Latest Cuts: BBFC and MPA

Robot Dreams is a 2023 Spain/France animation drama by Pablo Berger
Starring Ivan Labanda, Tito Trifol and Rafa Calvo

BBFC category cuts were required for a distributor requested BBFC PG rated cinema release in 2024.

Summary Notes

Based on the popular graphic novel by the North American writer Sara Varon, ROBOT DREAMS tells the adventures and misfortunes of Dog and Robot in NYC during the '80s.

Versions

category cuts by substitution cut: run: 102:29s pal: 98:23s

UK: BBFC PG rated for mild rude humour for mild rude humour after BBFC category cuts: 2024 Artificial Eye Film Co. cinema release (rated 30/01/2024) The BBFC commented: The company obscured rude gestures in order to achieve their preferred category of PG. An uncut 12A classification was available. Thanks to Jon: The BBFC were initially set to give the film an uncut 12A rating. However, when Artificial Eye heard the film was going to be a 12A, it was Artificial Eye who said they wanted a PG, because the film would be ideal for younger kids, as the film was due to be released during the February school Half-Term. It was at that point, that the BBFC stated to Artificial Eye, that if they wanted a PG, the middle finger gesture would need to be removed. Artificial Eye went back to the director, explained the situation, and between him and Artificial Eye, they agreed that the best solution would be to animate a black rectangle over the offending moment, so that adults would still get the joke, but kids would not, and the censorship would appease the BBFC without any cuts being made to the film's duration. The animators added-in the black rectangle, the film was resubmitted, and the film was passed with the new censored middle finger scene as a PG. The film could easily have been left uncut with a 12A, and it would not have affected anything. But the distributor stupidly wanted a kid-friendly rating, despite the fact most kids couldn't follow the film and didn't find it especially entertaining. So Artificial Eye really ballsed-up here. Thanks to Scott, Jake and Chris. The rude gesture was in fact the robot showing his middle finger when copying members of a street gang. The director was involved in deciding how to obscure the gesture by covering it up. The solution to cover up the gesture with a black strip proved more than acceptable as it gets a laugh from viewers realising that the robot is making the gesture and that this has been censored. Ireland: The cut UK version was IFCO G rated for consumer advice: explores themes of friendship and loss with positive resolution: 2024 Curzon cinema release (rated 16/01/2024)

Soldier Blue is a 1970 USA western by Ralph Nelson.
Starring Candice Bergen, Peter Strauss and Donald Pleasence.

Reportedly cut in the US for an MPAA rating in 1970. These cuts have long since been forgotten and the R rated version is the best available. The film was cut for an MPAA PG rating in 1974 but the R rating was restored in 1976.

The R rated version was cut by the BBFC for X rated cinema release and 18 rated VHS. The BBFC cuts for sexual violence were waived in 2004 for 18 rated DVD releases but new cuts were required for horse falls. In 2024 further BBFC cuts were required for previously unnoticed indecent images of a child.

Summary Notes

After a cavalry group is massacred by the Cheyenne, only two survivors remain: Honus, a naive private devoted to his duty, and Cresta, a young woman who had lived with the Cheyenne two years and whose sympathies lie more with them than with the US government. Together, they must try to reach the cavalry's main base camp. As they travel onward, Honus is torn between his growing affection for Cresta, and his disgust for her anti-American beliefs. They reach the cavalry campsite on the eve of an attack on a Cheyenne village, where Honus will learn which side has really been telling him the truth.

Versions

best available run: 115m pal: 110m		US: Uncut and MPAA R rated for: 2020 Kl Studio Classics (RA) Blu-ray at US Amazon US 2006 Lions Gate R1 DVD via UK Amazon and at US Amazon There are reports that the original US R Rated version was cut to avoid an X rating in 1970. The film was cut for a PG rating in 1974 but the R rating was restored in 1976. Any such cuts have long since being forgotten though, and the current uncut US version is definitive.
cut		US: Cut for an MPAA PG rating in 1974
cut cut: run: 115:19s pal: 110:42s		UK: BBFC 18 rated for strong violence, sexual violence for strong violence, sexual violence after BBFC cuts: 2024 Studio Canal Blu-ray (rated 13/05/2024) The BBFC commented: Compulsory Cuts were required for illegal horse falls and potentially indecent images of a child.
cut cut: 6s run: 114:38s pal: 110:03s		Passed 18 after 6s of BBFC cuts with previous cuts for violence restored for: UK 2008 Optimum R2 DVD The BBFC commented: Four cuts were required to remove the presence of cruel, dangerous and illegal horse falls
total cuts cut: 28s run: 114:12s pal: 109:38s 7s distributor 23s		Passed 18 after 7s of BBFC cuts and 23s of distributor cuts for: UK 2005 Momentum R2 DVD Bizarrely the Momentum Pictures resubmission in 2005 ended up by being unnecessarily more cut than the previous version. The BBFC made the following statement: The BBFC requested 7 seconds of cuts to remove cruel horsefalls but the distributor made additional voluntary cuts of 23 seconds to remove an acceptable horsefall and part of a rape scene. These cuts were not required by the BBFC but were in line with cuts made to previous video releases.
23s cut: 23s run: 114:02s pal: 109:28s		Passed 18 after 23s of BBFC cuts for: UK 1999 BMG VHS The BBFC cuts were: The cuts as per previous Embassy version except that slightly less cut from the rape scene
cut cut: 36s run: 113:25s pal: 108:53s		Passed after 36s of BBFC cuts for: UK 1986 Embassy VHS The cuts were: Cuts are to a scene showing the rape of an Indian woman, during the massacre of the village Cuts to a shot of a naked Indian woman strung up by her wrists with blood on her breasts A horsefall has been removed
cut cut: run: pal: sub: 114:39s		Passed X (18) after BBFC cuts for: UK 1970 cinema release The BBFC cuts were: Cuts to a scene showing the rape of an Indian woman, during the massacre of the village Decapitation of indian squaw removed

