Screeners Of Uncut Film May Be Prosecuted (Press, 8 July 1975)
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Summary: Screeners Of Uncut Film May Be Prosecuted (Press, 8 July 1975)
Legal actions regarding the uncut screening of the film "The Night Porter" are being considered, with decisions expected later in the week, as indicated by the assistant director of the Department of Internal Affairs, Mr D. A. Kerr. The uncut version of the film was shown in Wellington for two and a half weeks before officials identified the oversight that led to its uncensored presentation. The general manager of United Artists, Ltd, Mr R. I. McClure, confirmed the screening was an error. Chief Film Censor, Mr D. C. McIntosh, addressed complaints surrounding the film, clarifying that Miss Patricia Bartlett was not the source of the issues that resulted in the film being recut. He stated that his office had not received a direct letter from her, though they had logged several calls and around eight letters of complaint about the film. McIntosh noted that it wasn't until a complaint specifically detailing cut scenes was received that the situation came to light. He mentioned that Miss Bartlett's letter, which highlighted ten objectionable scenes and critiqued the Minister of Internal Affairs, Mr May, for permitting such films, was sent to various Parliament members and Ministers on 3 July, the same day the film was pulled for editing. Approximately five minutes of content were removed, although McIntosh refrained from commenting on the specifics. In her letter, Bartlett expressed concern about the standards of film censorship in New Zealand, charging Mr May with ignorance about the inappropriate material being allowed on screen, and urged him to personally view "The Night Porter." She called on Ministers to push for tighter film censorship regulations. In a related event, at a film festival in Wellington, the Australian director Michael Thornhill intentionally screened his film "Between Wars" uncut, confronting censorship by removing tape on two words from a dialogue that had been previously censored. He expressed disdain for the New Zealand censorship laws, considering them absurd, and remarked that similar regulations in Australia were far less stringent. Thornhill’s actions were well-received by the audience, who appreciated his determination to present the film as intended.
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