MovieChat Forums > Psychomania Discussion > TCM aired cut version

TCM aired cut version

posted 15 years ago by chongajuly
15 replies | jump to latest

The version that recently aired on Turner Classic Movies was not shown intact.George Sanders is first seen attending a seance with Beryl Reid,before greeting Nicky Henson in the kitchen,where they discuss the graveyard frog and its supernatural implications.On TCM,the entire seance was missing,and Henson goes from the graveyard to his living room,an absence of about 4 minutes.My original version(from the easily available video release in the 1980's)runs a full 90 minutes.I gave up quickly after I realized what TCM had done.Why would they dare show any feature film if it's not going to air intact? They always advertise "uncut,commercial free," but they failed miserably in this case.I am not familiar with any of the DVD releases.

[–] rockislandredd 15 years ago

I noticed that as well. Not sure why they would cut out the seance scene. Big disappointment.

[–] ThunderDonkey 15 years ago

Wow, I can't believe it was actually on and I missed it!! Haven't seen this in God knows how long, probably not since I was a kid. Loved this movie, it reminds me of the period in time that was the 70's. Stinks to read that this movie TMC saw fit to cut scenes from. What is that all about? If you're going to wind up cutting Pyschomania, makes me wonder what they would leave intact.

[–] rp-j 15 years ago

The problem with "Psychomania" is that there are at least two different edits doing the rounds. The film was trimmed by four minutes for its US release on a double-bill with "Horror Express". This later cut may be the version that TCM screened, so they may not actually be responsible for the missing four minutes, although naturally I can't confirm this having not seen the TCM broadcast. The two versions have both turned up on different DVD releases. The BBC have screened the original edit on several occasions over the last 20 years, but sadly there has not been a UK DVD release at the time of writing.

[–] MystMoonstruck 14 years ago

TCM is showing it now. It's listed as 91 minutes. I wish that I had taped it though I do have a VHS copy of it from a long-ago dollar bin at Wal-Mart. I might have been out of the room, as I don't recall the seance. I just know that the longer version is listed on the cable guide.

~~MystMoonstruck~~

[–] Phyg_LeGuy 14 years ago

TCM lists it in their database as 91m, but on their schedule as 86m. What they showed was most definitely 86m.

If footage exists showing Mr. George Sanders in conference with a frog, I'd like to see as much of that as possible.

[–] jorgito2001 14 years ago

Watched my DVR'd via TCM Psychomania this morning & can confirm the seance is DEFINITELY missing...never seen this movie before so had no idea.

Still enjoyed the flick...gave it a solid 6/10

--
Collector '09: 7/10
NOES '10: 4/10
Boy Eats Girl: 6/10
I Sell the Dead: 8/10

[–] preppy-3 14 years ago

TCM might have gotten an edited version from the distributor...but maybe not. They showed edited versions of "The Road Builder (aka "Night Digger")" and "Johnny Got His Gun"...and those were MGM films which TCM owns! The cuts were minor (both edits involved male and female nudity) but they shouldn't keep saying they show films uncut when they are cutting them.

[–] chongajuly 14 years ago

October 2010 found TCM airing the same cut version as the year before. As for the missing seance footage, lasting about five minutes, Beryl Reid is speaking through a child's voice, the dead girl's family gathered around the table. George Sanders stands nearby, joining Nicky Henson in the kitchen when the latter arrives, and notices the frog that Henson captured while making love at the local graveyard called The Seven Witches. Sanders is delighted: "Over a hundred years old! Maximus leopardus, they're usually found only in graveyards." Henson: "That's right." Sanders: "Anyone taking a maximus leopardus from a graveyard is either foolhardy...or ignorant." Henson: "You're always calling me foolhardy...but I'm not ignorant Shadwell!" Henson asks about the secret of the living dead, and the scene shifts to the living room, following the seance. This is where the cut version picks up. Considering it was George Sanders' final role before committing suicide about five months later, it was nice that his seemingly innocuous butler role proved to be more substantial (and sinister) than it first appeared, and he justifiably receives top billing. His screen career ironically ended with a film about bikers who return from the dead after committing suicide, but there was no evidence if he himself returned from the grave. He was never close to his older brother Tom Conway, who looked and sounded like him, dying a destitute alcoholic in 1967 at age 62. On April 25 1972, Sanders swallowed an overdose of barbituates in a hotel room in Spain, following an interview in which he was quite obviously drunk. Knowing that his parents had lived long lives, lonely and fearful since suffering a stroke in 1970, the 65 year old actor decided to kill himself, leaving behind a suicide note: "Dear world, I am leaving because I am bored. I feel that I have lived long enough. I leave you in this sweet cesspool of life. Good luck." Well known for playing cads, he decided it best to go "in character."

"I take pleasure in great beauty" - James Bond

[–] thatguy_78757 14 years ago

I saw it on VHS and it had the seance scene

bought a DVD off of Amazon and it was missing the scene

this movie scared the daylights out of me when I first saw it as a child on really late night TV..... now its just a hoot!

[–] andyg35 14 years ago

Over here in the UK the BBC have shown the full and uncut version several times, but not for some time now.

I'm aware of 3 DVD release, all from the USA...

Severin Films, Oct 2010 - Uncut and with some excellent extra features, including interviews with some cast and crew. Widescreen.

Geneon, Oct 2005 - Seance scene cut - the film runs 4 minutes shorter than the Severin release. Seems to be 4:3 ratio too.

Image, June 2000 - Uncut, although on Amazon the running time is given as 85 mins. Widescreen, but expensive to buy and lacks the extras.

I'd go for the Severin release - the extras alone are worth it for this memorable film. I don't think Mary Larkin and Nicky Henson rate the film too highly, but they did enjoy making it.

AndyG

[–] OC47150 11 years ago

TCM aired it again in October 2013 and no seance scene.

I hadn't seen this movie before. It wasn't too bad.

[–] AnonymousReviewer 11 years ago

I know for a fact that when TCM showed Psychomania recently is was edited print.
This really sucks, because TCM is known for showing their movies UNCUT.

[–] 11 years ago

[deleted]

[–] AnonymousReviewer 11 years ago

Thanks for the Update, I recorded this on my DVR. This is a movie that I always heard about, but never seen until now.

Sad to hear to that TCM aired an edited print, when the channel is known for showing movies UNCUT.

I also think TCM showed an edited print for for the Ted V. Michaels movie "THE DOLL SQUAD" (1973). Seems like there was alot of "cutaway" shots and missing footage. But I am not sure on this one, since I don't own the DVD version.

[–] FlyingSaucersAreReal 8 years ago

I wonder why anyone felt like they should edit it. The movie is only 91 mins long uncut.

-I was born in a crossfire hurricane.