Censored Screams
The British Ban on Hollywood Horror in the Thirties
by Tom Johnson
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Book Presentation:
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 Hollywood’s 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 Hollywood’s golden age of horror.
About the Author:
The late Tom Johnson, author of several books on horror cinema, taught and coached cross country and track for 30 years. He lived in Shillington, Pennsylvania.
Press Reviews:
"lively…accessible sketches…recommended"—Choice; "a fascinating read, meticulously researched and completely relevant to today"—Samhain; "profusely illustrated"—Monsters from the Vault; "covers all the subtlety involved in an interestingly researched chronicle"—Midnight Marquee; "a great book, filled with wonderful photographs"—Little Shoppe of Horrors.
> From the same author:
C'Mon, Get Happy (2023)
The Making of Summer Stock
by David Fantle and Tom Johnson
Subject: One Film > Summer Stock
The Christopher Lee Filmography (2009)
All Theatrical Releases, 1948–2003
by Tom Johnson and Mark A. Miller
Subject: Actor > Christopher Lee
Peter Cushing (2009)
The Gentle Man of Horror and His 91 Films
by Deborah Del Vecchio and Tom Johnson
Subject: Actor > Peter Cushing
> On a related topic:
Contemporary British Horror Cinema (2015)
Industry, Genre and Society
Uneasy Dreams (2006)
The Golden Age of British Horror Films, 1956–1976
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