The House That Screamed : 'WHICH VERSION IS BETTER?'

'WHICH VERSION IS BETTER?'

Friday Afternoon,
December 9th, MMXI

Dear Fellow Fans,

So which version is more complete and more satisfying--the Elvira version or the Australian version? Elvira's DVD is the widescreen version, right? I wish I had all the answers!

Your Friend,

Tommy B.
Leesburg, Florida

Re: 'WHICH VERSION IS BETTER?'

The answer is simple: the Australian "uncut" version is more satisfying.

Even though the cuts are tiny here (a few seconds here and there) those few seconds make all the difference in putting the final resolution of the movie in context.

In the uncut version, there is no ambiguity about Mdme. Foreneau's lesbian and incestuous desires. The final ending becomes that much more logical (though still a big surprise).

Re: 'WHICH VERSION IS BETTER?'

Tuesday Afternoon,
December 20th, MMXI

Dear lenlarga:

Thank you for responding to my inquiry. I had high hopes that a helpful soul like yourself would be willing to share his knowledge and experience with me. "THTS" is one of my all-time favorite horror films and I recently became obsessed with finding the best copy available. My current copy is very nice, but if there's any chance of seeing more, especially of the deleted "rescue scene", then I need to have that information at my disposal. I'm glad that you responded by saying: the Australian "uncut" version is more satisfying. Just before receiving your message, I had ordered a copy of the film that is supposed to be part of the Australian lineage. If it does turn out to be more complete than my "Sinister" version, I'll let you know, probably right after Christmas.

Happy Holidays

Re: 'WHICH VERSION IS BETTER?'

No problem, happy to help.

But have to warn you, there is no rescue scene that I am aware of. The cut from Terese hearing Louis in the shower to the sudden jump forward several days or weeks later where Irene is accusing Terese of meeting with Louis is, I believe, how the movie played out in the original version. In fact, I think this was done because, in many ways, Louis and his relationship with his mother and the girls is more of a subplot, with the main plot being the sexual repression that Mdme Forneau lays on the girls of the school.

Of course, by the end, the subplot weaves into the main plot in a sinister and shocking way, but it seems to me the director wants to keep the focus on Terese, Forneau and Irene through most of the film, and extended sequences with Terese and Luis would have been unnecessary and detracted from the main storyline.

Plus, I think the performance of Teresa Galbo and John Moulder Brown was so very good, the viewer really needs to see only that one scene to understand that these are two lonely souls searching for one friend in the world, and this has built a special bond between them. Other than the ending, I think that scene where Terese goes to say goodbye to Louis is the most effective in the whole film.

Re: 'WHICH VERSION IS BETTER?'

James; I just discovered this film and it is an instant obsession for me as well! There is a very nice, uncut print on youtube, so it can be had for free there. Did you ever get that australian edition? if yes, can you tell us something about the quality? It is such a great film, like a hybrid of Suspiria and Picnic at Hanging Rock.

"IMdB; where 14 year olds can act like jaded 40 year old critics...'

Re: 'WHICH VERSION IS BETTER?'

Wednesday,
08/01/2012

Dear L. Mirage,

Please, call me Tom; it's a shared address. Sorry for such a slow response, but I've been busy. Anyway, thank you for letting me know about the uncut print on "YouTube". I'm not so sure that it would play well on my computer, but I can try. Yes, I did order and receive a copy of "THTS" that was supposedly taken from the Australian print. However, that was quite a while ago and I am no longer qualified to comment on its quality without watching it again. I now own three copies of the film, including a Sinister Cinema cut and the ever popular Elvira edition. The only thing I can say right now with confidence is that they are all quite similar. Even so, what I need to do someday is sit down with a pad and pencil and watch all three in rapid succession so that I can take notes on the subtle differences that exist among the prints. I'm sure that the comments already posted on IMdB will hold up and outshine anything that I can add to the symposium. Before I close, I would like to make two more comments. First, my alleged Australian copy (if memory serves) is missing the key kiss that comes after the whipping scene. And more importantly, it does seem true that no version of the film available today will illustrate exactly how the evil son is able to escape from the air shaft. Nor does there seem to be any footage that would substantiate a relationship between the boy and our protagonist. Darn the luck...I think we'll have to make up the missing scenes in our own minds and mold them to our liking. I don't like to overplay my favorite films and lose the excitement that comes with a fresh viewing. So maybe this fall I'll sit down on a rainy day and study my DVD's in detail so that I understand the differences better. Until then, I can work on my own concept of what the movie poster should have looked like!

