What film do the big studios need to release NOW?

[Angel]

Yes I agree it looks perfectly fine for an uncut 18 today.

Same with Deranged - mainly cut due to blood on breasts. Wouldn't have any problems today.

[Peter Neal]

Originally Posted by vincenzo

Eyes Of A Stranger always reminded me a bit of the equally sleazy Don't Answer The Phone.

The cinema/video version was cut further from the R-rated print and it would be interesting to see what the BBFC would make of it now.

That would indeed be interesting.

Yeah, I know it's out in the States, but it would have been nice if this had been released on R2 alongside "Deadly Friend" and "The Hand" in the "Twisted Terror Collection" (which in Finland consisted of only two movies) for a quick spontanous pick up in the local store.
APPARENTLY Warner skipped the plans for releasing it on R2 at the last minute, because they couldn't get it off the German "Index of restricted Movies", meaning that a huge slice of the potential market for such an old and not too famous title would have been pretty much closed for starters.
I HOPE they reconsider, because they didn't seem to be too troubled to put out other "Index" titles, like "Forced Vengeance", on Budget R2 DVD.

[Angel]

Very unlikely, Peter, that the BBFC would cut Eyes of a Stranger today. There is only one scene that might possibly pose problems and that's the first murder in the apartment. But I really can't see them cutting it. Although there is some nudity (topless) it is very brief (just several seconds). The shot of him slapping her across the face during this moment should therefore be ok. And as far as the strangulation is concerned, well apart from being very short it is also played over close ups of her face, which makes it more acceptable than full body shots. Also the scene cuts away before the rape begins.

This was the scene the BBFC cut last time, but that was a long time ago. Strangely enough the MPAA were much more lenient with this scene.

There is certainly nothing else to cut. It's very tame compared to Don't Answer the Phone which contains a great deal of exploitative sexualised violence.

[vincenzo]

Yes Eyes Of A Stranger should get through intact now. It isn't particularly explicit and none of the women are tied up either. Toolbox Murders contains full-frontal nudity during the nailgun murder and that should pass without problems today (how times change).

I'm not sure how the uncut Don't Answer The Phone or Maniac would fare today. I'm inclined to think the former would pass intact and the latter would (maybe) receive minor cuts to the stabbing, though who knows. The BBFC could well surprise us again. Don't Go In The House would be a very difficult one though.

[Angel]

Yeah Don't Answer the Phone would probably get through.

I know we have spoken about it before but Maniac probably should pass now. The woman in question was restrained on the bed and it was a rather drawn out scene with the killer tracing the knife over her chest. At the same time there was a level of restraint ie the director made sure her breasts were covered throughout the scene by her blouse. This is something the BBFC should take into account when it comes before them again. Because at the end of the day this is what it's really all about.

Cutting a scene in which there is no explicit nudity is something the BBFC really shouldn't do however unpleasant the scene may be.

[vincenzo]

The other plus in favour of Maniac is that none of the victims are raped. This should possibly be enough to get the film through as well. Ditto for Visiting Hours.

The problem with Don't Go In The House is that the girl is seen tied up, full-frontal naked (with some pretty lingering camera shots), and pleading. Even when she's actually on fire the BBFC cut the shots of her breasts burning and they could well do the same today. The original 3 mins+ of cuts could be reduced with clever editing but I still can't see it passing intact.

[siccoyote]

I don't see why they should cut it even if there are boobs there.

[WaveCrest]

I voted for Freebie and the Bean although if Deadly Strangers had been in the list I would definitely have voted for that. Freebie and the Bean was the only one out of the choices which I have read about and seen some of.

[Inspector Tanzi]

I voted THE SQUEEZE, FREEBIE AND THE BEAN would be a close second.

VIGILANTE FORCE would be third but I'd prefer it to come out in the States because it would be cut by the BBFC.

[The Reaper Man@Cult Labs]

THE SQUEEZE is a film I never tire of watching.Superb performances all round.