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Release: Feb 20, 2021 - Author: Muck47 - Translator: Mike Lowrey
- external link: IMDB
Comparison between the cut German Blu-ray by Wicked Vision (identical in content to various VHS/DVD releases worldwide as well as the US Blu-ray by Kino Lorber) and the original version on the German VHS by Centurio Video / River Film.
Also 8 cuts on the German VHS with a duration of 27.2 sec A few additional master errors with a duration of less than 0.5 sec each were not listed in the report.
In 1974, horror legend Vincent Price quite sympathetically played an aging movie star in Madhouse, whose former role catches up with him in his private life as well. Peter Cushing is another cinematic heavyweight at his side. Unlike previous Price films for American International Pictures (AIP), however, this one rather flopped, although it was able to build up a small fan base over the decades. On October 02, 2020, the German HD premiere by Wicked Vision was released. As attentive viewers noticed, e.g. in the German-speaking Movieside forum, the Blu-ray is missing a few small violent moments. However, this was already the case with the previous DVD and Wicked Vision itself also spoke up in the forum. There is talk of countless framecuts and that they would have researched this with licensor MGM, but could not find any longer material in reasonable quality. The present version would have been common worldwide for years, already on various VHS releases. In any case, it is also a fact that the German VHS edition by River Film was longer in three violent moments. Around each reel change, this VHS is in turn missing a few seconds each, but otherwise the version is almost frame-exactly identical. The explanation in the end is probably that at the end of the 70's, after the dissolution of AIP, only a slightly censored version was available for international distribution. This is possibly censorship for the American PG rating. This version has since been the only option in use worldwide. But River Film used an older source material here, apparently cinema reels from the early 70's. Said German VHS should be an international curiosity in any case. According to Wicked Vision, the mini-label release is probably a bootleg, which we normally wouldn't discuss here, of course. The people responsible probably wanted to cover that up a bit by inventing a German alternative title. Coincidentally, the AIP references at the beginning and end are also missing. After this VHS release, which probably took place as early as 1982, the official VHS by RCA / Columbia Pictures came to German video stores in 1986. There, the film was already censored as it was later available on DVD/Blu-ray. River Film's VHS is therefore sometimes referred to as a "rough cut". Internationally, no alternatives are known either, so this version, presumably taken directly from the cinema, was unfortunately probably the only way to archive for eternity the moments that were censored over time. Of course, it would have been nice if the censored snippets, which were to be found in this way in Germany of all places, had been reintegrated for the HD release in this country or at least filed away in the bonus material. Wicked Vision also admits the latter, but the investigation took place only after the release. Runtimes are ordered as follows: German Blu-ray / River Film VHS in PAL* * Contrary to the comments from Wicked Vision, the VHS runs in normal PAL speed. 62:23 / 59:11-59:13
After the camera pans down to the spearhead, the VHS pauses there longer. You can see the bloody exit wound on the back more clearly this way. 2.2 sec
82:36 / 78:31-78:33 Burning Paul staggers forward a little longer and slumps on the table. 2.7 sec
82:38 / 78:35-78:37 After the close-up of the mask, there is another long shot where you see Paul on the table. 1.6 sec
Another curiosity at the end: while the credits are running, on the Blu-ray (as well as the previous DVDs) you only hear an instrumental piece. On the VHS, it is sung to, possibly even by Vincent Price himself.
Here are the missing parts of the German VHS. While the German VHS begins with a reference to a sympathetic area in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate, the Blu-ray shows references to MGM and the international rights holders. Not included in cut length/amount. German Blu-ray 21 sec longer.
About 7 minutes later, the title was replaced. The rest of the inserts is identically in English.
17:41-17:48 / 16:36 First missing moment on the VHS, which is clearly from the first reel change according to massive contamination beforehand. The girl on the road is shown for a moment longer, then the camera moves earlier away from the eagle. + 6 sec
36:20-36:24 / 34:22 Next reel change, so that one sentence breaks off in the middle. The follow up shot of the house a little earlier too. + 4.4 sec
53:01-53:08 / 50:19 Reel change: after Paul is taken away, you can see the people in the background. The follow up shot of the gloves a little earlier too. + 6.1 sec
70:05-70:09 / 66:37 Reel change as Paul begins the interview. + 3.4 sec
71:35-71:37 / 67:59 As the axe swings back and forth in the film, the VHS again misses a brief insignificant moment. + 1.8 sec
81:21-81:22 / 78:17 Jumpcut as Paul raises the goblet. + 0.5 sec. 83:37-83:39 / 79:33 Jumpcut in the middle of the dialogue with Herbert. + 2.2 sec
85:55-85:58 / 81:43 Jumpcut during the transition between the shot of Paul at the spotlight and Herbert while the latter is talking about the contract clause. + 3.1 sec
After the credits, the VHS breaks off before the AIP logo, with which the image also turns blue. On the Blu-ray, this is followed by a reference to MGM as well. Not included in cut duration/amount. 25 sec
Finally, a little image comparison. The VHS is in open matte and thus shows significantly more at the top and bottom. However, there is also much less to see in dark scenes right away and generally the quality is not exactly exhilarating. In the interspersed clips from old films with Dr. Death, there are also some black bars at the top and bottom.
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