The Archive of Incomplete TV DVDs - Buyers Beware! (Updated 3/27/05) - Page 5

Jean-Michel · 08-31-2004, 05:49 PM

There's an absolutely huge list of edits that have been made to Python since the original broadcasts here. Also a lot of info about stuff that was written but not filmed, stuff that was filmed but cut out before the actual broadcast, etc. etc., with lots of extracts from the actual shooting scripts (NOT the versions in "All/Just the Words," which are mostly transcripts). Here's what's been edited since the original broadcasts (if the A&E set does in fact include any of this material be sure to chime in, I haven't actually compared them yet):

Quote:

The 'Mouse Problem' sketch in Series 1, Show 2 (12/10/69) originally urged viewers who felt that they suffered from a similar affliction to phone an onscreen telephone number. This later turned out to be David Frost's home number. This tale has been well documented in many places, with Frost devoting a page or two to the stream of irritating phone calls in his autobiography. However, what is less well known is what happened next. Frost complained to the BBC and the Postmaster General, with the result that, according to Pixley, the episode was re-edited in August 1970 with new contact details and a fresh voiceover from Cleese. This was reportedly cut straight into the master of the episode, with the result that the original version no longer exists. However, monochrome telerecordings made for the purposes of overseas sales are known to exist for Flying Circus. If a telerecording on this episode exists, then it almost certainly will have been made before the re-editing took place.

Series 2, Show 9:

Quote:

For later edits of the sketch 'The Girl From Ipanema' was overdubbed with a mumbled 'I Dream Of Jeanie With The Light Brown Hair', although details are sketchy. Monty Python Speaks claims the change occurred for repeat showings (yet it was still '...Ipanema' in the 21/12/90 BBC2 repeat). Others suggest that the cut was more recent and only made for American video releases. Either way the reasons for the change are down to boring, sensible, grey-socks-and-flipcharts 'copyright'.

Series 2, Show 11:

Quote:

Something the viewers did get to see - at least initially - was a delightful piece of animation which depicted Jesus Christ crucified on a telegraph pole. This was cut for all repeats and no longer exists on the mastertape. Telerecordings of the sequence have however recently been found, after thirty two years.

[...]

The first copy was discovered in 2003 by the excellent Matthew K. Sharp who, during a discussion about the existence of Python kinescopes on Missing Episodes, mentioned that he'd come across a black and white telerecording of Series 2, Show 11. We asked if it included the obvious. The answer came back that it did. Not only the full 'Telegraph Pole' animation but an extra bit in 'Conquistador Coffee' in which Cleese berates Idle's ad campaign for references to "cancer and leprosy".

Series 3, Show 9:

Quote:

A Gilliam animation which used music from 'a German commercial made by Halas And Batchelor' in Series 3, Show 9 (14/12/72) caused a few problems which led to all repeats of the show being re-edited.

Series 3, Show 12:

Quote:

For its first transmission (11/01/73), Series 3, Show 12 began with 'Choreographed Party Political Broadcast', a pre-titles sequence featuring MPs delivering policy statements and the like as part of a dance routine. This was followed by some animation of Wilson and Heath doing 'The Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy'.

The item was originally planned (and recorded) as the final sketch in Series 3, Show 13 and would have appeared at the end of that show - after the end of the awkward Dickie Attenborough payoff, and an 'E Henry Thripshaw' T-shirt announcement. It isn't known why the sketch was relocated to the start of Show 12.

Some viewers remember the scene from its original transmission (plus it was alluded to in press reviews at the time). Latter-day fans finally got to read the script as it was published in Just The Words, but the actual sketch has disappeared from repeats and videotapes. The show simply begins with the animated titles.

Some broadcasts of 3-12 had an alternate opening which has apparently yet to resurface on home video:

Quote:

CAPTION: TONIGHT WE START THE SHOW STRAIGHT AWAY WITH THE OPENING TITLES
CAPTION: NO YOU DIDN'T - YOU STARTED WITH THAT CAPTION
CAPTION: AH YES.

Series 4, Show 3 ("The Light Entertainment War"):

Quote:

As has been previously reported in angry voices by us, the version of this show as originally released on video in America by Paramount, and later (worldwide?) by BMG video was an edited version with several sequences removed (for a repeat showing in May 1976 according to Pixley). The sequences in question were also not present in the Just The Words scriptbooks, suggesting that the Python camp had either completely forgotten the original full-length version existed or had just accepted the edited version as 'official'.

