Criticism of Film Censor misdirected

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34131, 19 April 1976, Page 7

Criticism of Film Censor misdirected

(From our Wellington reporter)

WELLINGTON. Criticism of the Film Censor for not publishing the length and portions of film cuts during censorship is misdirected : the censor has the authority only to give this information to the organisation submitting the film for registration. A register of films kept by the censor’s office is open to public scrutiny, for the payment of 25c for 15 minutes, but the register indicates only that a film has been cut — not the details of cutting. There can be as many as 25 films a day entered in the egister. Giving each film’s application number, name, applicant, maker, number of copies, length, derivation, and certificate and registration number. The register also includes any remarks jy the censor and any limiations on screening. An “X”, usually in red or orange pencil, denotes that a film has been cut. A considerable number are cut: for example of the eight films entered on April 12, four were cut. The censor's office will

also give both the submitted length and certified length of a film, which also indicates that it has been cut. However, comparisons of length can be misleading as the film submitted to the censor may not be exactly the same film that was shown overseas, and because a film is shorter when shown in New Zealand does not necessarily mean it has been cut. The censor is often blamed by people who maintain that New Zealand has not been able to see a full film when it is not necessarily his fault. In the recent case of a Danish sex film two copies were submitted, one of 6000 ft and the other of 3000 ft. The 6000 ft film was not approved but the 3000 ft one was approved uncut, and the censor was accused of cutting the 6000 ft film in half.

A correspondent of “The Press”, Mr J. D. Threlfall, has written suggesting the newspaper publish details of the register weekly. He considered this would inform Canterbury filmgoers how much was missing from locally-shown films. In fact, publishing details )of the register would not i show- how much was missiing from the films.