Theatrette

Report by Lyle Turnbull, 'TASTERS IN CHIEF - THE CUSTOMS STORY'

'Looking after films is the job of Mr Les Hillier, a quietly-spoken Deputy Film Censor, who wears glasses and has probably seen more films than any other man in Melbourne.

He sees them all day, every day, in the department's theatrette.

Millions of feet a year pass through his projector, mostly innocuous, some so filthy it startles even him. And he's seen a great many pornographic films.

There is a well-organised trade in such works of dubious art - once smuggled ashore they are shown at private screenings where you may pay up to five guineas a seat for the privilege.

The films come from Europe and North America. (Some of the US films are even in colour.) Most of them are technically excellent, as well-made as any main feature attraction.

The penalties for smuggling them ashore are severe - but there is always someone willing to risk it. The last spools of pornographic film were found in the shoulder pads of a passenger's suit.

The smuggler who does declare his films usually tries to fool the censors by splicing a long section of harmless film in front of his main work. "Look at this one," said Mr Hillier, switching out the lights and feeding a film into a projector.

It began so chastely it was a bore. Then, where a new film had been spliced on, the pornography began.

"They think if the first few feet are all right, we won't bother to view it at all."

But they do. Every foot is seen by the censors.

"People say if this is going to corrupt the country, why don't they corrupt me?" Mr Hillier, we can only agree, is not the corrupted type.

"All I can say is, I think I'm still as pure as I was ever going to be."

Film censoring standards have changed with the years. Scenes which 20 years ago would have been banned, are now acceptable - as social customs change so does censorship.'

Sun Week-End Magazine, 20 March 1954