MovieChat Forums > Too Late the Hero (1970) Discussion > Alternate versions....spoiler s

Alternate versions....spoiler s

posted 19 years ago by bullit2513
7 replies | jump to latest

Reading the info about alternate versions of Too Late the Hero, it said US and UK versions had different survivors at the end of the movie. So does that mean US versions had Robertson surviving and UK versions had Caine surviving?

I live in the States, and recently bought this DVD. In the end, Caine(Hearne) survives the dash across no-man's land, and Robertson(Lawson) is killed. Any ideas about these alternate versions and have you seen them?

"I don't mean to be a sore loser, but if when it's over, I'm dead, kill him." Butch Cassidy

[–] The_Khazi 19 years ago

All the U.K. tv versions i`ve seen & the reg 2 U.K. dvd have Caine as the lone survivor.Robertson must have survived in the U.S. tv version or original cinema release.If we ever have a spec ed of this film hopefully we`ll be able to see both of them.

"I`ll have you beaten from this fort."

[–] wolf_kvb 14 years ago

I saw Too Late the Hero in it's U.S. theatrical release and on TV. Robertson died in those versions as well. Unless there was an alternate version released on VHS, I doubt any alternate ending has ever been seen by the general public.

[–] rabiddog67 19 years ago

There were NOT two versions of this film. I have the novelization and have seen a copy of the screenplay. In both the novelization and script, Caine survives and Cliff dies.

[–] The_Khazi 19 years ago

That`s interesting-I wonder where I.M.D. obtained their information from?

[–] lewisherschell 14 years ago

The claims about the alternate US version are corroborated by other sources; I remember reading about the alternate American edit, possibly in an interview with Aldrich (in Bogdanovich's WHO THE DEVIL MADE IT?) or in a contemporary film magazine (FILM QUARTERLY?), long before the days of the IMDb.

'What does it matter what you say about people?'
Touch of Evil (Orson Welles, 1958).

[–] rabiddog67 13 years ago

There was no alternate version. It would not make sense given the title if it was Cain who died and Robertson who lived. Robertson is the hero they are referring to in the title, slthough he is "too late" becoming one. Cain is out to save himself and is forced by Robertson to accompany him at the end. The final scene would make no dramatic sense if Robertson lived and Cain did not.

[–] lewisherschell 13 years ago

Chalk the lack of logic in the production of the alternate ending down to the producers, who according to Matthew Field's biography of Michael Caine were the ones who demanded Aldrich shoot two endings. IIRC Field suggests that Aldrich refused.

'What does it matter what you say about people?'
Touch of Evil (Orson Welles, 1958).