The British Board of Film Classification, or British Board of Film Censorship, as it was at first, was established. It was a classic case of mission creep: the Cinematograph Act of 1909 had obliged picture houses to be licensed, following a number of fires due to the volatility of nitrate film stock. The next year, a court ruling established that health and safety needn’t be the only criterion in considering a licence application, and with the prospect of external censorship looming the industry took the process in-house and out of government hands, where it remains to this day.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies