Witchfinder General 4K UHD (1968) 88 Films

[Muyfa666]

Originally Posted by oddbox83

It seems to suggest 3 options:

Uncut European version (no Devil's Dumplings)
US version (no Devil's Dumplings)
US Version (with Devil's Dumplings)

What's Devil's Dumplings?

[Le Grande Blu]

Originally Posted by Muyfa666

What's Devil's Dumplings?

You know, baps, fun bags, naughty pillows...

[Muyfa666]

Originally Posted by Le Grande Blu

You know, baps, fun bags, naughty pillows...

Aha, you mean the tatas. ;-)

So what does it boil down to? Are there actually 3 versions in this release?

[sultanofcinema]

I saw this film when it opened on a double feature with Frogs! Watched the 4K last night. The box is beautiful and actually textured as is Blood On Satan's Claw and reversable jacket for the disc case itself. Two versions here, uncut UK version and the AIP US version. Quality will knock your eyeballs out of your head and sound is outstanding. The nudity that everyone is referring to is in the US /AIP cut (The Conqueror Worm) as well as the alternate soundtrack via seamless branching.

[PullBackCamera]

Now this is how you do a 4K UHD. Fresh scan by the distributor, consistent grading in HDR, no DNR, original audio, top notch encoding. Is it really that difficult? Full marks.

[Braktastic]

First time viewer here. When my copy arrives from Amazon UK, which should I watch first, the ncut UK version or the AIP US version?

[sultanofcinema]

Originally Posted by Braktastic

First time viewer here. When my copy arrives from Amazon UK, which should I watch first, the ncut UK version or the AIP US version?

Always view your uncut version first then the AIP version

[funkymonkey]

Originally Posted by sultanofcinema

Always view your uncut version first then the AIP version

To be accurate it is not the AIP version - it is the original home video version with replaced score by Kendal Schmidt - bloody awful burbling synth. The original AIP release did have the Price narration at the beginning and end, but not this godawful score.

[Braktastic]

Originally Posted by funkymonkey

To be accurate it is not the AIP version - it is the original home video version with replaced score by Kendal Schmitt - bloody awful burbling synth. The original AIP release did have the Price narration at the beginning and end, but not this godawful score.

It seems like choosing which score you wanted should have been a viewing option?

[funkymonkey]

Originally Posted by Braktastic

It seems like choosing which score you wanted should have been a viewing option?

The Home Video cut is also something of a hybrid as it features the Synth score, plus the nude inserts from the export version that were never shown in the USA or UK. The UK cut of the film is also somewhat mistitled as this version never screened in the UK as it was censored by the BBFC in 1968. Nevertheless this is how it was intended to be seen, so I don't have a problem with that. Why anyone would want to watch the Home video cut is beyond me. The nude scenes are already available as an extra feature if anyone would want to see them. They add NOTHING to the story and are just alternate takes of the same scenes.

[Muyfa666]

I will probably only watch the "original" version, not the AIP.

[TK_171]

Got my copy today. Slipcover is another winner from 88 films!

[Muyfa666]

How can the german BD have 5 different cuts? Anyone knows?

[The Hornets]

Originally Posted by Muyfa666

How can the german BD have 5 different cuts? Anyone knows?

Aren't 3:

• UK theatrical (BBFC censored)
• European (uncut version of UK)
• US (with nudity)

Was the German dub a different version ?
Did they cut the nudity into the European to get an extra version ?
Remember at least with 88 Films the European (uncut UK) and US have different scores, so did they overlay those on the other version.

[Andrew Woo]

Originally Posted by The Hornets

Aren't 3:

• UK theatrical (BBFC censored)
• European (uncut version of UK)
• US (with nudity)

Was the German dub a different version ?
Did they cut the nudity into the European to get an extra version ?
Remember at least with 88 Films the European (uncut UK) and US have different scores, so did they overlay those on the other version.

Plus two times the "The Conqueror Worm" version with the different scores (Paul Ferris/Kendall Schmidt).

[oddbox83]

Is it any wonder this is getting confusing?

I suppose you can understand why 88 made it more concise - the director's preferred cut, and an alternative cut with the most differences. Even then it's got confusing, because it's not the US theatrical cut but the video cut.

[funkymonkey]

Originally Posted by oddbox83

Is it any wonder this is getting confusing?

I suppose you can understand why 88 made it more concise - the director's preferred cut, and an alternative cut with the most differences. Even then it's got confusing, because it's not the US theatrical cut but the video cut.

To be fair it does say it is the US Video cut when you choose which version to watch. The UK uncut version is still the way to go. Looks and sounds superb, and still has the power to shock. I thoroughly enjoyed my viewing a couple of days ago for the first time in years.

[oddbox83]

Right, so the wording of some reviews made it appear there may be 2 options of the US cut, but as you say the menu is specific and says just US home video cut. I sampled it and removing the beautiful original score is a travesty! Still, kudos for including it, as many buyers of this disc may have first experienced the movie with that cut.

The film looks stunning. Really, really nice DV grade. It's just got lots of lovely range in the often naturally lit scenes that really lifts the whole viewing experience. The grade really smooths out optical transitions too, maybe helped by the fact they seem to be reasonably high quality to begin with so don't dip drastically like optical sometimes can.

Loved the new extras. Marion Curren could hold a feature on her own, she comes across as having such a lovely yet wicked humour. I was in stitches. I've no idea how true her Price anecdote is or if she had just added 2+2 and got 5, but it was funny anyway.

[funkymonkey]

Originally Posted by oddbox83

Right, so the wording of some reviews made it appear there may be 2 options of the US cut, but as you say the menu is specific and says just US home video cut. I sampled it and removing the beautiful original score is a travesty! Still, kudos for including it, as many buyers of this disc may have first experienced the movie with that cut.

The film looks stunning. Really, really nice DV grade. It's just got lots of lovely range in the often naturally lit scenes that really lifts the whole viewing experience. The grade really smooths out optical transitions too, maybe helped by the fact they seem to be reasonably high quality to begin with so don't dip drastically like optical sometimes can.

Loved the new extras. Marion Curren could hold a feature on her own, she comes across as having such a lovely yet wicked humour. I was in stitches. I've no idea how true her Price anecdote is or if she had just added 2+2 and got 5, but it was funny anyway.

Yeah I was quite surprised when she came out and said what she did about Price. His daughter has confirmed he was bisexual and always pretty outrageous. Given how he behaved off set his performance in the film is even more remarkable. Although I know the film well it is still nice to be a bit taken aback by his performance given the other stuff you are used to seeing him give the same campy performance in. It was nice that he ultimately forgave Reeves for treating him badly and admitted it was possibly the best performance he ever gave. I agree.

[DaiShuryou]

This and Blood on Satan's Claw are sold out at the 88 Films shop.
Does "sold out" mean sold out forever at their store or is it a "out of stock" kind of thing?
I had problems with PayPal for awhile and couldn't pre-order both movies. Now that I can finally use PayPal again, they are sold out and hopefully not for good