Your Friend,

Tommy B.

PS: Since I'm a fogey of 40+ years, I prefer to say that it's a place where 40 year old critics can act like jaded 14 year olds!

Re: 'WHICH VERSION IS BETTER?'

The Aussie tape version titled THE FINISHING SCHOOL is uncut and in English, but pan and scan.
The Elvira version uses the lbx Spanish print, and adds the English track haphazardly ( it is not always in sync ).
ALL widescreen copies hail from Europe, and all are censored to remove lesbian subtext and tone down the sexuality. The original AIP release of the English version was trimmed for time to approx. 90 min, but not edited for content.
There is an excellent fan compilation that adds back the censored frames and bits from the full screen Aussie tape. This is useful as it draws attention to the cuts, some just a frame or three. It is very useful to see how the film was toned down.

Re: 'WHICH VERSION IS BETTER?'

Dude, nice entry! It's a compact paragraph, but it's chock full of useful information. Unfortunately, I have not watched this film for some time now and my current knowledge of scenes included or scenes deleted is not as sharp as it should be. At present, I proudly own three different versions of "THTS" and what I really need to do is sit down and watch all three in rapid succession, taking notes as I go along. No matter what, one thing seems certain. Whatever scenes were shot connecting our female protagonist with the crazy boy have been lost for good...or... is he still stuck in the vent shaft banging away like crazy? I'm still working on a movie poster for "THTS", a better one than the original I would say. Accurately drawing pretty female faces is no easy task! Please tell me John, which version of the film is your "number 1 favorite" so far? I'll be waiting to hear.

Re: 'WHICH VERSION IS BETTER?'

I gotta go with the uncut english version. All the little bits trimmed out of the Spansih version were intended by the director to be in there, but disturbed the Spanish censor. Here are the 4 commonly available versions with timings ( corrected for pal / ntsc )
French PAL 94:50 NTSC 98:53
Shoarma boot PAL 98:26 NTSC 102:38 (version that appears on the Elvira dvd )
Spanish DVD PAL 99:08 NTSC 103:23
Fancomp PAL100:36 NTSC 104:55 (same as uncut austrailain vhs'finishing school')

Re: 'WHICH VERSION IS BETTER?'

Thanks for providing this information, John, complete with accurate times. I think I own a DVD copy of the uncut Australian version, but I'm not sure. What signs or features should I look for in order to make the determination.
Big Fan of THTS,
Tommy B.

Re: 'WHICH VERSION IS BETTER?'

Thank you!

Re: 'WHICH VERSION IS BETTER?'

The full version finally came out in Germany of all places this week. It is was released under the title DAS VERSTECK... and runs the longest of all versions out there so far (1:40:35 - and that is with PAL speed up.)

Unfortunately the "uncensored" version is NOT anamorphic wide screen but merely 4:3 widescreen - but for that, it is more than watchable. Plus it is in english.

Hope that helps.

Re: 'WHICH VERSION IS BETTER?'

Thank you.

Re: 'WHICH VERSION IS BETTER?'

I own 2 original copies of the Australian tape. It's distributed by FILM & CABLE VIDEO SALES and is rated R. While pan & scan, the opening and finishing scenes sport a beautiful w/s transfer. They are nearly impossible to find now and these tapes were also used as a master for bootleg cult/horror companies (all out of business now anyway due to the success of dvd and Blu-ray). As for it's censorship status - Yes - This release IS uncensored, but does have the so-called issue of a John Moulder Brown dialogue scene, and that's it. All the whippings, slasher murders and adult concept scenes are intact. Peace!


"That's it. It bit into his arm-pit. Like It wanted to eat him, man. Like It wanted to eat his heart."

Re: 'WHICH VERSION IS BETTER?'

What issue of a John Moulder Brown dialogue scene?

Re: 'WHICH VERSION IS BETTER?'

Apparently there is a "lost" scene of Luis (Moulder Brown) getting rescued from a heating duct by a girl in the showers he was spying on. It's the only significant jump cut in this version. And I don't think it was cut for reasons of censorship.


"That's it. It bit into his arm-pit. Like It wanted to eat him, man. Like It wanted to eat his heart."

Re: 'WHICH VERSION IS BETTER?'

I think the person who wrote that post was just speculating- I have seen no evidence such a scene ever existed.

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