strong violence and injury detail for:
2013 cinema release
The BBFC passed the film 15 uncut for strong violence and injury detail. The BBFC InSight alluded to the emotional impact of the film:
This is a sombre drama and the violence is depicted realistically, with a strong emotional impact. In the opening scene people are forced off a bus and made to kneel in a field as they are massacred. Blood spurts are seen as several of them are
shot in the back, and in a more distant image a little girl is shot too as she tries to run away. Several executions are shown, including a man tied to a post, his body juddering under fire with lots of blood as he is killed.
Now the film has been banned by British cinemas in August 2013. UK cinema chains, Cineworld, Odeon and Vue, have banned the film saying in a statement:
Our policy is to show a wide range of films for different audiences ...HOWEVER... following customer feedback and working with the film distributors, we have decided to not show Madras Cafe. We apologise for any inconvenience.
Press reports suggested that some Tamils had complained that the film was anti-Tamil. The Facebook page of the Tamil Youth Organisation UK has been full of agitation against the film.
Availability
Current UK Status: Passed 15 uncut by the BBFC but banned by cinemas
After a second viewing with Lord Harlech and other Examiners, we now agree that this is really a picture which cannot be granted a national certificate at this time. We all feel it is a film of some merit which deserves a
showing in Britain, but its subject matter and very frank treatment would, we believe, make it unacceptable to the majority of licensing authorities in the country without very heavy cuts, and these might change the nature of the film.
Summary Review: Bound to Intrigue
Gérard Depardieu as Olivier enters an apartment in order to rob the place, but unknowingly breaks into a haven for sadomasochistic fantasies. During the burglary he encounters Ariane (Bulle Ogier) who he had met
earlier, but this time she is a dominatrix who controls situations as she dives into other people's madness.
Olivier is spellbound by Ariane as he falls in love with her, and it leads him into a scorching affair where he is bound to be burnt as he is mystified by Ariane's dark trade.
Maitresse is an avant-garde film as it explores in-depth the theme of sadomasochistic fantasies and its sub-culture as set in a love story.
Availability
The BBFC banned the 1976 cinema release. The GLC also refused a local cinema certificate while Berkshire passed the film for local distribution after cuts.
However the film was shown uncut on the cinema club circuit.
The BBFC required
4:47s of cuts for the X rated 1981 cinema release.
The movie was a long time coming to video/DVD but all BBFC cuts were waived for the 18 rated 2003 BFI DVD.
Deep River Savages is a 1972 Italy horror romance by Umberto Lenzi.
With Ivan Rassimov, Me Me Lai and Prasitsak Singhara.
Banned by the BBFC for 1975 cinema release. Banned as a video nasty in 1984. Passed 18 after extensive animal cruelty cuts for 2003 DVD. Slightly fewer cuts for 2016 DVD & Blu-ray. Uncut in the US
Summary Notes: Not much gore
Forerunner of Cannibal Ferox set in South East Asian cannibal infested jungles. Tongue amputations are the order of the day after snacking on traditionally served monkey brains.
A photographer on assignment in the rain forest is ambushed and held slave by a primitive tribe, until the chief's daughter chooses him as her groom. After being initiated by various tortures, he becomes a part of the tribe and helps them against
modern dangers and a cannibal tribe they're at war with.
I liked this one strictly for its exoticness. Me Me Lay looks great dressed or naked. She has a great face. I have the Prism edition video. That one is missing a brief cannibal scene that later showed up in Lenzi's
Eaten Alive by the Cannibals . The cinematography was well done and I may catch some heat for this but I actually liked the music.
The love scene in the river came very close to XXX. A well placed bush (no pun intended) kept it soft-core. Not much gore, so jungle flick fans should like it. I know I did.
Availability
UK Censorship History
Rejected for a cinema release in 1975 as The Man from Deep River
Derann released the uncut version on video in November 1982. It was listed as a video nasty in March 1984 but it was dropped from the list in September 1985
Maniac is a 1980 US serial killer horror by William Lustig.
With Joe Spinell, Caroline Munro and Abigail Clayton.
The Uncut Unrated Theatrical Version is preferred over the shortened Director's Cut. Once Banned by the BBFC, then cut. The film was also cut in the US for an R Rating.
The BBFC banned the 1981 cinema release.
The BBFC banned the 1998 Exploited video explaining:
Two (of the videos rejected so far in 1998) were serial killer films in which sex is linked with the pleasure of killing. In one of those films, Maniac, a series of defenceless women are stalked, terrorised, attacked
and murdered, while being photographed in a deliberately sexualised way. The film is one of a genre known as 'stalk and slash', and here each stalking and killing is protracted, sometimes ending with the scalping of the victim. When the police
eventually catch up with the killer, he survives, leaving us to anticipate that the stalking and mutilation will begin again. The pleasures on offer here seem to the Board to be unhealthy and dangerous because of the way that the killing of women
is linked with the sexual arousal of men.
The BBFC required
58s of cuts from the 2002 Anchor Bay DVD.
Summary review: Shocking
This is definitely a film that will leave you thinking. The main reason being the main character Frank Zito aka Joe Spinell plays the most realistic psycho/deranged person I've ever seen on film. The whole time I was thinking
is this guy really insane? Either this guy is a genius actor or he's really nuts. That's how real he is in this role. His presence will creep you out. He's the biggest weirdo I've ever seen on film.
The story focuses on frank the serial killer and his killings and insanity. Some of the scenes are gruesome, but they will keep you on the edge of your seat. You will be able to put yourself in both franks shoes and feel the
victims terror as she is stalked and hides from Frank... Especially the subway bathroom scene. That's an intense scene. Frank keeps on killing till the end when his own demons finally come back to haunt him.
Any horror fan should have this in their collection.
Availability
Current UK Status: Passed 18 after 58s of cuts
US: The uncut Theatrical Version is MPAA Unrated for:
2018 Blue Underground Limited Edition R0 Blu-ray/R0 DVD Combo
at US Amazon
US 2012 Blue Underground R0 Blu-ray
at US Amazon released on 25th September 2012
1968 US erotic thriller by William Rotsler.
With Susan Stewart, Steve Vincent and James Brand.
Banned by the BBFC for UK 1972 cinema release.
Passed 18 uncut for strong sex, sexualised nudity, hard drug use and bloody violence for the UK 2012 Freemantle/Revelation Harry Novak Collection R2 DVD.
Summary Review: Trippy
A topless dancer attracts, seduces, then murders the men she sleeps with using household tools.
This little gem is one of the first key films to combine gore with sleaze. Groovy 60s psychedelia, go-go dancers, sexploitation and horror, all beautifully photographed by Laszlo Kovacs, collide in a kaleidoscope of color and LSD laden
sensibilities.
Not to everyone's tastes though, but Susan Stewart will win a few converts.
Availability
Current UK Status: Passed 18 uncut.
UK: Passed 18 uncut for strong sex, sexualised nudity, hard drug use and bloody violence for:
UK 2012 Freemantle/Revelation Harry Novak Collection R2 DVD
at UK Amazon for release on 23rd April 2012
1972 West Germany comedy adventure by Eberhard Schröder.
From IMDb:
France, a reporter working from an international news agency, manages to be paid to visit all of Munich's massage parlors. He wants to find the whereabouts of Sonia, a personal masseuse with whom he experienced perfect bliss.
A clue to the reasons for the ban may lie in the synopsis: She describes herself as a naked prisoner in a windowless, doorless room from which she is finally delivered to hooded men with naked cocks in cock rings. With her head in
stocks, she is whipped, fucked and humiliated.
The film consists of a series of travelogue-vignettes providing glimpses into cultural practices throughout the world intended to shock or surprise the mostly Western film audience, including an insect banquet and a memorable
look at a practising South Pacific cargo cult. Mondo Cane's shock-exploitation-documentary style was the inspiration for numerous imitations, including Shocking Asia and the Faces of Death series of movies.
It was nominated for the Palme d'Or, the highest prize given to a competing film at the Cannes Film Festival.
Life of Brian is a 1979 UK comedy by Terry Jones.
Starring Graham Chapman, John Cleese and Michael Palin.
