Comparison between the international version (HD master by Arrow Video, included on US Blu-ray) and the extended German TV version (identical to the German VHS).

- 53 additional scenes
- Duration: 321.7 sec (= 5:22 min)

Also, 3 additional scenes in the international version with a duration of 91 sec (= 1:31 min)

A few additional master errors with a duration of less than 0.5 sec each were not listed in the comparison.

 

Background & versions of THE GRAND DUEL

Giancarlo Santi made his directorial debut in 1972 with The Grand Duel, having previously collected experience as assistant to Sergio Leone on The Good, the Bad and the Ugly and Once Upon a Time in the West. And you can see that in the Italo-Western with Lee van Cleef and Horst Frank, he is rightly regarded as an insider tip of the genre.

The German-Italian-French co-production is internationally available in versions that run 89 minutes (PAL) and 94 minutes (NTSC / Blu-ray). Previously in cinemas, on VHS and on TV, however, the film was even a few minutes longer in Germany, which can probably be booked as an "exclusive extended version".

In addition, it should be said that the master from German TV station ARD has a much better picture quality than the German VHS and also comes in the original format. These two versions were compared separatedly and offer the same extended version.

 

The trims of the international version & the HD situation

Several small passages were trimmed in the "international version", including a few moments of dialogue and peaks of violence. While a large part of the differences is quite unspectacular, the latter in particular is likely to offend those interested. Three passages deserve special mention here: The beating torture in the waterfall of Philipp in the 45th minute, Adam's MG massacre in the 68th minute and how he casually shoots a baby in the 71st minute while riding away (only to be seen from afar).

It should not go unnoticed that the international version is also longer in 3 places. The longer credits sequence at the beginning is the unspectacular majority here. Then, when a man is murdered in the middle of the film, there is some exclusive material as well as cut. And shortly before the end, a suggested sex scene is a bit longer. Strange deviations, but, as already mentioned, they are identical in the ARD airing and the German VHS.

Arrow Video has released the film on Blu-ray on May 6, 2019, but could only access the international version. After all, they were informed in advance about the additional material and consulted us for the following comparison. The release contains a 15-minute video featurette on all additional moments of the German extended version - including a thank you note to Schnittberichte.com – our German main site. Unfortunately, in favor of a BBFC rating, a scene with a horse fall had to be censored by 3 seconds for the British version. If you can't do without it, you should go for the US import, where Arrow Video offers the uncensored version since 7 May 2019. It should be noted, though, that the UK Blu-ray also contains the uncut version that is shown when the region code of your player is switched to code A.

 

Runtimes are ordered as follows:
US Blu-ray / German TV version in PAL

The HD master is longer
00:00-01:22 / 00:00

The credits sequence starts much earlier in the HD master.

+ 79,1 sec (= 1:19 min)

The remaining credits are in another language.

HD-Master	German TV version

03:58 / 02:29-02:39

The Sheriff advises Big Boss to stay in the coach before changing to the inside, otherwise he could die in a gun battle. Big Boss says that the Sheriff almost took care of that.

9,6 sec

05:55 / 04:31-04:32

After Big Boss has shut the woman's mouth and before you see the gun barrel, there is a first shot of the guy with the moustache.

1,7 sec

06:32 / 05:08-05:11

After the camera movement on the window there is a first view of Clayton and again the house.

2,4 sec

09:53 / 08:23-08:30

After the conversation outside, a cake is first cut inside, from which the one-eyed man shoves a piece into his mouth a little earlier.

7,3 sec

10:40 / 09:16-09:18

The man licks his finger before wiping his face.

2 sec

10:51 / 09:29-09:30

Clayton's gun can be seen a little longer in close-up.

1 sec

10:59 / 09:37-09:38

The bottle can also be seen a little earlier.

1,2 sec

11:08 / 09:47-09:48

A man is seen a little longer.

0,8 sec

11:14 / 09:54-10:08

After further knocking on the bottle, Clayton has another sip from the bottle.

14 sec

13:58 / 12:44-12:50

It starts earlier outside and the bounty hunter thinks for a first time that nothing would happen to him (Philipp).

5,9 sec

14:12 / 13:03-13:06

At the end of the shot the same guy says that Philipp should throw out his pistol and belt.

2,5 sec

21:47 / 20:23-20:27

The stagecoach can be seen in another shot on a hillside.

4,1 sec

23:35 / 22:10-22:22

The last shot in the stagecoach is a moment longer, then a longer shot from the following road.
The following close-up of the trampling horse hooves follows also a few insignificant frames earlier.

12,2 sec

25:03 / 23:47-23:53

A first shot of Philipp and one of Clayton before Elizabeth begins the conversation.
In the off there's further complaining.

6,7 sec

25:21 / 24:10-24:44

Elizabeth turns her head to the side in shame at Philipp's comment.
Then the two drunkards discuss the self-distilled schnapps.

33,3 sec

27:03 / 26:21-26:24

Another view of Clayton.

2,9 sec

27:15 / 26:36-26:50

After a side shot of Clayton and Philipp, three close-ups of the two at dinner follow. In the off further we hear further conversation between the drunkards.

14 sec

27:49 / 27:23-27:25

The drunkard says in an additional close-up that it would be rare (that he drinks too much).

