Hey folks, Harry here... You might remember our evil spy in the Middle East that gave us such a groovy down and dirty on CAPTAIN CORELLI'S MANDOLIN early on, but this time he dishing out... news about the banning and censoring practices as they affect the film industry and in particular... THE EXORCIST rerelease. Check it out...
Dear Harry & Co.
Remember me?
After Captain Corelli's Mandolin news comes news from The Exorcist.
The Exorcist need no rumors, I guess we all agree that it's one of the greatest movies ever made.
Remeber the UK banning? Remember the Scandinavian banning? Well get this: In 1973, The Exorcist was banned in Lebanon. Why? Well because of the subject matter and of course because of the controversial scenes like the crucifix one. In 1974 the war started and the censor board's interest vanished. The movie was released and was an immense success, just like it was in the rest of the world.
As you all know, The Exorcist is going to be re-issued with added scenes on the 22nd of September, 2000. The censor has decided to re-ban the movie even though it was released in theatres, on DVD, video and on cable too. Basically everyone has seen it but..."let's ban it!"
Reasons to cut or ban scenes:
1- Visual sex scenes. (Sliver, Basic Instinct, Showgirls)
2- If it involves Arabs being portrayed as terrorists.
3- Jewish propaganda. (12 minutes of The Big Lebowski were cut because of John Goodman's attitude towards Sharm Shabbas. They cut the John Turturro scenes because he was called Jesus (which was his name) and especially because he had his name printed on his back pocket... in a few words on his ass and his attitude: "Don't fuck with the Jesus!")
4- Body Parts. (Asses, tits, not to mention the rest)
5- Movies that portray Jews as victims of WWII. (Schindler's List & La Vita É Bella were banned. When you have the Annual Academy Awards, they did not show when the Israeli film won (Best Foreign Film) or when Schindler's List won. They did with La Vita É Bella though.)
6- Blacklisted actors or companies. (Paul Newman is blacklisted because he acted in Exodus; Shelley Winter is blacklisted I think for the same reason; Frank Sinatra is blacklisted because of his contribution to Israel; Barbra Streisand is too because she's considered to be a Zionist...)
7- If the movie is all about Arabs being the bad guys. (Three Kings was banned; Half Moon Street was banned; The Seige was banned; and... are you ready... so was SOUTH PARK!!! ID4's scene where Arabs and Jews reunite to save the world was cut.)
8- Scenes against Christian or Muslim culture (Mickey Blue Eyes was cut. Why? Because it had scenes containing a portrait of Jesus with a machine gun, which was quite a funny scene especially at the auction with the old lady. Elizabeth (here they're trying to change history) was cut because Queen Elizabeth mentioned things against the Vatican, Christianity and the Pope. Stigmata was banned... after two days, when, after "trimming" it, a priest went and watched the movie and decided it was not fit for the Lebanese culture and was definitely meant to be Jewish propaganda.)
9- Titles that they find immoral (What Dreams May Come was banned because of the mixture of religions, heaven, hell and different religious points of view mixed together. Authorities were going to let this movie pass but a letter came from some Muslim fundamentalist group stating that the movie had religious contradictions and that it must be banned... so they did!)
In movies like the Exorcist, Elizabeth, Mickey Blue Eyes, The Big Lebowski (just to mention a few), they consult priests who, supposedly, are educated and teach in universities, and the decide to ban these pictures. I personally asked the "authorities" and "priests" why, and do you wanna know their response? "The Lebanese people are not ready for these subject matters and scenes."
Ok, so the Lebanese people aren't ready for these subject matters but then again, you've got the No.1 business in Lebanon: Piracy! People get to watch all these movies (uncut) on DVD, VHS, LDV, CDV etc.
I did get these tapes and DVD to the authorities. Response: "The copyright law is implemented, it's up to the distributors to stop the piracy!" Man, this region is one hell of a living contradiction!
Lolita was released on TV and Shelley Winters is in it. But Portrait of a Lady was banned because... Shelley Winters was in it. Pornographic and erotic movies are banned, but cable networks (which are also pirated) transmit them regularly every day. 70% of the population has pirated cable in their homes. I can go on and on...
So, one of the greatest movies of all time is never going to hit the silver screen and nobody gives a shit. So please add Lebanon to The Exorcist's ban list.
Anyway guys, I gotta go, I got a load of work to do... take care... and thanks for publishing the Captain Corelli article.
Sincerely,
Gianluca Chacra and no, this time Screetch is at the dentist getting his tooth pierced...
