Most films that are censored are aimed at an adult audience, thus the previous mentioned quote is untrue, for censorship is used to protect everyone from the damaging effects of horrific, sexual or violent images and idea. The images and ideas that are believed to need protecting from vary from classification system to classification system.

This variation is caused by cultural influences, governmental control and general public debate in conjunction with the classification board. Therefore every film will get a different classification and or different cuts pertaining to the country in which the classification is given. In the United States of America the classification of films is completed by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA).

In Australia the Office of Film and literature Classification (OFLC) classifies and censors films and in the United Kingdom the classification board is The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC). Each of these organizations aims at classifying film into age ranges, pertaining to the films content and appropriateness. However, the three organizations do so differently and with different standards.

The MPAA classifies films using a parent method, which means that every movie is classified by a rating board who members can “put themselves in the role of most American parents so they can view a film and apply a rating that most parents would find suitable and helpful in aiding their decisions about their children and what movies they see” (How Movies Are Rated, 2005). Thus, the MPAA is aimed at classifying films into appropriate content for specific age groups with a large concern of what parents want their children to see.

If a film’s target audience is a G rated audience and gets a higher rating than expected. The film maker then has the option of re-editing the film for re-evaluation. The MPAA in its self will not censor a film due to the film maker’s constitutional first amendment of free speech, but will suggest certain areas for editing in order for the movie to get a specific rating.

Two films, A Clockwork Orange (1971) and 9 Song (2004), can be examined closer in connection with the MPAA classification system. The Film, A Clockwork Orange was originally given an X rating (now NC-17) by the MPAA. The NC-17 rating is given to movies that the board believes most parents would find inappropriate for their children under that age of 17. The content of an NC-17 movie can be pornographic or obscene in connection with sex, violence and or drug use (What do the Rating mean, 2007).

The creators of A Clockwork Orange re-edited and re-released the film in American theaters which received an R rating. With the R rating the movie was distributed in national theater but the original X rated film was later released on video/DVD. The film, 9 Song (2004), according to the MPAA is not rated (NR). This means that the film was not viewed by the MPAA and thus was not given a rating.

The fact that films can be nationally distributed without a classification is a key difference in the American film industry compared to other counties. However, most film are classified because it help with a films theatrical release, but video and DVD sales include many NR titles, usually sold as Director’s Cuts.

The OFLC is different than the MPAA, because the OFLC is organized by the Australian government and is run with specific legislation in mind. This legislation includes the Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Act 1995, National Classification Code and Classification Guidelines (Relevant Legislation, 2007).

The classification board of the OFLC is an independent statutory organization whose soul purpose is to make classification decisions on a variety of public media and art. The OFLC states that it classifies films with four key points or codes in mind.

These codes are that, “(a) adults should be able to read, hear and see what they want, (b) minors should be protected from material likely to harm or disturb them, (c) everyone should be protected from exposure to unsolicited material that they find offensive and (d) the need to take account of community concerns about, depictions that condone or incite violence, particularly sexual violence and the portrayal of persons in a demeaning manner” (National classification Code, 2007). The codes followed by the OFLC, are further elaborated on in the guidelines of the organization.

The OFLC uses these codes to classify every film that is brought to the board. The film A Clockwork Orange was viewed by the board but was initially banned due to its highly violent content. The Film was banned for over 30 years until October 2007 when the film was re-reviewed and was given an R 18+ rating due to its highly violent content (Clockwork Orange, 2007).

The R 18+ rating means that the film is restricted to adult viewers but viewers should understand that the film may be offensive to sections of the adult community (R18+ – Restricted, 2007).

Another film supposedly reviewed by the OFLC is the film 9 Songs, the movie was given an X rating according to an unreliable website. However, the OFLC website gives no indication that the movie 9 Songs has been reviewed. There are many reasons that the film choice not to be reviewed by the OFLC.

In Australia every movie that wanted to be sold legally needs to be reviewed by the board and a fee from the film makers is required. The film makers of 9 Songs, could have chosen not to have their movie reviewed due to Australia’s strict restrictions on sexually explicit films. The restrictions are as followed, a film containing consensual sexually explicit activity will be given an X 18+ rating, with this rating the film is only available for sale or hire in the ACT and Northern Territory.

