MovieChat Forums > Fortress (1986) Discussion > Two versions of Fortress?

Two versions of Fortress?

posted 19 years ago by vesparaxette
15 replies | jump to latest

First time I saw the movie was 15 (or more) years ago, 2nd time was yesterday.
There is big difference in scene order between these two versions.
In 1st one Father Christmas runs into the cave, and last thing to hear is firing his weapon, and that`s the end of the scene. Next scene is the one with Sally and kids having an outdoor class. Cops come along, they take Sally inside for questioning. Kids slowly enter the classrom, and while one of the cops is speaking, Sally gets that thinking face, and THEN there it goes - the scene of Father Christmas getting killed, in the form of Sally`s flashback.
In 2nd one (the one I watched yesterday), scene of Father Christmas getting killed comes right after he runs into the cave.
I`ve no doubt that there are 2 versions of this movie. I`m just curious - which one you saw? Did anyone watch both versions?

[–] geoffingeorgia 19 years ago

Definitely 2 versions. I've seen them both as well, just thought i had imagined it.
I saw the first version on HVO when i was like 15 or so.

Seen the second more than once (it's on right now)

[–] analty-1 18 years ago

Its not just that: In a first time that I saw this movie, in the end: when the cops are interrogate the teacher, the boys and girls (pupils) grab they spears, so the cops go away and the teacher says: "Kids, Please!" Anyone saw this "end"?

[–] Evil_Dave 18 years ago

I have the version where they spear him to death after he runs in the cave and falls.

Also when the cops are talking to the teacher in the classroom the kids come in and surround the cops but no spears.

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] smokehill retrievers 18 years ago

I saw the one where the kids had the spears at the end, but had only seen the last half. Today, on ThrillerMax I saw everything after the discovery of the water passage in the cave, and in this version the kids were "unarmed."

One of my favorite movies, even if I haven't seen the entire thing yet. I was a bit puzzled as to how the one thug was killed at the farm. He seems to be leaning against a post, and then his body seems to drop away from his head in the mask. I assume one of the kids did it, but don't know how or when.

This movie is somewhat reminiscent of a John Wayne movie titled, I think, "The Cowboys," where a bunch of young boys go on a cattle drive with him and get some serious revenge on some rustlers. I've heard people howl about the terrible message it sends about the capacity of children for violence. But the words I have for those folks probably wouldn't pass the censors here ....

I think both movies should be mandatory viewing for ALL children.

[–] atoddk 18 years ago

<< I was a bit puzzled as to how the one thug was killed at the farm. He seems to be leaning against a post, and then his body seems to drop away from his head in the mask. I assume one of the kids did it, but don't know how or when. >>

No; that one (Daffy Duck) is killed by his partners as a result of a falling-out/mutiny. You hear the men arguing outside the barn, and then there's a shotgun blast (probably Father Christmas's doing), and then Father Christmas and Mac The Mouse leave, and Pussy Cat is left to stand guard. Then Sally and the kids lure Pussy Cat inside and whack him.

It's not strictly logical that Father Christmas and Mac The Mouse would leave Daffy Duck's body propped up like a scarecrow as they do, but it makes for a good scare, because of course it briefly fools Sally (and us) into thinking DD is alive and he's going to foil their escape. And then he just...uh, falls apart. "Children. This way!" Hee.

[–] raklaver 18 years ago

I need to see this again because the ending I remember is the cops coming in to question Sally, The children come in ...very protective like...and then you see a glass jar (science type jar) filled with a human heart. Am I imagining this?????

[–] crzysteph1 18 years ago

NO you aren't imagining that. I have the VHS copy with the science jar and the human heart. I am not positive but I thought the kids had spears in that version but I don't know. I do know they do act protective when the cops come in. I am excited to watch the new DVD version. Wonder what ending that one will have?

"I have opinions,strong opinions,but I don't always agree with them"...George W. Bush

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] Romeofud 17 years ago

Is the book an interesting read? Is it well written? Better than the movie? I look forward to reading it, but I heard it doesn't have much on the kidnappers in the story. How the bad guys are kept to a minimum.

[–] robble-1 14 years ago

I read the book a long time ago and I really enjoyed it. Can't think how I gave it away. Stupid. Anyway I was mesmerized every time I read it and I remember it being at least as good as the movie. I think it delved more into the teacher's thought processes than the movie of course. So I liked that. There were some differences from the movie but I don't think they were that big and I can't remember what they are.

"Married? Goody-Two-Shoes and the Filthy Beast?!"

[–] Vassago 13 years ago

To add to this - indeed, there are at least those two differences between the originally broadcast TV version and what appears to be a newer one.

Originally, Jim (we actually get to know his real name in an earlier scene) runs into the seemingly empty cave, screaming - and as the soundtrack slows down, the film fades to the classroom conclusion. We eventually see the kidnapper's demise in a flashback - *and* the children do surround the detectives while holding spears, making it rather clear to the two as to what exactly happened in the cave.

The seemingly newer version is much weaker - the scene with Jim being taken down takes place immediately after he runs into the cave, and the kids do not stand up to the inspectors.

Unfortunately, the DVD version is the weaker one. The original version can still be found online, though...

[–] henrimaine 11 years ago

I saw the version where the bad guy was shown getting killed right after he ran into the cave. But I must admit, it would have been more effective, if the fate of the bad guy had only been revealed afterwards. I understand that's how the film was shown originally. If so, I don't understand why they had to re-cut it into this more straightforward and less effective version.

[–] dementia412 9 years ago

The original version is the one where the kids brutally kill him. Just so people know.

[–] 9 years ago

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