In the Opinion of the Censor, a new documentary on how thousands of films for theatrical release were banned or cut in Ireland, comes to RTÉ One and the RTÉ Player next Monday, 27 July, at 9:35pm.
Presented and narrated by former film censor John Kelleher, the documentary looks at the Censorship of Films Act from 1923, “which put the power of censoring films in the hands of one individual film censor”, and “how film censorship practices reflected the evolution of the State over the last hundred years”.
Films in Ireland could be banned or cut if, “in the opinion of the censor”, they were “indecent, obscene, blasphemous, or contrary to public morality”.
In the Opinion of the Censor is presented and narrated by former film censor John Kelleher
Among the films featured in the documentary are Gone with the Wind, Casablanca, On the Waterfront, The Graduate, and The Last Temptation of Christ, among others, and a Late Late Show debate on the film 9 Songs is also part of the programme.
Interviewees include Professor in Film Studies Dr Ruth Barton, historian Dr Aoife Bhreatnach, editor Ciarán Carty, and actor Fionnula Flanagan.
“Ireland has had nine film censors over the years, with 2,500 films banned and over 11,000 films cut,” say the makers of In the Opinion of the Censor.
“The practice was replaced by the Irish Film Classification Office (IFCO) in 2008.
“John Kelleher was Ireland’s last film censor, taking up the position in 2003.
“He then became the first Director of Film Classification, a system based on adults and parents making their own decisions on what films to watch.”