Passed AA uncut by the BBFC for 1979 cinema release and 15 uncut for home video. Some local authorities overruled the BBFC rating and banned the cinema release in their areas. Uncut and MPAA R rated in the US. Banned from 1979 cinema release in
Ireland, Singapore and Norway.
The film contains themes of religious satire which were controversial at the time of its release, drawing accusations of blasphemy and protests from some religious groups. Thirty-nine local authorities in the UK either imposed an outright ban, or
imposed an X certificate (effectively preventing the film from being shown as the distributors said the film could not be shown unless it was unedited and carried the original AA certificate).
The film was also banned in Ireland, Singapore and Norway. The marketeers made use of the latter with the promotional line: The film so funny that it was banned in Norway.
One of the councils to ban the film, Bournemouth, made the news in 2015 with the first public screening in 35 years.
Summary Review: A Very Naughty Boy
Hugely controversial at the time, the subject matter of The Life of Brian was considered strictly taboo in 1979, and even today it can still rattle a few cages, but ultimately the Python team all shared the same
conviction that they were not poking fun at religion (or Jesus) per se, but at the people who blindly follow and misunderstand. In this way, The Life Of Brian became not just a comedy classic, but a ground-breaking movie that pushed the
barriers of what was previously considered off-limits .
Each member of the Python team contributes immensely to the film, with Eric Idle supplying a classic Python tune as Brian is being crucified ( Always Look On The Bright Side of Life ), Terry Gilliam with some great
visual gags, Terry Jones as the director of the film, Cleese and Palin turning in multiple brilliant performances (like Cleese's Reg, the leader of the PFJ, and the classic What have the Roman's ever done for us? sketch), not to mention
Chapman as the unsuspecting hero.
Availability
All UK releases passed AA/15 uncut by the BBFC.
However the cinema release was banned by 39 councils. (Who can overrule the BBFC for cinema showings)
1970 Sweden/Denmark sex education documentary by Torgny Wickman .
The BBFC banned the 1972 cinema release under the title More about Language of Love
The BBFC noted in the 2009 Annual Report: Collection 2, Swedish Erotica, a compilation of three early 1970s films from Sweden (Wide Open, Love Play and More About the Language of Love) was passed 18 without cuts. The
work, which includes explicit images of sexual activity, is now very dated. By contemporary standards it is clearly not a sex work, but rather a genuine attempt to inform and educate, and the Board concluded that there was sufficient contextual
justification to allow these scenes at 18 .
Availability
The BBFC banned the 1972 cinema release under the title More about Language of Love
The BBFC cut 2:55s under the title Language of Love 2 for the 1983 cinema release and 1987 video
Passed 18 uncut for the 2009 Revelation R2 DVD titled Swedish Erotica Collection 2
Mother's Day is a1980 US comedy horror by Charles Kaufman.
With Tiana Pierce, Nancy Hendrickson and Deborah Luce.
Banned by the BBFC for 1980 cinema release. Passed 18 uncut for 2015 Blu-ray. Uncut in the US.
Summary Review: Camp Horror Classic
When you go into the woods today, you're in for a big surprise. When you go into the woods today you're not going to believe your eyes. But it ain't no teddy bear picnic . Three girls discover that two men are willing to do anything to
impress Mother and what impresses Mother is watching her son commit acts of rape and murder. Now these women are prisoners and lowered to pawns in the game of checkers between two dim wits and their Maniac Mommy and the question becomes, can any
of them escape, alive?
This is a true 80's horror classic, with a little bit of camp thrown in for fun! I can't say enough about this under seen little gem! For it's time and genre, the gore and killings are just fantastic. I really dig
the script as well. I say that in my opinion, the acting is absolutely fantastic (contrary to other reviews).
The three actresses (Nancy Hendrickson, Deborah Luce, Tiana Pierce) that star in this movie seem to have a great chemistry amongst themselves. The brothers Ike (Holden McGuire) and Addley (Michael McCleery) are SUPERB in their roles!! They truly
give off the creepiest vibe with such ease that it's hard to tell that they are acting. Lastly, Rose Ross is fantastic in her role as Momma. She can be sweet, demanding, scary, demented, and creepy without batting an eyelash.
I t is a film that really entertains the serious horror fan.
Availability
Current UK Status: Passed 18 uncut.
UK: Passed 18 uncut for strong violence, sexual violence for:
Nanak Shah Fakir is a 2015 drama by Harinder Singh Sikka.
Starring Tanmay Bhat, Gurmeet Choudhary and Amyra Dastur.
The film was passed PG uncut by the BBFC for mild violence. For some reason the film was submitted twice in versions running 138:18s and 146:35s. The BBFC commented:
NANAK SHAH FAKIR is a Hindi language historical drama about the life and teachings of Sikhism founder, Guru Nanak, as he embarks on a spiritual journey during the reign of the Mughal empire.
There is mild violence in a scene in which a yak stamps on a man, who is out to fetch some water in the snow. There are also some images of battle and some rifle gunshots from soldiers, although there is no detail of injury shown.
Police were called and a cinema cleared and closed after protestors pushed through the main entrance and headed for the screen showing Bollywood blockbuster, Nanak Shah Fakir.
Once inside the Cineworld multiplex at Bentley Bridge in Wednesfield., the Sikh protestors sat down on the floor and began to shout, refusing to move until cinema bosses met their demands and stopped the screening.
Some UK cinemas refused to show it through fear of religious strife. The Cineworld said it has no plans to show the film in future following the Wednesfield incident. Odeon also confirmed it would also cancel planned screenings following the
protest.
Availability
Current UK Status: Passed PG uncut. Withdrawn from distribution over fears of religious strife
Sirpa Lane heads a Nazi brothel but she has a secret to hide, she's Jewish
Banned by the BBFC for the UK 1977 cinema release.
Review from IMDb: Better than Salon Kitty
This is a Nazi sexploitation flick and it has not only plenty of nudity but explicit, hardcore pornographic shots as well.
That said, let me point out why this is a far better film than Salon Kitty . The two films are different versions of what is essentially the same story: a young Jewish woman during the Nazis' reign is sexually abused
and exploited by the Reich eventually becoming the madame of a brothel that caters to Nazi officers where she spies for either the Nazi higher ups or the Resistance depending on which film you watch.
Nazi Love Camp 27 has budget sets and costumes, bad dubbing, and obligatory sexploitation scenes like whippings, the lesbian warden and several hardcore penetration shots including a gang rape. One would think that this
was a thinly-veiled excuse for a porno, and to some extent it is, but it actually has a fairly coherent plot and you truly DO care about the lead character and even others. Yes, the final scene is a bit over the top, but you're still interested in
what is happening right up to the end of the film --- not just fast forwarding to the next naked part.
Sirpa Lane's performance is strong and due to whatever quirk of talent or fate, she manages to convey the horror and the poignancy of her character's struggles. This is not to say that this is a great film, again know what
you're getting into.
Availability
Banned by the BBFC for the UK 1977 cinema release.
The New York Ripper is a 1982 Italian horror by Lucio Fulci.
With Jack Hedley, Almanta Suska and Howard Ross.
A cinema release was rejected by the BBFC in 1984. Lucio Fulci's film was not only banned but all prints were escorted out of the country. At least that is the romantic notion of events. The BBFC explain the events that
led up to this story in a more pragmatic way. See
case study from bbfc.co.uk :
If Ferman had merely written to the distributor confirming the decision to refuse a BBFC classification, The New York Ripper may have simply been another work denied a release during the video nasties era. However, what Ferman did next meant The
New York Ripper became something of an urban legend (which persists in cult and horror film circles to this day).
The fact the UK distributor of Nightmares in a Damaged Brain had just received a prison sentence for his role in distributing his film made the potential for the distributor of The New York Ripper to become embroiled in an obscenity case seem very
real. Therefore Ferman decided it would be unwise for the BBFC to return the film to its distributor. Ferman was aware that the distributor could still release The New York Ripper on video tape (or seek local authority approval for local cinema
exhibition), in spite of the BBFC's judgement that any release of the film was at risk of comprising an obscene publication. To do so would not only risk the distributor being vulnerable to a charge of being found in possession of an obscene work
with intent to commercially supply, but could also potentially put the BBFC in the difficult position of having facilitated that supply.
