Do you mean films that are still banned, or any of the films that have once been banned but subsequently released (usually in a cut version)?
I see no point in compiling a list of 'Best Films That Were Banned Once But Not Any More' or 'Best Films That Have Only Received A Certificate Because They Have Been Censored'. A list made up purely of films that still cause problems is likely to be far more interesting, though it's unlikely that many people have seen them!
forget a vote why don't channel 4 actually do a documentary on the history of banned movies and video nasties and get interviews from the directors i'd love to know what inspired Lucio Fulci to make his movies before his tragic death.
I would have to say that 'Crash' is at the top of my list. Alexander Walker famously described it as "beyond depravity"(???), and the sensationalist Daily Mail headlines spouting nonsense about 'deviant and perverted sex' were just ridiculous!
The mid 90s documentary 'Executions' also caused a lot of fuss I seem to remember, but I don't think it was banned.
Every one of the "video nasties"has a story to tell regarding the making/reasoning behind them,from the 1920s to the present day film makers have been crossing the line,pushing the envelope in order to make a dollar.
So "BLOOD FEAST" an H.G.Lewis,David Friedman production made in the early '60s aimed at the Drive-in crowd ended up on the nasties list here in the '80s. "SNUFF" originally an inept South American production called "SLAUGHTER" has a fascinating little tale to tell regarding its rise to infamy and place on the list. "FACES OF DEATH" American made, took more money in Japan than "STAR WARS", nowadays its creator John Schwartz no longer hiding behind the name Conan Le Cillaire,happily puts it on his c.v.His brother even took over the role as host for part 4 of the series replacing actor Michael Carr the Dr Gross character on the previous 3. Without doubt the most questionable productions are the Cannibal/Zombie,mainly Italian made,which rely on actual animal cruelty to shock the audience. Nazi-exploitation movies "S.S.EXPERIMENT CAMP" "ILSA SHE WOLF OF THE S.S."the latter produced by our friend David Friedman on the old "HOGANS HEROES" set caused controversy of its abuse towards women and its soft porn content. Rape/revenge in the form of "I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE" "LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT" ruffled feathers and placed them in history books and earned them places on the "list" Wrongly put on the list[possibly]"EXPOSE" "FIGHT FOR YOUR LIFE" "EVIL DEAD" "LAST RITES" "THE BEYOND" "THE BURNING" "CANNIBAL MAN" "ABSURD".
I still have on video,taped off the telly the entire series of "THE INCREDIBLY STRANGE FILM SHOW" and its sequel "SON OF..." aired by C4 hosted by Johnathon Ross profiling these producers of exploitation movies.
I wrote earlier on the "Nasties list"but wondered if this subject also covers sex films and not just the gore/horror genre?
"DEEP THROAT" with Linda Lovelace,E Entertainment television did a great docu' on this landmark movie recently.
Traci Lords who nearly got the U.S.porn industry closed down when it became known that her earlier films were made when she was underage.
The films of John Holmes,Savannah,Peter North and ofcourse Ron Jeremy the charlie chaplin of the industry.
Some of Extreme relies entirely on blood and gore,sex began creeping into the Hammer films with displays of cleavage,so the barriers were coming down,the British made "EXPOSE" with Fiona Richmond, also on the banned list has more on the naughty side than horror.
The whole banned debate is pretty tricky really. Does it mean that a film that had been banned entirely in Britain or a film that may have been only banned by certain city councils? Films like 'Crash', Peeping Tom', 'Naural Born Killers' and 'Witchfinder Genral' were banned by some cinema chains and councils depite being being passed for cinema viewing by the BBFC. Maybe a documentary about the most controversial films regardless of wether they were banned or not would be better.
There are a few films on the list that were neither banned, nor caused a huge controversy on release:
The Thing Reanimator Night Of The Living Dead Dawn Of The Dead Day Of The Dead
Why are these ones on the list?
Other films not on the list include:
Gestapo's Last Orgy Combat Shock The Beyond Dead And Buried Flesh For Frankenstein Bare Behind Bars Possession Mardi Gras Massacre Faces Of Death I Spit On Your Grave (surely on of the most famous titles!) Deep River Savages
