New York state has long been considered the birthplace of many cultural icons and movements, with few exceptions. Cinema and film are no exception. New York State has a long and storied history of movie censorship, which has helped shape the landscape of cinema over the years. This article will provide an overview of the history of movie censorship in New York State, the various mechanisms used, and review some of the most notable examples of censorship in New York State.
What is Movie Censorship?
Movie censorship is the act of restricting which movies, or parts of movies, are able to be shown in theaters and/or on home video. Censorship is typically used as a means of controlling what has been deemed as socially, culturally, or morally inappropriate. Movie censorship has been utilized in the United States since the early 20th century and has been a contentious issue for decades.
Overview of New York State’s Censorship History
It wasn’t until 1915 that motion pictures began to be seen as a source of political or moral corruption, and as such, they began to be regulated. The catalyst in New York State was the infamous 1915 film entitled “Birth of a Nation”. This three-hour long film was considered to be overtly racist and pro-slavery, which caused public outrage. It is considered to be the film that sparked the national movement to regulate and censor motion pictures.
Shortly after, in 1917, New York State established the first censoring board in the U.S., the New York State Board of Motion Picture Censoring (NYSBMPC). This board was formed as a result of the outcry against “Birth of a Nation” and was tasked with the responsibility of determining which movies could be viewed in the state by the public and which should be prohibited from exhibition. The New York State Board of Motion Picture Censoring operated until 1921, when it was abolished due to the changing attitudes around the regulation of motion pictures and the power of the film industry to self-regulate.
The Mechanisms of New York State Movie Censorship
The purpose of the New York State Board of Motion Picture Censoring was to examine movies prior to their being released to the public and make recommendations on which movies should or should not be shown. This would be done on the grounds of obscenity, obscenity promotion, or any other aspects that could lead to public or moral harm. The board had the power to suggest that certain scenes be cut or modified, or even provide commentary on the ethical message of the film. The board would then provide its recommendation for that particular movie to the usual movie rating bodies, such as the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA). The MPAA would then either adopt or not the recommendation from the New York State Board of Motion Picture Censoring, and it would be up to the individual film distributors to follow the decision or not.
Notable Examples of New York State Movie Censorship
Throughout the history of movie censorship in New York State, there have been countless examples of films being prohibited from exhibition for various reasons. Here are just a few of the more notable examples.
In 1928, the original “King Kong” was banned in New York State because the scene of Kong carrying Fay Wray up the Empire State Building was considered to be too risqué.
“Freaks,” released in 1932, was also banned by the NYSBMPC in New York State, as well as in some other countries. The film was deemed to be too shocking and was prohibited from being exhibited. It wasn’t until 1964 that the film was finally allowed to be shown in theaters.
“Victim,” released in 1961, was another notable example of movie censorship in New York State. The film explored homosexuality in a way that was groundbreaking for its time and because of this, it was heavily censored due to its depictions of “immoral” behavior. Many scenes were either cut from the movie or modified in order to make them palatable for the New York State Board of Motion Picture Censoring.
In 1987, “The Last Temptation of Christ” was yet another film that was heavily censored in New York State. The film, which followed the final days of Jesus Christ, was considered blasphemous by many, leading the New York State Board of Motion Picture Censoring to require the distributor to cut over four minutes of footage before the film could be shown in the state.
Modern Movie Censorship in New York State
Today, the New York State Board of Motion Picture Censoring no longer exists. However, movie censorship still plays a role in the state of New York. Film ratings are still assigned to movies and filmmakers must still abide by the decisions of the rating bodies. The MPAA is still the dominant force when it comes to movie ratings, however, there are other rating bodies such as the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) and the Canadian Home Video Rating System (CHVRS).
In addition, some states in the U.S. now require certain films to be submitted for “local review” prior to exhibition. This local review process is a method for a board or body of individuals to assess a film and make recommendations on whether or not it should be shown in a particular state. This process is used most often for films containing content that may be deemed too controversial for general audiences.
The history of movie censorship in New York State has seen its share of successes and failures. In the first half of the twentieth century, the New York State Board of Motion Picture Censoring was an influential body that regulated the exhibition of films in the state. Although the board is no longer in existence, movie censorship still plays a role in the state. Rating systems and local reviews can still be used to restrict the exhibition of films and the decisions of rating bodies still carry weight. Ultimately, movie censorship continues to be a controversial and contentious issue in New York State and around the world.
