Censorship, the practice of regulating what can and can’t be shown. Many shows, movies and such go through censorship. The usual result is some scenes and shots are cut out of the final product. The practice of censorship is almost as old as the art of motion pictures itself. Films are usually censored for content considered to obscene for audiences. Films weren’t regulated until the 30s after someone realized that moving pictures can be used to show images that are not suitable for all ages. Before then, films showed sex, violence, crime, nudity, and had dark themes. Other than lack of color and film formats, the films in those times were almost identical to films today.

The first form of censorship started in 1907. This form was introduced in Chicago because of some social reformers. The reformers were concerned about the content of films being viewed by children who are not accompanied by a parent or guardian. In 1909, the film industry funded a board of censorship for New York, its home state at the time. Other states in the U.S. adopted its own form of censorship. Eventually, the result was the first national regulatory body, the National Association of the Motion Picture Industry which was formed in 1916. This body of regulations has proven to be a failure.

In 1921, Will Hays formed the Motion Picture Producers, and Distributors of America, which also was a failure in film regulations. Hays’ purpose with the MPPDA was to reform the film industry. In 1930, The Motion Picture Production Code was initiated. It was also known as the Hays Code. The Hays Code was an attempt at controlling what was shown on screen. The Hays Code forbade the showing of violence in a way as to glorify it or inspire imitation. Adultery couldn’t be shown in a way that made it attractive. Seduction and Rape was not allowed to be explicitly shown. Sexual Immorality was not even allowed to be shown unless there were consequences shown for such Immorality. Religion was not to be ridiculed. The Hays Code had an exhaustive list of rules and regulations in the film industry.

The period of 1930-1934 became known as the pre-code era in American film. Films pushed the boundaries on permissible material. The Hays Code was ridiculed for its lack of effectiveness. In 1933, Catholics have crusaded against the film industry (now in Hollywood). They have formed the Catholic Legion of Decency and began placing films on their banned list. In 1934, a tougher and stricter code was enforced called The Production Code.

The Production Code was run by Joseph Breen. Under the production code, many pre-code films like Babyface were given a Class I categorization. Class I films were removed from theatres and were not to be released again.

Under this new period of Hollywood regulation, some characters have lost appeal due to being sanitized and tamed. There were still some controversial films but they were banned in places.

As a result of growing interest in more aggressive and explicit content, the Production Code was removed and replaced by the Motion Picture Association of America (a.k.a. MPAA) This system classified films from G to X. X at the rime meant that a film is not suitable for children under 16. It was later changed to 17. The X rating was associated with pornographic films. The X rating would soon be replaced with NC-17 because of the stigma it developed.

America wasn’t the only place where films were censored. Films were also censored overseas. One notable country that censored films was Hong Kong. Some films are missing footage from its original release to this day.

Different cultures have different opinions to what is and what isn’t acceptable. Because of that, there are many films that are cut differently for each country it is released in. For instance, A film that features graphic violence and full nudity would be edited for nudity in the U.S. but have all of its violence intact, and at the same time it will be edited for violence in the U.K. but have all of its Nudity.

The following is a small list of films and the cuts made due to censorship.

Tang Shan da Xiong (1971) a.k.a. The Big Boss

Missing scenes include:

A more graphic sequence of the two cousins’ death via circular saws

A scene where Hsiu (Tony Liu) is bleeding profusely from the head as a result of a knife attack

A scene where Cheng Chao On (Bruce Lee) slams a saw into a thug’s head (this is the most infamous cut.)

A more explicit shot of Cheng Chao On stabbing someone in the chest with his fingers

Note: The latest U.S. DVD release has restored the explicit finger stabbing scene. The other scenes are absent from every version of the film and are believed to be lost.

Meng Long Guo Jiang (1972) a.k.a. The Way of the Dragon

This film had cuts in the U.S. and U.K. version.

Missing scenes include:

A Scene where Bruce flushes the toilet constantly because he’s never seen one.

A scene with Bruce Lee and the prostitute (U.S.)

Scenes with Nunchucku (U.K.)

A scene in the fight between Bruce Lee and Chuck Norris where Bruce Lee kicks him in the head 3 times (U.S)

Note: The scene in the Bruce Lee and Chuck Norris fight was restored in the Master Collection release of the late 90s. The 2005 U.S. DVD release restores all scenes except the one where Bruce Lee constantly flushes the toilet (from my copy)

Jin Wu Men (1972) a.k.a. Fist of Fury

All scenes involving Nunchuku were removed (U.K.)

Note: The nunchuku scenes were restored in the 2001 DVD

Total Recall (1990)

Cut to avoid an X rating

Missing Scenes Include

More shots of the innocent bystander being used as a shield from gunfire

The stabbing of Helm during the bar fight had the knife slicing up his stomach

Benny’s death is optically cropped to remove the part that shows the exiting drill erupting from his stomach.

Note: The above scenes have not been released as of today.

RoboCop (1987)

Cut to avoid an X rating

Missing Scenes Include

A close up of Bobby being shot in the leg during a car chase gunfight.

More shots of ED-209’s malfunction

More shots of Murphy being gunned down by thugs including shots of his arm getting blown off, and an alternate shot of Clarence shooting Murphy in the head

Note: The uncut version of this film is available on DVD.

Hokuto No Ken (1986) a.k.a. Fist of the North Star

Many scenes of graphic violence have a water color/blurring effect added to them.

The original uncut release is said to be available on DVD in the U.S. with the restored scenes being of noticeably inferior quality to the other scenes.

In the early 90’s the X rating was replaced with the NC-17 rating so films to heavy in content for an R rating don’t have to suffer the stigma associated with an X rating. Unfortunately, during the 2000s, NC-17 has developed a stigma.

Film censorship is still being practiced today with most films being cut down for theatrical release and then being released on DVD and Blu-ray in an Unrated edition that restores some of the scenes. Many R rated movies are cut down to PG-13 for release. The movie theater is starting to look more like network television as far as film presentation goes. NC-17 theatrical releases are rare today.