Comparison between the cut BBFC 18 versions on discs 1+2 of the UK DVD edition and the uncut DVD versions (2005 SE + Turner Preview)

 

- 3 cuts
- Cut duration: 14.2 sec (2005 SE) / 16.6 sec (Turner Preview) [in 23.976 fps]

 

In the reports on the Final Preview Cut and the 50th Anniversary Cut, we have already summarized the background and versions of Sam Peckinpah's Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid in detail. This already presented the extent to which these two 2024 releases differed from the options commonly used worldwide on DVDs: the 2005 Special Edition and the Turner Preview Cut. For the sake of completeness, we will also cover the special situation in the UK here, because these two cuts were additionally censored for the double DVD release there.

We combine both of the UK comparisons in this report, because in principle the they were cut on exactly the same three places. However, all three places also reveal the fundamentally different editing between the preview version and the 2005 SE that is relevant here (as well as the theatrical cut, which differs again). The cockfight was shown a little longer there. In the Turner cut, there was additional footage around the horse's fall, and without it, the editing in the 2005 SE had to be done a little differently for continuity reasons.

Finally, it should be noted that Criterion also releases many of its in-house releases on the British market after/alongside US marketing. There are apparently no corresponding plans for the Blu-ray/4K UHD edition of Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid, and so the continued obligatory BBFC censorship may have influenced the fact that the film has not been released here in HD/4K.

 

2005 Special Edition:

• UK DVD: 110:15 min with credits in PAL / 108:24 min w/o credits
• US DVD: 115:10 min with credits in NTSC / 113:14 min w/o credits

Turner Preview:

• UK DVD: 116:27 min with credits in PAL / 114:36 min without credits
• US DVD: 121:43 min with credits in NTSC / 119:47 min without credits

 

Running times are arranged according to the scheme
UK DVDs in PAL / American DVDs in NTSC

Note: In the opening scene, Billy shoots at chickens buried in the sand. This scene can also be seen uncensored in both UK versions.


2005 SE: 44:53 / 46:48-46:52
Turner: 46:12 / 48:11-48:17

After the shot of Alias that concludes the scene, the following scene starts earlier with a small cockfight. How Pat gets involved can be seen again in the UK version.

2005 SE: 4.5 sec

Interestingly, the Turner version was slightly longer at the end of this scene. However, this part, which shows another attack more clearly, was also removed in the corresponding UK version.

Turner 1.8 sec longer (6.3 sec in total)


2005 SE: 44:57 / 46:56-47:01
Turner: 46:16 / 48:21-48:28

In the 2005 SE, the aforementioned shot of Pat is followed by another slow-motion shot of the blood-smeared animals...

2005 SE: 4.9 sec

...and again the Turner version is longer here: in a further shot, the victorious cock pecks at the loser and pulls him away.

Turner 2.9 sec longer (7.8 sec in total)


2005 SE: 54:56 / 57:26-57:31
Turner: 56:51 / 59:31-59:33

Another interesting point of comparison: Let's first take a look at the shot that is missing from both versions. Billy's shot is followed by a medium long shot in which a horse is pulled to the ground.

Turner: 2.5 sec

After this shot, the Turner version shows a short wide shot of the other opponents riding away. The 2005 SE cuts this moment and goes directly to the next shot of Pat and Billy. With removing the horse being pulled down, this would have resulted in a small jump/continuity error in the 2005 SE. As we now had consecutive shots of Pat/Billy, the shot before the horse crash, in which Billy shoots, was also removed here.

2005 SE cut 2.3 sec more (4.8 sec in total)