Accordingly, Ferman took the unusual step of informing the UK distributor that the BBFC would be re-exporting the submitted print to the original rights holders in Italy, also advising him that he should similarly dispose of any further copies of
the film in his possession. The BBFC's actions took place in a time and climate in which UK distributors were being convicted and even sent to jail for their involvement with similar films. However, it is easy to see how the legend developed that
The New York Ripper was so uniquely powerful and offensive that every print had to be escorted from the country. Some stories go so far as to suggest the film had been removed under armed guard.
Similarly cut for the 2011 extended Argent/Shameless DVD & Blu-ray
Summary review: Darkest and goriest
The New York Ripper was a great Italian horror film from Lucio Fulci, the film was filled with plenty of gruesome death scenes and lots of sleaze, sex and nudity in fact its probably one of the sleaziest Italian horror
flicks ever seen.
When an old man finds a prostitute's severed hand under the Brooklyn Bridge the police decide to do a little investigating. It seems that the victim was heard speaking to a strange duck-voiced man. As the murders add up the
police detective who's investigating the case recruits a psychology professor to help find out who this Donald Duck voiced maniac could be
This is a typical Fulci flick which means that the plot gets thinner during the course of the film and the bad acting which was adequate especially for this type of film could have been better but that's not important, if
your a hardcore Fulci or exploitation fan then you'll obviously love this as the death scenes were quite brutal and very nasty.
One of Fulci's best.
Availability
Current UK Status: Passed 18 after cuts of 22-34s
The US release is uncut and MPAA Unrated for:
2015 Blue Underground Lucio Fulci Collection (RA) Blu-ray
at US Amazon
Onibaba is a 1964 Japan horror by Kaneto Shindo
With Nobuko Otowa, Jitsuko Yoshimura and Kei Sato
UK: Banned by the BBFC for:
UK 1965 cinema release
UK: Passed X (16) after BBFC cuts for:
UK 1968 cinema release
UK: Passed 15 uncut for:
UK 1994 Tartan VHS
Summary Review: Mask
After being forcefully inducted as a soldier into war in 14th century Japan, his wife and mother remain living in a swamp. They eke out their living by ambushing worn-out warriors, killing them and selling their belongings to a greedy merchant. The
woman comes to mistrust her daughter-in-law who has coupled up with a deserter, and begins to wear a facial mask she has taken from a slain samurai. Soon the mask will not come off again. In this disguise she is at first taken for a demon by her
daughter.
The ensuing drama is a tale of their sexual tension in the high summer heat, which is exemplified by the swaying of the reeds/grass, the faster the reeds blow in the wind the higher the sexual tension.
Shindo also uses Black and White to stunning effect at a time when it was probably easier to film in colour. This is a Cinematic Masterpiece!
Availability
Current UK Status: Passed 15 uncut
UK: Passed 15 uncut for:
UK 2013 Eureka/Masters of Cinema RB Blu-ray
at UK Amazon
The Opening of Misty Beethoven is a 1976 USA adult comedy romance by Radley Metzger.
With Constance Money, Jamie Gillis and Jacqueline Beudant.
The softcore version was banned by the BBFC for 1977 cinema release. In 1983 the softcore version suffered further heavy BBFC cuts for an 18 rated cinema release. By 2005 it was passed R18 uncut for DVD. Uncut and MPAA Unrated in the US.
Summary Review: A Jewel
Porn meets Pygmalion. Misty, the hooker, meets the sexologist who thinks he can transform her from the nadir of passion into someone who inspires passion. While Misty is trained for her big test, seducing a homosexual
artist, the relationship between the doctor and Misty remains unsettled.
Radley Metzger has created an unbelievable amalgamation of great script, fantastic actors, and the best production value I've ever seen. Other films may have spent more on cheesy helicopter shots or period costumes, but you
will never find a porn movie as good as this. The opening of Misty Beethoven holds up not only under the porn standard, but under any film standards.
The sex is not of the grind house variety that you find in most XXX films but it is highly erotic, entertaining and with Ms. Money, surprisingly romantic. This is a jewel of an erotic film.
Availability
Current UK Status: Passed R18 uncut
UK: The Hardcore Version was passed R18 uncut for:
UK 2005 Arrow/JoyBear R0 DVD
US: The Hardcore Version is MPAA Unrated for:
US 2012 Distribpix Collector's Edition [Hardcore + Softcore Version] R0 Blu-ray
at US Amazon
US 2012 Distribpix Collector's Edition [Hardcore + Softcore Version] R0 DVD
at US Amazon
This was on Palace Video pre-VRA. It's a reconstruction
of the Manson "family" murders 'in realistic detail', to quote the sleeve. It's not very violent at all and could easily be cut today. It was rejected for largely political reasons within the BBFC. It's actually a rather good film.
When adult films of the 70's made their way back into the mainstream of popular culture, Radley Metzger most definitely holds his regard as the finest adult filmmaker ever. My first encounter with Metzger's work was The Opening of Misty
Beethoven which, as a boy looking through a friend's parents videos, was far more than I'd expected. Years later, I was happy to view The Private Afternoons of Pamela Mann , which, aside from the pornographic content, I found totally
engrossing. I admit being completely shocked by the surprise ending!
Maybe it's the recent admiration of independent film that has made the acting in Radley's movies seem so much better, but his camera work is unsurpassed in his field. Beautifully shot, well acted smut, which borders on proving itself as erotica!
Yeah for Radley Metzger!
The Panic In Needle Park is a 1971 USA drama by Jerry Schatzberg.
Starring Al Pacino, Kitty Winn and Alan Vint.
Banned by the BBFC for 1971 cinema release but unbanned and X uncut for 1974 cinema release. The BBFC cut the 1987 18 rated VHS but was passed 18 uncut for 2002 DVD. In the US the PG rated is version is cut and the R rated version is uncut.
Summary Review: Moderately Worthwhile
The film focuses on the ups and downs of two doomed souls, Bobby and Helen, who wasted their lives in a downward spiral into hell without any realistic thought for tomorrow.
Panic has a bittersweet taste of an independent film: improvisational, free-form and razor-sharp realistic. There is no music throughout the film, only dialogues and real life sounds. It tastes like a stale cigarette.
Depressive mood and sordidness of Manhattan's Upper West Side are reflected perfectly. Intense and disturbing depiction of heroine shots are almost documentary nature.
The performances of Al Pacino and Kitty Winn are top notch. The role earned Winn the Best Actress Award at the 1971 Cannes Film Festival.
The only downside is that it drags along at snails pace. It's moderately worthwhile and falls short of being a classic.
A semi-autobiographical documentary by the hard-core film-maker John Lindsay about the fledgling porn industry. Consisting mostly of vox pops, the film is partly a defence of porn (it ends with the voiceover declaring, In
the final event Seventies British Cinema porn is rather like television. If you don't like it you can simply turn off ') and partly, and more curiously, an indictment of its own audience as sad punters who embody typical male weakness -- 'Men are
such suckers when they look at pretty birdies, Lindsay remarks, adding, Men are nuts, they like to see this crap
Although passed X after BBFC cuts for 1978 cinema release, this release was banned locally by Cardiff Council.
Summary Review: A Difficult Story
A pre-teen girl grows up in a house of prostitution in the Storyville section of New Orleans in 1917.
A beautifully filmed movie which tells a difficult story with a subtlety and power.
The movie is quite revealing about the business of prostitution during that time, but it is never exploitative and gives one the sense of how it really was, and what might happen to children born into prostitution.
Malle's dispassionate take on all of this outraged viewers a quarter-century ago, but it all seems rather tame today.
Availability
Passed X (18) after BBFC cuts for:
UK 1979 cinema release
This release was banned locally by Cardiff Council.
The 1981 pre-cert VHS was released uncut. It was noted as significant that it was never prosecuted under the 1978 Protection of Children Act.
The pre-cert video was eventually passed 18 uncut with previous cinema cuts waived for:
Prison Girls is a 1972 USA drama by Tom DeSimone (as Thomas De Simone).
