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Salient: Victoria University Students' Paper. Vol. 30, No. 6. 1967.

Censor speaks

Censor speaks

The Film Ulysses will be seen only by audiences of a single sex.

Mr. A. D. McIntosh, the film censor, explained to the Film Society last term that public opinion forced this decision.

"It is my job to reflect public-opinion. I think that there are certain words generally thought to be indecent in mixed company."

"For example on page 901. I think, of the book ULYSSES there is one word . . ."

Mr. McIntosh said that removing censorship altogether would be similar to lifting the speed limit on the roads. "The results would not be disastrous, but would not be good.

Mr. McIntosh

Mr. McIntosh

"Censors do not generally read film reviews. I knew one who did once. He took too much notice of what they said."

He rejected the suggestion that the popularity of borderline films suggested a more liberal public opinion than he reflected. "If you believe that, then you must have a very low opinion of the public's standards.

"I think that if there has been any trend in public opinion since I have become censor, it has been an increased vigour of attitude towards violence in films.

"We allow 'way out' violence. Many scenes would be impossible to imitate. It often can't do any harm to show violence where the weapon is unobtainable. This is the case in many James Bond scenes.

"We seldom cut the whole of a scene. By merely reducing the length of a violent scene we manage to keep the continuity of a film.

"To state the number and length of cuts made would be of no use."