Screening of films classified by the Australian film censor as being Suitable Only For Adults on the same programme with For General Exhibition classified films were it would appear to have been always allowed to take place in Australian cinemas.
The above early 1960s programming advertisement is an interesting example. There is a Saturday matinee screening, which was previously in the 1950s at least a children's programmed content matinee session.
I don't have any examples at hand but I have previously seen advertisements placed in the 1940s of Australian cinemas screening children's G rated films on the same programme wIth Suitable Only For Adults rated horror films.
Why was this allowed to take place on has to wonder? Another part of the hard to understand thinking of Australian censorship heads,
Following on from my previous posting. Early 1950s Sydney placed newspaper advertisement advertising screenings of The Maze. The film is rated Strictly For Adults Only! Children Under 16 years of age will not be admitted. A rare example of pre November 1971 censorship restrictions applying, until when the R18+ classification was introduced.
The supporting western film Pistol Harvest is rated For General Exhibition and primarily was aimed for the children's market. In this case though children under 16 are not allowed to be admitted, denying them the opportunity of seeing this Tim Holt western.
The Devils ( 1971 ) Australian film classification of R was a one off rating that came with extra compulsory to be advertised warning information to be applied on all poster and advertising material including theatrical trailers. The details follow below.
The above extra details were printed on the Australian daybill. Usually only the letter R was added to Australia advertising at that period of time..
( Trove )
International foreign one sheet used in Australia, and the Australian printed daybill.
SOME DIFFERENT AUSTRALIAN FILM CENSORSHIP RATINGS APPLIED IN THE 1950'S AND 1960'S.
PART ONE IS STRICTLY FOR ADULTS ONLY. At least between 1952 and 1962 in Australia a Strictly For Adults Only Commonwealth film censorship additional adult classification was in place, and was allocated to a very limited number of films that were screened here.
This rating was an additional stronger one than that the Suitable Only For Adults rating that had been in place in Australia since the 1930s.
In 1952 and 1953 there were three French language films that I am aware of that that were released by small independent film distributors of foreign language films that were allocated this new rating. These titles being La Ronde, The Seven Deadly Sins and Clochemerle .There were also two Swedish language films as well which are One Summer Of Happiness and Miss Julie
No daybill poster images found. It is possible that no daybills were ever printed for these titles?
Was La Ronde the reason why the new classification was introduced in Australia , one has to wonder.
A second question is why was the rating apparently discontinued being applied circa 1963?
The first major studio English language films that I have located that were released here in 1953 and 1954 that had this new classification were Moulin Rouge, The Moon Is Blue, The Maze and House Of Wax. The slightly different form of advertising this classification appears on the Australian isolated daybill sections that follow below. These four films had the extra information that the films were to be screened to only 16 years and over patrons, and those under this age were not to be admitted. A nightmare to try and enforce this ruling one would have to think.
The enforcing of this classification is doubtful to have taken place to any great extent.
The following advertisement sounds like certain aged children would be admitted if they paid the full adult price.
For the remaining known films they later on just used Strictly Only For Adults advertising in the circle form as it appears below
.
The known to me twelve films that were released here between 1953 and 1962 that were classified with this Strictly For Adults Only classification and had daybills printed for them appear below,
A newspaper advertisement appearing below that was placed for The Maze, with the classification prominently displayed.
There is also a very different application of the censorship rating that appears on the following BEF released Room At The Top ( 1959 ) Australian one sheet printed by W.E.Smith. The Strictly For wording isn't included on this poster before the Adults Only children under 16 not admitted wording. The children under 16 not admitted wording only appeared on the very early posters printed for this rating that have been found to date. This one sheet poster from BEF is the only film to advertise the classification in this form that has been located.
To complicate things a little though, interestingly the following Australian daybill printed this time by a different printer Robert Burton, had the standard Suitable Only For Adults classification printed on it.
The Academy Award additional information added to the daybill poster that not printed on the one sheet. had me wondering if there was also an earlier W.E.Smith daybill printed before the awards were announced as well.
Looking into it, it turns out that this would have had been the case. The W.E.Smith one sheet was printed for the Australian release in Australian in August 1959. As the 32nd Academy awards results weren't announced until the following year on April 14, 1960 another daybill, most likely printed by BEF, would have had to have been printed.
All newspaper advertisements used in this thread courtesy of Trove.
Finally, if anyone has any posters, or knows about any other film or films that have this classification in whatever form, that I may not yet have come across, could you please let us know.
One additional film to mention is the French language film French Cancan ( 1954 ). This film was released in Australia in 1956 after being allocated the Strictly For Adults Only rating.
I have spent a large amount of time and effort on this project. Before I contemplate attempting other rare Australian censorship ratings, as my previous entries on this thread usually received very little feedback, I would like to hear from members if they are interested in this sort of information or not.
Another of the earliest films to have received the Strictly For Adults Only classification was the French film Manon from 1949. The film was released in Australia in February 1953.
A very big thank you for the four people who have indicated interest for me continuing with further details regarding other different film classifications applied to Australian films in the 1950s and the 1960s.