Carry On Spying is a 1964 UK comedy by Gerald Thomas
Starring Kenneth Williams, Barbara Windsor and Bernard Cribbins

BBFC category cuts were required for an 'A' rated cinema release in 1964. The BBFC cuts have persisted into all releases since.

Summary Notes

Agent Simpkins and trainees chase STENCH (the Society for the Total Extinction of Non-Conforming Humans) for a stolen chemical formula, using gadgets and disguises to defeat villains The Fat Man, Dr Milchman, and Dr Crow.

Versions

category cuts cut: run: 87:02s pal: 83:33s

UK: The cinema version was BBFC U rated for mild language, innuendo and comic violence: 2007 Studiocanal R2 DVD at UK Amazon #ad 2006 TPC / The Portman Consultancy DVD (rated 15/03/2006) UK: The cinema version was BBFC U rated: 2001 Warner Home DVD (rated 12/09/2001) 1988 Warner Home VHS (rated 11/07/1988) UK: BBFC A (PG) rated after BBFC category cuts: 1964 Anglo Amalgamated cinema release (rated 04/06/1964) Thanks to Vince. The BBFC cuts list read: Reel 5 - Remove the words "more than enough for a fat man with a very small dossier." Reel 6 - Remove Daphne's line "Most men find her very exciting" and ensuing conversation in which she whispers to the fat man and he replies, resuming on "Let me see your shimmy." From IMDb: A scene - apparently now lost - shows Agent Bind stopping to feed money into a fruit machine as the other recruits are escaping the fun house. It would seem that all existing prints of "Spying" now fade out just before this occurs but there is anecdotal evidence suggesting that this full version had been shown on British TV at least once during the 70s.

IRaH is a 2024 UK thriller by Sam Bhattacharjee
Starring Rohit Roy, Ameet Chana and Fagun Thakrar

BBFC category cuts were required for a 12A rated cinema release in 2024.

Summary Notes

Everybody wants a piece of Hari Singh and his revolutionary new app: the IRAH 5.10. Sadly, this extends to kidnappers, Police, Cyber Security Agencies and international hackers.

Versions

cut: run: 131:28s pal: 126:12s

UK: BBFC 12A rated for moderate threat, violence, injury detail, sexual threat, strong language for moderate threat, violence, injury detail, sexual threat, strong language after BBFC cuts: 2024 Do It Creative cinema release (rated 26/03/2024) The BBFC commented: The distributor chose to remove scenes of violence in order to achieve their desired 12A rating. An uncut 15 classification was available.

Carry On Regardless is a 1961 UK comedy by Gerald Thomas, Ralph Thomas
Starring Sidney James, Kenneth Connor and Charles Hawtrey

BBFC category cuts were required for U rated 1961 cinema release and presumably the same cuts have applied to all releases since.

Summary Notes

The Helping Hands agency employs some very strange people to perform some very strange jobs. Even the simplest of tasks get bungled by the incompetent but lovable staff.

Versions

cut run: 90:14s pal: 86:37s

UK: Cut and BBFC PG rated: 2007 Studiocanal R2 DVD at UK Amazon #ad 2007 Studiocanal Amazon VoD [UK] at UK Amazon #ad 2006 Optimum Releasing DVD (rated 19/09/2006) 2001 Warner Home DVD (rated 12/09/2001) 1988 Warner Home VHS (rated 14/07/1988) UK: Cut and BBFC U rated: 1961 Anglo Amalgamated cinema release (rated 01/03/1961) Thanks to Vince. The BBFC cuts list read: Reel 2 - In the 'Penny Panting' scene, remove shots of Sam lowering his trousers. Reel 3 - Remove "Oh no, there is nothing wrong with my knockers." Reel 4 - Remove "Do you now" and the accompanying visual. Reel 6 - Remove the final shot of Gabriel as he faints in the boxing ring. Reel 7 - Remove "What is it you like doing most of all in bed" and "The bed of the century helps you do it better." Reel 9 - The scene between Delia and a bachelor who is seeking a wife should be sortened to remove as much as possible of the innuendo.