Violence is an issue at all levels of classification, and leads to much debate. The BBFC was criticised for making cuts of Fight Club, despite the film had been classified 18. The revised guidelines published recently indicate that such cutting of an 18 should not happen. Criminal techniques cannot be too detailed or demonstrative because the BBFC believe scenes of this nature contravene the Criminal Justice & Public Order Amendment to the Video Recording Act 1994. Thus scenes depicting use of slim-jims and hot-wiring are cut. Scenes using exotic weapons, such as a butterfly knife seen in John Woo’s Face/Off, have often been cut accused of glamorising and encouraging imitation. This area was revised in 1999 and led to the release of Bruce Lee’s Enter the Dragon passing uncut for the first time.
The Cinematograph Films (Animals) Act 1937 prohibits exhibition or supply of a film if animals are harmed in the film making process by the cruel infliction of pain or the goading to terror to fury of any animal. Films affected and cut include Werner Herzog’s Even Dwarfs Started Small and The Long Riders. Only one film has ever been banned purely because it was deemed blasphemous (offensive to Christianity), that is Nigel Wingrove’s Visions of Ecstasy. Other religions are not so protected by British law. The first ever break in the broadcasting code came about in 1938 with Gone With The Wind’s line, “Frankly my dear, I don’t give a damn”. Swearing and cursing on film and television has greatly escalated over the past decade but does result in higher classification certificates being handed out. Sex is no longer a shy subject in has reached a high level of graphic sexual content. In fact sex sells films, the coyness of viewers has dissipated and there is no longer the embarrassment or stigma attached to films with saucy scenes. The amount of explicitly varies within categories but also the industry keeps in line with wishes of actors and shops; high profile actors will not have their reputations tarnished by going over the top with more flesh than they are comfortable being shown. Shops won’t sell or stock material they believe too graphic for the same reason- their reputation with their consumers. Pornography is of no discussion in this context as it is not film although it too needs BBFC classification by law.
Although there are strict regulations about what content can and cannot be included in specific certificates Jurassic Park tested the limits of the PG certificate. The distributor, who did not want a 12 certificate for a film attractive to younger children, was powerfully persuasive so an extra warning was issued on release similar to Lord of the Rings but it remained PG. Every film must have a BBFC certificate and it is illegal for someone below the age to be supplied or allowed to view the film of a higher certificate. Extremely high fines (up to £5000) and up to 3 years in gaol are the penalties for breaking this law.
Censorship is there to protect the general public, especially young children who cannot make firm distinctions between fiction and reality. Music is censored so as not to encourage children to swear, be violent or abusive in any form. This is so in film, the brain is very sensitive to imagery especially in early stages of growth and film companies don’t want to be blamed for damaging someone’s psychological growth. For example the role playing game Dungeons and Dragons as well as Marilyn Manson’s music has been blamed by murderers for encouraging adverse behaviour. Censorship is very relaxed today as society becomes more, but it is the safety net that stops the F-word before 9pm, the would-be criminals from learning how to steal cars, the 7 year old from seeing full on intercourse etc. There are debates who say it is pointless, but in the end a line must be drawn, the film industry cannot be anarchy.
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Metro Newsppaper, 19 Feb 02, Wendy Vukosa, The Swearbox Article