MovieChat Forums > Blood and Lace (1971) Discussion > Hammer murder

Hammer murder

posted 18 years ago by adriangr
18 replies | jump to latest

I didn't realise there was a cut and uncut version of this movie until I got the uncut one - in the uncut version the hammer murder at the start goes on a lot longer with dozens of blows raining down.

It's still not very well done though, the make up on the victim's face is very lame and wouldn't she have moved at least slightly as soon as the attack started? And the man sleeping in bed beside her seems to be sleeping right through it!!

Good, sick film, though. I liked the dead orphans being wheeled out of the freezer and put into beds just for the inspectors visit.

[–] bbwibb02 17 years ago

Uncut version?
But then doesn't that defeat the whole "Sickest PG Movie ever" thing?

I did think the hammer murder looked edited when I watched it, and I later read a description similar to yours.

Well, if an uncut print exists, I would like to see it.

[–] adriangr 17 years ago

I don't think there are any other differences. But I don't know if the PG rating accompanied the longer "hammer murder" sequence or the shorter one. All I know is that I had two copies and that difference was very noticeable! (I've thrown away the shorter version now - I think it was a European video release, possibly Dutch)

[–] phillindholm 17 years ago

Yes, there ARE a few more differences-mild cursing for one. The sloppily edited version is terrible-I saw the uncut one at a theater (after i saw the edited one on tv. Uncut, it's great!

[–] alfiehitchie 17 years ago

I was there, too! A real crowd pleaser: zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!

Soon to Be a Major Motion Picture.

alfie

[–] H Lime-2 17 years ago

I think the "cut" version is the TV version & the "uncut" one is the theatrical release.

[–] phillindholm 17 years ago

Well, yeah...

[–] wildpeace10 17 years ago

i saw the uncut version and there's no way that version
could be given a PG rating.

It's not only because of the brutal hammer
murder at the beginning but there's also
a flashback at the end which shows part of
the murder while it is explained who's the
murder.

[–] phillindholm 17 years ago

That scene WAS in the ''cut'' tv version of the film. Which leads me to wonder why they cut it from the beginning?

[–] preppy-3 14 years ago

I caught this at a drive-in when I was 9 (it played with "The Abominable Dr. Phibes"). I remember the hammer murder as being obviously faked. I saw it again on cable years ago (a brand new print that looked fantastic). It STILL looks fake. I though the most disturbing parts were the kids being killed or locked in the freezer as punishment. Also to the person who said this would not get a PG rating...LOTS of extreme horror films got by with PG ratings in the 1970s. Heck "Dracula Has Risen From the Grave" was G rated!! They would get Rs today. As long as there was no nudity or sex they got by. "The Incredible Two-Headed Transplant" was PG back when it came out in the 1970s. It now has an R rating.

[–] 14 years ago

[deleted]

[–] brefane 9 years ago

The Psychotronic Encyclopedia describes this as one of the sickest films to earn a PG rating.

[–] MrHooba 9 years ago

Praise the Psychotronic Encyclopedia! Unfortunately my copy is in tatters due to the soft cover spine and it has not been reissued. I do agree it's one of the sickest PG movies of all time. I first saw the edited version on TV and it creeped me out as a kid.

[–] baker-9 13 years ago

I'm surprised no one has mentioned that this sequence must have inspired John Carpenter and his opening sequence of the first HALLOWEEN film, unless someone mentions it in another thread. Of course, Carpenter's scene is, I believe, one long uninterrupted POV shot whereas there are multiple cuts in BLOOD AND LACE. Even so, the similarity is quite apparent.

[–] MrHooba 9 years ago

I believe it was mentioned in another thread.

[–] alcope2000 8 years ago

The Japanese VHS was also the edited Hammer Murder scene. So it was probably the U.S. Theatrical version.

[–] phillindholm 8 years ago

No, the print used by ''Scream Factory'', IS the complete theatrical version. The print that showed up in the mid ''7o's on shows like '''Creature Features'' was edited for Television ,which was (choppily) cut by the distributer, ''American International Television''. They also removed a few mild curses, and a bit of ''suggestive'' dialogue. ''Scream Factory'' is the way to go, if you want this film.

[–] alcope2000 8 years ago

The Japanese print had the mild profanity in it. I used to own it. I believe the old "PG" print may have had the murder scene edited to avoid the "R" rating. But no one seems to know for sure as none of us were probably old enough to have seen it way back in the day.

[–] phillindholm 8 years ago

I saw it at a sleazy San Francisco 'grindhouse'' (The Embassy Theater) back in 1977. It's exactly the same as the ''Scream Factory'' edition. (Though the disc looks MUCH cleaner, of course). This is one of my favorite films. I first saw it (edited) on ''Creature Features'' in 1975. That's why I braved the horrors of the Embassy Theater (scarier than the film itself)to see it on the big screen. I doubt it was trimmed for a 'PG'' rating, but, who knows?.