I managed to pick up a u.k. film brochure & there`s a pic of Robert Shaw in his Panzer uniform kneeling down by a tree with a luger.This could well be a publicity shot but does anyone know?Perhaps in an alternate ending he managed to escape his tank.Any suggestions.A
shareRumours exist of an alternate ending, but I have no idea as to how much substance there is to them. The still that you mention also appears on the back of my old VHS copy of the film. The new DVD is the complete version of the film - 162 mins plus approx. 8 mins of entrance, intermission & exit music. I'm longing to see it but my DVD is taking an eternity to arrive from Amazon in the States!
shareok thanks for that-You won`t be disappointed with it when it arrives-all the missing scenes are intact,picture is immaculate & if you`ve got 5.1 surround a real effort has been made here as well.When it arrives have a look at the original trailer as there seem to be a few different scenes here also.A
shareMy copy arrived a couple of weeks ago and I watched it over the Bank Holiday weekend. You're absolutely right about the quality - it's been beautifully restored and looks gorgeous on my 32" Panasonic. It had been so long since I'd seen the complete version that it was like watching these scenes again for the first time! I see what you mean about the sound too - real depth coming from the sub and decent surround effects considering the age of the source material.
As to the original trailer, there are definately some alternate takes of scenes in there. All round an impressive package for a long awaited release of a film that had been butchered on previous home entertainment incarnations.
Just as a matter of interest, the trailer on the DVD is the Cinerama release trailer, the regular 35mm trailer was completly different with title overlays and no mention of Cinerama, it just mentions the action thundering across the " giant Panavision screen". I got the HD DVD version and THAT is a sight to behold.It's even sharper than I remember it in Cinerama in 1966.
sharethat'd be cool if an alternate ending was available.
shareDoes the DVD include the "Release the boy....shoot the father" scene. I could never understand why they deleted that scene. That scene helped define Col. Hessler, which I feel was one of Robert Shaw's best roles.
shareYes, that scene plus all the others that were cut from previous VHS editions and TV broadcast versions of recent years have been restored to the DVD version.
There's also an extra scene between James MacArthur and George Montgomery that never got referred to when people listed the missing scenes. It occurs after the initial German attack, when they find themselves cut off and consists of them arguing as to the best course of action. Before seeing the DVD it had been well over 20 years since I had seen the complete version on British TV, and I can't honestly remember if this scene was present or not. I assume it was, but it seems curious that there was never any mention of it. Hope this helps.
wasn't there another deleted scene where Kessler is first being briefed by the general, and they walk down a corridor and are suddenly accosted by US troops, which are actually German troops in disguise which startles Kessler, then the general congradulates them on their authenticity.
shareYes, that scene has also been restored to the new DVD. As I stated in my previous post, all the previously missing scenes have thankfully been restored.
shareI am glad to hear that the DVD version of this film seems to include the deleted scenes that were missing from the VHS version.
Like others, I was disturbed that Col. Hessler was made to appear more human with the exclusion of his order to shoot the boy's father, though his offer to help the nuns was kept in.
In a way, this is probably the way a professional soldier may act, even if it does seem contradictory, but then again there is a graet deal wrong about this film.
For example, the real battle was fought in the middle of the coldest winter on record in Europe, though you would not think to look at it here.
But, the reason for this, as well as the descrepincies in Army equipment depicted has to do with the movie being made in Spain, which allowed for the use of their armed forces as extras, which were equipped by the Germans during WWII, and still had some of their old tanks.
Another scene worth mentioning that I hope has been restored to the DVD, was the one that introduced Ty Hardin's character as the leader of the English-speaking commandos, who supposedly confused the rear araes during the initial attack.
There is a lot to say about this film, but it is Robert Shaw who makes this film enjoyable, no doubt about it.
Yes, just to re-iterate:ALL the previously missing scenes are on the r1 version including the scene you mention with Ty Hardin.This also contains a superb sound mix in 5.1 DD & the pic has been totally cleaned up-top marks for Warner who obviously made an effort.I don`t know about the r 2 uk as this keeps being delayed although if you have a multi-region the U.S. version is good enough.
shareI'm not trying to be a nit-picky fact checker here, but the Spanish Army didn't have any "left-over" German armor that was used for the filming of "Battle of the Bulge"...most of the tanks used to simulate the German army where American M60's (bought by Spain)...At one point after WW2 (the 1950's) the Spanish Air Force flew HA-1112 and CASA 2.111. These warbirds where developed from the ME109 and the HE111 respectively. Do to the fact that Germany was no longer making the engines that powered the original WW2 warbirds the Spanish built airplanes had to be outfitted with British engines (ironic). I don't remember if ether of these warbirds makes an appearance in the "BotB" but two of the CASA 2.111 can be seen in the 1970 film "Patton", and both the CASA 2.111 and the HA-1112 can be seen in the excellent Guy Hamilton movie from 1969 "The Battle of Britain"...
shareYes there certainly was,I have it on an old vhs copy somewhere.Is this movie out on DVD I thought Warners have it scheduled for next year?
shareI recently watched the movie on a regular TV channel, and they deleted the Panzer song, where all the tankers are stomping their boots on the floor. That was always my favorite part, maybe the best scene in the whole thing. The only reason I would ever watch this movie again is for the Panzer song. Is it on the soundtrack? It's very inspiring. Makes me want to invade Poland or France, or drink Schapps or something.
shareThere's three scenes I remember being deleted from the movie when it's shown: Hessler walking down the row of tanks at the beginning; Ty Hardin and the 'American' MPs attacking Hessler in the bunker (totally forgot about this one until someone mentioned it!); and the father-son scene in the village.
I have two versions of this on tape at home, both from TV. The newer copy I taped have omitted all three scenes.
Not on the VHS copy is C. Bronson storming into R.Shaws command trailer and telling him that "I can't control my men(POW) because of the rumors that you are executing prisoners". I mean he was shouting, showing no respect. I wouldn't want Bronson in my face.
shareI recalled that brochure very well. There was a picture of Robert Shaw with the blonde haired lady. She was behind him and had one of her arms around him while he look like he was staring into outer space. I wonder why they never show that scene in the movie?
shareThe DVD and new Blu Ray version are still not complete. There is a scene I remember from the original theatre which shows the German paratroopers (dressed as US soldiers) changing the road signs around. (Later in the film the American column is misdirected by this action - until they realise their mistake). This scene must have been overlooked in the restoration - which is a shame. Other wise I think the film is complete