Latest Cuts: BBFC and MPA

Billy Madison is a 1995 US comedy by Tamra Davis
Starring Adam Sandler, Darren McGavin and Bridgette Wilson-Sampras

Thanks to Scott who commented:

A set of two original BBFC cinema black cards for this Adam Sandler comedy turned up on eBay recently - one for a 12 classification, the other for a PG: However, the only classification for the film listed on the BBFC's website is the PG - cut for this cert. I emailed them to ask if it had initially been given a 12 - this was their response:

The film was originally classified uncut at 12. The film company later resubmitted it in order to secure a PG and asked for cuts to achieve this.

This cut PG rated version continued on 1997 VHS and 2002 DVD, but in 2008 the film was released uncut on DVD with a BBFC 12 rating. Uncut and MPAA PG-13 rated in the US.

Versions

uncut run: 89:52s pal: 86:16s		UK: Passed 12 uncut with previous BBFC cuts waived for: 2010 Universal R0 Blu-ray at UK Amazon 2008 Universal R2 DVD at UK Amazon US: Uncut and MPAA PG-13 rated for: 2011 Universal RA Blu-ray at US Amazon 1998 Universal R1 DVD at US Amazon
category cuts cut: 17s run: 89:19s pal: 85:45s		UK: Passed PG after 17s of BBFC cuts for: 2002 UIP R2 DVD The BBFC commented: The cuts were Compulsory. Cuts required to remove strong language and images of blood spitting and man engulfed in fire for PG. According to BBFC policy, works of the same title passed after July 1994 should normally be given the same category. The BBFC cuts were: Billy Madisan's dialogue: You get your ass out of there and find the fucking dog loses the fucking A party clown injures himself after falling off his stilts but we don't get to see the blood running from his mouth There is a shot missing of a man in a kitchen in flames.
category cuts cut: 28s run: 89:11s pal: 85:37s		UK: Passed PG after 28s of BBFC cuts for: 1997 Universal VHS 1997 cinema release The BBFC cuts were Billy Madisan's dialogue: You get your ass out of there and find the fucking dog loses the fucking A party clown injures himself after falling off his stilts but we don't get to see the blood running from his mouth A schoolroom prank involving a card which says Yes I'm horny. The BBFC didn't see the funny side and removed the joke There is a shot missing of a man in a kitchen in flames.
uncut		UK: Passed 12 uncut for: 1997 cinema release (unreleased) Thanks to Scott who asked the BBFC to comment about this. the BBFC responded: The film was originally classified uncut at 12. The film company later resubmitted it in order to secure a PG and asked for cuts to achieve this:

Caligula is a 1979 Italy/US historical drama by Tinto Brass
Starring Malcolm McDowell, Peter O'Toole and Helen Mirren

Originally cut in the UK and US for an 18 rated UK and R rated US theatrical release. There also exists Tinto Brass' Alternative Version which does not include the hardcore footage added by the producers. The full uncut version was passed 18 uncut for 2008 DVD. This full uncut version is MPAA Unrated in the US. The Hardcore Version was banned in Australia in 2010.

In 2018 Penthouse announced a plan running over a couple of years for a 4k restoration of the Tinto Brass version. However the bankruptcy of Penthouse may have put an end to the idea. In 2023 Dafthouse Films announced a new Producer's Cut (arrogantly labelled the Ultimate Cut) by Thomas Negovan. This will be reconstructed from previously unreleased footage and unpromisingly suggests that this will be a more 'civilised' take on the Caligula story.

See version details from desperate-living.com

Summary Notes

A dramatization of the ascent to Caesar and subsequent reign of Caligula, one of the most notorious leaders of ancient Rome. We see his ambition, his scheming, his perversion and decadence, his brutality and his lunacy.

