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

Tom Johnson

McFarland, Jan 1, 1997 - Performing Arts - 206 pages

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 Hollywoods 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 Hollywoods golden age of horror.

Contents

• A Brief History of British Film Censorship: 9
• Children and Horror Films in the U: 15
• Dracula The Strangest Passion the World Has Ever Known: 22
• FrankensteinThe Movie That Made a Monster: 32
• 1935Steps Must Be Taken: 100
• 1936Steps Have Been Taken: 126
• 1937Banned in Britain: 141
• 1938Signs of Life: 148
• Afterword by Greg Mank: 181
• Filmography: 187
• Bibliography: 199

Bibliographic information

• Title: Censored Screams: The British Ban on Hollywood Horror in the Thirties
• Author: Tom Johnson
• Edition: illustrated
• Publisher: McFarland, 1997
• ISBN: 0786403942, 9780786403943
• Length: 206 pages
• Subjects: Performing Arts / Film & Video / General