From:
darkangel5@DONTEMAILMEbtinternet.com
Been doing a comparison of some of the various releases of Deodato's
first foray into cannibal country.
I'm sure we all know the plot, a group of oil prospectors crash their
plane somewhere in the Phillipines, and are quickly picked off by a
cannibal tribe. Whilst soul survivor Robert Harper (Massimo Foschi)
suffers numerous indignities at their hands, spending most of the film
running round naked whilst trying to escape from them, with the help of
Me Me Lai.
Released back in 1977, this one actually had a UK theatrical release
under the title "Cannibal", which was cut by the BBFC. This same cut
version was released onto VHS tape by Derann in the early 80s and it was probably the BBFCs certificate that saved it from being included on the
old Video Nasties list at the time. Though it was later banned, along
with a slew of other titles, under Section 3 of the Obscene Publication Act.
I managed to get hold of a DVDr rip of the old cut UK release to see how
it compared to the uncut version. This release shortens all the animal violence, but doesn't remove it completely. The scene where Robert is
stripped naked omits the scene where the natives are yanking on his
manhood. It also truncates the scene where Robert bashes one of the
natives with a rock to escape the cage and shortens the scene where Me
Me Lai's character is gutted and turned into barbeque. Strangely, the
rape scene between Foschi and Lai was left intact.
The version currently available on UK Disc more heavily cuts the killing
of a crocodile, but leaves all the other gore and animal killings
intact. But this version also removes the scene of Foschi raping Lai.
I understand the film was also cut quite heavily for its US release in
the late 70s/early 80s under the titles "Carniverous" and "The Last
Survivor". But has been available uncut on Disc there now since the
early 00s.
Interestingly, I noticed the old Dutch VHS release from Empire, which
was uncut, used an Italian print, but with an English soundtrack.
However this version had some faults/peculiarities about it.
During the opening scenes, most VHS releases had a sound a jungle noises/birdsong in the background whilst the opening credits rolled,
whereas the Dutch tape has silence. Similarly the audio of the plane
engine mutes when the opening monologue is displayed on screen, and
theres a blip which misses off part of the pilot's opening line when he
asks "Would you care for a drop?". Whereas in other VHS versions the
plane engine was still audible and his line was not clipped. Lastly the
end title music on the Dutch VHS abruptly cuts off as the credits start
to roll, which play out in silence. Which didn't happen on other VHS
releases.
The US DVD from Shriek Show used an English language print, but appears
to use the same botched English audio dub from the Dutch tape. Which
they've attempted to smooth over, by looping some extra audio for the
opening, so we still hear the plane engine. Though there's still no
audio on the opening credits and the pilots opening line still has a
blip. They also managed to re-instate the end music from elsewhere, but
you can notice a slight jump at the point where they looped it back in.
I think Code Red have released this on Blu-Ray, I'm not sure how the
audio compares on that version, but may upgrade my old DVD to this at
some point. So we shall see.
--
Best Wishes
Simon (Dark Angel)
http://www.realmofhorror.co.uk
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