Behind the Scenes at the BBFC

This book thoughtfully presents current practices in the frame of past contexts as part of an ongoing debate about what audiences might want from 'their' classifiers.' - Sight & Sound 'This is a key book and I would reckon that it is a must for any library used by staff and students engaging with British Film and British filmgoing. It is well produced with an accessible layout.' - Media Education Journal 'The history of the BBFC, as documented in this fascinating new book, is littered with controversies, scandals and accusations of butchering great works of art...The book spans the entire history of the organisation, from silent film, through the 'video nasties' furore of the 1980s right up to the present day. It is well researched and written from a number of perspectives, both from within and outisde the BBFC.' - Cinema Retro "A remarkably accessible history, which may appeal especially to readers interested in film distribution, British film history but equally to readers outside the sphere of film and media studies with a broad interest in issues of censorship as a well written history of a unique case study." - Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television

This official history of the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) draws on unprecedented access to the BBFC's archives to trace 100 years of film classification, with contributions from leading film critics and historians and case studies of controversial films such as Battleship Potemkin and A Clockwork Orange.

This official history of the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) draws on unprecedented access to the BBFC's archives to trace 100 years of film classification, with contributions from leading film critics and historians and case studies of controversial films such as Battleship Potemkin and A Clockwork Orange.