While the controversial film A Clockwork Orange has finally been passed for cinema release in the State, its poster has been rejected by the film censor, Mr Sheamus Smith.
Warner Bros, which distributes the film in the Republic, will have to produce an alternative poster for the film's Irish release on St Patrick's Day.
The poster, a replica of the one originally used for the film's British release in 1971, has the tagline: "Being the adventures of a young man whose principal interests are rape, ultra-violence and Beethoven." The use of the words "rape" and "ultra-violence" prompted the censor's rejection.
"I believe that the use of those words in the context of advertising would be offensive and inappropriate," Mr Smith told The Irish Times yesterday.
In addition to viewing films intended for public showing in the State, the film censor is responsible for vetting all publicity materials associated with each film.
Directed by the late Stanley Kubrick and based on the novel by Anthony Burgess, A Clockwork Orange features Malcolm McDowell as the leader of the violent Droogs gang.
Even though it opened in London in 1971, the film was not submitted to the Irish film censor until two years later, by which time it was steeped in controversy. The censor viewed the film on April 10th, 1973, and rejected it. Warner Bros did not submit it to the Film Appeals Board.
The film was resubmitted to the censor last year and was passed without cuts and with an 18 certificate.