The film can also show no violence and does not have sexually assaulting language. The film can also use no fetishes, examples of which are bondage, fisting and candle wax. The rating also restricts the age of actors and the portrayal of actor’s ages (X18+ – Restricted, 2007). The film makers of 9 Songs could have deemed in unnecessary to advertise there movie in a country where such high restriction are place on content.

The BBFC, is the boldest of the three organizations in that it not only classifies films it also has the ability to censor them. When reviewing a film the BBFC, uses legislation to deem material as appropriate for a viewing audience, but unlike the OFLC the BBFC is not under direct government control. When classifying and censoring films the BBFC does so not with the governments control but with what they deems as appropriate for the audience in conjunction with legislation specific to film material.

Three key elements of a film are examined when a film is being reviewed, they are: (a) does the material conflict with the law? (b) is the material, at the age group concerned, likely to be harmful and (c) is the material, at the age group concerned, clearly unacceptable to the board’s public opinion (Introduction, 2007). In direct connection with children, a harm test is done to every film.

When a film goes through the harm test, it is viewed to see if the material in the movies could cause harm to a child. An example of the harm test being used is in the opening scene of the Disney movie Rocketman. The opening scene of the movie was cut because it portrayed a child using the Dryer as a rocket ship. This was viewed as harmful because if a child were to do the stunt it their own home they could die. This is a blatant form of censorship pertaining to children. However, every film has the ability to be censored even if it is advertised at an adult age group by the BBFC.

The idea for the film, A Clockwork Orange, was originally submitted for review in 1967, when the movies original screen play was reviewed. The Boards initial reaction to the screen play was that a film with vicious violence and hooliganism would be unacceptable by the BBFC, even though the film was advertised at an adult audience.

Surprisingly with little script changes the final movie was classified with an original X rating later changed to an 18 rating when released uncut by the BBFC (A Clockwork Orange – Case Study, 2000). Another movie classified by the BBFC was 9 Songs, the film was given an 18 rating and was uncut. It was a landmark move by the BBFC because the movie depicted real sex.

The classification had received mixed reviews with many individuals praising the classification and other finding it inappropriate (9 Songs, 2007). These two films were aimed at adults and were not cut, however that is not the case with every movie reviewed by the BBFC. Films that have been aimed at an adult audience and were cut by the BBFC are 1995s Showgirls, 1989s Child’s Play, and 1982s The Evil Dead. All three of these films were advertised for an adult audience but the BBFC still deemed that parts of the films needed to be censored.

A Clockwork Orange and 9 Songs are used as examples in connection with the MPAA, OFLC, and BBFC’s classification and censorship procedures, demonstrate that the organizations are censoring film for all age groups not just for children.

If the classification organizations were censoring films only for children then movies targeted at an adult audience would be free of censorship, which according to the OFLC and BBFC are not due to the organizations ability to censor and ban material. The MPAA does not have the ability to out right censor a film but it can determine the appropriate content available for specific age groups by classifying film into a higher or lower classification group.

An individual who attends the cinema will not know if scenes from a film have been cut or altered in order for the film to be awarded a certain classification, unless the individual takes the time to check the BBFC’s website. If an individual does check the website, the information provided will state that cuts or alterations were made but detailed information is missing. The lack of information is misleading when individuals see a film or eventually find out what information was cut or altered. The Disney film Rocketman, is a film that was unnecessarily altered by the BBFC. The film according to the website had 42 seconds cut from the original version. The cut clips are not defined but the cut portion was shown in class. The cut scene involved a little boy pretending the dryer was a spaceship. The BBFC representative stated the scene gave children the idea that the dryer was a toy and stated the scene would be harmful to those who watched it. Everyone in class and BBFC film reviewers watched the scene and none of these individuals were harmed or influenced by its contents. If a ten year old saw the scene it is unlikely they would have a different view than anyone who has already seen the cut portions.

