Why was Alien given an 18?
How much screaming is too much in a Doctor Who movie?
We take a look back through the BBFC’s archives.
In 1998, she provided a window into an average day at the office.
After the porn came an hour ofTeletubbies passed for a home video release with a U certificate.
This was swiftly followed by an episode ofThe Simpsons.
Its been a run of the mill day, Ros wrote.
The examiners notes praise the films technical achievements in florid style, but also wrestles with ratingAlienshould be given.
Alater documentexplains why the BBFC plumped for an X: too many pulsating orifices.
Heres a brieftaste:
Page 30 Man burning.
Page 52 Creatures throat slashed open by whip.
Page 97 Blood pours from mans arm.
Page 98 Blood gush from severed head.
Page 118 shots of the naked Andromeda as she is about to be sacrificed…
The movies suggestive dialogue often gave the BBFC a headache, however, as adocumentabout 1969sCarry On Campingproves.
Reel 7 Remove all the dialogue relating to phallic symbols.
Delete the line, Erection is fairly simple; its getting it to stay up.
Get hold of them with both hands.
Even in 1987, theCarry Onteams antics were still being scrutinised by the BBFC.
Ill take the easy way out and pass it PG.
Ultimately, BBFC director James Ferman stepped in and gave the film an 18 rating.
I cant understand why, but must respect that we have to conform with this.
On these grounds I would have thought that the whole series of shots would have to go.
Passed 18 without further cuts.
…as I have said, there are too many screams.
Swearing, nudity and violence are a common bone of contention among BBFC examiners, but what about screaming?
Simply put, Trevelyan objected to the jump-scares.
Barbara wakes Ian he wakes in a scream, one entry reads.
Someone get this examiner an Aspirin.
Absolutely not PG…
You might have thought that a breezy dance movie likeFootloosewould pirouette through the classification process.
If either had moved, it would have been the ultimate in doing the splits.
Yes, this single moment almost led toFootloosebeing given an 18 rating.
I hope we dont have to butcher a film that I rather enjoyed…
The year 1984 proved to be something of a flashpoint when it came to film classification.
Are we supposed to condone children laughing at this?
Gremlinswas ultimately released uncut with a 15 rating, though a later release saw it reduced to a 12A.
Obviously a must-see film for families and children… An uncut home release of Terminator 2 didnt appear until 2001 an entire decade after the movies cinema debut.
It is not a pretty sight.
Does the material corrupt?