As I feel that the lesser that hoped for number of members that have responded and shown interest in this subject falls short of the support I was hoping for. it is unlikely that at this point of time that I will continue on with including any other classification information here regarding this subject.
Again a big thank you to the four members who did take the time to show interest and support. It is disappointing though that there weren't any other responses received.
I have been flat out with work for the past, hmmm month...but the last week have been doing crazy hours. I just spent some time checking, and while I have plenty that are suitable for and not suitable for, I dont have anything "strictly" not listed already.
Other than the art work on aussie paper, these weird classifications and or stamps on posters related to censorship would have to be of the most interest to me.
Five members have now indicated interest in learning about more rare Australian film classifications, so I will now continue with this subject and include the above special ratings information here in the future.
Caligula ( 1979 ) was banned in Australia in 1980. A censored version was later registered in 1981 subject to the special condition that all advertising indicate that the film was a modified version.
To the best of my knowledge this was the only film released in Australia where this stipulation was ever applied to.
Caligula ( 1979 ) was banned in Australia in 1980. A censored version was later registered in 1981 subject to the special condition that all advertising indicate that the film was a modified version.
To the best of my knowledge this was the only film released in Australia where this stipulation was ever applied to.
Interesting...I dont recall seeing another example. The closest I can recall is the rated M version of Saturday Night Fever...we got the R rated version and then the M rated.
Before I move on to the announced forthcoming For General Exhibitin Not Suitable For Children Under 14 classification, here is another expanded Suitable Only For Adults classification to be included here. Previously included here on this thread in September 2017.
This rare Censorship Warning - Stark Drama - Suitable Only For Adults rating appears to have been a one off special rating applied to Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde ( 1941 ).
To refresh one's memory there was a special Censorship certificate applied to some 1930's Suitable Only For Adults classified horror films. regarding nervous audiences.
All the details can be located by searching back through earlier postings here on this thread.
Caligula ( 1979 ) was banned in Australia in 1980. A censored version was later registered in 1981 subject to the special condition that all advertising indicate that the film was a modified version.
To the best of my knowledge this was the only film released in Australia where this stipulation was ever applied to.
Interesting...I dont recall seeing another example. The closest I can recall is the rated M version of Saturday Night Fever...we got the R rated version and then the M rated.
This one was the other way around. Originally released with a censored running time of 111 minutes, a complete uncut version running 112m 49 s ( also mentioned as being 113m ) was in 1973 then passed by the Australian film censor.
Before I move on to the announced forthcoming For General Exhibitin Not Suitable For Children Under 14 classification, here is another expanded Suitable Only For Adults classification to be included here. Previously included here on this thread in September 2017.
This rare Censorship Warning - Stark Drama - Suitable Only For Adults rating appears to have been a one off special rating applied to Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde ( 1941 ).
A rare FOR GENERAL EXHIBITION NOT SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN UNDER 14 Australian film classisfcation that was allocated, to the best of my knowledge. to only one film. The film in question being Spartacus (1960 ) which was also released in Australia in 1960.
A duotone daybill CIC poster printed for the Australian 1970 re-release .
Another CIC post November 1971 printed duotone daybill with only a G in a triangle censorship rating printed on the poster. It would appear to be a follow up printing for the 1970 re-release..
If anyone else is aware of any other examples of the above discussed For General Exhibition Not Suitable For Children Under 14 classification being applied to any other Australian films please let us know.
Comments
Both the above subjects are in the pipeline.
Screening of films classified by the Australian film censor as being Suitable Only For Adults on the same programme with For General Exhibition classified films were it would appear to have been always allowed to take place in Australian cinemas.
The above early 1960s programming advertisement is an interesting example. There is a Saturday matinee screening, which was previously in the 1950s at least a children's programmed content matinee session.
I don't have any examples at hand but I have previously seen advertisements placed in the 1940s of Australian cinemas screening children's G rated films on the same programme wIth Suitable Only For Adults rated horror films.
Why was this allowed to take place on has to wonder? Another part of the hard to understand thinking of Australian censorship heads,
Following on from my previous posting. Early 1950s Sydney placed newspaper advertisement advertising screenings of The Maze. The film is rated Strictly For Adults Only! Children Under 16 years of age will not be admitted. A rare example of pre November 1971 censorship restrictions applying, until when the R18+ classification was introduced.
The supporting western film Pistol Harvest is rated For General Exhibition and primarily was aimed for the children's market. In this case though children under 16 are not allowed to be admitted, denying them the opportunity of seeing this Tim Holt western.
The Devils ( 1971 ) Australian film classification of R was a one off rating that came with extra compulsory to be advertised warning information to be applied on all poster and advertising material including theatrical trailers. The details follow below.
The above extra details were printed on the Australian daybill. Usually only the letter R was added to Australia advertising at that period of time..
International foreign one sheet used in Australia, and the Australian printed daybill.
In New Zealand a slick with different warning wording printed on it attached to the daybill.
PART ONE IS STRICTLY FOR ADULTS ONLY.