Starring Jacqueline Giroux, Annik Borel and Tracy Handfuss.
Banned by the BBFC from a 1973 cinema release. Uncut and X rated in the US.
Summary Notes
Six female prisoners are given a weekend furlough to prepare them for their upcoming parole. While out, they all have miscellaneous sexual experiences, some good, some bad. One returns to her pimp even though he beats her, one overcomes her
frigidity, one gets gang raped, two join in a threesome, and one goes back to her criminal lover shortly before the police show up.
Une collection particulière is a 1973 France documentary short film by Walerian Borowczyk.
Starring André Pieyre de Mandiargues.
The pre-cut Theatrical Version was banned by the BBFC for 1977 cinema release although further cuts qualified it for an X rating later in the same year.
The Theatrical Version censors real sex via masking by the narrator's carefully placed finger. The uncut Oberhausen Cut reveals what's behind the masking, but real bestiality has proved too much for modern day censors and so has been cut from
recent German and 2014 UK releases.
A witty and eye-opening tour through Borowczyk's own collection of vintage erotica. Originally intended as part of his 'Contes immoraux', it was released first as a separate short, and is therefore marks the turning-point between Borowczyk's
career as a highly-regarded animator and surrealist filmmaker, and his subsequent career in the sexploitation field.
Availability
Current UK Status: Passed 18 after BBFC cuts for bestiality/extreme pornography
UK: A pre-cut version of The Oberhausen Cut was passed 18 for strong sex, sexual violence, explicit sexual images without further BBFC cuts for:
Private Property is a 1960 USA crime drama by Leslie Stevens.
Starring Kate Manx, Corey Allen and Warren Oates.
Banned by the BBFC in 1961. Not released in the UK since. Released in the US in 2016 on MPAA Unrated Blu-ray/DVD Combo.
Summary Notes
Duke and Boots, two young thugs, hold up a California gas-station owner. Duke, viral and savage, taunts the slower and psychologically-confused Boots because he has never made a sexual conquest. Duke offers to seduce a woman for Boots and the
pair force a passing motorist to pursue a sports car driven by Ann Carlyle, the lustful wife of a insurance-company executive who has some desires of her own not being met by her husband.
Availability
Current UK Status: No UK release since ban
US: Uncut and MPAA Unrated for:
2016 Cinelicious Pics (RA) Blu-ray/(R1) DVD Combo
at US Amazon
Promises..... Promises! is a 1963 USA comedy drama by King Donovan.
Starring Jayne Mansfield, Marie McDonald and Tommy Noonan.
Noted as the first US mainstream film to feature nudity since the introduction of the Hays Code. The film was released in a period when the code was still nominally in force but enforcement was in decline by 1963. The film included 3
topless scenes with Jayne Mansfield.
The film was inevitably banned by the BBFC, first and in 1963, and again in 1967. The BBFC relented by 2011 when it was released with an uncut 15 rating for 2011 DVD.
Summary Notes
After a drunken spree on a cruise ship, two women discover that they're pregnant, and set out to find who the fathers are.
Availability
UK: Passed 15 uncut for scenes of sexualised nudity:
Psycho Lover is a 1970 USA crime horror by Robert Vincent O'Neill (as Robert Vincent O'Neil).
Starring Lawrence Montaigne, Jo Anne Meredith and Elizabeth Plumb.
Banned by the BBFC for 1971 cinema release. Cut in Australia for an R rated cinema release in 1978. Uncut and MPAA Unrated in the US.
Summary Notes
A psychiatrist plots to murder his wife, but with a new twist: he will brainwash a patient he is treating into committing the crime.
Two scenes at 2m and 14m involve Marco raping and killing women. The latter also shows him having sex with the body. Cuts would probably have been made to one or both of these attacks. Two other women are attacked at 34m and 77m, but neither
result in onscreen rape or murder.
Pussy Talk is a 1975 France adult comedy fantasy by Claude Mulot (as Frédéric Lansac).
Starring Pénélope Lamour, Béatrice Harnois and Sylvia Bourdon.
The softcore version was banned by the BBFC for 1976 cinema release but given a GLC London certificate.
Later the softcore version was further cut for 2000 DVD.
Summary Review: Good piece of cinema
Le Sexe Qui Parle is in that rare class of rather famous films which actually happen to be really good pieces of cinema. Penelope Lamour stars as a woman who discovers that her vagina has developed both a life and
voice of its own. This soon becomes a problem for not only her, but her philanthropist husband as well...As the vagina becomes more and more vocal (no pun intended), it ends up causing more and more trouble.
Narratively speaking, Le Sexe Qui Parle is flawed with a fair amount of noticeable continuity errors, and the rushed ending does leave a bit to be desired in terms of resolution of the plot.
On the other hand, technically speaking, Le Sexe...has the look of any classy French production, hardcore or otherwise, from the period. The cinematography and general look of the film are both first rate, and the original
musical score is quite an incredible mix of easy listening pieces and classy jazz/disco sounding tunes.
Availability
Current UK Status: The softcore version was passed 18 after further BBFC cuts
Quiet Days in Clichy is a 1970 Denmark comedy drama by Jens Jørgen Thorsen.
With Paul Valjean, Wayne Rodda and Ulla Koppel.
Banned by the BBFC for 1970 cinema release.
Summary Review: A portrait of human depravity
Quiet Days in Clichy is an enjoyable and entertaining expose of the irreverent antics of two friends living a Bohemian existence in the Paris suburb of Clichy during the sexual revolution of the sixties.
The film is based upon the novel of the same title by American author Henry Miller whose publications were the frequent cause of controversy in the US throughout the author's life.
The film has been the subject of discussion and controversy since it was first released in 1970 and the FBI seized the only English-language copies as they came into the US through customs in San Francisco - consequently the
film didn't make it to US theatres. The film has even been described by the Catholic Bishops Board of Review as a portrait of human depravity.
Nonetheless, it is unlikely to shock an audience of today - the film is neither vulgar nor depraved - it couldn't really be described as pornographic; instead it could be better summarised as intellectual erotica.
It is gentle and humorous. Like life, it lacks a traditional storyline and is, instead, a collection of experiences - some good, some bad, some funny, some not.
The Red Nights of the Gestapo is a 1977 Italy action war thriller by Fabio De Agostini.
Starring Ezio Miani, Fred Williams and Francesca Righini.
Banned by the BBFC for 1979 cinema release but after 12 minutes were censored it was given an X rated cinema release in 1981. An uncut bootleg was released in the UK in 2010. Uncut in the US.
Summary Notes
An illustrious group of German industrialists plot to overthrow Hitler by negotiating a peace treaty with England. Disgraced, but dedicated Nazi officer Colonel Werner von Uhland is assigned by his superiors to ferret out these deceitful
dissidents and stop them before it's too late. von Uhland recruits a bunch of beautiful women to seduce these traitors and undermine their conspiracy.
A film based upon the same Nazi brothel bugging theme as Salon Kitty. Perhaps not as outrageous as one may expect from the packaging. However there are some attractive actresses getting into the fun. The director seems to
have done a good job with the talent available.
Availability
The BBFC rejected the cinema release of 1979
The BBFC relented on their cinema ban in 1981 but only after having inflicted 12 minutes of cuts
An uncut version was released for the 2010 UK Excalibur DVD. No sign of this version in the BBFC data base though, so presumably a bootleg.
Current UK Status: Passed 18 for the cinema after ~12:00s cuts
Requiem for a Vampire is a 1971 French horror film by Jean Rollin. With Marie-Pierre Castel, Mireille Dargent and Philippe Gasté.
The cinema release of 1972 was banned by the BBFC
Video
cut by 6:55s when submitted in 1993 by Redemption Films
Summary Review: Highly recommended
No one would be expecting a meaningful social commentary from a film with this title, but please bear in mind when watching that this a Jean Rollin film, so don't expect a meaningful story either. This is mad, it has kinky
lesbians and they're vampires. Happy days!
It's quite light hearted for a Rollin flick and is at the fast end of his snail like pacing, but that isn't saying much on either count. It's no Daughters of Darkness either, so don't try to make sense of it, you'll end up as
bonkers as Rollin.