Ultimate Cut

Ultimate Cut run: 177:59s pal: 170:52s

UK: The Ultimate Cut: Uncut and BBFC 18 rated for strong real sex, sex references, nudity, sexual violence: 2024 Vertigo Releasing cinema release (rated 19/07/2024) titled Caligula: The Ultimate Cut

Uncut Version

Uncut Version run: 156:00s pal: 149:46s		UK: The Uncut Version was passed 18 uncut for strong violence, sexual violence and strong real sex with previous cuts waived for: 2012 Arrow Unlimited Edition R0 Blu-ray at UK Amazon 2010 Arrow R0 Blu-ray 2009 Arrow Uncut Edition R2 DVD 2008 Freemantlemedia/Arrow Imperial Edition [+alternative version +R Rated Version] R2 DVD at UK Amazon US : Uncut and MPAA Unrated for: 2008 Image Imperial Edition RA Blu-ray at US Amazon 2007 Image Imperial Edition R1 DVD at US Amazon From the BBFC: In 2008, the full uncut version of Caligula was resubmitted to the BBFC for DVD release. The passage of nearly 30 years had significantly diminished the film's impact and after careful consideration it was decided that it could now be classified '18' uncut. This decision accords with the BBFC Guidelines, which state that At '18', the BBFC's guideline concerns will not normally override the wish that adults should be free to chose their own entertainment, within the law. Although there are scenes in Caligula that some people will find shocking, offensive or disgusting, the film does not contain any material that is illegal in terms of current UK law and nor does it contain any material that is likely to give rise to harm for adults audiences, most of whom will be well aware of its controversial reputation. The DVD version was classified '18' uncut with the consumer advice Contains strong violence, sexual violence and strong real sex.
uncut	Australia	Australia: The uncut version was banned in July 2010 See article from refused-classification.com The Australian Censorship Board has a rich history of censorship of Caligula

Tinto Brass Alternative Version/Imperial Edition

Tinto Brass Alternative Version run: 152:57s pal: 146:50s

UK: The Alternative Version or Re-edited Version was passed 18 without BBFC cuts for: 2008 Freemantlemedia/Arrow Imperial Edition [+uncut version +R Rated Version] R2 DVD This version is perhaps is historically at the point where Bob Guccione edited together a version from the material directed by Tinto Brass but before he decided that it could be improved by adding hardcore footage. So orgy scenes etc are the original softcore as directed by Tinto Brass. See pictorial version details from movie-censorship.com

US R Rated Version

R Rated Version cut: 55:07s run: 102:37s pal: 98:31s

UK: The heavily pre-cut US R rated version was passed 18 without BBFC cuts for: 2008 Freemantlemedia/Arrow Imperial Edition [+uncut version +alternative version] R2 DVD 1998 Screen Multimedia VHS 1990 Electric VHS A couple of brief shots of genital detail and sight of nurses cradling babies and phallic shaped bottles were reinstated from the the previous cut release and were allowed to remain. Many of the cuts were not related to sex & violence but to shorten the running time and deal with continuity issues over sex and violent scenes that were cut. See details on IMDB

UK Theatrical Version

cut cut: 11m run: 149:34s pal: 143:35s

UK: Passed X after about 11 minutes of cuts for: 1982 Electric pre-cert VHS 1980 cinema release James Ferman commented in Photoplay: Even before it could be considered for a certificate some 8.5 minutes had to be cut to make it legal. There are scenes of perverted violence that I wouldn't have thought would ever have been seen in this country, in clubs or anywhere else. A lot of the sex was just straight sex, but more explicit than has ever been passed here. They took out another 3 or 4 minutes and replaced it with lesser material to make it acceptable for the X certificate. 11 minutes of cuts including: Views of Drusilla's vulva removed from several pints in the film Sights of babies sucking phallic-shaped bottles removed Much reduced scene of bootlace being tied around soldier's penis. Hardcore action inserted into orgy scenes taken out The sight of wine streaming out of soldier's bladder after being hacked with a sword removed. Torture shots deleted, a stake into a vagina and several bloodied genitals. Male blow job and masturbation deleted Priestess bathing loses hardcore cunnilingus and insertion Blood of recently ex virgin bride deleted as was greasing of the buttocks and suggestion of fisting for the similarly road tested bridegroom A Lesbian scene lost all hardcore and explicit images Death of Proculus lost a stabbing and the subsequent humiliation of being pissed on and castrated. The sight of Caligula torturing a mouse was deleted. A childbirth scene is missing an emerging head. Hardcore elements of prison scene deleted Hardcore elements of brothel scene deleted Explicit detail removed from scene of women with pearl adorned vulvas

