Count Dracula - 1970 - Spain AKA - Les Nuits de Dracula Faithful retelling of Stoker’s novel, up to a point. Christopher Lee as the elderly count who grows more youthful as the film progresses (years before Coppola’s take). Excellent Barcelona locations, effective music, solid acting, are all undercut by indifferent direction. Aside from his usual money problems, one gets the feeling Jess Franco simply lost interest. No nudity, certainly no hard core pornography that mark many of his films. The print I saw was outstanding, and boasted a fine commentary by historian David Del Valle and actor Maria Rohm. Rohm is sharp and her answers insightful. Glad she participated, otherwise hers would be lost history. ======================================= Cuadecuc, Vampir - 1971 - Spain Christopher Lee filmed Count Dracula for Jess Franco in 1970, with a powerhouse cast. While the narrative was faithful to Stoker, the budget was meager and it showed. Nevertheless - during filming, director Pere Portabella lensed this strange dish. Black n white, silent film, consisting of outtakes, over-exposures, and oddities. Such as, you’ll see the clapperboard from time to time, also cameras, actors hanging around, laughing. The music is a mix of ambiant, musique concrète, lounge, and empty silence. Sets are atmospheric, the pace is lethargic. Some have slotted this into arthouse territory, but it strikes me as an art installation. Meaning something you might see in a museum or gallery, watch it for 10-20 minutes, then drift away. Definitely a curio.
The Thief and the Cobbler (one of the names of this movie), initially released in 1993. This movie had a production time that measured in the decades, and there are at least two different versions of this movie. The following video will explain the versions better than I can (Note: Contains some NSFW language and elements):
THE POSSESSION OF VIRGINIA (1972-French Canadian). Filmed in Montreal. It stars Daniel Pilon, Danielle Ouimet, Louise Marleau, Rose-Rey Duzil. Directed by Jean Beaudin (1939-2019). I mentioned this movie in the opening post seven pages ago but realized I failed to mention the differences between the 2 versions of the movie. I've seen it some 12 times as near as I can figure; 10 times for the English-dubbed print and twice for the original French-spoken version. I think it oozes a uniquely Canadian 'vibe'. "The Possession of Virginia" was released by ASTRAL VIDEO (Canadian label) in an English-dubbed Tv print in the early 1980s. It runs 82m 18secs. → There may have been an English-dubbed, un-cut Canadian theatrical print but it has never surfaced on any homevideo medium to date. The edited version on Astral is the only English-spoken release there is. Not all of the cuts to this version of the film were for content; I noted some quick cuts to ends of scenes in this version to make the movie fit in a 90-minute time slot for Canadian Tv viewers. The scene where the cultists are partying -- some of them nude -- at the end is mostly cut out. And there's non-objectionable content cuts of other lil' bits here 'n' there, including the opening and closing credits. The opening scene (which is actually spelled incorrectly "The Posession of Virginia") cuts the credit sequence in half compared to the un-cut French version and there are no closing credits on the Tv print. The Astral version ends with an ominous voiceover before the screen fades to black ("You've all come to the Black Mass that I provide •(pause)• Let No One Be A Stranger"). The French version on CIC Video has a different ending and features an end credit sequence with singing as the credits roll. "The Possession of Virginia" would make a very good double-bill with "The Pyx" (1973-Canadian), which was also filmed in Montreal and features some French dialog along with the English. Both movies have a similar premise about cults. (Note "The Pyx" has another English title: The Hooker Cult Murders). Note also it sounds like Daniel Pilon did his own voice dubbing for the English version. It really does sound like his voice on the English-language soundtrack. (He's 'Paul Dwyer' in English and 'Paul Drouin' in French, btw).
We have the movie SATANWAR (1979) up today. There's 3 versions of this low-budget, mind-frying flick. The full version of the movie runs 92 minutes; one of the shorter versions runs 76 minutes while the shortest version runs ~ 60 minutes. The full-length version, which seems to be quite rare, is on YouTube as "satanwar - full version featuring black mass intro". Other versions cut out the opening 15 minute intro but do contain the segment at the end while the shortest versions cut out the intro -and- the outro segment and only feature the middle segment about the couple battling demons in their home with some outrageous '70s-style wallpaper on display. This movie features a crazy music score with synthesizers prominently heard. Wow. If you're looking for a nutty way to spend 90 minutes go to YouTube and type "satanwar - full version featuring black mass intro". The uploader, a gent named 'Normal Shnormal', uploaded the uncut version from a Canadian television showing circa 1989. Is 'SATANWAR' kind of creepy? Could be. Is it bonkers? Definitely! Remember fellow humans: Don't take that bargain when looking for a house on the cheap! It could be infested with a demon who likes to 'grow' marshmallow glop out of your cabinets! → You must see this movie if only to marvel at the 'Evil Marshmallow Glop' and the whacked-out synthesizers. YE GODS!
I broached this notion earlier (#139) with no feedback to guide me. So ... here's an opening volley. . This Is Tokyo (Gojira + Godzilla) - 1954 - 6/10 “History shows again and again, how Nature points out the folly of men.” Fanedit mix of Gojira (1954) with Godzilla, King of the Monsters! (1956) by G&G-Fan. A shrewd idea. Combining the 1954 Japanese version with the 1956 American version. Meaning all the scenes with Raymond Burr’s character are in English, the rest in Japanese. The narrative bounces back and forth between the Japanese version and the US. The styles are different. The Japanese mixes action, a weak love story, and ethical concerns. The US version is akin to a dry documentary, explaining action, strategies and backstories. While they fit together and complement each other, it is an awkward marriage. There were one or two audio bites that could have been excised, though nothing untoward.