Then, in 1998, that appalling Best Of Monty Python box set was released which seemingly utilised alternate mastertapes to previous releases - including, (as mentioned earlier) a faulty version of 'Biggles Dictates A Letter', a stupidly censored 'Summarised Proust' and two sections from 'L.E. War' which had previously been issued with cuts.

First of all, the two pepperpots ("Bloody repeats") have an extra bit of dialogue, following the revelation that "the public are idiots" and they may as well put on the last five miles of the M2. There are overtones of Mrs Zambesi's new brain, following the "At last, they've done been put on somethin' interesting"/"Oh, most interesting" exchange...

[large chunk of script edited]

The section gets very little laughter and both Jones and Chapman look on the point of losing it a bit. Even more exciting, to those who'd never seen it before, was this huge chunk, cut from the programme planners conference. It follows Gilliam's entry as the security guard in a wheelchair and Palin's triumphant "Well you're not allowed to suggest programme ideas!". The drunken Chapman misunderstands...

[another large chunk of script edited, VISIT THE SITE FOR GOD'S SAKE YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO]

Anyway... A third short section was also cut from 'L.E. War' in 1976. This was only revealed when the Paramount Comedy channel (who are evidently using the same mastertapes as those used to compile the box sets) broadcast the show in its entirety - possibly the first time this has been aired publicly since 1974. The section takes place between the end of the "Anything Goes" 'Court Martial' sketch and the 'War Film Trailer' and features two German soldiers in their headquarters, watching the courtroom scene on a TV set. In front of them is a military operations map, but with spiders/men in halos on it etc.

Page 10 of the site has a comparison between an old audio recording of "Mr Neutron" and the version we all know and possibly love, but since it's unknown exactly where the audio copy comes from (i.e. whether it was made from the original broadcast or possibly from a rough edit that never actually went out) it doesn't really count. It apparently comes from the ABC versions of the show (the ones the Pythons successfully sued over). The "masturbation" line in 3-5 was indeed cut for the original transmission, but subsequently reinstated in repeats. The same episode was also shorn of the line "what a silly bunt!" in the "Travel Agent" sketch, but this apparently has not been recovered.

Tony J Case · 08-31-2004, 09:59 PM

One more show that was edited, that I completly forgot about from last go-round

Doctor Who: The Five Doctors
The 1995 Special Edition contains many new lines of dialogue, extended scenes of Tom Baker (from Shada), updated and vastly improved special effects, and a new Stereo Dolby Surround soundtrack.

John Kilduff · 09-01-2004, 09:23 PM

"Jem And The Holograms: The Complete First And Second Seasons" has some interesting issues.

There are 2 different variations on the "Jem" theme song (The first is "Truly Outrageous", and the second is the "Jem Girls" theme). There are 2 different opening sequences set to "Truly Outrageous", while "Jem Girls" has just one opening.

Episode 13 ("The Music Awards, Part 1") has an edit. In the original broadcast version, there was a public service announcement with a phone number for a runaway help service. As Christy Marx points out in the episode's commentary track, it was edited from the DVD.

Sincerely,

John Kilduff...

Do these count?

NicholasMinTN · 09-02-2004, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Dark Shadows [Collections 7+]
(MPI Media Group)
Beginning with volume 7, an effort has been made to correct a number of flubs found in this most unusual soap. This includes redubbing lines and editing out mistakes.

Okay, I can say this is NOT true. Per a few online forums, the shows have NOT been altered at all. And why would they? The flubs are part of the charm of this show.

john mcfadden · 09-03-2004, 10:11 PM

Did anyone mention that the "Family Guy " dvds originally had commentary on ALL episodes but Fox didnt think it was necessary.....BOOOOOOOOOOOOO Fox

Scott L · 09-04-2004, 01:57 AM

Jackass: BOTH discs are a best of set of all three seasons.

It probably doesn't get any worse than this.

Eric Paddon · 09-04-2004, 09:44 AM

A "best of" set, is not an "altered presentation" if the episodes within are exactly the way they were broadcast. I think we need to remember the purpose of the thread which is to note sets with episode content altered from the original broadcast version.

Dane Marvin · 09-04-2004, 10:36 AM

Eric is correct. Neither of the last two submissions meet the criteria.