The American Library Association (ALA) runs the Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) to track attempts to ban or restrict access to books across the United States, and then to inform the public about censorship efforts in our libraries and schools. The last week of September is usually the time it sets aside for its annual Banned Books Week, which celebrates the freedom to read whatever you want. And what better way to celebrate that than by watching 10 films based on banned books that also ran into censorship issues? Celebrate the freedom to watch!
From the ALA website: “In 2023, OIF documented 1,269 demands to censor library books and resources, the highest number of attempted book bans since ALA began compiling data about censorship in libraries more than 20 years ago. 4,240 unique book titles were targeted for censorship in 2023, a 65% increase compared to 2022 numbers. A challenge is an attempt to remove or restrict materials, based upon the objections of a person or group. A banning is the removal of those materials.”
Book banning is a real and current threat, but it dates back thousands of years. Pretty much as soon as humans figured out how to write and share ideas, somebody else wanted to censor them. Around 212 B.C., Chinese emperor Shih Huang Ti not only burned books but reportedly had more than 400 Confucian scholars buried alive because he perceived the ideals they wrote about as a threat. The Bible and Shakespeare’s plays have also suffered censorship and banning over the centuries and in various places.
We also need to remember that the popularity of horror, crime, and suspense comics in the late 1940s and early 1950s prompted Congress to hold an official inquiry into comics and juvenile delinquency in 1954, prompting cities to pass or consider bans on comic books in general. Al Feldstein and Harvey Kurtzman, editors of the highly successful EC Comics (Tales from the Crypt, Shock SuspenStories), were forced to cancel many of their comics lines between 1954 and 1956 because of self-censorship pressures from the comics industry (instigated to avoid government censorship) and a conflict with the industry’s Comics Code Authority.
Book banning, burning, and censorship have been used throughout history as a means of political control to keep certain ideas, such as freedom, from the public. It has also been used to supposedly protect people from things deemed immoral or obscene. And it remains a constant threat that we need to be vigilant about. So here are 10 films based on banned books that also ran into censorship problems.
10 Films Based on Banned Books
1. 1984
Book by George Orwell, 1949
Film by Michael Radford, 1984
Reasons for ban or censorship: Social and political themes (including being seen as pro-communist), explicit sexual content.
Might as well start at the top. If you search for “the most banned book,” then the Internet will reply with: George Orwell’s 1984. Orwell depicts a dystopian world in which a totalitarian state uses Thought Police to exert hypervigilant control over its people and where Big Brother is always watching. But the protagonist, Winston Smith, decides to engage in forbidden love and and join a revolutionary group to bring down the Party and challenge their authority.
Let’s be honest, there is nothing that terrifies those in power more than a free-thinking population willing to question its government. By sympathizing with those living under an oppressive regime, and showing them fighting back, the book has been banned and burned in multiple countries over the years, proving the book remains a powerful argument for freedom of speech and expression.
Although the USSR banned the book till 1988, Jackson County, Florida felt the need in 1981 to declare the book “pro-communist” and attempted to ban it (it also was not happy with the explicit sexual content). The Florida challenge seemed to ignore that much of the book is actually anti-communist (dissidents in Russia embraced it). In truth, the book is anti-government and is meant as a warning against the totalitarianism Orwell saw happening in Nazi Germany and Stalinist Russia.
The film of 1984 faced far less controversy, but just to prove how dangerous ideas can be, a 2014 screening of the film was canceled in Thailand because of how it might have heightened the political unrest in the country at the time.
2. A Clockwork Orange
Book by Anthony Burgess, 1962
Film by Stanley Kubrick, 1971
Reasons for ban or censorship: Objectionable language, sexual violence, pornography.
I remember reading this in high school, and my dad having to write a note to the school and my English teacher explaining that he knew I was reading it, and he knew what it was about, and it was okay for me to read about a bit of the ultra-violence. Burgess’ book presented a dystopian world desensitized to violence and where young men like Alex ran wild committing horrific crimes. The 1971 film received an X rating on release in the U.S. and Kubrick censored less than a minute out to get a revised R rating on re-release.
Ironically, one of the scenes he cut was a humorous one where Alex and two women were enjoying an energetic threesome at a sped-up frame rate as the “William Tell Overture” played. Apparently, the censors were more comfortable with a woman being raped (which occurs graphically in the film) than with women enjoying sex. The film was blamed for some copycat crimes. Kubrick apparently received death threats and consequently pulled the film from distribution in the United Kingdom until after his death.
3. The Last Temptation of Christ
Book by Nikos Kazantzakis, 1952
Film by Martin Scorsese, 1988
Reasons for ban or censorship: Depicting the life of Jesus Christ and his struggle with various forms of temptation including fear, doubt, depression, reluctance, and lust. The book and the film depict Christ engaged in sexual activities, which caused it to be condemned as blasphemy by some religious groups.
