 UK censor John Trevelyan (qv) was wary of issuing the film a  cinema certificate and suggested to the distributors that the film  be shown on a club basis. When it was initially shown at the Open  Space Theatre in London in February 1970 the cinema was raided by  police who attempted to seize the film, leading Trevelyan himself to  hastily rush to the cinema and vigorously defend the movie against  possible prosecution, calling the police action unjustified and  preposterous. In the light of this incident Trevelyan was able to  grant the film an uncut X certificate.