Given that the film featured not only a child prostitution theme, but also full frontal nudity involving a 12-year-old Brooke Shields, it was inevitable that the Board would have to scrutinise the film very carefully.Įxaminers noted that 'the film shed a gentler and more sympathetic light on its child-whore subject than Taxi Driver did, and raised similar issues The period setting also gives a historically truthful context that softens the impact. This Bill, which became the Protection of Children Act 1978, would criminalise the manufacture and distribution of any 'indecent' images of children under the age of 16. However, it raised particular difficulties for the Board given that it was submitted at the precise moment the Protection of Children Bill was making its way through Parliament. Louis Malle's drama about child prostitution in early twentieth century New Orleans had already aroused controversy in the press and overseas when it was first seen by the BBFC on 28 March 1978.
