Banned films

Contents

Overview

For nearly the entire history of film and movie production, certain films have been either boycotted by political and religious groups or literally banned by a regime for political or moral reasons. Paradoxically, banning a movie often completely fails to achieve its intention of preventing a movie from being seen—the publicity given worldwide to banned movies often results in it being given attention it might not otherwise receive.

With the advent of the Internet, the ability of groups or governments to ban a film is hindered. High-speed Internet access and better file compression give more people access to digital copies of movies that might not be available for viewing in theaters. Obvious problems with using the Internet as a distribution system include the inability for a producer to profit from his or her film. Recently, Michael Moore stirred up controversy by encouraging people who were curious about but didn't want to financially support his film, Fahrenheit 9/11, to download it and watch it on their computers.

Banning versus censoring

Many governments have commissions to censor and/or rate productions for film and television exhibition. For example, the United States has MPAA Ratings to protect children from questionable content. (Though it's worth noting that the MPAA system is purely voluntary, for both movie makers and theaters. However, almost all theaters in the U.S. use the MPAA system, and many will refuse to show films which are unrated.) From 1930 to 1968, most films produced in the United States were subject to the Motion Picture Production Code. Independent film distributors that tried to get around the code often ran into trouble with state or local censorships boards. From a government standpoint, the censoring of films is more effective than banning, because it limits the scope of potentially dangerous or subversive cinema without overtly limiting freedom of speech.

Timeline

Australia

Historically, possibly the country with the most banned films. The Queensland Film Office, for example, has banned at least 174 films since 1974. Australia's OFLC (Office of Film and Literature Classification, can be blamed for much of the censorship, however each state and territory is free to make additional legislation. See also Censorship In Australia.

In recent years, only films claimed to glorify rape and paedophilia are banned, and in practice even these get a short cinematic run before the legality kicks in. Of course, broadband Internet access allows people who want to watch such films to do so.

  • 1911 exhibition of The Kelly Gang film banned in Adelaide.
  • 1971: Customs Minister Don Chip begins the development of a new classification system, which includes the much-needed R rating for adult content. Movies that were once banned are gradually released. The X rating is later introduced to cope with the upsurge in hardcore pornographic films.
  • 1984 (?): A governmental conference is held, resulting in the later abolition of X rated material in most Australian states. Ownership of hardcore porn remains legal.
  • 1992 The previously banned 1981 Chinese gore film Dr. Lamb is released with 11 minutes cut; its poster is banned.
  • 1993 Australian ban on Pasolini's Salò is lifted.
  • 1996 Pasolini's Salò again banned in Australia

Other films reportedly banned in Australia, but of unclear date:

Canada

China

  • 1960: Ben-Hur, for containing "propaganda of superstitious beliefs, namely Christianity."

Germany

Ireland

Kuwait

Malaysia

  • 2004: The Passion of the Christ - however, the ban was later lifted to only allow "Christians" to watch the movie. No checks were done at screenings but tickets were sold through churches.

The majority of films passed legal in Malaysia are extensively, heavily cut, thereby nearly are as good as being banned (note: no kissing is to be seen in films shown there). The films that are "officially" banned include:

United Kingdom

See also

External links

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