In conjunction with the unnecessary censoring of Rocketman and other feature films it is believed that the BBFC’s role in contemporary Britain in not a vital one when connected with the censoring of films. The censoring of film is not mandatory for the general public to lead safe un-harmful lives. The third party censoring done by the BBFC, should not take place in association with the censoring films. The individuals who should be in charge of film content are those involved in the film making process and the parents of children. A film maker, who is producing a film for children 8 to 10, should understand the content appropriate for this age group. The guideline set forth by the BBFC, should be used by the film maker but the BBFC should not have the right to then change the film’s content. Parents of children should also know what a film is about before allowing there children to see it. If parents deem the content inappropriate then they do not need to let there child see the film, but in no way should that film then be censored to please the parent. These two groups should be the only parties involved in censoring of films.

The BBFC should not have the right to censor a film but the classification system outlined by the BBFC, should be used by parents and film makers in order to help make decision on a film’s appropriateness for a certain age group. The classification system outlined by the BBFC looks at the themes, language, nudity, sex, violence, imitable techniques, horror and drugs portrayed in a film in connection with age groups. These aspects of a film are then used to classify films into different groups. The groups are U, PG, 12A, 12, 15, 18 and R18. When a film maker decides to make a film, the age group the film is aimed at needs to be determined. The film maker needs to know if they want to make a U or 18 film. Once the desired classification is determined the contents of the film need to be examined in order to follow the BBFC’s current film classification system. As an example the BBFC states a, “’U’ films should be set within a positive moral framework and should offer reassuring counterbalance to any violence, threat or horror” (U, 2007). Films that currently carry a U rating are the Lion King and Mulan. In opposition, an R18 film is states as films “[that are to be] shown in specially licensed cinemas or supplied only in licensed sex shops” (The Categories, 2007). Films with an R18 rating are films closely related to the porn industry.

Between a U rating and an R18 rating is PG, 12A,12,15 and 18. A PG classification is for films appropriate for children eight and up. However, a PG film can be viewed by any child with parental accompaniment, but parent should understand the film’s contents may upset younger children. The film Rocketman, is a film that has a PG classification, but cuts where required to receive the films current classification. After the PG certification is the 12A and 12 classifications. When a film has a 12A certification it means that the film can not be viewed by anyone under that age of 12 unless they are accompanied by an adult. A current film with a 12A certification is Man of the Year. The film was given a 12A certification because of the language used and the film’s sexual references. The 12 classification is placed on videos and DVDs not suitable for anyone under 12. The Spiderman films have 12 ratings on video but had a 12A rating when it was released in theaters. The films received these ratings because of the films’ moderate violence. Following the 12 ratings is the 15 rating, the 15 rating is for film not suitable for anyone under the age of 15. A film with a 15 rating is Ali G Indahouse: The Movie. Ali G was given a 15 rating because of the strong language, strong sexual references and the strong drug references. After the 15 rating is the 18 rating. If a film has an 18 classification then no one under 18 can see the film in the cinema, rent the film or buy the film. A movie with an 18 classification is 28 weeks later. The film received the 18 classification because of the strong bloody violence and gore seen in the film. The BBFC also has the ability to ban films completely, which should never happen. If a film maker intended the film to be graphic sexually or violently then the film should be allowed but with a specific certification of 18, R18 or the BBFC and film makers should agree on a new classification (BBFC, 2007).

The BBFC is the classifier of films in the UK, but the role that the BBFC plays in censoring films is wrong. The censoring of film should be the role of the film maker, while parents of children should then monitor what there children watch. The BBFC’s regulations of classifications of films are good and should continue be used by film makers to produce appropriate films for certain age groups. The guidelines for each classification need to be elaborated fully to make sure film maker and the general public know what needs or will be in films when the film is released in cinemas. The classification system could be elaborated by giving film makers and the general public surveys pertaining to appropriate material for each age group. This elaboration will eliminate the censoring of film and will allow the art of film making to be free of censoring. Without the threat of censorship the film industry will flourish in new and exciting ways.