Instead laugh at crap vampires and revel in the kink fest in the dungeon. It's bloody great and is a bona fide Eurotrash classic. Highly recommended.
It was refused a certificate on the legal grounds of gross indecency. Gross indecency was defined in British law as anything which an ordinary decent man or woman would find to be shocking, disgusting and revolting ,
or, which offended against recognised standards of propriety.
Unlike the Obscene Publications Act - which at that stage did not apply to films - gross indecency allowed for no defence of artistic or cultural merit to be mounted on the film's behalf. Furthermore, there was no requirement
to consider the film - or the film's purpose - as a whole. If any part of the film was indecent then the whole film was illegal.
An uncut version was however screened in 1995 at the NFT. It was also briefly shown uncut in a Soho cinema club in 1977 but that resulted in a police raid.
Summary Review: Not for the Faint-Hearted
There are few movies out there, if any, that can generate as much ire and disgust as Pasolini's Salò o le 120 giornate di Sodoma .
Not for the Faint-Hearted? You'd better believe it. And thus, it's hard to really "recommend" this film to anyone, as you wouldn't really "recommend" divorce - But it's a life experience you can gain valuable knowledge from.
The film takes it's inspiration / Modus Operandi from the Marquis De Sade's notorious novel The 120 Days of Sodom , which, if you have read it, you will know perfectly well what you can expect from the film.
Transporting the setting to Mussolini-Era Fascist Italy, four Aristocratic Libertines subject their young subjects to Sexual Manipulation and Torture, both physical and psychological.
Sardonicus is a 1961 USA horror mystery drama by William Castle.
With Ronald Lewis, Audrey Dalton and Guy Rolfe.
Briefly banned by the BBFC for 1961 cinema release before being cut and X rated. Uncut and 12 rated on VHS and DVD. Uncut and MPAA PG rated in the US.
Summary Notes
A search for a winning lottery ticket in his dead father's grave causes Sardonicus' face to freeze in a horrible grimace, until he forces a doctor to treat his affliction--with even more grotesque results! The audience gets an opportunity to
vote--via the "Punishment Poll"--for the penalty Sardonicus must pay for his deeds...
Savage Streets is a 1984 US crime action film by Danny Steinmann. With Linda Blair, John Vernon and Robert Dryer.
Linda Blair armed with a crossbow (a forbidden weapon at the BBFC) avenges a deaf friend who was gang-raped. The leader of the rapists gets shot with the crossbow and then set ablaze.
This sleazy tale of high school revenge with Linda Blair is a must for bad film fans everywhere.
This sympathetic tale tells the story of Brenda (Blair), a tough high school gal who spends her nights drinking peach brandy on the streets of LA with her equally tough friends. One night, they make the mistake of puttering with a gang called the
Scars, and before you know it, the Scars have raped and beaten Brenda's deaf, mute sister. Once Brenda learns the truth of what transpired, she vows revenge on those responsible.
This is the pre-eminent 80's high school movie - terrible music, awful acting, questionable violence and gratuitous nudity.
Availability
Current UK Status: Passed 18 uncut
UK: Passed 18 after previous BBFC cuts waived for:
Score is a 1974 US/Yugoslavia erotic drama by Radley Metzger .
With Claire Wilbur, Calvin Culver and Lynn Lowry.
The BBFC banned the 1974 cinema release.
The Cut US Softcore Version was passed 18 for strong sex and nudity with 6:53s of pre-cuts for the 2013 Arrow home video release. An uncut R18 was available
Summary Review: Period Piece
Liberated '70s couple seduce another couple into experimentation with bisexuality and group-sex.
The film calls for sexual liberation and it a fun look at sex and dialog of the stoned 70's. In the UNCUT version of Score Gerald Grant and Cal Culver (Casey Donovan of gay porn fame) engage in explicit, X-rated sexual activity.
The bi-sexual theme may not sit well with a lot of folks and perhaps that is what makes the film so special and is is part of the enduring charm. People have trouble with non-traditional sex (particularly for men).
Artfully photographed by Metzger himself and veteran cinematographer Franjo Vodopivec on location in Yugoslavia, has clever dialogue which removes outmoded notions of sexual parameters from the start.
This movie was WAY ahead of its time with some great erotic scenes, plenty of nudity and drug references. The lead actress (Claire Wilbur) is marvelous in her role as Elvira, the swinging married seductress. Lynn Lowry is quite convincing in her
role as an innocent newlywed catholic school girl turned wild sexpot!
All in all, this movie is great fun to watch. It is an extremely enjoyable and often shocking piece of erotic cinema.
Availability
Current UK Status: The cut US Softcore Version was passed 18 with 6:53s of pre-cuts.
Love Me Deadly is 1973 US horror by Jacques Lacerte.
With Mary Charlotte Wilcox, Lyle Waggoner and Christopher Stone.
Banned by the BBFC for 1973 cinema release.
Uncut and MPAA R rated in the US.
Summary Review: Will You Love Me When I'm Dead
A grueling film about a lovely young housewife coming to terms with her compulsive necrophilia. Through frequent visits to the local mortuary, she finds a clandestine society of like-minded individuals.
The movie plays its subject matter pretty straight and delivers a decent enough and unusual B movie.
This movie is about the morality, education, and responsibilities pertaining to sexual freedom. Not only that, it has the most amazing child birth sequence that could and should be used as a training tool and viewed by anyone
that is interested in the miracle of child birth.
This very insightful movie should be shown in school sex education programs internationally along with material already being presented in that forum, and is and all around must see for anyone deemed mature enough. It is a
great introduction to various pertinent aspects in the sexual arena. It's delightful!
Shadows of Fiendish Ancestress and Occasionally Parajanov on Durian Cialis is a 2017 Singapore / Japan / Philippines romance by Tze Chuan Chew.
Starring Raissa Ai, Karla MC Bautista and Paolo Dumlao.
Banned by Thurrock Council from The Thurrock International Celebration of Film in September 2018. Councillor Deborah Huelin, Portfolio Holder for Communities, explained:
Based on an initial review by the council, it was identified that two of the films could likely be rated R18 if a full assessment were carried out under the guidelines issued by the BBFC. These types of films can only be shown in specially
licensed sex cinemas or supplied by licensed sex shops. The entertainment license for the Thameside Theatre does not allow them to show R18 films which means that these two films cannot form part of the festival.
Summary Notes
With reference to native historical texts and the mythological and religious depiction of the Holy Whore, Chew constructs a mythology of a hermaphrodite who comes to town to impart a wisdom that proves to be too carnal and untimely. Years in the
making and strung together with documentary-like footage of orgiastic happenings, punctuated with moments of refrain into randomness, the film soon escalates into a schizophrenic psychedelia of multicultural and polymorphous sexuality.
In his autobiography What the Censor Saw , former BBFC Secretary John Trevelyan stated that If mental illness is treated seriously, it can be entirely acceptable as material for a film, but if treated sensationally I would find it
totally unacceptable.
On 2 October 1963, writer-director-producer Samuel Fuller's black and white crime thriller Shock Corridor was submitted to the BBFC for classification, and presented some familiar problems.
The BBFC Examiners notes described the film as a sensationalised picture of life in an American asylum , and one examiner noted that Shock Corridor shocked us . Their concerns included Cathy's profession and appearance as a stripper
(although the latter aspect is described as being rather tame'); the incest references; the murder motive; a scene where Barrett encounters a ward full of 'nymphomaniacs ; a scene of electro-shock treatment; a nightmare sequence and a
fight scene. Their report concluded We are satisfied that cutting would be impracticable and that a certificate should be refused.
The film was then referred to the BBFC's Secretary, John Trevelyan. He viewed the film with two Examiners and the BBFC's President, and they agreed that this film should not be passed . As well as the issues previously noted, they believed
that the film presents a mental hospital in a light that would be considered objectionable in this country and that the film could not be cut to make it acceptable.
Trevelyan also had concerns about Cathy's strip-tease, the suggestion that a sane person could fake insanity to get committed to a mental hospital, the suggestion that committal to a mental hospital could turn a sane person insane and its
potentially harmful effect on mentally disturbed viewers .
