THE publicity poster for the new Demi Moore film, Striptease which opens in Dublin tomorrow, has been rejected by the film censor, Mr Sheamus Smith.
The decision was referred to the Film Appeals Board, which came up with a compromise: the poster may be exhibited inside but not outside cinemas showing the film, and in newspaper advertising, but it may not be displayed on bus shelters or outdoor poster sites.
Striptease starts Moore as a former FBI clerk who loses custody of her child because she is unemployed and who takes a job as a performer in a topless bar in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The "film was passed by Mr Smith with an over 18s certificate. It is believed he rejected the poster of an undressed Ms Moore in the light of some recent outdoor advertising which was regarded as offensive to women and provocative.
As well as dealing with film content, the censor also vets all film advertising, including trailers, posters and publicity photos. It is unusual for the censor's decisions regarding posters to be referred to the Film Appeals Board. The appeal was made by the film's Irish distributors, Abbey Films.
Earlier this year, the censored the Abbey Films release Showgirls, which also dealt with professional striptease.
Abbey last month appealed the censor's decision to give an over 18s certificate to Terry George's H Block hunger strike film, Some Mother's Son, and the Film Appeals Board passed that film with an over 15s certificate.