Comparison between the Mandarin version and the Cantonese version, both included on the US Blu-ray of Vinegar Syndrome. The DVD from Austria by ILLUSIONS corresponds to the Cantonese version.


67 differences
* 14x additional material in the Mandarin version with a duration of 5:30 min
* 53x additional material in the Cantonese version with a duration of 6:12 min
* 8 re-cuts


Wong Jing dominated Hong Kong cinema in the 90s with his quirky productions that often crossed the boundaries of good taste. A Chinese Torture Chamber Story is another outgrowth from this phase, in which the marketing was still somewhat in the wake of the international successes of the A Chinese Ghost Story trilogy and Sex and Zen - and generally, as with Stephen Chow's domestic hits from this period, interpreted a Chinese literary source quite freely. The amount of torture/violence is comparatively low, but then you do get to see some really unusual ideas and of course there are some erotic "highlights". Some of the scenes in the following report speak for themselves.

In July 2024, the US collector's label Vinegar Syndrome released both parts in a Blu-ray set as an international HD premiere. Once again, the release will be available a little earlier in the VS store before mass retailers such as Amazon also stock the set (without the exclusive slipcase) on August 27, 2024. As expected, both parts are available here uncut and separate comparisons with the ILLUSIONS DVDs have confirmed this once again - apart from minor master errors and different logos, there are no differences. Interestingly, there is also an alternative Mandarin version of Part 1 on the US Blu-ray, which we will look at in the following report.

The Mandarin version is predominantly clearly censored in sex scenes and therefore the more widespread Cantonese version is probably the better choice for many. However, this also means that the course of the scenes has often been recut a little and there is also some alternative/exclusive material to discover. And of particular interest here are a few small bits of violence in the Mandarin version, such as the fingernail-pulling, which in turn is clearly censored in the Cantonese version. There are also some additional (soft) erotic scenes in the beginning which explain more about how Little Cabbage grew up. Similar to Righting Wrongs, a hybrid cut would be desirable here. No UK release has yet been announced by 88 Films or Eureka, but perhaps there is still hope in this respect.


Running times are arranged as follows:
Mandarin version in 23.976fps / Cantonese version in 23.976fps

01:13 / 01:13-01:19

In an additional shot, a cloth rag is placed in the victim's mouth. Another credits fade-in appears.

6.5 sec

01:19 / 01:25-01:27

After the man has screamed in close-up, his penis falls into a container.

1.3 sec

Additional material in the Mandarin version
01:42-01:44 / 01:50

The distant shot from above is followed by a closer shot of the victim in the guillotine in the Mandarin version. Someone pulls on the legs and his abdomen is severed.

+ 2.2 sec

01:50 / 01:56-01:57

A first shot from behind, with the head being scratched.

0.7 sec

Additional material in the Mandarin version
07:09-08:37 / 07:16

Before the scene outside with the cloths, the Mandarin version shows a scene with Little Cabbage as a child. Right before this difference, she is also told that she should start with how she met Yang. And that is exactly what we see here, introduced by a conversation with her mother, who binds Little Cabbage's feet, which makes her cry. This is accompanied by a conversation about the importance of having a good spouse, which Little Cabbage now associates with pain, whereupon her mother says that 'Sanbao' has it much worse. To this end, she opens a cloth behind which a small hole is visible - and so Little Cabbage has already gotten into the habit of secretly looking into the next room as a small child.

The boy is examined by a man, who roughly grabs his penis and we hear an off-screen comment about this: "Sinco Sanbao was chosen to bo a eunuch in the Palace, he has to let the old eunuch rub his testicles for one hour a day. It is said that after three years, they'll stop devoloping, so that he could be a eunuch without a castration. Poor Sanbao!"

With a time jump, we then see the adult Little Cabbage, who is still bandaging her feet and excitedly observing Sanbao, who has apparently become a eunuch, through the keyhole. However, she concludes: "Sanbao's got a tiny penis."

+ 87.8 sec (= 1:28 min)

Additional material in the Mandarin version
08:54-09:00 / 07:33

A shot of the two men is slightly longer in the Mandarin version. A first shot of Little Cabbage follows.

+ 5.8 sec

16:34 / 15:07-15:14

The dildo touches the body for longer, and the pubic area is now also visible. Yang promises "great joy to your soul, as if you are staying in paradise".

7.3 sec

Additional material in the Mandarin version
18:20-18:44 / 17:00

After the sword is drawn, the shot is much longer in the Mandarin version. The attacker wants money from them. The two say they have nothing, but he insists. The woman actually gives him something and they anxiously try to reassure him again that they will not report this incident to the older officers - which, on the contrary, irritates the attacker and so he kills the two of them, which is included again in the Canto version.

+ 23.9 sec

Additional material in the Mandarin version
21:30-23:03 / 19:46

Little Cabbage and Yang kiss for much longer in the Mandarin version. Yang then grabs her feet and gently unwraps them from the bandage - a small plot detail that only makes sense in the Mandarin version due to the long scene with the mother beforehand. He kisses the exposed foot, which obviously excites her.

+ 93.3 sec (= 1:33 min)

23:52 / 20:35-20:49

Yang fondles her breasts in another shot + cut to Little Cabbage.

13.9 sec

27:35 / 24:32-24:41

The dildos can be seen for an insignificantly longer time, then a few more are passed by. The follow-up shot also starts a little earlier.

9.7 sec

Alternate / Re-ordered scene
30:13-30:15 / 27:19-27:27

While the Cantonese version offers a few rougher sex moments here (squeezing the butt), the Mandarin version shows Little Cabbage turning away in disgust. However, this moment is also recycled later in the Canto version.

