Film censorship in the Republic of Ireland began on a national basis with the introduction of the Censorship of Films Act in 1923. This act established the office of the Censor of Films, an office since replaced and renamed in 2008 as the Irish Film Classification Office.
Approach During the early and mid-20th century, the original Film Censors Office heavily cut films and videos for rental release, or placed high age ratings on them. Figures released by the Film Censors Office state that 2,500 films received theatrical performance bans, and over 11,000 films were cut, between the 1920s and 1980s. Films previously banned in Ireland have included Scarface (1932), A Clockwork Orange (1971), and Monty Python's Life of Brian (1979).
Since the release of Michael Collins in 1996, which was rated PG in cinemas despite its depictions of "explicit cruelty", the censor's office has generally applied age ratings and has not requested cuts to films. Former head censor Sheamus Smith (who held the position between 1986 and 2002) banned several but rarely cut them as his predecessors did, despite frequent requests from distributors to secure lower certificates and wider audiences. Smith wasn't fond of his official 'Film Censor' title as he felt that the term was emotive and implied someone who "butchers or bans movies". Smith believed that a director's vision should remain intact regardless of the certificate and that "it's an arrogance for a censor or classifier to be cutting up and changing it".
Current director Ger Connolly follows the same policy, although one instance of cutting involving previous censor John Kelleher exists, regarding Korean horror film The Isle. He didn't force censorship upon the film's distributor, but didn't immediately grant a certificate after viewing it on 8 September (just two days before its original release date) and "drew attention to scenes of sexual violence and explicit self-mutilation that were causing us concern". He gave them two options – either they could resubmit it for a second viewing/re-assessment or submit a censored version to secure a certificate. The distributor, Tartan, went with the latter, removing 3m 15s on top of 1m 50s already removed by the BBFC showing animal cruelty, specifically shots of a drowning bird and mutilated fish, which earned them an 18 certificate on 29 September – the changes weren't legally required but sped up the release process.
Legislation The main legislation under which Irish films are rated and censored include: The Censorship of Films Act, 1923 was an act "to provide for the official censoring of cinematographic pictures and for other matters connected therewith". It established the office of the Official Censor of Films and a Censorship of Films Appeal Board (see William Magennis) and that no film be exhibited in public without a certificate. The Censorship of Films Act, 1923 was amended by the Censorship of Films (Amendment) Act, 1925, in connection with advertisements for films. It was amended by the Censorship of Films (Amendment) Act, 1930 to extend the legislation to "vocal or other sounds" accompanying pictures. The Emergency Powers Act 1939 dealt with the preservation of the State in time of war and contained provisions relating to the censorship of communications, including mail, newspapers and periodicals. The Censorship of Films (Amendment) Act 1970 allowed films to be resubmitted for certification seven years after being rejected. The Video Recordings Act, 1989 adds video/DVD recordings to the Film Censor's responsibility to examine. A different classification can be given than the same feature film was give but the censor cannot refuse to grant a certificate for a video if a certificate is in force for the same feature film.
Notable banned or cut films While a number of films were formerly banned or cut by the Film Censor's Office, a review in 2000 meant that many of these have since been un-banned and rated anywhere from G to 18. During that review process it was decided that no more films would be banned for either cinema or video release, but some bans are still in place.
Prior to the Video Recordings Act 1989, many films which were banned in the cinema were freely available on video tape to anyone in Ireland regardless of age.
A notable recent ban was that of Boy Eats Girl in 2005, a film starring Samantha Mumba, due its graphic depiction of a suicide attempt. Following an appeal, it was passed uncut with a 15A rating, far from the highest possible.
The listed year refers to when the film was banned by the Office, not necessarily as the original release date: Date Title Notes Post-ban/current certificate 1927 The Unknown Banned on 27 August for its cruel sensationalism and semi-nudity of the heroine. As with Frankenstein, the unrestricted General certificate caused concern for 'youngsters and nervous adults'.
The Appeal Board upheld the rejection in the same year, though no specific date is available. 1931 Dracula Passed with proposed cuts on 5 June, with a request for the distributor to "delete some of the horrors and re-show the film". PG (DVD) 1932 Monkey Business Banned because censors feared it would encourage anarchic tendencies. Passed on 8 January with '16 unspecified cuts to script', including characters falling over each other in a dance scene. G (DVD) 1932 Frankenstein Banned on 5 February for being demoralising and unsuitable for children or 'nervous people' – age-restricted certificates weren't introduced until 1965.
Overturned by the Appeal Board on 8 March and given an uncut certificate on 9 March. G (cinema, 1932) PG (DVD) 1932 Scarface Banned on 19 August. Upheld by the Films Appeal Board on 30 September.
Banned on 29 August 1941 (under the alternate title of 'Gang War'). Upheld by the Films Appeal Board on 7 October.
Banned on 24 April 1953 (under the original title). No appeal was lodged.
Various reasons cited include pandering to sensationalism, glamorizing the gangster lifestyle and implying an incestuous relationship between the protagonist and his sister.PG (DVD) 1942 Fantasia Initially cut on 30 April. Dr. Richard Hayes (Film Censor from October 1940 to January 1954) cut the scientific talk which introduces the 'Rite of Spring' section, stating that it 'gave an entirely materialistic view of the origin of life' – it has since been reinstated. G (DVD) 1942 A Day in Soviet RussiaPassed with "extensive cuts under the EPO" (for infringing on wartime neutrality) on 2 June 1942.