At least between 1952 and 1962 in Australia a Strictly For Adults Only Commonwealth film censorship additional adult classification was in place, and was allocated to a very limited number of films that were screened here.
This rating was an additional stronger one than that the Suitable Only For Adults rating that had been in place in Australia since the 1930s.
In 1952 and 1953 there were three French language films that I am aware of that that were released by small independent film distributors of foreign language films that were allocated this new rating. These titles being La Ronde, The Seven Deadly Sins and Clochemerle .There were also two Swedish language films as well which are One Summer Of Happiness and Miss Julie
No daybill poster images found. It is possible that no daybills were ever printed for these titles?
Was La Ronde the reason why the new classification was introduced in Australia , one has to wonder.
A second question is why was the rating apparently discontinued being applied circa 1963?
The first major studio English language films that I have located that were released here in 1953 and 1954 that had this new classification were Moulin Rouge, The Moon Is Blue, The Maze and House Of Wax. The slightly different form of advertising this classification appears on the Australian isolated daybill sections that follow below. These four films had the extra information that the films were to be screened to only 16 years and over patrons, and those under this age were not to be admitted. A nightmare to try and enforce this ruling one would have to think.
The enforcing of this classification is doubtful to have taken place to any great extent.
The following advertisement sounds like certain aged children would be admitted if they paid the full adult price.
For the remaining known films they later on just used Strictly Only For Adults advertising in the circle form as it appears below
.
The known to me twelve films that were released here between 1953 and 1962 that were classified with this Strictly For Adults Only classification and had daybills printed for them appear below,
A newspaper advertisement appearing below that was placed for The Maze, with the classification prominently displayed.
There is also a very different application of the censorship rating that appears on the following BEF released Room At The Top ( 1959 ) Australian one sheet printed by W.E.Smith. The Strictly For wording isn't included on this poster before the Adults Only children under 16 not admitted wording. The children under 16 not admitted wording only appeared on the very early posters printed for this rating that have been found to date. This one sheet poster from BEF is the only film to advertise the classification in this form that has been located.
To complicate things a little though, interestingly the following Australian daybill printed this time by a different printer Robert Burton, had the standard Suitable Only For Adults classification printed on it.
The Academy Award additional information added to the daybill poster that not printed on the one sheet. had me wondering if there was also an earlier W.E.Smith daybill printed before the awards were announced as well.
Looking into it, it turns out that this would have had been the case. The W.E.Smith one sheet was printed for the Australian release in Australian in August 1959. As the 32nd Academy awards results weren't announced until the following year on April 14, 1960 another daybill, most likely printed by BEF, would have had to have been printed.
All newspaper advertisements used in this thread courtesy of Trove.
Finally, if anyone has any posters, or knows about any other film or films that have this classification in whatever form, that I may not yet have come across, could you please let us know.
One additional film to mention is the French language film French Cancan ( 1954 ). This film was released in Australia in 1956 after being allocated the Strictly For Adults Only rating.
I have spent a large amount of time and effort on this project. Before I contemplate attempting other rare Australian censorship ratings, as my previous entries on this thread usually received very little feedback, I would like to hear from members if they are interested in this sort of information or not.
Please let me let me know, one way or the other.
Peter
Another of the earliest films to have received the Strictly For Adults Only classification was the French film Manon from 1949. The film was released in Australia in February 1953.
As I feel that the lesser that hoped for number of members that have responded and shown interest in this subject falls short of the support I was hoping for. it is unlikely that at this point of time that I will continue on with including any other classification information here regarding this subject.
Again a big thank you to the four members who did take the time to show interest and support. It is disappointing though that there weren't any other responses received.
I just spent some time checking, and while I have plenty that are suitable for and not suitable for, I dont have anything "strictly" not listed already.
Other than the art work on aussie paper, these weird classifications and or stamps on posters related to censorship would have to be of the most interest to me.
So I am definately keen on hearing/reading more!
Five members have now indicated interest in learning about more rare Australian film classifications, so I will now continue with this subject and include the above special ratings information here in the future.
Peter
To the best of my knowledge this was the only film released in Australia where this stipulation was ever applied to.
Interesting...I dont recall seeing another example. The closest I can recall is the rated M version of Saturday Night Fever...we got the R rated version and then the M rated.
This rare Censorship Warning - Stark Drama - Suitable Only For Adults rating appears to have been a one off special rating applied to Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde ( 1941 ).
To refresh one's memory there was a special Censorship certificate applied to some 1930's Suitable Only For Adults classified horror films. regarding nervous audiences.
All the details can be located by searching back through earlier postings here on this thread.
Same on the DB...I need me that OS now
A rare FOR GENERAL EXHIBITION NOT SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN UNDER 14 Australian film classisfcation that was allocated, to the best of my knowledge. to only one film.
The film in question being Spartacus (1960 ) which was also released in Australia in 1960.
A duotone daybill CIC poster printed for the Australian 1970 re-release .
Another CIC post November 1971 printed duotone daybill with only a G in a triangle