Censored

Britain possesses one of the most rigorous film censorship systems in the Western world. From the turn of the century, when the British establishment scented danger in a new entertainment form, to the present day, where sex and violence are monitored with vigilence, Britain's system of film censorship has tended to reflect the moral concerns of its time, while remaining relatively unaccountable to the cinema-going public. This book explores film censorship in Britain, demonstrating, through anecdotes and examples, its absurdities, dangers and occasional virtues. From the early peepshows ( How Bridget Served the Salad Undressed ), through the films that broke the mould in more recent times (such as The Wild One , Clockwork Orange and Caligula ), up to the video and satellite anomalies of today, Mathews presents an account of a particularly British form of control.