"Necrophilia" is mentioned here in reference to this film several times, but having just watched it, I saw no reference to this whatsoever - unless a kiss amounts to necrophilia? Just wondering now if I actually saw the whole film or a censored version. Does anyone have any insight?
shareI believe only the edited version has ever been shown. I saw it years ago on BBC 1 and the only necro scene is the party scene when the chap kisses the girl before realising that she's croaked before backing away from her in horror. So it's not really necrophilia unless the uncut print reveals an "Oh well.." change of mind on his part and necrojinks in the style of "Lucker" which I doubt!
shareI too have a copy of this film.There were defintely cuts made by the British Board of Film Censors.These cuts annoyed director Guy Hamilton so much that he wanted his name taken off the credits.The reason the cuts were made was definitely to play down the necrophilla theme,which,by the way,did occurr.
This resulted in the suicide of Phil,who couldn't live with the knowledge of the fact that he'd had sex with a "cold one".He did not realise the girl was dead until after he'd done it,which was just a bit too late.I have the book, which was written by Frank Clews,who actually based his book on the film script.
The film was made about 1963 but not released on the UK cinema untill 1965,when it opened in London.Within less than one week,however, it was banned altogether.
Since the uncut version was never shown on the British cinema,it could well be this edited version is the only one that now exists.It's a pity the BBFC didn't just ban the film in the first place,then it would have never been necessary to edit it, so the full version of the film would have remained intact.The "cut" version leaves too many loose ends.
Does anyone out there have an uncut version of this film?
I've only just found out that a newly discovered uncut version was screened at The Barbican in London in October last year. It was introduced by producer Anthony Perry, who had told me a few years before that he hoped this would happen, but sadly I lost touch with him and so missed the event. Perhaps it might get a DVD release in the future?
shareThanks for this information.At least now we know that the original version of this film does exist.Hopefully,it may get a DVD release in the future.
sharethanks for post.
this clears all and makes sense.
These cuts annoyed director Guy Hamilton so much that he wanted his name taken off the credits.
The new BFI DVD is uncut
Apparently it isn't uncut, hence Guy Hamilton insisting his name be removed from the print and Blu-ray/DVD cover artwork. Rather it is the most complete (known) surviving copy of the movie in existence.
However having recently watched both versions on two connective evenings I can say it is certainly an improvement over and a more cohesive viewing experience than the censored cinema cut.
"I think you're a load of old crap too, Mr Mulligan."
I don't think any versions of the film had necrophila. One deleted cut showed her alive atop the funeral wagon. All versions say the girl died after being hit by a car later.
shareI just watched the movie last night. The scene which 'showed' she was alive was a false story told to boyfriend Carson to protect themselves from the act. We didn't know this until later on when he was suspicious and confronted Moise (Oliver Reed's character) and got the truth. The truth why, and I forgot the name, the guy committed suicide-because he had sex with a corpse when he thought Melina had passed out drunk. The true scene was showed later when Moise was confronted. The scene shows Melina on top of the wagon, not moving
Only at the point of dyin'
Once Upon a Time in the West