Trevelyan sent a rejection letter to the film's UK distributor, stating that The film portrays a picture of mental hospital life which is far removed from that in mental hospitals in this country, and which could well cause grave concern to
people who have friends and relatives with mental illness.
Summary Notes
Johnny Barrett, an ambitious journalist, is determined to win a Pulitzer Prize by solving a murder committed in a lunatic asylum and witnessed only by three inmates, from whom the police have been unable to extract the information. With the
connivance of a psychiatrist, and the reluctant help of his girlfriend, he succeeds in having himself declared insane and sent to the asylum. There he slowly tracks down and interviews the witnesses - but things are stranger than they seem ...
Silent Night, Deadly Night Part 2 is a 1987 USA comedy drama horror thriller by Lee Harry.
With Eric Freeman, James Newman and Elizabeth Kaitan.
Cut for an MPAA R rating. This was banned by the BBFC for 1987 cinema release. The film hasn't been released since in the UK.
Summary Review: Dumbed Down
Ricky, the brother of the killer in the first film, talks to a psychitrist about how he became a brutal killer after his brother died, leading back to Mother Superior.
The murders are dumbed down a bit compared with the first part.
The acting, sets, cinematography, and even the special effects are mostly amateurish, and even laughable.
What Have You Done To Solange? is a 1972 Italy / West Germany mystery thriller by Massimo Dallamano.
Starring Fabio Testi, Cristina Galbó and Karin Baal.
Banned by the BBFC for 1973 cinema release.
Later passed 18 after cuts for 1996 VHS. Uncut for 2015 DVD and Blu-ray.
Summary Notes
A teacher who is having an affair with one of his students takes her out on a boat. They see a knife killing on shore. Other gruesome murders start occurring shortly thereafter, and the teacher suspects that he may be the cause of them.
Availability
Current UK Status: Passed 18 uncut
UK: Passed 18 uncut for strong sexualised violence, nudity for:
Story of O is a 1975 France / West Germany / Canada drama by Just Jaeckin.
Starring Corinne Cléry, Udo Kier and Anthony Steel.
Notably banned by the BBFC for 1975 cinema release. A shortened English language version was passed 18 without BBFC cuts for 2000 cinema release and DVD. The English Version is MPAA X rated in the US. The French version is uncut with more
philosophising but makes more sense.
Summary Notes
The beautiful O is taken by her boyfriend, Rene, to a bizarre retreat, where she is trained in bondage and sexual perversion. Rene discharges a personal debt by transferring possession of O to his step-brother, Sir Stephen.
It is most certainly worth viewing the French original, for its insight into the world of BDSM, although as with the book it is fantasy, but that clearly shows its faithfulness to the book, and is most certainly worth
watching, and a valued addition to my DVD collection.
Availability
The BBFC banned the 1975 cinema.
Short dubbed English version was passed 18 without BBFC cuts for the 2000 cinema release and Arrow R2 DVD.
A solid, well-crafted giallo that delivers the goods without achieving classic status.
The characters are interesting without being in any way sympathetic. The men are manipulative predators and the women play dangerous games. In the last act, the sado-masochistic undercurrents make way for a series of plot
twists. While these are not too predictable, the final solution is unremarkable.
Stranger from Canton is a 1973 Hong Kong action film by Yeo Ban-Yee.
With Hao-ran Chen, Yuan Chen and Yi Feng.
UK: Banned by the BBFC for:
UK 1976 cinema release
UK: A shortened version was passed X (18) after further extensive BBFC cuts for:
UK 1976 cinema release
UK: Passed 18 after 35s of BBFC cuts for:
UK 1987 VPD VHS
Summary Review: Downright visceral
The film features a solid cast of Hong Kong film luminaries and fight after brutal, bone-crushing fight.
Jason Pai Piao plays a dapper hero who catches knives in his teeth and takes bites out of them. The imposing Thompson Kao Kang plays the lead villain, a dangerous fighter who wields his queue--or pigtail--as a weapon.
The fights in this movie are downright visceral. If you enjoy the dark, violent martial arts films of this period, Stranger from Canton will be right up your alley.
Availability
Current UK Status: Passed 18 after 35s of BBFC cuts
The film was viewed in 1975 by the Board's Secretary, Stephen Murphy, and the President, Lord Harlech. They agreed there was no prospect of classification and, in a letter to the distributor, Murphy noted: I regret that
we are unable to offer certification for this film: nor can we see how it can be cut to make it acceptable to us. We accept that it is a film of some seriousness of purpose: though also of some obscurity. Nevertheless, in many respect, it goes
beyond the standards of taste which the Board is currently prepared to accept .
In 1978, Connoisseur Films approached the BBFC, having being offered the rights to the film. They enquired about whether there was any prospect of the film being classified. There is no record in the Board's files of what
James Ferman told the company, although there is a note that he spoke to them about it on 10 January 1978. Given that the film was never formally submitted, we can only assume that he discouraged the company.
The film was formally submitted by a new distributor, Lazer Films, in 1980. Examiners suggested that cuts should be made to remove any potentially indecent images from the Anna Planeta scene (which had not been an issue in
1975), to remove the whole sequence in which three men crap in competition and then show it to crowd , and to remove some of the more extreme open-leg shots towards the end of the film, in which Carol Laure wallows in liquid chocolate.
[Laure herself had earlier fought a legal battle to have these shots suppressed]. It was conceded by examiners that certain other scenes, most notably the scene in which Miss Canada's husband urinates directly onto her, were very strong. However,
it was felt that these scenes could not be cut without ruining the meaning of the film. However, in spite of negotiations between the BBFC and the distributor, the film was simply withdrawn from the classification process, possibly because of the
difficulty of making cuts, in particular to the Anna Planeta sequence.
Summary Review : Dark recesses
There are some films that are designed to shock, some designed to titillate, some that delight in disgusting the view. For Makavejev, shock, disgust and titillation are never the purpose, but a means to a form of
psycho-liberation. Makavejev in Sweet Movie hurtles us head first into the confronting theses of Post-Freudian Wilhelm Reich. We are forced to confront our relationship to our primal beings. He literally smears our consciousness with faeces,
vomit and carnality.
We cannot watch orgiastic scenes of regressive acts, a sensual striptease played out inches from the faces of young boys, Carol Laure masturbating in a pool of molten chocolate without a visceral reaction. We are forced to confront our own
repressed desires and shine a light in the dark recesses of our own psyche.
Schulmädchen-Report 7: Doch das Herz muß dabei sein
Schoolgirl Report 7: What The Heart Must Thereby...
Lucifer's Angels
1974 West Germany erotic mock documentary by Ernst Hofbauer.
With Alfred Acktun, Puppa Armbruster and Hans Bergmann.
Thanks to MichaelG and bleach
Banned by the BBFC for:
UK 1977 cinema release
Summary Review: Retro-romp
A bunch of lovely teenage schoolgirls work at a secret brothel where they have sex with high paying older men. After the girls all get arrested for prostitution, several of them discuss how they wound up working at said brothel
It's done in a cinema-verite style regarding the declining morals, the conflict of promiscuity versus morality, parental guilt, and the pervading sense of anti-authoritarianism prevalent at that time.
As a light-hearted, soft-core retro-romp from that era it's a damned good time for those who can appreciate such things
The Telephone Book is a 1971 USA comedy by Nelson Lyon.
With Margaret Brewster, Roger C. Carmel, David Dozer.
Banned by the BBFC for 1971 cinema release. Uncut and MPAA Unrated in the US.
Summary Review: Underground
The story of a day in the life of a lonely, sensitive, exuberant, attractive, young woman. Her exploits, encounters, and frustrations as she attempts to find a special someone, a caller who has class , as she puts it.
Funny, near brilliant, underground movie about the sexual perversions of everyday people. A terrific example of grass roots filmmaking were the creativity and ingenuity of the director.
Availability
Current UK Status: Not released since the ban
US: Uncut and MPAA Unrated for:
US 2013 Vinegar Syndrome R0 Blu-ray/R0 DVD Combo
at US Amazon
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is a 1974 US horror film by Tobe Hooper.