The Diamond Sword is a 2016 Kazakhstan/Mongolia action drama by Rustem Abdrashev
Starring Kairat Kemalov, Yerkebulan Daiyrov and Doskhan Zholzhaksynov

Cut by the BBFC for animal cruelty for 15 rated Blu-ray in 2024.

Summary Notes

Diamond Sword is a large-scale historical drama of first Kazakh Khans, which BBC called "Kazakh Game Of Thrones". The action takes place in the XV century, and the plot demonstrates the key events in formation of Kazakh statehood under the leadership of Khans Zhanibek and Kerey.

Versions

cut: cut: run: 133m pal: 128m

UK: BBFC 15 rated for strong violence, injury detail for strong violence, injury detail after BBFC cuts: 2024 Matchbox Films (RB) Blu-ray (rated 17/07/2024) at UK Amazon #ad released on 23rd September 2024 The BBFC commented: This work required compulsory cuts. Cuts were required to scenes of animal cruelty, including a cock fight and horse falls.

The Golden Throne is a 2019 Kazakhstan action drama by Rustem Abdrashev, I. Kolyada, Prince Oak Oakleyski
Starring Kairat Kemalov, Yerkebulan Daiyrov and Doskhan Zholzhaksynov

Cut by the BBFC for animal cruelty for 15 rated Blu-ray in 2024.

Summary Notes

Fifteenth century. In the vast expanses of Eurasia for several centuries, the descendants of the great Genghis Khan have created their own and crushed the alien states. One of them is the legendary Abulkhair Shaibani, who usurped power in the White Horde. The two legitimate heirs...

Versions

cut cut: run: 111:21s pal: 106:54s

UK: BBFC 15 rated for strong violence, injury detail, threat for strong violence, injury detail, threat after BBFC cuts: 2024 Matchbox Films R2 DVD at UK Amazon #ad The BBFC commented: This work required compulsory cuts. Cuts were required to scenes of animal cruelty in which horses were caused to fall.

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 the 1970 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.

Thanks to Mike who adds:

The BBFC Protection of Children Act cut is to the rape scene which happens as part of the village massacre. Despite the BBFC watching that scene so many times over the years, mainly for the purpose of cutting the sexual violence, they failed to notice until 2024 that there was a child in view at the extreme right edge of the frame during the rape scene. The cut is to remove the 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. Any such cuts have long since being forgotten. The film was cut for a PG rating in 1974 but the R rated version reappeared for releases since 1976. The current uncut US R rated version is the 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 Studiocanal R0 4K Blu-ray at UK Amazon #ad 2024 Studiocanal R(B) Blu-ray at UK Amazon #ad 2024 Studiocanal R2 DVD at UK Amazon #ad The BBFC commented: Compulsory Cuts were required for illegal horse falls and potentially indecent images of a child. Thanks to Mike who comments: The BBFC Protection of Children Act cut is to the rape scene which happens as part of the village massacre. Despite the BBFC watching that scene so many times over the years, mainly for the purpose of cutting the sexual violence, they failed to notice until 2024 that there was a child in view at the extreme right edge of the frame during the rape scene. The cut is to remove the 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

The Spanish Chainsaw Massacre is a 2013 Spain horror by Manolito Motosierra.
Starring Hilario Blas, Pedro García Oliva and Óscar Gisbert.

