This is a comparison between the cut US Version (represented by the German Blu-Ray released by 20th Century Fox) and the uncut Original Version (represented by the German DVD released by 20th Century Fox).


- 1 difference with censorship
- Difference in time: 58.1 sec



As we all know, Americans are rather sensitive when it comes to sex scenes. Sometimes, movies which might be okay for 12 to 16-year-olds to watch in other countries not even get an R-Rating. This, of course, presupposes that uncut versions of such movies actually do get released in other countries - often, the pre-censored versions do get released worldwide. The Blu-Ray age involves even more risks that in general were already there during the DVD-age (this is especially the case if the UK received a censored version; due to the fact that all European countries nowadays more or less get the same release, other countries also have to deal with censored versions instead of uncut releases on VHS or on TV). Often, an HD master is made solely in the USA and then used for the worldwide releases. Thus, if other countries do not take care of an HD-master themselves or at least re-include the missing sequences, they will suffer as well.

This is apparently the case for Sleeping with the Enemy from 1991 starring Julia Roberts. Unfortunately, this was barely known, even though the IMDB includes a few vague alterations in comparison to an "alternative cut". Even the old UK Version with a BBFC-15 rating is marked as missing out on one minute. Later, the uncut version was released in the UK with a BBFC-18 rating; a few years after, the movie was released on DVD and then received a BBFC-15 rating. However, on Blu-Ray, they - as well as other European countries - solely got the cut US DVD.

Right at the beginning of the movie, a passionate sex scene between the two main characters was heavily cut. There is also some alternative footage to be found, which is why one could even argue that the US Version is its own official version. Yet it is not 100% sure whether or not the scene was actually too much to get the R-Rating, yet it is very noticeable that the only alteration concerns such a scene.



Time designations are listed as follows:
Cut Blu-Ray / Uncut DVD [PAL]

Alternative Scene
05:47-05:51 / 05:32-06:34

In the US Version, the shot is a little longer and the two of them stumble out of the frame.

In the Original Version we instead see a long shot of the two of them, followed by a more explicit depiction of the actual sex.

Uncut Version 58.1 sec longer



In the 47th minute (cut Blu-ray) / 46th minute (uncut PAL-DVDs) Laura knocks at Ben's door while he involuntarily burns something in the kitchen.
According to the IMDB there exists an alternative take where Laura jokingly says "Is this what they mean by warm welcome?" Both the cut Blu-Ray and the uncut DVD instead include the joke "Fire department!"

58:13 / 56:47

When Ben "kidnaps" Laura - or rather wants to surprise her - the black screen betins a little earlier. This does not happen due to censorship.

0.5 sec


Blu-Ray longer
78:42-78:44 / 76:26

This is probably just the result of a bad mastertape used for the DVD and a little speciality of the US Version: Just before the shot of the fair at night we can see Martin driving away in the car. This lets us see a couple in the background.

+ 1.9 sec