Have we mentioned Luigi Cozzi's edit of Godzilla, King of the Monsters? It's on the Internet Archive.
GETTYSBURG (1993-Historical Drama). Theatrical version ran 248 minutes, but there was a Director's Cut made available that ran 271 minutes. Then there was the follow-up "prequel" film GODS AND GENERALS (2003) that ran 223 minutes in theaters and then there was a 231-minute version issued on homevideo. Watching these 2 movies back-to-back would take up an entire afternoon and evening!
Once Upon a Time in America There was a seriously butchered US theatrical version. Once Upon a Time in America - Wikipedia
In regard to "Gettysburg", I watched that one over the course of two nights. I never seen "Gods and Generals".
A cut which is now hard to find* since the Cannes cut** has replaced it over here. *did it receive a VHS release? **although it had to be trimmed for an R; it was resubmitted for DVD and BluRay and this time received an R with no cuts
The short U.S. version of ONCE UPON A TIME IN AMERICA did receive a VHS release from Warner if I'm not mistaken. In a clamshell case.
I *was* mistaken. → It looks like the short U.S. theatrical version of ONCE UPON A TIME IN AMERICA was not released on VHS. WARNER HOME VIDEO did issue the movie in a fat clamshell case and there is notice on the box front: The Original Motion Pictures As Shown At The New York Film Festival. The BIG video box says 225 minutes.
I don't recall if it's been mentioned yet over the course of the 7 pages but it occurred to me the 1970 movie WOODSTOCK had an expanded version released years later with more musical performances added.
Here's a couple of mid-80s movies where the DVD release adds back in a few shots eliminated from the theatrical versions; apparently to get an [R]-rating instead of the dreaded [X]! FUTURE KILL (1984) and FROM BEYOND (1986). Both movies coincidentally were released on VHS by Vestron. As best as I can tell there wasn't much footage added back and it hardly seemed worth the trouble for either film to cut away the bits of footage thanks to the dopey MPAA's 'request'. I've got both tapes on Vestron and I've seen both movies several times and then I saw the footage that was put back into each film and wondered why it was even cut to begin with.
I think MGM is usually good about adding footage back in when then issue a film on DVD. On a lot of those '80s movies the stuff that they considered too gory for an "R" at the time certainly isn't more gory than what get by with today.
A lot of the horror movies released on Vestron usually had both a "R" and an "Unrated" version. As for tv edits, there are a lot of movies that had additional footage added back in for network television. All the Police Academy movies, Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, Halloween II all had various deleted scenes added back in for tv showings. There's also a lot of movies that just have 1 or 2 scenes added back in.
Star Trek II:The Wrath of Khan and Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country. Both have the theatrical cuts and Director’s editions available plus Star Trek: The Motion Picture which has three versions-the theatrical, DC (though it wasn’t released until after the cut off) and extended version for TV. Kong Kong (1976) has both a theatrical and TV cut which is about an hour or so longer. ‘Horror of Dracula (Dracula) (1958) has an American edit, British edit and Japanese edit which have some subtle differences in the former and later case is much more graphic. Though I don’t know if all three are available.
I've heard of the 2 various versions of HORROR OF DRACULA (1958), but I don't know which 'cut' I've seen. I've not heard of the Japanese version being different before, though. That's a new one to me. The only time I've seen the movie is on Turner Classic Movies a couple of times and I don't know what version they've shown. → Perhaps it could be a situation like IT'S A MAD MAD MAD MAD WORLD where TCM has definitely aired 2 versions of the movie. I reckon it's possible TCM could've aired a 'less-explicit' version of "Horror of Dracula" and more explicit version at different times as the channel's been around since 1994.
The Japanese version had some longer takes of the scenes where the stagings occur and the final fight with Dracula. The BFI did a restoration of it as I recall (for some of the material) and it’s included as an extra on the UK Blu-Ray. Evidently,,it was somewhat common for there to be variations for Hammer films early on based on the country released in but Horror of Dracula has some of the most. Horror of Dracula (1958) - Alternate Versions - IMDb
@gitters: I just thought of another movie released by Vestron Video with an uncut version and shortened, cleaned-up version: The 1982 Brazilian film AMOR ESTRANHO AMOR ("Love Strange Love"). Vestron issued a 120-minute version and a 97-minute version. The 'voice actors' (I use the term loosely) who did the English dubbing were fairly dreadful. With professional dubbing the movie would've been much better instead of the amateur-night voices used. Yecch!
S.O.S. Eisberg - 1933 - Germany A member of the Arctic expedition had wandered away, then presumed dead. Except, 200 days later evidence surfaces of his dogged existence. Four men set out to rescue, along with a Husky dog and a sled. Photography in this is stunning, especially watching characters navigate glaciers, icebergs, pack ice. Likewise aerial reconnaissance. The planes weaving and banking between icebergs is breathtaking. (Stunt pilot Ernst Udet had flown with von Richthofen’s Flying Circus and was an ace with 62 victories.) There seem too many scenes of man vs nature, and heroic endurance. As with US / Mexican versions of Dracula (1931), Universal filmed the concurrent S.O.S. Iceberg, for US audiences, using most of the same cast (Leni Riefenstahl in both).
