Realm of the Censors

Blockbuster Video--which has a policy against carrying X-rated titles--has banned the controversial but unrated “In the Realm of the Senses” from the chain’s 1,300 stores when the Japanese film is distributed Sept. 20.

“Realm,” director Nagisa Oshima’s tale of an obsessive, doomed love affair--replete with male and female frontal nudity and graphic, unsimulated sex--was confiscated by U.S. customs officials in 1976 on its way to the New York Film Festival, and later released unrated.

The video box for “Realm” will carry this label: “WARNING: This unrated feature film presents graphic sexual scenes and is intended for mature adults only (18 or over).”

Nonetheless, Ron Castell, senior veep at Florida-based Blockbuster, says flatly: “It’s simple--we don’t carry those kinds of movies. . . . We adhere to the MPAA. If it’s not rated, it’s decided on a movie-by-movie basis.”

Distributor Fox/Lorber Associates has set distribution deals with a number of other video retailers and established a toll free phone line--(800) 367-8439--to serve customers who may not be able to purchase the film at their local video store.