I have been Studying The Conan Completist Deleted and Alternate scenes found here.
http://conancompletist.com/EN/narration01.htm
In terms of the way deleted and alternative content works I wish to run through the film and estimation of how much is actually missing. you will have to open the link in a new tab to follow my descriptions on the points.
Conan Narration - Concerning the Shot used in Conan the Destroyer taken from Conan the Barbarian footage this does not work over the Mako Narration. Although we have a Black screen for the Narration A snippet of this shot may have been earmarked but assume if there was footage it was World Building and scenery or matte paintings Setting up Hyboria. No time difference swap black screen for footage.
Apparently It was meant to be a map of Europe Africa and Asia but then it would dissolve into a map of Hyboria…
Riddle of Steel - Nothing Missing
Riders of Doom - Yes Conan’s Mother Kills a soldier 4-5 seconds Nothing else is really missing
Wheel of Pain - Cuts but Nothing Missing
Pitfight - Cuts but purposeful montage / Alternate Montage is possible either way it’s brief.
Enslaved - Extended Montage again It’s Brief momments nothing much.
Earthquake - Nothing Missing (Alternative path to freedom)
The Thing in the Crypt - Nothing Missing
Lizard on a stick - Cut but ultimately not needed.
Mammoth Sighting - Nothing Missing but funny
Pickpocket - Short Snippet yes Missing scene showing lawlessness
The procession - Yes Missing Scene in connection with the lawless world comes a procession showing a different way of life although under the notion of peace is something more sinister. The scene above and this one is all part of the same sequence.
Tower of the Serpent - Yes Missing Scenes in Garden and tower ascent
The Beast with 3 eyes - The So called Beast with 3 eyes is the same type of masked Thug that stirs the human soup pot in the orgy chamber except that guy had his ears chopped off or missing. If he was up the top of the tower it was a quick kill But very doubtful… Valeria takes jewels from the wall yes small deleted scene here.
The Sacrificial Pit - It is not a Version A or Version B so much as the Flashback was over explained or over extended Possibly. Either Losing the shot of James Earl Jones or the Symbol at the village, when the Flashback is condense… This allows Subotai to come down the tunnel Point at the snake warning Conan; Conan turns as the snake lunges. The Audio Mix also reflects the sequence that the snake lunges with a hiss this then continues on to Conan Stabbing the snake. Alternative footage and scene order no time difference.
Love yurt - Small cuts missing showing each other there Slave collar scars potential Flash back of Valeria pit fighting here. This established what they had in common they came from the same sort of place.
King Ozric - Yes shortened Meeting with Max Von Sydow Kings Death is Missing and Snake cult Priest asking for Daughters Hand in Marriage. Also Not mentioned The Minature of King Ozrics Wooden Castle was not Shown in an establishing shot.
Back Home - Nothing Missing
Mountain of Power - Yes James Earl Jones Speech shortened
Tortured - Yes Shortened (But I got the gist…)
Fangs of the Serpent - Yes Missing Scene
Tree of Woe - Nothing really missing Comedy cut from tree of Woe for good reason
The Orgy Chamber - I am not so sure that there is So much Time Missing although Alternative Material is at play here (Censorship). Particularly the shot Thogrimm looking in confusion after the Big Pillar falls lingers far too long this replaces Subotai firing an arrow and Conan taking the princess on his shoulders.
The Princess - Cuts Shortened scene perhaps stronger for it? This touches on the marriage plot between Thulsa Doom and Yasminia. This was redundant as it would have been covered in the Death of King Ozric Deleted scene.
Moby Dick Scene - I think it should have remained cut
Battle of the Mounds - I have looked into this and a video will follow soon on various editing errors and cuts.
Finale - Although the article does not mention there is another Guard killed by Conan before He faces off against Thulsa Doom atop the temple other than that possible alternative material that was more graphic…
Epilogue - Nothing is Missing
In Summary as far as story goes the marriage sub plot between Thulsa Doom and Princess Yasmina was removed aswell as Valerias pit fighting Slave History.
In Terms of Censorship cuts We are looking at about +25-30 seconds tops without considering Conans torture as most will fall into alternate (cover) shots with a couple of exception.
In terms of some other shortening this is natural aside from (James Earl Jones) Thulsa Doom Speech and the Tower of Set Gardens and ascent and Death of King Ozric. The Procession and Pickpocket scene were I would imagine the point of realization that they would assault the Tower of Set, as they were high as kites and that does not tally up so the conscious decision was made upon a hilltop to assault the tower.
So all in all I would imagine it’s falling short of a uncut version by about 7 minutes approximately.
Whilst Looking at the Valeria’s Funeral Pyre scene I noticed that the music repeated itself awkwardly… As I looked into it further I also noticed that there was missing Narration by Mako the Wizard that ended up in Conan the Destroyer. So I put this rough Clip together although I think the footage is perhaps in the wrong order as per the original scene orders may need a shuffle the Dissolve is essentially missing (or it might not be?). The important note is that the Jewel (Eye of the Serpent) Flash and then the Pyre Erupt were simultaneous and this connection was lost slightly in editing due to the botched audio and the missing Dissolve.
Video here of Fix to Pyre scene.
Anyway I thought fans might find this small clip interesting. Interestingly at the end Conan has the Torch back in his Hand and throws it on the ground again on the last shot of the sequence… Basically what I think is that I got it slightly wrong but the narration is correct and it does make very clear a few editing errors on this part. Needs further inspection for correct scene order sound effects, continuity and so on. I imagine the last shot should be the Shot of the Pyre in the sequence so the last shot currently and magic eruption might come earlier? Wait a bit on this one. I thought it was important as “Valeria” is never mentioned in name in the film apart from this missing narration by Mako.
The Battle of the mounds battle will follow and that if far more interesting stay tuned for the analysis. The only Hope for a Further re-cutting of the Film would ultimately come to rest on Scwarzenegger as John Milius is Ill and it’s a shame further time was not invested into a full uncut version.
When you see the Battle of the Mounds analysis you will be crying for the uncut version!
The Purpose of this thread is going to change a bit… Going to explain the main censorship cuts to the x-rated version at the least.
copy of script below