Film Censorship

Film Censorship, rules regarding what is prohibited in films. From the beginning, motion pictures have been subject to local censorship by the police and the local authorities, using the existing laws and powers covering places of entertainment. Once the worldwide film boom was under way from 1906, problems existed for film-makers in dealing with the varying standards being applied in different parts of a country. To eliminate this, the film industry in each country usually set up its own voluntary censorship organization, and film producers were expected to comply with its standards. This happened in 1909 in the United States, with the establishment of the National Board of Censorship, and in 1912 in the United Kingdom, with the British Board of Film Censors. The latter body also classified films according to whether they were suitable only for adult audiences, in which case they were given an “A” certificate, or as suitable for all ages, in which case they would be awarded a “U” certificate. The American body did not classify films in this way, merely passing them instead as suitable for exhibition, either in their original form, or after cuts had been made. In 1922, in response to increasing public concern about film content, and recent Hollywood scandals, the American film industry set up a new body, the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America (MPPDA), headed by Will Hays, whose main task was censorship both before and after production. The MPPDA created a more formal set of rules in 1930, the “Code” (see Hays Code), which was tightened up yet again in 1934. In most European countries censorship remained solely a matter for the local police for longer than in the United Kingdom and the United States. Later, in countries with totalitarian governments, there was central government control of all films shown.

Censorship bodies have usually had written rules about what is prohibited in films, and these have been subject to change over time, depending partly on the expressed concern of the public, but also more covertly on what the government and the dominant Church of the country wants. In more recent times, such censorship bodies have relinquished some of their power, particularly in the United States, where censorship has returned to the local level, and the central body only classifies films with respect to their content as suitable for various age groups. In the United Kingdom, the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC), as it is now called, has modified its classifications to tie in with the American model. British films are now classified “U” when considered suitable for the whole population, “PG” (Parental Guidance) when they contain scenes that may be unsuitable for young children, “12A” as suitable for 12-year-olds and upwards and children under 12 accompanied by adults, “15” when suitable for people over 15 years, and “18” when suitable for people over 18 years. However, the final decision as to whether a film can be exhibited still lies with the local authority. The BBFC also classifies video cassette and DVD recordings in the same way, and in this area its classifications have more direct legal force.