British Board of Film Classification: (1912-1950)

BBFC The Early Years

The BBFC has never written a code of practice, but has published guidelines for audiences. Over the course of its history the BBFC and its regulation policy has changed as society has changed. In 1913 there was only two certificates 'U' (universal), and A (suitable for adults). Around this time World War One was occurring and Russia was close to an infamous revolution, this meant heavy political censorship for all forms of the media and creative arts.

Films were not allowed to depict 'realistic horrors of warfare' or 'relations of capital and labour'. The rules governing cinema were very strict at this time, the censors had old fashioned morals and were worried that the working classes of Britain may become unsettled if they witnessed revolutionary images on the big screen. In 1925 'Battleship Potemkin' was heavily censored because of its revolutionary content, this soviet montage film depicted violent and revolutionary political scenes.

Battleship Potemkin Trailer

Teenage Controversy of the 1950's

The censoring of certain types of film can be put down to moral panics at the time of their release. In the 1950's the teenager provided many controversial moments in cinema history, Rebel Without A Cause (1955) and The Wild One (1954) were two such controversial films.

Rebel Without A Cause was heavily cut, including a scene with a flick knife involving teen protagonist James Dean, The Wild One was banned all together. This era of post war provided a new lease of life to the teenager, youngsters no longer involved in the war were able to work and earn money to spend in their leisure time, in an era of slicked back hair, leather jackets and drive in movie flicks. It was what these teenagers did in their leisure time that concerned the more moral authoritarian agents of society, and the influence of film upon them.

Rebel Without a Cause Trailer