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Idea: TOTAL RECALL (1990) - UNCUT Version Reconstruction

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 (Edited)

most of you guys might be aware that Total Recall (1990) originally got an X Rating

Info from Internet movie database

Total Recall was initially given an X-rating by the MPAA. The following are the scenes that were trimmed to receive a R-rating:

  • Benny’s death is optically cropped to remove the exiting drill erupting from his stomach.
  • The innocent bystander used as a shield was bloodier before trimming.
  • The stabbing of Helm in the bar had the bowie knife slicing up his stomach. Stills of this were actually featured in Fangoria magazine at the time of the film’s release.
  • Several shots of the scientists being killed by Quaid after he breaks free from the implant-machine were shortened.
  • The scene of Richter’s arms being severed was shortened.

What I intend to do is maybe try and reconstruct the edited scenes with any source I could find and I also might try and recreate the scenes

if you guys happened to have a fangoria magazine with an image of helm being sliced up that was mentioned in the cut scenes can you guys let me know

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Would love to see the unrated version get a release, but sadly, it looks like it’s never going to happen. I wonder if they lost the footage or something.

Shame, because I think the unrated Robocop is excellent.

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 (Edited)

This did get my interest… Honestly this is a great film and I am not sure that much could be done here to improve upon what is there already.

Do you know if any of this footage is available anywhere?

I did check my special edition dvd tonight but there does not seem to be anything to much regarding these censored scenes. At least the parts that claim to be censored don’t appear to be available as far as I am aware.

It talked about the censorship and there were a few clips to go with that but I don’t think there is anything for Benny being drilled or Helm being stabbed.

There seems to be talk of the Australian Version but I doubt it is any different can you confirm any different version?

There is a picture on the dvd with the stabbing and a small bit of blood coming through his t-shirt so I doubt it’s as graphic as the fangora photos.

The Japanese VHS apparently cut’s to quaid being in the chair at Recall with alternate music cue.

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Jackpittorino said:

most of you guys might be aware that Total Recall (1990) originally got an X Rating

Info from Internet movie database

Total Recall was initially given an X-rating by the MPAA. The following are the scenes that were trimmed to receive a R-rating:

  • Benny’s death is optically cropped to remove the exiting drill erupting from his stomach.
  • The innocent bystander used as a shield was bloodier before trimming.
  • The stabbing of Helm in the bar had the bowie knife slicing up his stomach. Stills of this were actually featured in Fangoria magazine at the time of the film’s release.
  • Several shots of the scientists being killed by Quaid after he breaks free from the implant-machine were shortened.
  • The scene of Richter’s arms being severed was shortened.

What I intend to do is maybe try and reconstruct the edited scenes with any source I could find and I also might try and recreate the scenes

if you guys happened to have a fangoria magazine with an image of helm being sliced up that was mentioned in the cut scenes can you guys let me know

I’D LOVE TO SEE THIS TOO BUT DON’T THINK IT’S EVER BEEN SHOWN IN CLIPS.

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 (Edited)

This may have it.
https://www.amazon.de/Total-Recall-Arnold-Schwarzenegger/dp/B0083E1FDG/ref=as_sl_pc_as_ss_li_til?tag=rewind01-21&linkCode=w00&linkId=&creativeASIN=B0083E1FDG

http://dvdcompare.net/comparisons/film.php?fid=806

A supposedly “Uncut” german dvd release. The runtime is listed as 109 minutes, and I see other PAL releases listed at 103 minutes… Not sure what to make of it, probably bogus. I can’t imagine that there is 6 minutes of additional footage.

I’ve got the original LD release, I’ll have a look at that, I thought for sure it showed Benny’s chest and the drill, but not any of the other clips mentioned.

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riftamos said:

A supposedly “Uncut” german dvd release. The runtime is listed as 109 minutes, and I see other PAL releases listed at 103 minutes… Not sure what to make of it, probably bogus. I can’t imagine that there is 6 minutes of additional footage.

I’ve got the original LD release, I’ll have a look at that, I thought for sure it showed Benny’s chest and the drill, but not any of the other clips mentioned.

Uncut German is normal us version… It was strongly cut in Germany back in times.
And comparing 109 minute HD BD with a 103 minute DVD… It’s just the same… PAL just runs faster than ntsc and 1080p.

