X Rating - Any Idea?
( x ) Passed by the Censor as not suitable for general exhibition. Films not so marked approved for general exhibition. Hard to the read above and so not to confuse anyone the above extract from an Australian newspaper appears at the bottom of two theatre advertisements and the two run together.
An X rating used in an Australian newspaper advertisement for some films from many many decades ago. Does anyone know when this happened?''.
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Tomb Of Ligeia has an X and an M certificate daybill printed for this title. Most likely the X was a mistake then reprinted with the M appearing.
The image of Black Alleycats I just looked at has an R rating appearing on it. Maybe the same thing happened here. Would you mind posting an image of the version with the X appearing on it.
Now to clarify something. The X example newspaper advertisement I posted above is from the 1940s.
Can't locate the X and R daybill title you refer to above on the thread.
Hadn't noticed that. Probably the X was just copied from overseas material.
I am only talking about newspaper advertisements with the X censorship classifications appearing on them.
This is one of those Australian mysteries.
The facts ---
The film The Black Alleycats ( 1973 in U.S.A. ) was passed for 35mm public exhibition in Australia in January, 1980 with a R rating. Blake Films was the applicant.
A daybill was printed with a red background showing an R rating and Blake Films as the distributor so obviously it was printed for the early 1980's first Australian cinema release.
In August, 1985 Blake Films submitted the film for videotape exhibition but it was banned by the Australian censor. It was possibly resubmitted in preparation for release on Palace Explosive Video, as Blake films were one of the distributors behind the label.
Later that year in December, 1984 an X Extra - Restricted ( 18 years and over ) rating was introduced for video releases only. The X rating for videotape releases I believe was short lived and dropped some time later.
Now where does the green background daybill fit Into the picture?. The original release red daybill with R - A Blake Film appearing on it has been replaced on the green background daybill by Rated X.
Rick obtained the green daybill from a cinema related person and it has a date written on the top of the poster.
You have the facts so you can make up own your mind regarding the why and when the green daybill was printed.
The above full advertisement at the top appeared in the Monday the 3rd of November, 1941 edition of the Shepparton Advertiser newspaper in Victoria Australian.
It appears in the form of a film classification guide used in Shepparton by the local newspaper. I am wondering what classification code was used for a Suitable Only For Adults film from that time such as Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde?
I have the red version (still hunting a green one), but looking at the green one I think it would have to be early 80s as well. A daybill from the mid 80s would be a glossier and potentially smaller size, wouldn't it?
Also, any video release daybill I've seen has at least some mention of the video company even if it's small. Eg. Blood Diner or Jaws 4.
The Refused Classification site suggests that the film was never passed for VHS release:
Banned on video
In August 1985, the same distributor had the 80m version banned because of 'gratuitous sexual violence'.
It was possible that it was resubmitted in preparation for release on Palace Explosive Video, as Blake Films were one of the distributors behind the label.
http://www.refused-classification.com/censorship/films/b-2.html#black-alley-cats
!971 is out of contention for an Australian cinema release. The film was only released in the USA in September, 1973 and only passed for public theatrical 35mm exhibition in Australia in January, 1980.
How does this sound?
As previously mentioned by me the red daybill was printed for the first Australian theatrical release in the early 1980s by the applicant Blake Films. There appears to have been a re-release in the USA. Is it possible the green daybill was printed in Australia for a theatrical re-release after the film was banned for videotape release? The green daybill was copied from U.S. paper as it appears on the press sheet. The company, if a re-release did occur, may or may not have been Blake Films. It is also possible the green daybill was an early 2nd printing from the first release. If Rick can advise the size of the green X poster it would be most appreciated?