Cut by the BBFC for 18 rated 2014 DVD release

Promotional Material

Las Pollas del Metal (The Metal Dicks), a heavy metal band, are on tour to promote their first album. On the road to Galicia, their van suffers a flat tyre and they have to stay overnight at the "Gutierrez's town", a small village located nowhere. Next day, the town is throwing a festival where its inhabitants celebrate the patron saint's day. The Mayor invites the artists to join the celebration and they accept, without knowing a brutal danger awaits them.

Versions

uncut run: 54m pal: 52m		US: Uncut and MPAA Unrated for: 2021 Wild Eye Raw R1 DVD at US Amazon #ad Note that this release nominally runs for 74m but this includes padding as kindly described by Mike: 0.00-03.52 is a promo reel for some of the label's other releases. 03.52 - 18:02 is a short film about a woman who has an unfortunate habit of chopping men's heads off while having sex with them. No idea what that is, no title is given. I thought at first it might have been the start of the main feature since a chainsaw appears at one point, but since everyone is speaking English rather than Spanish and the actors are American, it turned out not to be. 18:02 main film begins. The scene cut from the UK release appears right at the start, even before the credits. 66:05 main film appears to finish. The next few minutes are outtakes and one of the director's music videos, but then 2-3 minutes of footage appears which I could have sworn were part of the original film. I've watched an online version of the film where that section appears after the closing credits. 18:02 - 66:05 is 48 minutes and 3 seconds. If you add on the 2-3 minutes at the end and regard it as part of the main film, that makes it just over 51 minutes. The UK release was 51 minutes, I believe, and was only cut by 32 seconds, so it's quite likely this is 51-52 minutes and the full version. But as you can see, it's quite hard to tell because they've made a complete mess of the release. You can't even read the English subs properly as they frequently fall off the bottom of the screen.
compulsory cuts cut: 32s run: 53:29s pal: 51:21s		UK: Passed 18 for strong bloody violence, strong sex after 32s of BBFC compulsory cuts for: 2014 88 Films video The BBFC commented: Cut required to a sequence of sadistic and sexualised violence involving a child. The BBFC further commented in the Annual Report covering 2014: The Spanish Chainsaw Massacre is a Spanish film in which a heavy metal band find themselves in a village of cannibals after their van breaks down. The BBFC removed a sequence of sadistic and sexualised violence involving a child before passing the film 18. The film also includes scenes of characters being torn open and having their intestines pulled out, a penis being bitten and torn off, and a foetus being pulled from a woman's body. Thanks to Mike who adds: The US DVD contains the full version, and I can confirm that the cut is to a scene fairly early on in which a woman with breasts exposed is chased through woodland by a local and is then beaten repeatedly over the head with a rock while a girl (child) is watching a few feet away. Frankly the BBC made it sound much worse than it is. It's only sexualised in that the victim's shirt is open, and the sadism is due to the number of blows to the head. The gore effects are pretty poor anyway. Nothing sadistic is done to the child, and and nothing sexualised happens to her either. She just stands there watching. It's actually quite a notable BBFC decision in that they very rarely cut scenes in which a child actor is exposed to violence on the set. But that's what happened here.

Slumber Party Massacre II is a 1987 US comedy horror by Deborah Brock.
With Crystal Bernard, Jennifer Rhodes and Kimberly McArthur.

Banned by the BBFC in 1988 after an extensive cuts list was refused. The film remained unreleased until 2024 when it was 15 rated and uncut. In the US it exists in a Theatrical R rated version, and an Extended Version which is MPAA Unrated

Summary Review: Amusing Enough

More of a comic vein than its predecessor and now in a musical setting.

The weapon of choice is an electric guitar cum electric drill. The death scenes are very twisted with the killer playing guitar and singing as he kills his victims.

A favourite scene of mine involves death by acne. One of the central characters is actually engulfed by a rapid growing zit, until it pops all over the protagonist and she is presumed dead - that is until she walks through the front door about 10 minutes later.

