Censored Screams: The British Ban on Hollywood Horror in the Thirties

by Tom Johnson

Overview

As Dracula (1931) and Frankenstein (1931) ushered in the golden age of horror films in the United States, studios and distributors were faced with a major problem in their number one overseas market: the British Board of Film Censors (BBFC) were demanding extensive cuts, enforcing age restrictions, and banning outright many of Hollywood's horror movies. The issue most often used to limit the showing of horror films was their "unsuitability" to children. With that in mind, the BBFC developed specific film codes--the "A" (for adults) and the "H" (for horrific), both of which restricted viewing to those 16 or older--and then applied them liberally. This work examines how and why horror films were censored or banned in the United Kingdom, and the part these actions played in ending Hollywood's golden age of horror.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780786427314
Publisher:	McFarland & Company, Incorporated Publishers
Publication date:	07/19/2006
Pages:	222
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.45(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

The late Tom Johnson, author of several books on horror cinema, taught and coached cross country and track for 30 years. He lived in Shillington, Pennsylvania.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments     
Foreword by Tom Weaver     
Foreword by Richard Gordon      xiii

Introduction     
A Brief History of British Film Censorship     
Children and Horror Films in the U.K.     
How British Films Were Exhibited in the Thirties     
A Brief History of American Film Censorship     
Dracula—“The Strangest Passion the World Has Ever Known”     
Frankenstein—The Movie That Made a Monster     
The Sons of Frankenstein—“I’ll Show You What Horror Means”     
1933-34—Breathing Spell     
1935—Steps Must Be Taken     
1936—Steps Have Been Taken     
1937—Banned in Britain     
1938—Signs of Life     
1939—Back from the Dead     
Afterword by Greg Mank     
Epilogue     

Filmography     
Bibliography     
Index     

Editorial Reviews

lively...accessible sketches...recommended”—Choice; “a fascinating read, meticulously researched and completely relevant to today”—Samhain; “profusely illustrated”—Monsters from the Vault; “covers all the subtlety involved in an interestingly researched chronicle”—Midnight Marquee; “a great book, filled with wonderful photographs”—Little Shoppe of Horrors.

From the Publisher

Explores how the golden age of horror films in the US was haunted by restriction and sometimes outright ban in the biggest overseas market. Describes how the British Board of Film Censors, claiming to protect children, created restrictive categories and applied them widely to keep viewers under 16 out of the theaters. Also discusses the role of the ban in the collapse of the first golden age of Hollywood horror. Indexed only by title and name. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

Booknews

profusely illustrated

Monsters from the Vault

a fascinating read, meticulously researched and completely relevant to today

Samhain

lively...accessible sketches...recommended

Choice