The Poseidon Adventure - 1972

[Stephen]

The cinemas usually put the ratings first. All films started from the same master originally!. I doubt at the films age and when VHS got popular that it's copied from the same tape.

If your VHS copy plays back in 4:3 TV screen ratio rather than widescreen (black bars at top and bottom) then your VHS tape was manufactured from a TV broadcast cut of the film rather than the original theatrical release. I’ve not delved into it so I can’t say for certain, but TV cuts of feature films often have scenes curtailed or dialogue over-dubbed to allow for the less permissive environment of broadcast TV.

I don’t know whether American cinemas show the age rating at the end as well as the beginning. They certainly don’t here in the UK.

I’m glad you enjoyed it, it is a great film - but as I said, if you really want to experience these things as originally made, then find an enthusiast screening in a cinema, or if you can’t, then get the blu ray and watch it on the biggest TV screen you can get hold of!

[Stephen]

Don't get crazy ideas Chris dude would never ever buy a Blu Ray never mind a massive TV.

[Dude111]

Originally Posted by Stephen

The cinemas usually put the ratings first..

Hmmm I think almost all movies I have seen in a theater put the slide at the end..... (In the 80s)

I do have 1 or 2 VHS tapes that have the slide at the start

1) First 1980 release of Smokey and the bandit (I had a later release at first and the slide was at the end)

I have some newer movies on VHS (90s+) Steve that have the slide at the start..

Chris was mentioning TV prints. Those usuually come with a RED GUARD on the tape so you know its gonna be censored. But some do not.... The explorers movie I have (1985) is the TV edit but it didnt say that so I didnt know it but it was nice seeing,I like the differences between that and the official release.... (I hadnt seen the TV one since the 90s I think and always wondered about it)

[Stephen]

I've seen previous TV versions of Ghostbusters and Back to the Future they have some sweaty words replaced and occasionally different takes of scenes or some scenes cut completely. The 4k version of Ghostbusters is have includes the TV edit as a bonus feature.

I think there was even a Superman TV cut.

In most cases they would put the rating before the film so you know what you are watching. I remember even trailers used to have the MPAA rating cards. Green or red.

Originally Posted by Stephen

I've seen previous TV versions of Ghostbusters and Back to the Future they have some sweaty words replaced and occasionally different takes of scenes or some scenes cut completely. The 4k version of Ghostbusters is have includes the TV edit as a bonus feature.

I think there was even a Superman TV cut.

In most cases they would put the rating before the film so you know what you are watching. I remember even trailers used to have the MPAA rating cards. Green or red.

‘We came, we saw, we kicked its ass’ (which was a Bill Murray ad-lib, but made it into the theatrical cut) was replaced in the TV version of Ghostbusters with ‘what a knockabout of pure fun that was’, which IIRC was what was actually scripted.

And in the mayor’s office, this exchange:

Stantz: Everything was fine until dickless here shut off the containment grid.
Mayor: Is that true?
Venkman: Yes it's true---that man has no dick.

Becomes a claim that Peck is ‘some kind of rodent’.

And unless you saw Robin Hood Prince of Thieves in the cinema you probably never heard the line “I never saw the breasts of a noblewoman before!” - the line has been restored to streaming versions of the film but to this day if it appears on broadcast TV that entire 2-3 seconds of film is rather awkwardly chopped out.

[Stephen]

I have the directors cut on DVD. Can't remember if it was in that version.

Ghostbusters had a lot of changes, mainly because Bill ad-libed nearly every scene. The 4K boxset also contained the work print cut, which was the version initially shown to preview audiences and had no completed vfx or music. And so many different versions of scenes. Though it's a tough watch without all the spit and Polish.

Some scenes also never made it to the final cut either. There must be about 10-15 versions of Venkman arriving at possessed Dana's apartment where he thrws out a random response everytime. Surprised Sigourney could keepba straight face.