An American Werewolf In London Deleted Scenes Link
: Shots of a driver being decapitated by the windshield were shortened.
The deleted scenes from An American Werewolf in London prove that what is removed is often as important as what is left in. By cutting some of the more explicit, extended sequences, Landis allowed the audience to focus on David's psychological horror rather than just the physical horror.
In the theatrical version, the movie cuts away before the attack, and the men later reappear as ghosts in the porno theater. Why it was cut:
The removal of longer, slower scenes kept the film's frantic, chaotic pace. an american werewolf in london deleted scenes
: The man is deeply engrossed in a sensational, absurd headline. David looks over his shoulder, shares a bizarrely mundane interaction with the stranger, and then realizes the full horror of his situation.
The Lost Horrors of Piccadilly Circus: The Definitive Guide to An American Werewolf in London’s Deleted Scenes
Several highly publicized deleted scenes were trimmed to secure an R rating, tighten the pacing, or because the special effects did not meet Landis's high standards. Here is the definitive breakdown of the lost footage from this horror classic. 1. The Extended Slaughtered Lamb Encounter : Shots of a driver being decapitated by
The most storied piece of lost footage involves three homeless men (often referred to as tramps) whom the werewolf confronts near Tower Bridge. In the final cut of the film, the sequence is abrupt: the creature approaches the tramps in a junkyard, and the movie immediately cuts away, leaving their ultimate fate to the viewer’s imagination. However, according to those who attended early test screenings, this was not always the case.
The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) and the MPAA in the United States both took issue with the sheer brutality of this scene. To avoid an X rating, Landis heavily edited the sequence down to brief, frenetic cuts. The fully extended, bloody version of this scene is considered the "holy grail" of lost American Werewolf footage. 4. Extended Piccadilly Circus Chaos
The transformation of David Kessler (David Naughton) into a werewolf is arguably the most famous sequence in horror history. It was agonizingly detailed, but it was originally intended to be even more visceral. What was cut: In the theatrical version, the movie cuts away
An American Werewolf in London (1981) is celebrated for its groundbreaking practical effects, many of its most graphic moments were left on the cutting room floor to avoid an "X" rating. Most of these legendary deleted scenes are now considered lost media, surviving only in production stills or the memories of the cast and crew. The Infamous "Tramp Scene"
: Elmer Bernstein originally recorded a traditional, suspenseful horror score for the sequence. The Final Choice
The initial mauling of Jack and David by the werewolf was longer and significantly bloodier. Rick Baker’s team created highly detailed prosthetic wounds that were prominently featured. The MPAA forced Landis to rely on quick cuts to reduce the visceral impact of Jack's throat being torn open. Jack’s Decaying Anatomy
The climactic werewolf rampage in Piccadilly Circus originally showcased more explicit violence.