The documentary was advertised to open on a Sunday but the certificate was withdrawn on Saturday afternoon. 1943 CasablancaBanned on 19 March for infringing on the Emergency Powers Order preserving wartime neutrality, by portraying Vichy France and Nazi Germany in a "sinister light".
Passed with cuts on 15 June 1945 after the EPO was lifted – this time the cuts were to dialogue between Rick and Ilsa referring to their love affair.
Passed with one cut on 16 July 1974. RTÉ inquired about showing the film on television – it still required a dialogue cut to Ilsa expressing her love for Rick.
All releases since are uncut.G (DVD) 1943 A Yank in the RAFPassed with 30 cuts on 10 August due to the EPO. It was passed on 27 July 1945 after the EPO was lifted, this time with only five cuts. The certificate was withdrawn after one week's run at the Savoy Cinema in September after 41,000 had seen the film. G (DVD) 1943 The Outlaw Banned due to sexual references. 1945 Mildred PiercePG (DVD) 1945 Brief Encounter Initially banned as it was considered too permissive of adultery – ban lifted. PG (DVD) 1946 The Big Sleep Initially banned because of its sexual references – ban lifted.PG (DVD) 1950 OutrageBanned due to its rape theme. 1959 Anatomy of a MurderBanned on 15 October, which was upheld on appeal on 15 December. This was due to its "utterly clinical dialogue" during detailed references to rape, within the central courtroom trial. When resubmitted on 24 February 1960, these were entirely removed in 53 separate cuts, totalling 15 minutes.
Passed uncut for video in 2001, with a 12 certificate. G (cut, cinema) 12 (uncut, DVD) 1966 PasażerkaInitially banned and described by the censor as a "horror film" – he also objected to a scene showing naked women being driven to the camp. Overturned by the Films Appeal Board, with a 16 certificate.16 (cinema) 1967 UlyssesBased on the book by James Joyce, it was banned for being "subversive to public morality", upheld by the Films Appeal Board and banned for a second time in 1975 – ban lifted in September 2000 at director Joseph Strick's request, with a 15 certificate. although it was screened at the Irish Film Theatre (a private club cinema) in the late 1970s.
The first public screening was held in February 2001, with then-censor Sheamus Smith and Strick both in attendance. It went on general release at the IFI from 8 February 2001. 15 (cinema and DVD) 1971 Five Easy Pieces Banned on 8 June. Referred to the Appeals Board on 29 July and overturned on 9 August, with cuts and a 16 certificate:
two uses of "Jesus Christ" two uses of "shit" the entire unfaithful sex scene between Bobby and Betty
Passed uncut with a 15 certificate for DVD. 16 (cinema) [censored]
15 (DVD) 1971 Get Carter Banned in August. Upheld by the Appeals Board in November. 18 (cinema and DVD)
(theme of child sexual abuse and pornography – 2014)
(explicit sexual images - 2022) 1971 The Devils Warner Bros. refused to present this Ken Russell film before the censor due to concerns regarding its excessive violence, giving the film a de facto ban from the country. 1973 Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex Banned on 20 March. A cut version was passed in 1979 and released theatrically in 1980, removing both a bestiality reference ("the greatest lay I ever had", referring to a sheep) and a man having sex with a bread loaf – ban/censorship lifted. 18 (cinema and DVD) 1973 A Clockwork Orange Banned on 10 April – Warner Bros. decided against appealing due to the film causing public controversy. Passed uncut for cinema on 13 December 1999, with an 18 certificate, and released on 17 March 2000.
The re-release poster was rejected due to the words "ultra-violence" and "rape" in the tagline (it's a replica of the original British version). Sheamus Smith explained his rejection to the Irish Times; "I believe that the use of those words in the context of advertising would be offensive and inappropriate". 18 (cinema and DVD) 1980 Monty Python's Life of Brian Banned on 29 April, as reject #3158. Upheld by the Film Appeals Board, in a 5:2 vote, on 26 June.
Overturned by the Film Appeals Board on 7 August 1987, with an 18 certificate. 18 (cinema, 1987) 15 (DVD) 1980 Zombie Flesh Eaters Banned on 14 October. Overturned by the Films Appeal Board on 31 October, with an 18 certificate.
Re-banned for video in 1994 as prohibition order #702 and passed in 2012. 18 (very strong and gory violence – 2012) (cinema and DVD) 1981 Last Tango in Paris Banned on 17 November. 18 (DVD) 1982 Porky's Banned on 1 February. Overturned by the Film Appeals Board on 19 February, with a 16 certificate.16 (cinema) 18 (DVD) 1982 Richard Pryor: Live on the Sunset Strip Banned on 23 July, as reject #3174. Upheld by the Film Appeals Board, in a 3:2 vote, on 6 September. 18 (DVD) 1982 Fast Times at Ridgemont High Banned on 8 October. Overturned by the Film Appeals Board on 29 October, with cuts and an 18 certificate. 18 (cinema and DVD) 1982 Monsignor Banned on 29 November due to its conflation of religion and adultery, as it features an affair between a priest and a postulant nun. Overturned by the Film Appeals Board on 17 December, with an 16 certificate.