The over-the-topness seems to be amusing enough. For bad movie fans, that is.

Versions

Extended Version run: 85m pal: 82m		US: An extended version is uncut and MPAA unrated for: 2023 SHOUT! FACTORY [Slumber Party Massacre I (Theatrical) + II (Theatrical + Unrated)] R0 4K Blu-ray/(RA) Blu-ray Combo at US Amazon #ad 2017 Shout! Factory Double Feature [Slumber Party Massacre II + III, both Theatrical + Extended] (RA) Blu-ray at US Amazon 2010 Shout Factory Slumber Party Massacre Collection [1-3] R1 DVD via UK Amazon and at US Amazon See pictorial version details from movie-censorship.com
Theatrical Version run: 75:51s pal: 72:49s		UK: The Theatrical Version is uncut and BBFC 15 rated for strong bloody violence, gore, threat, horror, nudity, sex references: 2024 101 Films Blu-ray (rated 05/07/2024) US: The Theatrical Version is uncut and MPAA R rated for: 2023 SHOUT! FACTORY [Slumber Party Massacre I (Theatrical) + II (Theatrical + Unrated)] R0 4K Blu-ray/(RA) Blu-ray Combo at US Amazon #ad 2017 Shout! Factory Double Feature [Slumber Party Massacre II + III, both Theatrical + Extended] (RA) Blu-ray at US Amazon 2010 Shout Factory Slumber Party Massacre Collection [1-3] R1 DVD via UK Amazon and at US Amazon 2002 New Concorde R1 DVD at US Amazon
banned run: 84m pal: 81m		UK: Presumably it was the Extended Version that was banned by the BBFC for: 1988 Lazer VHS From IMDB. The BBFC offered an extensive cuts list which was not acceptable to the distributor, and so the video was banned. The BBFC commented in the Annual Report covering 1988: Scenes of terrorising, blood-letting and gleeful infliction of pain underlined an unacceptable tone of sadism in a work purporting to be a satirical horror fantasy but developing a pervasive undercurrent of mutilation as fun. Shown on the Horror Channel in 2006

Reality Killers is a 2005 Italy Horror Film by Alessandro Capone

Banned by the BBFC for 2024 video.

Versions

banned run: 75m pal: 72m

UK: Banned by BBFC 2024 Treasured Films video (rated 01/07/24) The BBFC commented: Reality Killers is a horror film in which a man obsessed with violent snuff videos, featuring people being abused, tortured and killed, goes on to commit his own similar crimes. Reality Killers consists of a series of short vignettes in which people, including women and children, are killed. In some cases, acts of sadistic violence follow or involve sexual behaviour and nudity. The protagonist acts as a narrator, relishing in the violence and endorsing the actions of the killers. Women, in particular, are portrayed as either sexual objects to be abused or as predatory killers themselves. Potentially harmful attitudes, such as the suggestion that victims and perpetrators enjoy violence, and that women are presented primarily as sex objects or predatory killers, are not clearly challenged, nor is there a narrative counterbalance to the sustained focus on sadism. As a last resort, the BBFC may find content unsuitable for classification, in line with the objective of preventing non-trivial harm risks to potential viewers and, through their behaviour, to society. In our Classification Guidelines we state that this may occur where a central concept is unacceptable, such as a sustained focus on rape, other non-consensual sexually violent behaviour or sadistic violence. The guidelines also state that we consider whether the availability of the material to the age group concerned would run contrary to broad public opinion. The BBFC considered whether the film's issues could be adequately addressed through intervention such as cuts. As Reality Killers consists almost entirely of scenes of sadistic violence and abuse, we determined that cuts would not effectively address these issues. The film, when taken as a whole, transgresses BBFC Classification Guidelines and policy, and we believe that its classification even at 18 would run contrary to broad public opinion. The BBFC therefore found Reality Killers to be unsuitable for classification.