MovieChat Forums > Cobra (1986) Discussion > Does anyone know where to find the uncut...

Does anyone know where to find the uncut work print?

posted 4 years ago by BooBooCat (652)
17 replies | jump to latest

I know it is VERY rare, but apparently it exists. I tried to find it so hard and just can't find it. I personally LOVE this movie as it is, but I know that it would have been so much better without all the censoring and the heavy editing. I also know that many people hate the movie, and again, I can totally understand why (without pretending that an uncut version would automatically and necessarily change their minds... I still feel like there's a chance).

So if someone, anywhere, anyhow, knows how I can put my hand on it, I would be SO happy. Thank you.

[–] Kowalski (75523) 4 years ago

I LIKE YOU...I WOULD ALSO ENJOY AN UNCUT PRINT...COBRA IS AMAZING...LOVE THAT MOVIE.

[–] BooBooCat (652) 4 years ago

I love it too, I honestly think that it has all the required elements of a solid cop thriller (I'm not sure this is the right translation, English is not my first language, but I mean a thriller cop-flick). It is dark, it's perfectly passed, it has a suspenseful soundtrack, has extrem violence, great action scenes and is overall REALLY entertaining.

This being said, I know many people who thought it was bad, including my girlfriend. And coincidentally, one of her criticism is that it lacked substance, like there was not much going on and it was really short. And the work print is 2 hours, while the final cut is less than 1h20 if I remember correctly. So, basically, that means that 40 minutes of material is missing, and this is relatively a lot.

So, I want those missing minutes and want these extremely violent, gore and intense scenes lol.

[–] Kowalski (75523) 4 years ago

IM WITH YOU ON THIS ONE.🙂

[–] JohnLogan1 (71) 4 years ago

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZLFgMKCo0w

[–] JohnLogan1 (71) 4 years ago

The uncut VHS video tape is long gone. I owned this in 1991 or 92. Terrible quality, with a running counter on top of the screen. Im sure post of the footage has been lost and we will never see a BluRay release of this extended cut. I also had Die Hard 2 Workprint around the same time.

[–] BooBooCat (652) 4 years ago

Just out of curiosity (because I really don't mind much about the quality of the resolution), is there a way to find that VHS anywhere on internet or in a store? I would pay big money for it.

[–] JohnLogan1 (71) 4 years ago

Very hard to say and don't know. At the time I obtain the VHS I was working in a video store. The owner had a working relationship with producer Menahem Golan. My then boss had been involved a few movie deals with Menahem Golan as a producer in the 1980s but got wiped out $$ and left the movie business.

I once met Menahem Golan along with Lorenzo Lamas.

Anyway this was a time when Laser Disc was a fad and my boss obtained a large garbage bag from Golan with VHS tapes (movies he probably had been involve in) one of these tapes was the COBRA work print. We all made a personal copy in the back like we did with a lot of movies. Despite being directly from the source the quality was shit. Sloppy transfer.

I have to check my parents garage and if I find the tape I will send it to you for free. I will keep this post in mind.

[–] BooBooCat (652) 4 years ago

Ah man, thank you. You could PM me if, by miracle, you find it. I cross my fingers lol.

[–] JohnLogan1 (71) 4 years ago

Keep you posted!

[–] roman1990 (48) a year ago

Hi John,
Did you ever find the workprint?

[–] roman1990 (48) 3 months ago

I wonder if John ever found the workprint in his parent's garage 4 years later.

[–] roman1990 (48) a year ago

Anyone know if JohnLogan ever found the workprint?

[–] olioz (3673) a year ago

Legend has it that he's still in his parents garage searching for it.

[–] roman1990 (48) a year ago

If that's the case, I hope he finds it.

[–] roman1990 (48) a month ago

I'm of the opinion now that I don't think it's real. Otherwise we would have seen a screenshot or a videoclip by now. I mean it's been about 4 years since JohnLogan has said he may still have it but I'm hoping to be proven wrong and it is real.

[–] Aylmer (417) 4 days ago

Is there any evidence whatsoever that the workprint exists? All I hear are apocrypha claims about tapes here and there but nobody seems to actually have a digital file of it. The workprint of the John Woo's HARD TARGET spread like wildfire once that surfaced. I would imagine that this film's would go mega-viral as it's been so hyped up and talked about for years - even on youtube and facebook in the mainstream chat forums.

[–] roman1990 (48) 4 days ago

Other than John's comment from 4 years ago. He has mentioned a lot more info on the workprint itself. So unless he or someone shows a screenshot, this is all we have as proof.

I hope that John finds the workprint so we can see for ourselves.