Does anyone know if this film was edited for its American Release? I watched this film again last night and it seemed choppy in parts, like chunks of story were taken out. Furthermore, the text that opens the film is in Italian, as is the title (on the WB VHS), which makes me wonder if "Hearts and Armour" was ever released in the U.S. Any info would be appreciated.
shareHi Local482,
I'm not sure how "Hearts and Armour" was edited in the U.S. but I think the movie editing would be very similar to both the Australian (I live in Oz), and the U.K video releases. I have owned both versions, both of which are in VHS PAL format, and therefore playable on my VCR.
Both videos are similar if not identical in the way they have been edited. Both versions run a similar length - the U.K video states the running time as 96 mins.
The Aussie version has an Italian text prologue and Italian title onscreen (ie "I Paladini- Storia D'Armi e D'Amori"), like your U.S version. The British version though has an English text intro and English "Hearts and Armour" screen title (but still the same Italian language credits).
It's been rumoured that "I Paladini" was originally an Italian TV mini-series that was cut down drastically to make a feature film (check out IMDB's own User Comments for the film). As I've never come across any longer versions of the film, I have my doubts that such a mini-series ever existed in the first place. Wishful thinking methinks!
Hope this info helps.
Don't believe it was ever released as a mini-series. It was shown theatrically in an a.r. of 2.35:1 insinuating it was originally made for the theatres. I have an old WB PAL VHS of the film and it is dreadfully Panned & Scanned, so much info is lost off the sides of the screen.
If it had been a mini-series, it would have been formatted for 4:3 TV sets in an a.r. of 1.33:1 and then perhaps matted at 1.85:1 or 1.78:1 for a theatrical release.
I'm for the DVD release in glorious re-mastered widescreen and a 5.1 soundtrack. Why, oh why do WB sit on these things and not release them. I'm waiting like forever for them to release this, "Hickey & Boggs" (although that might have been MGM, but distributed via WB in UK) and "Freebie and the Bean".
I just watched my old exrental VHS of this tonight, first time in just under 20 years I have watched.
Everything I remember is correct, this is a truly superb film IMO. Better than Excalibur in my opinion.
I love the music, and the lead actress (Barbera De Rossi). The VHS has dreadful pan and scan though.
You can see the film artificially panning during wide scenic shots, or people during two way conversations being cut right off the screen, puts you right off I have to say.
This really needs to come it in its true 2.35:1 ratio. I would buy it in a second.
Uh, yes, it was an Italian produced miniseries, originally.
I know, I watched it at the time :)
I wished I had taped it, but I just can't remember whether we did have a VCR then...:(
It's obvious from the Pan & Scan WB VHS that this movie was shot in 35mm 2.35:1 Anamorphic widescreen, which is an expensive cinemascope aspect ratio format only used at that time for theatrical movies, usually expensive ones epic in scope or content. There's no way they would have spared the expense of shooting something in anamorphic 2.35:1 scope widescreen if it was intended as a TV mini-series, especially in the day of square TVs where most of the image would have had to be chopped off for Pan & Scan version anyway. This movie had to have been shot as a theatrical feature. It is possible and more likely that it might have been shown on television in some countries at some point in some extended version with addtional cut scenes or something where people mistook it for a intentional TV mini-series, but there's no way this was made for TV. The choppy pacing and editing of the VHS version might also give people the impression that there are chunks missing, but to anyone who has seen a fair share of Italian genre movies it will seem pretty par for the course.
shareI seem to recall the Italian text, with suitable subtitles, from the HBO/Cinemax/Showtime showings for the film. It was choppy, yes, but I suspect that just comes from the limited editing skills of the creators, not from any cuts done for the American market.
If you compare the editing on this to, say, the editing on a spaghetti western, it seems quite similar, and I think this one had the same skill levels involved.
It's still a great low-budget film that rises well above its mediocre roots, much like any of the Sergio Leone westerns.
I am not sure about an American release, but I noticed that in the credits at the end there is a mistake. It gives the incorrect character name next to Tanya Roberts name (it should read Angelica). I notice that it is correctly listed here on IMDB though.
shareAll I know is that I've been looking for this title in the letterbox format for years. The edited u.s. version is rubbish. I'm glad I have it; its better than nothing. but come on! Someone please e-mail me as to where I can find and download or purchase the letterbox version of this marvelous movie. I will pay top dollar.
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