The History of Film Regulation in the UK

1. THE
60’ST H E H I S T O R Y O F F I L M
R E G U L AT I O N I N
T H E U K

2. THE 6O’S
• This era was known as the ‘swinging sixties’ and has been known
to be the defining decade for Britain. London at this point in
history transformed from a bleak and conservative city, that was
just getting used to life after the world war, into the capital of the
world full of freedom, hope and promise. This was mostly due to
the fact that the new generation of teenagers were free from
conscription, meaning that the youth were finally given a voice as
well as the freedom that they wanted. As a result, this was
considered as the time at which Britain was liberated due to the
new found freedom.
• At this time, there were revolutionary changes to people’s tastes
and preferences, for example people started to listen to rock
music such as the Beatles, and fashion was heavily influenced
within this era, for instance a subculture entitled the Modernists
(aka the Mods) popularised fashionable Italian garments and
high quality accessories. Another subculture that influenced
fashion were the Rockers, with their biker gang style of dressing.

3. LIFE IN THE 60’S
• In the 60’s, life for teenagers was filled with freedom. Usually teenagers
would have dropped out of school by the age of 16 to go to work. Most
teenagers went to dances to listen to music and socialise with their
friends. The technological advancements during this time had a massive
impact on how people spent their leisure time. People spent more on
leisure activities due to the increase in employment in factories and as
well as the increase in money. Pocket transistor radios and coloured
televisions allowed people to listen to music whenever they wanted to.
Also at this time, women’s jobs would mostly be the homemaker and as
a result, they mostly spent their time at home, taking care of their jobs
and cooking/cleaning while the men went to work. In addition, the
introduction of microwaves shortened the amount of time women
spent in the kitchen, allowing them more freedom and thus more
leisure time to spare.

4. THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE BBFC
• During this time, there was a strong shift in public opinion and because of this, the
British Board of Film Censorship (BBFC) responded to the new spirit of Liberalism
which, as a result, made them realise that they could not assume responsibility for the
guardianship of public morality. Also, it could not refuse for the exhibition of adult
films that show behaviour that contravenes the accepted moral code, and it does not
demand that the wicked should be punished, as they stated. To add, the BBFC cannot
legitimately refuse to pass films which criticise ‘the establishment’ and films that
express minority opinions. This was the turning point as the BBFC loosened their
criteria and instead, were more open to public choice.
• The BBFC declared this due to the challenges of the obscene publications act
of 1959, in cases such as the successful defence in 1916 of D.H. Lawrence’s
novel Lady Chatterney’s lover. This is where the initial shift in public opinion
was seen, as a jury acquitted this work.
• The trial, under The Obscene Publications Act, of the publishers of D.H.
Lawrence's 'Lady Chatterley's Lover‘ in 1960 was a sensation that consumed
the nation. This BBC movie follows two fictional jurors, Helena and Keith, who
become passionate lovers during the course of the trial and whose affair
mirrors the themes of the novel.
https://vimeo.com/42212489

5. OBSCENE PUBLICATIONS ACT 1959
• The obscene publications act was a law put in place relating
to the subject of the publication of obscene matter. As a
result, it served a purpose to promise for the protection of
obscene literature and to strengthen the law concerning
pornography. This act made it an offense to publish any
kind of content whose effect will tend to ‘corrupt and
deprave’ those likely to read, see or hear about the matter;
this could include images of extreme sexual activity, such as
rape.• The Obscene Publications team works closely with the British
Board of Film Classification (BBFC), which is responsible for
censoring and labelling all films released in the UK, whether
they are movies for the cinema, videos and DVDs for the
regular retail market or specialist sex shop material. Rape and
torture scenes, sometimes even in mainstream movies, have
been an issue for both the police and the BBFC. ‘Some rape
films are 'fake' with actors portraying rape so it is quite a
difficult line to judge’ says Inspector Shortland.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZt_nJvMXQM

6. CONTROVERSIAL FILMS OF THE ERA• Peeping Tom (Michael Powell, 1960)
This film was shown to the BBFC at the script stage and the BBFC’s main concern of the film was its morbid
concentration on fear. The BBFC, as a result, suggested various cuts at the script stage of the movie as they
believed that the concentration of fear may have been damaging to the public. At the end of the regulation
process, the film was rated X, with cuts in 1960. The public and the critics greeted the film with abuse and torment.
The DVD remained an 18 until 2007, when it was rated a 15.
• Saturday Night and Sunday Morning (Karel Reisz, 1960)
During this decade, a new wave of directors made the films with a more realistic approach. This film was classified
as an X by the BBFC and its main concerns were about the language violence and the theme of abortion. The
script was modified to meet these concerns. However even though the film was realised at an X uncut,
Warwickshire council demanded cuts to be made for a local certificate. The film was later rated a PG on video in
1990.
• The Silence (Ingmar Bergman, 1964)
This film created a stir because of its treatment of sexual matters. The film was rated an X with 35 seconds of cuts
to sex scenes. The film ‘Poor Cow’ (Ken Loach, 1967) had a similar rating and cuts to sexual references.
• The Trip (Roger Corman, 1967)
This film fell short of BBFC’s concerns about drugs and was rejected in 1967. The BBFC’s concern was the fact that
the film presented LSD use as normal and legitimate rather than as dangerous and a criminal practice. In 2002, it

7. Peeping Tom (Michael Powell, 1960)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=
7qRSMqNAdkg
Saturday Night and Sunday Morning (Karel Reisz, 1960)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pecc7
6XU2EI
The Silence (Ingmar Bergman, 1964)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOvMJOzfFK0
The Trip (Roger Corman, 1967)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EN5okO2
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