There is a lot more history about this one sheet than probably some people think. I would be curious for a detailed run down on this poster and what has taken place here. My question is why was it used in New Zealand in the first place? I have what I believe to be the reason why but am keen to hear what other people think before I comment.
This is an extreme case of censorship in New Zealand that didn't happen often to this extent but has clear explanation to explain as to why it happened.
Very quiet regarding this poster so I may as well have my say about it.
The majority of Australian film distributors around the time this film was released had branches in New Zealand and their product was released in both countries using the same poster designs that were printed in Australia for both countries with the New Zealand printed material on a whole having the Australian censorship ratings left off to allow for the N.Z. rating to be applied.
The exceptions were for Allied Artists and British Lion whose product was released in New Zealand through the Robert James Kerridge group who controlled the Kerridge Odeon Cinema chain as well as International Film Distributors and Lion Film Distributors.
Regarding the Allied Artists product, apart from sighting one Australian printed Paramount daybill King Of The Roaring 20's with the New Zealand Y censorship rating on it Allied Artists product had their own daybills printed most likely in N.Z. for International Film Distributors. Titles I have seen are The George Raft Story, Taffy and The Jungle Hunter ( released in Australia by Blake Films ), Operation Eichmann!, The Big Circus ( if you would like to revisit my earlier thread ''Certain Designs Of Different Daybills Could Have Been Different'' you will see the Australian and N.Z. daybill designs & Riot In Cell Block 11. I have never sighted a N.Z. one sheet printed for International Film Distributors which would lead me to believe they used imported U.S. and possibly U.K. one sheets for distribution in New Zealand.
By using Australian designed daybills and one sheets in the majority of New Zealand releases major problems in censorship didn't appear to occur to the extent of the case of using the U.S. one sheet of House On Haunted Hill where three images were censored.
Appreciate your thoughts Lawrence. Interestingly, if my recollection is correct, the seller also had a US three sheet for HOHH censored in much the same way
The original U.S. insert and the much toned down Australian daybill artwork with the original U. K. title appearing on it. Appears the Australian censors around this time objected to strangling scenes appearing on posters as I have another example of a strangling scene being dropped which is still to come plus a lot more.
It appears to me on the bottom of the Australian daybill which is the same scene that appears on the U,S, title lobby card that the killer is inserting the knife into the woman victim's back.
Strait-Jacket ( 1965 ) Isn't censorship odd. The Australian censor in 1965 graciously allows an axe wielding image on our posters but the New Zealand censors take offence and proceed to ruin the poster. Axes allowed in Australia in 1965 but knives being used were not and still detested and not allowed up into the 1970s.
Top is U.S. one sheet of 13 Ghosts featuring 13 ghost images.
The above Australian daybill has only 9 ghost images. The four images in black and white that appear between the two posters were apparently rejected by the Australian censor so were left off the Australian daybill explaining why there are only 9 ghosts.
Fanatic ( 1965 ) ( aka Die! Die! My Darling! in the U.S.A. ) Originally banned in Australia in 1965 on horror & blasphemy grounds the film was passed ,for exhibition on the 1st of June, 1972. The original U.K. and U.S. posters showing threatening scissors in a hand. There apparently was a dislike to the scissors being used in a threatening manner in Australia even in 1972 hence the lame Australian one sheet poster that was produced.
Comments
Yes & one of their better efforts.
13 Ghosts ( 1960 )
Top is U.S. one sheet of 13 Ghosts featuring 13 ghost images.
The above Australian daybill has only 9 ghost images. The four images in black and white that appear between the two posters were apparently rejected by the Australian censor so were left off the Australian daybill explaining why there are only 9 ghosts.
I am sure it kept a whole bunch of people gainfully employed!
The Australian censor seemed to dislike knives, strangling and other methods used for killing. Many more examples to come.
The Maniac ( 1963 ). The U.S. poster is a great advertisement for a horror film and the Australian artwork is a poor version of a horror film poster.
BTW the main image for the daybill is from the 1/2 sheet:
"Don't cross the path of the Psychopath...unless you're looking for a man who likes his dolly!"
At least in Australia we only deleted the knife and the hanging image (bottom left)!
That actually made me laugh...good one
but oddly with an extra face in the top corner!