This is another instance of dual censorship as both the 1952 book and the 1988 film were condemned by the Catholic and Greek Orthodox churches as blasphemous. So, in this case, it was not the government or schools calling to ban them but religious organizations. The main objection and root of the religious controversy comes from the novel’s conceit that presents Jesus Christ dying on the cross and imagining an alternate existence in which he was not the son of God but instead a mortal man living a normal life with a wife and family. The film had a disclaimer stating: “This film is not based on the Gospels but upon the fictional exploration of the eternal spiritual conflict.”
I remember having to cross a picket line to see the movie and thinking there are young people on dates in line to see a movie about Jesus Christ, shouldn’t the churches be applauding that? Scorsese, who wanted to be a priest at one point, is absolutely reverent with the material and eager to contemplate both the divine and the human in the sincerest manner, thus making the religious outrage seem completely misplaced.
4. Lolita
Book by Vladimir Nabokov, 1955
Film by Stanley Kubrick, 1962
Reasons for ban or censorship: Obscenity, sexual content, specifically for depicting a sexual relationship between a 37-year-old man and his 12-year-old stepdaughter.
Ironically, Lolita was categorized as obscene in France and England and banned for a few years in the 1950s but was not banned in the U.S., which gave the book a major publicity boost. But that is not to say it was warmly welcomed throughout the U.S. In 1958, the Cincinnati Public Library voted to ban it, and as recently as 2006 Florida challenged the book for its themes of pedophilia and incest.
It remains controversial because the story deals explicitly with the sexual relationship between the middle-aged Humbert Humbert (who would be played in the film by James Mason) and the 12-year-old Lolita/Dolores (played by a 14-year-old Sue Lyon in the film). Adding to the controversy of both the book, and perhaps more so the film, was the humorous tone taken in telling Humbert’s story. The levity (acerbically satirical as opposed to just jokey) contrasted with the seriousness of the topic. It also confused and offended some, making it more difficult for them to determine if what they were reading/watching was depicting or endorsing Humbert’s behavior.
The film received an X rating in Britain, limiting who could see it. In the U.S., Kubrick had to appease the censors in advance of shooting the film regarding certain things such as minimizing focus on the age of Lolita. Religious groups (The U.S.’ National Legion of Decency and the UK’s Moral Law Defence Association and Christian Action) protested the film. The National Legion of Decency insisted that 30 seconds of footage be cut from the final film to avoid it receiving the Legion’s C (C for condemned). It also demanded that the film advertising contain the warning: “no one under 18 would be admitted.”
5. The Kite Runner
Book by Khaled Hosseini, 2003
Film by Marc Forster, 2007
Reasons for ban or censorship: Sexual content, violence, unsuited to age group, profanity
(top challenges about using the novel in high schools).
The Kite Runner tells the story of Amir, which is set against the backdrop of Afghanistan’s political turmoil, from the fall of the monarchy to the rise of the Taliban regime. The story included incidents involving rape and torture.
ALA cited the book as being challenged in 2008 (for offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group), 2012 (for homosexuality, offensive language, religious viewpoint, sexually explicit), and 2014 (for offensive language, unsuited to age group, violence). ALA also noted that in 2017, The Kite Runner ranked as the fourth most challenged book. While the most frequent challenges were regarding sexual violence, Islamophobia was also cited with complainants suggesting the novel could inspire terrorism and promote Islam.
The government of President Hamid Karzai’s Afghanistan banned the film from theaters and DVD shops, because of the rape scene and the ethnic tensions.
6. From Here to Eternity
Book by James Jones, 1951
Film by Fred Zinnemann, 1953
Reasons for ban or censorship: Language, sexual content, depiction of the military.
As with the self-censorship of the Comics Code Authority and the self-censorship of Hollywood’s Production Code, sometimes the censorship comes prior to a book or a film ever reaching the public. When Scribner was working with Jones on From Here to Eternity, they had to consider that the U.S. Postal Service would not carry material it considered obscene. So, Scribner, for what it deemed practical financial reasons, needed to make sure Jones’ book was not labeled obscene. This led to the publisher telling Jones to remove certain four-letter swear words and to remove scenes involving explicit homosexuality.
Similarly, the film had to make censorship decisions in advance of shooting to change Lorene from being a prostitute at a brothel to being a hostess at a private social club. And Karen’s hysterectomy – caused in the book by her unfaithful husband transmitting gonorrhea to her – ends up in the film being prompted by a less controversial miscarriage. The changes were made to satisfy the Hollywood Production Code.
The Navy chose to forbid its servicemen from seeing the film on its ships or shore installations, calling it “derogatory of a sister service” and a “discredit to the armed services.”
7. All Quiet on the Western Front
Book by Erich Maria Remarque, 1929
Film by Lewis Milestone, 1930
Reasons for ban or censorship: Pacifism, obscenity.
