Red swastika on SS Soldier's jock apparently too shocking for us to see!

I haven't any doubt the rendition you saw didn't contain the scene and most humbly take your word for it. But you aren't in any position whatsoever to know what someone else has witnessed let alone brazenly declare they didn't. There are dozens of renditions involved in early test screenings only a limited number of viewers ever get to see. I greatly appreciate your input and personal experience regarding the version you saw.

Shattered_Wake. You haven't any possible way of knowing the specific print of this movie I saw back when originally released in the movie theaters. Other IMDB members have since confirmed the release they saw had one or more similar scenes censored as compared to the 1978 original theatrical release.

In your IMDB review of "The Haunting Hour (2010)" posted 05-14-2012 you divulged, "I'm 24 years old so I'm not exactly this show's target audience."

Considering you weren't even born until a full decade after "The Boys from Brazil (1978)" was originally released you haven't any right let alone authority to comment on something I personally witnessed back before you existed!

The fact you never saw the scene I've described and never will doesn't surprise nor bother me in the least. It's entirely your own loss although severely compounded by unfounded denial of historic knowledge an elder was unselfishly attempting to give you the benefit of.

Based upon the above incongruity it's exceedingly doubtful and severely strains any reasonable degree of credibility you ever "saw the original print on film reel" as claimed. Your vacuous comment posted here and revealing IMDB member profile "Author's blessing" prologue have all the classic earmarks of a forum troll.

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Now that I think it about it there was one sequence edited--the fight between Oliver and Peck. I distinctly remember a scene of Peck biting Olivier's ear but it wasn't on the DVD or cable version I saw.

Yes, I remember the ear biting scene every bit as vividly. Both scenes were obviously included by the writer to have great emotional impact upon viewers as was intended. I know they certainly did for me.

You've just helped me recall another scene which has also since been censored into oblivion.

As originally mentioned and being this thread's topic, shortly after the young German SS officer Hessen goes up to Nancy's bedroom at the Harrington's home, we see him undressed wearing only a jock with red swastika covering its entire front pouch. The scene ends with viewers witnessing Nancy alone dead in her bedroom strangled by Hessen's belt. He had sex with and then killed her. After all these years I still haven't quite worked-out what his reasoning was for having done so.

Certainly it's not a pleasant nor pretty scene but was included in the script for good reason and impact. Sadly, so much footage has since been needlessly censored from the original movie what remains no longer accurately reflects the author's original intent. Knowing how angry the omissions and tampering has made me I can only begin to imagine the anxiety it's caused him.

Getting back to the original topic and in answer to your second question. My folks took me to see "The Boys from Brazil (1978)" for my 17th birthday. It was the first R-rated movie I was of proper age to attend. But yes, it was unquestionably one of the movie's earliest debut theatrical releases actually seen in 1977 prior to its official release date.

In answer to your last question, yes, I definitely remember the movie theater also. It was within 15 minutes walking distance from my parent's home called "Community Movie Theater" located just right of the Barclay Farm shopping center on Route 70 in Cherry Hill NJ.

The building's still there but oddly enough was converted into a Dry Cleaning store which always impressed me as such an odd unexpected transition. The Community Movie Theater was originally built back when my elder sister and I were just 7 and 8 years old. Two Chicorelli brothers both classmates of mine from high school eventually worked as ushers at the theater during their latter teenage years.

So you're aware, my mother always did her weekly grocery shopping at an Atlantic & Pacific (A&P) supermarket located at the Barclay Farm Shopping Center which was in business at that location for over 30 years.

Before shopping she'd drop us off at the movie theater which ran Saturday morning and afternoon double-features just for kids. Admission was just $2.50 per kid as I recall. What an affordable bargain and ideal way of keeping your kids entertained for a 4 hour stretch. Such weekend matinees for children were something all move theaters customarily did back then. Undoubtedly, this being a throwback to the days predating television which sadly for kids today has became a thing of the past since the early 1970's.

All of this brings back intense nostalgic memories of the drive-in movie theaters everyone so commonly frequented back during the 1950's and 1960's. Those being yet another irreplaceable spectacular form of entertainment from the past which no longer exist. Life sure was a whole lot better and far more enjoyable back then compared to now in so many different ways.

Thanks for asking such interesting thought provoking questions and fond memories which have just now resurfaced, Joe. You've revived scores of joyful experiences and events which had since gone dormant for so many long decades.

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First, let me acknowledge and express due thanks for your vote of confidence in having said "I believe you about the scene being cut."

Being 58 years old I fully understand the many reasons why films get mindlessly hacked away at with strategic scenes ultimately being discarded upon the cutting room floors. You're directly on the mark in regard to the bulk of 21st century censorship of 20th century content being performed during the Film to DVD digital transfer stage.

Basic premise: I strongly believe it's wrong to censor film content twice or more times over.

By what reasonable justification did they censor away yet more footage when "Boys from Brazil (1978)" was transferred to DVD? None! It was wholly unnecessary and unjustified.

Other than for television broadcast involving underage viewers and tight run-time considerations there's no longer any reasonable justification to censor movies AT ALL. Particularly when they're going to be shown in privately owned and operated theaters. Otherwise what's the point of even giving them a rating? The whole situation has evolved into disturbing headache and nightmare.

So many holes are punched in movies today many end up like Swiss Cheese quite often not making much sense continuity wise once the censors get done hacking away at them.

I'm sure you've watched enough to know yourself where that's occurred especially those you had the advantage of seeing back when they were originally released possibly a decade or more earlier. A large part of this censorship issue and debate relies entirely upon being old enough to have seen and witnessed what's occurred to any given film throughout the years.

Considering it's R-rating back during 1978 you weren't anywhere near old enough when this movie (BfB) originally hit the theaters to have personally seen and witnessed what's been done to it since then. I am old enough and do know better being why I'm trying my utmost to share the benefit of such historical details with those who weren't.

I lived (and suffered) thru the Reagan era during my mid 20's so remember with absolute clarity the tumultuous wave of ultra-conservatism that swept the country after he was sworn in.

Since you're a Gen-X'er that means you were just a young boy well under the age of 10 during the Reagan era. Given that consideration, it's extraordinarily unlikely you were knowledgeable and tuned-into the political world with all its many subtleties at that youthful age.

Another closely related issue is you weren't alive back when things were profoundly more relaxed and tolerated unlike today. While I'm mentioning that relative to movie ratings nonetheless it's equally true regarding most anything you can think of across the board.

Bear further in mind you weren't around to personally witness what our country was like decades before Ronald Reagan became President. Life was so much simpler and happier there's no way of adequately conveying it without having lived it yourself at the time. I wish those of your generation and later could be transported back into time for just a single day to see what it was actually like for yourselves. You'd be completely stunned and blown away by the difference.

If necessary, please verify what I've attempted to convey by asking other elders you trust implicitly. Ronald Reagan had the most profound influence on TV and Film censorship than anyone before him in US history!

It came about due to his professional background and stunningly powerful connections in the acting and film industry. That, coupled with the fact US Congress was controlled by the GOP during those same years. Hence, whatever RWR wanted was pushed thru both houses of Congress with lightning speed with little if any opposition.

Before closing and for the record I really enjoyed getting to meet and discuss these various points with you. Thanks again for devoting the time to share your greatly appreciated thoughts, life experience and input. It's unlikely I'll be around more than another 20 years at best. So try your utmost at every opportunity to make things better for your own and future generations to come.