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The 1971 James Bond film "Diamonds Are Forever"
has been reclassified to a higher certificate by
the BBFC...
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Bond Reclassified
10th August 2012
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The British Board of Film Classification
recently increasing the classification the 1971 James Bond
adventure "Diamonds Are
Forever" from a 'PG' to
a '12' certificate.
Older films usually see their classifications
reduced due to the relaxation of language and violence
thresholds, but certain aspects of the BBFC's current
guidelines have lead to a few notable reclassifications.
All the Bond movies were resubmitted to
the BBFC this year for their upcoming release in the BOND
50 Blu-Ray set. The latest classification was released
on 23rd July 2012.
The BBFC clarified their
decision to increase the classification for Sean Connery's
final official outing as 007 when contacted
by a member of MI6
Community who first spotted the change:
As you may know, our classification
decisions are based on our Guidelines (available on our
main website). These Guidelines are a product of extensive
and regular public consultations. |
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The most recent revision of the Guidelines
was in 2009. It is not unusual, therefore, for older category
decisions to change
when a work is resubmitted under a different set of Guidelines.
A category can be downgraded or upgraded. For example, JAWS was
recently resubmitted for a modern classification and was upgraded
from 'PG' to '12A'.
Above: Actress and former Miss
World 1953 Denise Perrier films her scene in the pre-titles
sequence as the uncredited 'Marie' opposite Sean Connery
for director Guy
Hamilton.
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With the recent resubmission of DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER, under
the current classification criteria, we judged the scene in which
Bond tears off a woman's bikini top and throttles her with it
was now no longer appropriate at 'PG'. (This scene is usually
removed when the film is broadcast on TV.) Furthermore, under
the current Guidelines an aggressive use of 'bitch' and the negative
comic stereotyping of homosexual characters were elements also
judged more appropriate at a higher category than 'PG'. DIAMONDS
ARE FOREVER was subsequently reclassified at '12'.
Above: This 'inappropriate' scene
was used in the lobby card campaign for the film's
release.
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Many thanks to MI6 Community member Monsieur_Aubergine.
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