…a religious flyer

“ABANDON HOPE ALL YE WHO ENTER HERE”

No, not the Gates of Hell, but the Clifton Cinema, Evesham in 1974.

Forty years on, it is hard to comprehend the controversy that once surrounded the release of The Exorcist, a film adaptation of the novel by William Peter Blatty, and one of the most successful and profitable horror films in history.

Because of its graphic depiction of child exorcism the film was banned in the UK by some local councils, who had ultimate say over what was shown in cinemas in their area. It followed on from a spate of controversial films of the early 1970’s including A Clockwork Orange, Straw Dogs, Deep Throat, and Last Tango in Paris, all of which pushed the boundaries of permissiveness and good taste.

This leaflet was handed to cinemagoers, including yours truly, as they went in to watch the film and was probably produced by the short-lived group known as The Nationwide Festival of Light, headed by Mary Whitehouse and Malcolm Muggeridge, among others.

So. Was I traumatised by the film? No. Did I enjoy it? Er..I can’t remember.