With Marilyn Burns, Edwin Neal and Allen Danziger.
In the US the film was initially rated X, but attained an R rating after cuts. This was the last X certificate granted by the MPAA prior to the introduction of NC-17. The R rated version has been used for all releases worldwide. In the UK, the
1975 cinema release was famously banned by the BBFC. Some local councils overrode the BBFC ban and passed it X with a local certificate. The ban continued well into the home video era until unbanned (and released uncut) in 1999.
Tobe Hooper's seminal horror film was first seen informally by the BBFC's Secretary, Stephen Murphy, on 27 February 1975. Murphy regarded it as a good, well-made film but felt strongly that the level of terrorisation,
particularly towards the end of the film, and the film's focus on abnormal psychology was unsuitable for a BBFC X certificate to be issued. The distributor reacted to this advice by making some minor reductions in the final scenes
of terrorisation, formally submitting a slightly truncated version on 12 March 1975.
A pre-cut version was passed X by the GLC for a London 1975 cinema release
The film was shown in some others towns with a local authority certificate overruling the BBFC ban but the BBFC ban was enforced in others
The Pre-cert VHS was released uncut on the Wizard label in 1981
At around this time, the BBFC was once again asked to consider cuts for a legitimate video release but failed to see how an acceptable version could be produced. The film therefore fell into limbo and was removed from the shelves following the
introduction of the Video Recordings Act.
Passed 18 uncut by Camden Council in London for a Camden 1998 cinema release.
It was given a late night screening at the 1998 London Film Festival and then ran successfully in Camden at the beginning of 1999.
The BBFC ban had persisted until 1999. An official BBFC comment from their website just before the granting of the cinema certificate in 1999 read:
Most questions about THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE (and sequels) assume that the problem is one of violence or horror. In fact the reason that the film was refused certification was the result of the perceived degree of
terrorisation of women and threat to defenceless women. The Board has for many years operated a very strict policy with regard to sexual violence, based on the incidence of this sort of behaviour in real life and the fact that a great deal of
research does indicate that this is the one area where media representations do seem to have quite direct effects on attitudes and behaviour. The film was rejected by the Board on film and is most unlikely to be classified on video, where the law
demands a stricter test, under amendments to the Video Recording Act 1984 contained in the Criminal Justice & Public Order Act 1994.
The BBFC finally relented on their ban in 1999 when they passed the cinema release and subsequent video/DVD versions 18 uncut with the following comment:
The notoriety of the film may owe a lot to its original rejection by the BBFC in 1975. It was passed for viewing in Europe, the USA, Australia and other countries. It received a GLC licence in the 1970s and was most recently
shown in central London in 1998 under a licence from Camden Council. There is, so far as the Board is aware, no evidence that harm has ever arisen as a consequence of viewing the film. For modern young adults, accustomed to the macabre shocks of
horror films through the 1980s and 1990s, THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE is unlikely to be particularly challenging. Unlike more recent examples of the genre, violence in THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE is throughout implied rather than
explicit. By today's standards, its visual effects may seem relatively unconvincing.
Possibly the most notorious feature is the relentless pursuit of the 'Final Girl' throughout the last half hour or so of the film. The heroine in peril is a staple of the cinema since the earliest days. It is nonetheless
legitimate to question the unusual emphasis THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE places on the pursuit of a defenceless and screaming female over such an extended period. The Board's conclusion, after careful consideration, was that any possible
harm that might arise in terms of the effect upon a modern audience would be more than sufficiently countered by the unrealistic, even absurd, nature of the action itself. It is worth emphasising that there is no explicit sexual element in the
film, and relatively little visible violence.
Summary Review: Classic of its generation
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is undoubtedly one of the scariest films ever made and its raw power remains undiminished to this very day. Tobe Hooper somehow created a genuine fright machine which changed the face of
the horror genre completely.
The story revolves around a group of teenagers being chased, terrified and murdered when they stumble upon a canabilistic family in the countryside. The main character, Leatherface, who's remorseless killings were loosely
based on real life 1950's Texan murderer Ed Gein.
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is a classic of its generation and deserves to be part of any respectable film collection. Just don't watch it alone.
Availability
Current UK Status: Passed 18 uncut
The R rated version was passed 18 without cuts after the BBFC finally relented on their ban for:
Thriller: A Cruel Picture is a 1973 Sweden action thriller by Bo Arne Vibenius (as Alex Fridolinski).
Starring Christina Lindberg, Heinz Hopf and Despina Tomazani.
Banned by the BBFC and Swedish film censors for 1973-4 cinema release. Passed X by the BBFC after heavy cuts for 1976 cinema release. Heavily cut in the US for an R rating. There is an uncut Unrated US release that contains hardcore inserts.
Summary Review: Bleak
Gorgeous Swedish cult siren Christina Lindberg plays Frigga who cannot speak after a childhood trauma. A rather shady character kidnaps her and after getting her hooked on heroine, he forces her to work as a prostitute, and
gouges her eye out when she refuses her first client. Frigga saves her money and pays for lessons in martial arts, before taking her revenge on those cruel customers and her pimp.
As the title suggests this is one viciously bleak film. From the barren wind swept Swedish landscape and eerie electric score to the hard core sex scenes and eye gouge scene which was created using a real cadaver, Thriller
is a truly potent cult shocker.
Lindberg is a truly striking and unforgettable cult figure, carrying a shotgun and dressed all in black she is enigmatic and certainly makes shameless plagiarizer Tarantino's work look pale by comparison.
Availability
Current UK Status: never submitted on video. Passed X after heavy cuts for cinema
Top Sensation is a 1969 Italy drama by Ottavio Alessi.
Starring Rosalba Neri, Edwige Fenech and Eva Thulin.
Banned by the BBFC for 1970 cinema release. passed 18 uncut for 2016 DVD. Uncut and X rated in the US but later cut for an MPAA R rating. There is also a German version and mentions of additional footage shot in 1970.
Summary Notes
Attempting to cure her mentally handicapped son's virginity, his mother and several friends embark on a cruise which strands them on nearly deserted island where lust and murder are on the menu!
The film was first screened privately for Trevelyan by the distributor, Connoisseur, to gauge his personal opinion. He indicated that all references to and depictions of sexual sadism would have to be removed: This kind of sexual perversion is
a dangerous one and I am sure we would not pass anything that might stimulate a pervert of that kind. When officially submitted to the BBFC the film was rejected, a ruling which this time was backed by the GLC and other councils. [However
there is no record of a formal ban in the BBFC database].
The film was eventually granted an X certificate in 1977, having already been granted a certificate by the Bristol authority and screened successfully at the Edinburgh Film Festival.
Passed 13 uncut in 2013.
Summary Review
This stylish, cult 1966 erotic thriller stars French new wave icons Jean-Louis Trintigant. He plays a drug courier smuggling a stash of cocaine from Paris to Antwerp on the Trans-Europ-Express. Matters are complicated by
surreal encounters with police, three filmmakers who are also on the train making a film about drug-traffickers and erotic-fantasy sequences featuring Pisier being bound and subjected to Trintignant's will.
One of the most entertaining and involving films I've ever seen, managing to be cerebral and clever as can be while never giving into being impenetrable for the sake of being impenetrable.
Availability
Current UK Status: Passed 15 uncut
UK: Passed 15 uncut for strong violence and sexual fetish images for:
The Trip is a 1967 USA drama by Roger Corman.
With Peter Fonda, Susan Strasberg and Bruce Dern.
Banned by the BBFC for:
1988 Rank VHS
1980 cinema release
1971 cinema release
1967 cinema release
James Ferman was quoted as saying In the wrong hands , a tremendous advertisement for LSD .
Later passed 18 uncut for TV in 2002 and DVD in 2004
Summary Review: Far out man!
Paul Groves (Peter Fonda), a television commercial director, is in the midst of a personality crisis. His wife Sally (Susan Strasberg) has left him and he seeks the help of his friend John (Bruce Dern), a self-styled guru who's an advocate of
LSD. Paul asks John to be the guide on his first "trip". John takes Paul to a "freak-out" at his friend Max's (Dennis Hopper) pad.
