The dvd and video versions of this movie have been severly mauled, 17 minutes cut from the original version including a scene in a blockhouse where Charles Bronson weary of war tells an astounded Henry Fonda that he would like to see Germany wiped out and started again. Also some other battle scenes have been cut out. A shame because some continuity has been lost.
shareThey were restored to the region 1 released last year.
shareTheres even one on the latest release where James Macarthur and George Montgomery are running away with a tank in the background.This wasnt even on any TV version ive seen before
shareI bought the recently released DVD version here in England for a Father's Day present and, having watched it with my Dad, the previous deleted scenes are all there - just as when I saw it back in May '65 at a London Cinema in 'Cinerama'. There is even an intermission in this version and was tempted to ask my dear old Mum to bring in the Ice Creams!
There are 2 deleted scenes that stick out in my mind.
1. Where the nun begs Col. Heisler to let the boy go, he responds:
"Release the boy; shoot zhe fazher".
2. The confrontation between Heisler and Sgt. Wolensky relating to the Malmedy massacre, Heisler says: "You are deliberately trying to provoke me".
Despite all the well deserved criticism, I always enjoyed this film.
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I used to watch this movie on WPIX TV (channel 11) in the New York area going back to the late 1970s / early 1980s. They ALWAYS showed all the cut scenes on TV, to where I never even knew there was a shorter version. Usually they ran in as a two-part presentation, each part being 2 hours (90 mins without commercials) meaning a total of around 3 hours running time. I guess we were luckier than most who got to see it on TV!
shareFrom television versions, I remember a scene in which Hessler reviews a long line of "Tiger" tanks. He stops, salutes and says, "It can be done".
sharethe added scenes are cheapy dubbed in german on the german DVD and are different with the original dubbed voices.
The new voices in the added scenes are without life and souls.
The DVD shows the full Cinerama (complete with logo) roadshow version released in 1965. After the movie returned in general release it was cut by about 30 minutes. This was the version that played on tv and was the only existing print until the DVD release. The longer version doesn't mean its better, but its a little more coherent.
shareLong version also streams on Netflix right now in HD...
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