"I kill Gandalf." - Igor, Dork Tower

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MrBrown said:

Uncut German is normal us version… It was strongly cut in Germany back in times.
And comparing 109 minute HD BD with a 103 minute DVD… It’s just the same… PAL just runs faster than ntsc and 1080p.

Understood, that makes sense.

I was under the impression that this was a 109 minute PAL DVD release not BD

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Okay, pal running time is about 108 to 109 minutes. Same version as the normal 113 minutes ntsc version.

The cut version in germany had a runtime of 106 minutes in PAL.

No country so far got the unrated lost cut.

The normal us rated-r Version was not for sell in public (not banned, just considered harmful for youth) so in regular stores people just could get the cut version. You had to get the uncut (rated r) version on stores just for adults,and online stores.

Few years ago the movie got removed from the list of considered harmful media, and was re-rated by the FSK.
The movie got a rating of 16,but because of bonus features there is the red 18 rating on front. But now the uncut (compared to us r-rated) could be sold in normal stores, so the big “Uncut” is on that fro t as a selling point.

The German “uncut” mostly is regarding original theatrical releases. Often seen when movies also got cut releases for younger target groups.

"I kill Gandalf." - Igor, Dork Tower

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 (Edited)

This is probably the only missing uncut Verhoven film. pretty much all his other titles have an uncut version or uncensored version.

I reckon it is assembled and cut full soundmix too but not released.

And it’s also a great film.

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MrBrown said:

Okay, pal running time is about 108 to 109 minutes. Same version as the normal 113 minutes ntsc version.

The cut version in germany had a runtime of 106 minutes in PAL.

No country so far got the unrated lost cut.

The normal us rated-r Version was not for sell in public (not banned, just considered harmful for youth) so in regular stores people just could get the cut version. You had to get the uncut (rated r) version on stores just for adults,and online stores.

Few years ago the movie got removed from the list of considered harmful media, and was re-rated by the FSK.
The movie got a rating of 16,but because of bonus features there is the red 18 rating on front. But now the uncut (compared to us r-rated) could be sold in normal stores, so the big “Uncut” is on that fro t as a selling point.

The German “uncut” mostly is regarding original theatrical releases. Often seen when movies also got cut releases for younger target groups.

Gotcha - now I’m on the same page.

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 (Edited)

Are you talking about the Uncut Total Recall- The Mind-Bending edition USA Region 1 BD, director approved version? Or are you looking at making an extended cut version of Total Recall. I bought this version, but I haven’t watched it yet. I forgot all about it until I saw this thread. My recall is not so total.

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kaarma33 said:

Are you talking about the Uncut Total Recall- The Mind-Bending edition USA Region 1 BD, director approved version?

That one’s not unrated, it’s still the R-rated cut.

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riftamos said:

This may have it.
https://www.amazon.de/Total-Recall-Arnold-Schwarzenegger/dp/B0083E1FDG/ref=as_sl_pc_as_ss_li_til?tag=rewind01-21&linkCode=w00&linkId=&creativeASIN=B0083E1FDG

http://dvdcompare.net/comparisons/film.php?fid=806

A supposedly “Uncut” german dvd release. The runtime is listed as 109 minutes, and I see other PAL releases listed at 103 minutes… Not sure what to make of it, probably bogus. I can’t imagine that there is 6 minutes of additional footage.

I’ve got the original LD release, I’ll have a look at that, I thought for sure it showed Benny’s chest and the drill, but not any of the other clips mentioned.

I can remember a lazer disk Australia version that was uncut uncut as i can remember the drill bit

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 (Edited)

As mentioned the German release is simply “uncut” because the US release was censored in Germany. Has nothing to do with those unrated scenes.

If one wants to restore scenes to something, why not tackle the classic anime Fist of the North Star. The scenes of that actually exist, unlike Total Recall.

There is this blu ray:

https://www.rightstufanime.com/Fist-of-the-North-Star-The-Movie-Blu-ray

However, some scenes are still censored. But there’s an Italian VHS and a Japanese trailer that shows some of these scenes uncensored. Here is a page that compared the censored/uncensored scenes and has info on them

https://lostmediawiki.com/Fist_of_the_North_Star_(partially_lost_original_uncensored_version_of_anime_film;_1986)

If someone could replace those censored scenes into the 4x3 aspect ratio blu ray footage that would be divine