The novel follows Paul and his classmates as war breaks out in Germany in 1914, and they eagerly enlist in the army to show their dedication to their fatherland. But they get a shocking dose of reality once they hit the battlefield. Remarque wanted to depict the realities of war, to show the violence as senseless with the soldiers not as heroes but rather as youths ill-prepared for the violence and hardships of war. Remarque took a distinct anti-war stance.
It might be a badge of honor that All Quiet on the Western Front was one of the books burned by the Nazi Party after Hitler took power. The Nazis did not appreciate Remarque’s depiction of German soldiers as disillusioned or his anti-war tone that they read as anti-German. Remarque’s writing was even declared “unpatriotic” by propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels.
But the novel faced censorship outside of Germany as well. The English translation of the novel was banned in Boston on grounds of obscenity. But the most common reason for banning in multiple countries was regarding its anti-war, pacifist stance. The Czech military libraries removed the book from their shelves, while Italy just flat-out banned the novel.
The 1930 film version was banned in Germany by Hitler’s regime in 1933, because it challenged their ideals of honor, sacrifice, nationalism, and militarism. But in places like Australia the film was banned on the grounds of pacifism for several years.
8. Persepolis
Book by Marjane Satrapi, 2000
Film by Marjane Satrapi and Vincent Paronnaud, 2007
Reasons for ban or censorship: Gambling, profanity, political viewpoint, depiction of torture.
The autobiographical graphic novel traces Satrapi’s life in pre- and post-revolutionary Iran and then in Europe, as she evolves into a rebellious, punk-loving teenager. But in the background, Iran is troubled by growing unrest and members of Satrapi’s liberal-leaning family are detained and then executed.
Not surprisingly, Satrapi’s critical commentary on Iran led to the book being banned in that country. It also faced a brief ban in Lebanon prompted by clerics who deemed the book “offensive to Iran and Islam.”
In 2013, Chicago Public Schools removed the graphic novel from some classrooms and libraries, but public pushback led to the ban being lifted.
The film was also temporarily banned in Lebanon because of its portrayal of sex and events in the Iranian Revolution (Satrapi shows dissidents being tortured by the Iranian government).
9. The Godfather
Book by Mario Puzo, 1969
Film by Francis Ford Coppola, 1972
Reasons for ban or censorship: The Italian American Civil Rights League protested the film’s depiction of Italian Americans; complaints were also made about the violence, supposed glorification of crime, and sexual content.
If you watched the streaming series The Offer, then you will have some insight into the issues Coppola faced making the movie and side-stepping the complaints of certain Italian American civil liberty groups. While many films faced censorship over using obscene language, Coppola had to navigate around the words “mafia” and “Cosa Nostra,” which were avoided in the film so as not to offend Italian American groups.
To air on TV, Coppola had to trim some scenes of violence.
10. The Exorcist
Book by William Peter Blatty, 1971
Film by William Friedkin, 1973
Reasons for ban or censorship: Immorality; challenged as vulgar and obscene based on most religious standards.
The Exorcist deals with a young girl who appears to be possessed by a demon and the Catholic priests who attempt to exorcise the demon.
As with Martin Scorsese, William Peter Blatty was a Catholic schoolboy with a great reverence for the church. Blatty described his book as an “argument for God.” So, it is ironic that some religious groups complained about the book as blasphemous. Ironic but not surprising when you consider the language the possessed girl uses and some of the highly sexualized scenes. Needless to say, the film met with similar responses. Adding to the film’s controversy was the fact it supposedly provoked fainting, vomiting, and heart attacks in U.S. cinemas.
The British Board of Film Classification initially passed the film with an “X” certificate but then revisited the film after the Video Recordings Act (VRA) was introduced in 1984 and the BBFC had to decide if the video version of the film could remain on the shelves. The censors were concerned that because the protagonist was 12 the film might appeal to under-aged viewers who could access a video more readily than enter a cinema. So, the BBFC, at the beginning of 1988, decided to remove the video from the shelves (after years of availability) and it was to remain unavailable for 11 years because the BBFC felt that a restrictive rating was not enough to protect and prevent young viewers from watching it.
At the film’s initial release, Singapore initially banned it and then re-rated it for M18 after cuts to “a scene of a disfigured statue of the Virgin Mary, and a scene of the possessed girl stabbing herself in the crotch with a crucifix while uttering ‘Jesus f**k you!’”
To conclude I will leave you with this lovely comment from DC’s Politics and Prose website to sum up the spirit of this list: “In celebration of Banned Books Week, Politics & Prose Bookstore tips its cap to the books that offended, outraged, and generally poisoned the minds of the masses with wanton creative expression. Though our selections make great kindling, we assure you they’re much more enjoyable when read. Join us all week on the slide into moral turpitude with the best-censored reading material the canon has to offer.”
And the best films based on them.
- 20 Films to Trace Transgender Representation on Film
- 12 Films to Trace Changing Views on Abortion
- 10 Best Films on the Horrors of Motherhood