Cantonese version 5.6 sec longer

Mandarin version	Cantonese version

30:18 / 27:30-27:38

After an identically included close-up of Little Cabbage, more shots of sex are missing.

8 sec

Alternate / Re-ordered scene
30:38-30:42 / 27:58-28:05

While the Mandarin version now recycles a previously removed shot, the Canto version offers slightly more explicit footage.

Cantonese version 3.2 sec longer

Mandarin version	Cantonese version

Alternate / Re-ordered scene
30:50-30:52 / 28:14-28:16

Here, both versions offer shots previously missing in the other.

No time difference

Mandarin version	Cantonese version

31:03 / 28:27-28:49

In the Canto version, the medium long shot with Little Cabbage and the concubine is significantly longer. She satisfies herself and makes Little Cabbage touch her, while she also touches her breast.

22.2 sec

31:15 / 29:00-29:12

More sex shots. Finally, the concubine caresses Little Cabbage a little earlier...

11.5 sec

Note: As you can see here, there are some Chinese/English subtitles burnt into the picture during these moments. Apparently, material from other sources was added to the Cantonese version on the US Blu-ray in order to reconstruct the uncensored version. As a comparison, here is the German DVD, which apparently had a clean picture master for the cut version - which was somewhat zoomed in though.

31:16 / 29:13-29:17

...and the same shot is also longer after an identically contained moment. Little Cabbage is pushed towards the breasts.

3.9 sec

31:18 / 29:19-29:20

The following close-up is insignificantly longer.

0.8 sec

Alternate / Re-ordered scene
31:22-31:26 / 29:24-30:07

Before Little Cabbage frees herself with a hefty nipple bite, the Mandarin version shows a brief moment that was removed three deviations earlier.

In the Cantonese version, some sex from behind is still shown in detail. Little Cabbage can also be seen much earlier and is pressed between the breasts several more times.

Cantonese version 38.8 sec longer


Alternative / Re-ordered scene
31:28-31:31 / 30:09-30:11

Once again, the Mandarin version (after the bite) recycles a more innocuous moment from the longer cuts before, while the Canto version still offers the reaction from the concubine as well as another shot of sex from behind.

Mandarin version 0.5 sec longer

Mandarin version	Cantonese version

33:54 / 32:34-32:37

Difficult to show on screenshots: Got Siu-Tai is seen a little longer from behind and therefore it is indicated in more detail with corresponding leg movements that he is "playing" a little bit with his penis.

3.5 sec

37:51 / 36:35-36:37

The Mandarin version omits the short cut to the porn magazine in Got Siu-Tai's hand.

2 sec

40:20 / 39:05-39:12

The oversized stream of sperm is still slapping against the wall.

7.1 sec

41:32 / 40:25-40:27

In short additional shots, Win and Ki Dan-Fung jump towards each other. You can see her genital area, which may have been the reason for the cut.

2.8 sec

41:34 / 40:29-40:41

Ki Dan-Fung lands in front of Win and he has a direct view of her pubic hair. He turns her around again.

11.5 sec

41:35 / 40:42

Another short long shot in which the genital area is visible.

0.4 sec

41:37 / 40:45-40:47

Win can be seen an insignificant moment longer, then we switch to Ki Dan-Fung earlier and it is easier to see from her movements that some oral sex is going on.

2.7 sec

41:39 / 40:49-40:53

Another oral sex shot, after which Win grabs her and throws her to the side. The long shot also starts a little earlier here and so the genital area is visible again.

4.3 sec

42:10 / 41:25-41:26

In two short shots, the two jump towards each other and the genital area can be seen again briefly.

1.5 sec

42:15 / 41:31-41:32

The jostling in the air can be seen a little longer.

1.6 sec

Alternate / Re-ordered scene
42:23-42:25 / 41:41-42:06

After a close-up of the legs on the branch, the Canto version offers more wild sex shots. In the meantime, it continues from behind.

In the Mandarin version, there is an additional close-up from the side before both versions are synchronized again with another shot of the legs on the branch + flying away.

Canto version 23.1 sec longer


42:27 / 42:08-42:10

An additional aerial shot from a different perspective.

1.9 sec

Alternate / Re-ordered scene
42:38-42:40 / 42:21-42:24

While the Canto version now shows the moment mentioned in the Mandarin version two deviations earlier, the Mandarin version offers the transitional cut to Yang, which also appeared earlier in the Canto version.

Canto version 1.7 sec longer

Mandarin version	Cantonese version

42:57 / 42:41-42:43

Ki Dan-Fung falls to the ground in additional shot.

1.9 sec

43:27 / 43:13-43:17

Ki Dan-Fung is throw around by the massive shot of sperm for longer, or rather you can see it more clearly here. The Mandarin version continues with the moment when sparks fly through the air.

3.3 sec

43:30 / 43:20-43:28

A shadowy shot shows Win's penis going limp and a mechanical sound is heard.
He then speaks to Ki Dan-Fung earlier: "My invincible rod will expand when meeting water. Now you see how great I am?"

8.7 sec

43:47 / 43:45-44:30

An additional dialog at the end of the scene. Yang defensively says that he didn't want to watch them. Win isn't interested and while Ki Dan-Fung grabs his genital area, he promises that she can take care of his sexual deficiencies. Yang is of course embarrassed and when she brings his hand to her breast, he says that she is his wife. Win laughs.

45 sec