Edited TV versions of Universal Hammer films reportedly found!

[Jobla]

This is third-hand information, but a very good friend has sent me a quote from Richard Klemensen's facebook page, to the effect that three infamously re-edited Universal Hammer films have been found. Klemensen publishes Little Shoppe of Horrors, a magazine devoted to all things Hammer.

The three films are KISS OF THE VAMPIRE, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, and THE EVIL OF FRANKENSTEIN.

Universal cut quite a bit of horror and gore footage from those films when they were televised on network TV in the late 1960's. To take up the slack, newly-shot scenes and subplots were added to the films. KISS OF THE VAMPIRE even had its title changed to KISS OF EVIL.

Klemensen's facebook page mentiones "extras," so hopefully these are being prepped for Blu-ray release.

No specific label was mentioned, however. Scream Factory? Kino? Indicator? Arrow Films?

[BarnDoor]

Has to be Scream Factory given they're putting out Curse of the Werewolf. I don't envision upgrades of every film in the Universal set (namely Captain Clegg, Paranoiac, Nightmare), but the three you mention plus Brides of Dracula seem a safe bet.

[starsteam]

I'd bet on Shout since they're releasing Curse of the Werewolf - and this is a sure way to make me double dip on these titles.

[BarnDoor]

Providing it is Scream, I'd be very interested to see them offer - where plausible - composite cuts (in addition to the theatrical and TV edits), with the added scenes but all the sex and gore retained.

[Jobla]

What I don't know is if the extra scenes have been found on actual film, or just on VHS off-air recordings.

If the latter is correct, the additional scenes might only be available as supplements.

I vaguely recall a DVD release of A FISTFUL OF DOLLARS that featured a rare, shot-for-TV prologue of a Clint Eastwood lookalike being told to clean up the desperados at the behest of the US government. That footage had been recorded on Betamax from a one-time telecast, so it wasn't of the same quality as the rest of the DVD transfer.

[Bobbyjoe766]

Originally Posted by Jobla

What I don't know is if the extra scenes have been found on actual film, or just on VHS off-air recordings.

If the latter is correct, the additional scenes might only be available as supplements.

I vaguely recall a DVD release of A FISTFUL OF DOLLARS that featured a rare, shot-for-TV prologue of a Clint Eastwood lookalike being told to clean up the desperados at the behest of the US government. That footage had been recorded on Betamax from a one-time telecast, so it wasn't of the same quality as the rest of the DVD transfer.

The television footage with Harry Dean Stanton? I found that on the Australian BD release of the film trilogy.

[Jobla]

Harry Dean Stanton sounds correct, but I haven't seen that prologue in many years.

Back to the Hammer note from Richard Klemensen: it's not clear from his post if they've found the extra footage from just EVIL OF FRANKENSTEIN, or from all three films. I suppose we'll find out at a later date.

[jeffarent]

Originally Posted by Jobla

What I don't know is if the extra scenes have been found on actual film, or just on VHS off-air recordings.

If the latter is correct, the additional scenes might only be available as supplements.

I vaguely recall a DVD release of A FISTFUL OF DOLLARS that featured a rare, shot-for-TV prologue of a Clint Eastwood lookalike being told to clean up the desperados at the behest of the US government. That footage had been recorded on Betamax from a one-time telecast, so it wasn't of the same quality as the rest of the DVD transfer.

It’s on the current Blu-ray release

[Richard--W]

Richard Klemensen has always been well-informed on Hammer matters.

I vaguely remember the alternate footage in Kiss of Evil and Phantom of the Opera. It was
hurried and probably shot in a day. Hammer Films and the original cast were not involved.
It was shot by Universal in Los Angeles.

[Jobla]

Klemensen is well informed, but his facebook post seems a bit contradictory. He states that the extra footage has been found for all three films. However, in the same post, he asks for help in locating the extra footage for KISS and PHANTOM.

We'll find out soon enough.

[vortexx]

I've had copies of the TV hammer prints that I recorded in the 80s on VHS off the air. I doubt they would be hard to find for someone to use as an extra. These circulated to stations on 16mm, so I'm sure actual 16mm prints pop up on Ebay as well as other film collector's sites. I had no idea these would be considered rare these days. I'm pretty sure I had come across 16mm prints for sale over the years, but i was mostly buying rarer unreleased (on video anywhere) films.

[DrCushing]

I don't think LOST is the word to use for the footage. Being shown on TV, there are prints around and VHS recordings. Example, I have the TV version of EVIL on 16mm and VHS. I think it is a matter of simply locating the footage (prints, VHS, YouTube uploads) as it really isn't lost.

[Bobbyjoe766]

The Evil of Frankenstein added television scenes can be found on YouTube.