The superb title music by Electric Flag sets the scene for one of the most adventurous of cinematic offerings.
Just why it was banned is unknown and seemingly absurd, of course it portrays drug taking with little emphasis on the dangers surrounding such indulgence, but to argue depiction of such behaviour promotes others to follow
suit would suggest that all films with any violence or portrayal of war should also be banned.
Besides the beauty of the film renders all objections irrelevant. It offers stunning visuals and great actors. A real slice of psychedelic culture and despite seeming slightly dated, has it's heart in the right place. Far
out man!
Tropic of Cancer is a 1970 USA biography by Joseph Strick.
With Rip Torn, James T Callahan and David Baur.
Banned by the BBFC for 1970 cinema release. Later the film was granted a London X certificate but hasn't been released since. Uncut on 2010 DVD is the US.
Thanks to Gary.
After the BBFC ban, the film was given a GLC X certificate. It was shown on Sky in the early 1990s. Its most recent UK showing was in November 2009, as part of the Barbican's directorspective of the work of Joseph Strick.
Trivia point: It's almost certainly the first US major-studio film to feature the word 'cunt' in its dialogue - earlier than the usual film so credited, Carnal Knowledge .
Summary Review: Fairly Explicit
Henry is an ex-pat in Paris, cadging drinks and meals and places to sleep, giving advice about women to clueless men, flirting with the wives of acquaintances, burning bridges, and making philosophical observations. In vignettes we see his wife
Mona come to Paris and leave immediately when she tastes Henry's vagabond life; he tries teaching English at a school in Dijon, takes the son of a wealthy Indian to a bordello, gets a job as a proofreader at the Herald Tribune, and helps out a
pal who's in and out of an asylum and deeply in love with a whore. Can Henry make his own discovery of ecstasy?
The movie had difficulty synthesizing Henry Miller's sense of sacred and profane in harmony. It tried now with a Rip Torn voiceover reading from Miller's work, then with some poetic shots of the beauty of Paris. It
never really seemed to succeed.
The movie could never find anything to focus on. It represents a string of vignettes, and they don't seem to lead to any common goal. Many scenes seem to concentrate on the minor characters for much too long, and without
apparent purpose. Such picaresque efforts rely on the charm of characterization for impact, and this film has some of that, but not enough. It's structured as if somebody said let's make a film of Tropic of Cancer without actually feeling
any passion for why they wanted to do that.
It was certainly interesting to see Rip Torn so young and so good-looking, and to see Ellen Burstyn in such a flagrant display of nudity. Some of the locales are accurately evocative, and Torn is reasonably credible in the
lead. It is fairly explicit in the sexual scenes, and extremely explicit in its use of language.
Venus in Furs is a 1969 West Germany/Switzerland/Italy erotic film by Massimo Dallamano. With Laura Antonelli, Régis Vallée and Loren Ewing.
The BBFC rejected the 1970 cinema release Passed X (18) after BBFC cuts for UK 1971 cinema release
Passed 18 after 2:32s of BBFC cuts for 1993 Redemption VHS Passed 18 after 1:05s of BBFC cuts for UK 2007 Argent/Shameless R0 DVD
Summary Review: Skilfully Made
Based on the infamous novel by Leopold Sacher-Masoch this fine film follows the perverted passions of a young couple as Severin watches the beautiful Wanda writhing naked amongst furs. His disturbing peeping tomism triggers off a whirlpool of
emotions due to a childhood episode which punishes voyeurism with pain.
The movie is worthy for your collection, especially if you like the movies from seventies. The performance of Laura Antonelli and Regis Vallee is not bad. The scenes are played and all film is made as erotic, not pornography.
Virgin Witch is a 1972 UK horror by Ray Austin.
With Ann Michelle, Vicki Michelle and Keith Buckley.
Banned by the BBFC for UK 1971 cinema release.
Passed X (18) by the GLC (Greater London Council) for London 1971 cinema release. Passed X (18) after BBFC cuts for UK 1972 cinema release.
Presumably the cut cinema version was released for UK 1979 Intervision VHS.
Released uncut for UK 1983 Intervision VHS.
Passed 18 uncut by the BBFC for UK 1993 Redemption VHS.
Summary Review: So-So at Best
Christine gets her big chance at modelling when she applies at Sybil Waite's agency. Together with Christine's sister Betty they go to a castle for the weekend for a photo shoot
Yeah, there's this coven of witches, and a couple of cute girls are being lured into it, but that doesn't prevent this film from being only so-so at best. One of the girls becomes the plaything of the head female witch, but
any potential eroticism is wasted as they never actually do anything together. Aside from a couple of brief moments when the girls are without their clothes, this film was just plain boring.
A grim police detective embarks on a one-man crusade to track down a depraved sex maniac when a nightclub dancer receives a disturbing series of obscene phone calls. Finding himself getting far too close to the victim for comfort, the hard-boiled
cop must track down the unbalanced pervert before he can carry out his sick threats...
The Wild Angels is a 1966 USA action drama by Roger Corman.
Starring Peter Fonda, Nancy Sinatra and Bruce Dern.
Banned by the BBFC for 1966 cinema release. Cut by the BBFC for an X rated 1972 cinema release. Uncut and 18 rated for VHS. Uncut and 15 rated for DVD. Uncut and MPAA R rated in the US.
Summary Notes
Peter Fonda plays 'Heavenly Blues', the leader of Hell's Angels chapter from Venice, California while Bruce Dern plays 'Loser', his best pal. When they both botch their attempt to retrieve Loser's stolen bike, Loser ends up in the hospital. When
the Angels bust him out, he dies, and they bury him. Nancy Sinatra plays Mike, Blues' "old lady" and Diane Ladd plays Loser's wife (Dern's real-life wife at the time). The plot is basically a buildup to the last half-hour of the film in which
Loser's funeral becomes another wild party.
Availability
Current UK Status: Passed 15 uncut
UK: Passed 15 uncut for strong sexualised threat and moderate drug use for:
Two juvenile delinquents break into a luxury house where they rape two women. They settle in the house, sell the valuables and kill a curious neighbour.
Without a Stitch is a 1968 Denmark comedy drama by Annelise Meineche.
Starring Anne Grete Nissen, Ib Mossin and Joan Gamst.
Banned by the BBFC for 1969 cinema release. Passed X after BBFC cuts for an X rated 1975 cinema release.
Summary Notes
When a high-school girl complains of her inability to reach sexual climax, her doctor suggests that she keep a diary of her sexual encounters. She does just that and soon finds herself caught up in a sexual merry-go-round that includes making a
hardcore porno film in Sweden, an escapade with a German sadist and a lesbian encounter.
Availability
Current UK Status: passed X after BBFC cuts for cinema.
US: Hopefully uncut and MPAA Unrated for:
Video Dimensions R1 DVD
at US Amazon titled Without a Stitch
Women in Cages is a 1971 US/Philippines prison film by Gerado de Leon.
With Judith Brown, Roberta Collins and Jennifer Ga.
Banned by the BBFC for 1972 cinema release and cut for 1986 VHS.
Summary Review: Tropical Prison
Set in a nameless Latin American prison but filmed in the Filipino jungle. The film featured a mixed cast of local Philippines and American exploitation regulars, but it's remembered as the first high-profile role for the
later Queen of Blaxploitation, Pam Grier.
Grier plays the sadistic warden, a pot-smoking lesbian with a fully-equipped torture chamber (including a guillotine!). The New Fish , a ditzy blonde ex-stripper called Alabama, has taken the heroin possession rap for
her pimp boyfriend. She knows too much, so the pimp blackmails her cellmates to execute her.
A competent and well-shot entry in the tropical prison genre from Filipino director Gerry De Leon, it places the embittered ex-addict and prostitute Grier in the position of slave owner, watching her white charges toiling
away in the plantation with obvious ironic glee.
Availability
Current UK Status: Passed 18 after 3:19s of BBFC cuts
The US release is uncut and MPAA R Rated for:
US 2011 Shout! Factory Women in Cages Collection RA Blu-ray
at US Amazon
US 2011 Shout! Factory Women in Cages Collection R1 DVD
at US Amazon
