MovieChat Forums > The Panic in Needle Park (1971) Discussion > Censorship

Censorship

posted 18 years ago by BitterAsHell
2 replies | jump to latest

I live in a country that has an unfortunate habit of censoring movies and videotapes, especially with regards to drug scenes. Watching TPINP tonight, I noticed that there were no scenes where the characters are shown actually putting drugs into their bodies.

As well, it seemed like a rather abrupt transition between Pacino and his brother breaking into cars(IIRC), and Pacino being in the shower in prison. No arrest, interrogation, or anything.

Am I correct in assuming that things were cut out here?

[–] mobocracy 18 years ago

My copy of this movie I recorded off of IFC in 2005. It was a very high quality letterbox transfer, which I assume will be the basis of a R1 DVD release (I've noticed this pattern before -- high quality, often letterbox versions of forgotten 70s films get semi-promotional pay cable showings 3-6 months before a DVD release).

Anyway, this version appears to be uncensored. Nudity, including a fairly long shot of Kitty Winn topless, getting out of bed.

And very graphic and detailed drug use, probably more graphic than anything in Requiem for a Dream or Trainspotting. So graphic in fact, I'm wondering how they filmed it -- SOMEBODY is getting a home-made junkie kit (no diabetic's syringes here -- glass tube, rubber squeeze ball and a dull needle) stuck in their arm for real.

It's an outstanding film with a great performance by Kitty Winn.

[–] msfnyc 18 years ago

Oh yes, several things were cut out of the version you saw. The uncut version, or at least the one I saw, showed injection scenes and everything related to drug use.