2,3 sec

28:46 / 28:19-28:20

After the close-up of Philipp the view of the other people at the table starts insignificantly earlier.

0,5 sec



29:09 / 28:41-28:44

Philipp is see insignificantly longer, then Clayton says in the earlier shot: "So we're even."

2,3 sec

33:28 / 32:52-32:55

After Philipp we see Anita again and the follow-up shot of Clayton starts a moment earlier.

3,3 sec

35:38 / 35:00-35:03

The shot is insignificantly longer, more smoke comes up.

2,2 sec

35:53 / 35:18-35:20

The next shot outside starts a bit earlier.

2,3 sec

36:45 / 36:09-36:14

Two pistoleros get ready behind the hills.

4,8 sec

40:40 / 39:59-40:07

Philipp is kept under the water longer and is brought up again.
One bounty hunter says "Open your mouth" and Philipp replies: "I'm not saying a word!
As a result he is pressed under water again.

8,4 sec

40:50 / 40:17-40:25

There's even more beating for Philipp and the other baddie asks for the silver again.
Clayton comments "You stupid dog!" and Philipp gets another punch.

7,4 sec

40:52 / 40:27-40:43

After seeing Clayton approaching for a short time, two longer shots of Philipp being tortured are missing again. Again with nasty remarks from the bounty hunters.

15,7 sec

42:23 / 42:09-42:13

Another shot of Clayton looking after Philipp, then a shot of a peeing boy in the village.

4,6 sec

43:13 / 43:02-43:06

After the shot of Bull another man has bad words left for John lying on the ground. That's the one you can see earlier.

4,2 sec

Alternativ / HD master longer
45:33-45:39 / 45:20-45:23

After the bloody handprint is left on the sheet, interestingly there is alternative material for the first time and the HD master is a bit longer.

The German TV version only shows Adam Saxon again, slightly contemptuous with his eyes closed.

In the HD master John is instead pressed down by the henchman with his foot and in the view from diagonally up he falls to the ground. An alternative shot of Adam follows, then Bull yells something for a first time.

HD master 3 sec longer



46:24 / 46:06-46:08

People knock their shoes together a little longer.

1,7 sec

48:21 / 48:00-48:04

Adam looks at his suit after the gunshot.

4,1 sec

49:54 / 49:33-49:42

One shot longer in the retrospect, more steps forward from Samuel.

8,6 sec

54:09 / 53:46-53:49

The women on the carriage are seen a little earlier.

2,9 sec

56:36 / 56:10-56:23

The flashback starts earlier with another long shot of Samuel.

12,8 sec

56:43 / 56:30-56:31

The next shot of him begins slightly earlier.

0,7 sec



56:47 / 56:35-56:39

The editing starts much earlier: The Jefferson sign can be read completely before the camera moves forward.

3,8 sec

68:42 bzw. 68:46-68:48 / 68:03-68:06

Two additional shots at the beginning of the shooting.
The fogged second one is shown in the HD master shortly afterwards.

German TV version is 1.8 sec longer

69:02 / 68:24-68:28

Another more distant shot and again Adam shooting.

3,5 sec

69:22 / 68:47-68:48

Before the woman comes out behind the horse, there is a first shot of the horse and again Adam's eyes in close-up.

1,5 sec

69:29 / 68:55-69:03

Again we see the people under fire (someone goes down) and another shot of Adam.

8,2 sec

69:38 / 69:12-69:14

Other short shots of panic and Adam.

1,8 sec

69:56 / 69:32-69:36

Before the man on the floor stands up in front of the frame and tries to escape, you see a first shot from this perspective and Adam again.

3,9 sec

70:12 / 69:51-69:54

The man shoots from a distance as well as Adam once more.

3,1 sec

70:28 / 70:09-70:14

Another shot of a dead man.

5,3 sec

71:16 / 70:59-71:15

Adam rides away from the place of the massacre. Striking: A baby screams during the massacre and finally he fires another shot, whereupon the screaming stops.

The following scene in the saloon begins a few insignificant frames earlier.

15,6 sec

HD master is longer
72:14-72:20 / 72:11

Big Boss is seen longer with the prostitute in the international version.

+ 5,9 sec

77:43 / 77:20-77:32

Elizabeth has a few critical words left for the Saxons in the first shot. David thinks she'll get over it.

11,4 sec

85:57 / 85:26-85:48

The noble gentleman and the two women can be seen much earlier. The older lady hits him on the fingers and he justifies himself briefly.

21,6 sec

88:32 / 88:16-88:35

During the final argument there is another flashback, which is completely missing this time.
After that there is a first shot about Clayton's back.

19,1 sec

88:37-88:42 / 88:40-88:45

Now the HD master inserts the recording about Clayton's back again (not illustrated again) and the follow-up shot of Clayton starts insignificantly earlier.
The German TV version shows another shot instead.

German TV version is 0,8 sec longer

89:08 / 89:10-89:11

Clayton slightly longer.

0,5 sec



89:19 / 89:21-89:25

A close-up of Clayton's weapon and a re-cut to the others.

4,4 sec

89:25 / 89:31-89:33

The flashback starts a moment earlier.

1,9 sec

Note: The credits are missing not only from the present ARD recording, but also from the separately reviewed German VHS with identical frames. In the original it runs through the longer visible long shots.