REPTILICUS: Three different cuts, and only one is available!

[Chris K.]

After doing my usual research on certain film subjects, REPTILICUS does come to mind. It's amazing that three cuts exist (the Danish-English language version, the Danish language version, and the AIP re-cut version), and yet the only one available here is the AIP cut!

Also, this is news to me, but MGM originally planned on a Special Edition DVD of REPTILICUS with all the info provided by REPTILICUS film historian (whose name I forget at this time), and yet MGM backed out and went with the AIP version instead! I hope some dude out their on the Internet is starting a petition with MGM to get that Special Edition rolling.

But, has anybody ever seen, or heard, of both the Danish-English language version and the Danish language version?

[Flangepart]

I missed out on a Danish cut of this gobbler. out bid on E-bay by .50 cents! D'oh!. My bad for being too cheap. I should have bid $11. If anyone else has one for sale......

[Squishy]

Uh-oh. That might have been me, Flangepart. I nailed a copy recently...however, it IS just a copy, and a new one reappears regularly, so take heart.

Anyway, here are some details on the Danish cut:

(1) "Peterson" (the guy Andrew describes as an "autistic Neanderthal dressed in overalls" in his review) gets...a song. A gaggle of little girls (uh-oh) badger him for details about the monster growing in the aquarium tank, and he leads them about, "The Sound of Music" style, describing how it will eat them up. Makes you want to claw your eyes out. Also, what Peterson sees through the microscope was added to the American version.

(2) LOTS of shots of the Skinny Blonde Guy (the one who finds Reptilicus' remains and brings them to Denmark, then feels guilty for the rest of the movie) with his shirt off. Again with the clawing!

(3) Somehow, General Grayson seems even more anal and sweaty and Naziesque this time around, which I didn't think was possible.

(4) It is true that the monster's pea-green pukum, multisourced scream (listen closely and you can pick out the klaxon) and the infamous "animated cut-out farmer" are all tacked onto the film for the American release. None are involved in this version. It doesn't make a lot of difference. The roar, at least, is more impressive. Also, the climactic "bazooka shot" is much better; instead of the animated fireball with the odd sound effect, this shot simply detonates in Rep's yap.

(5) The flying scenes involve a stiff puppet that circles the city, with a tighter turning radius than Supersonic Man and Gigan combined. At one point, it comes in for a "landing," which means it is lowered until it hits the ground. Bink! All the flying scenes appear to be shot with the edges of the scene cropped off, for some reason.

(6) The credit sequence pans across a field of scrub brush. No reason.

(7) "Dancing In Tivoli" remains intact and in English. Hooray!

[Flangepart]

Yee,hehe! I love this cheese Danish! I've got my written script for my third take at Roll yer own MST. About 600 gags. Most of them are funny....well...to me.
.... I've got some shorthand intros for the characters............
.... Gen. Grayson :"our hero, L&g,is a constipated bulldog.Ruff!"And,"Nostril boy"
.... Sven: "The poor mans David Mcallium."
.... The prof.s daughters: "Duleing Enganiues!"
.... Mr. Peterson: "Proof that rednecks can breed anywere!"
.... Prof. Dalby: "Highly educated Reptilicus poop."
.... Prof. whats his name. "I'm comming Elizibeth! Aargh!"
.... And, Reptilicus: "Ladies and gents, the worlds ugliest hand puppet,Oliver J. Dragon and Cecil the seasick serpant's love child, Reptilicus!"
.... Yee,hehe....its fun to be middle aged and insane.
.... Oh, and lets not forget "Tivoli Nights"! Just add the word "Naked" at the end of each verse, and you make that song go down a lot smoother.
.... Woohoo!
.... Hummm,... say Squishy, and the rest of the gang, have you guys ever done that? Not just had a riffing party, but actualy made a tape of your best gags, and played it back in place of the sound track? Its fun and easy. When i did "Voyage to a prehistoric planet", i just qued up the tape, and let fly! Have to be strict on restarts, like when you flub a line. Have to be precise on starting the tape and video agine, or the words and vid. get out of synque. Not that thats always a bad thing.......adds a certian charm some times........thats my excuse.
.... Man, this flick is the fun.

[Gerry]

Squishy already described the Danish version, so I won't repeat what he said.  He did neglect to say that the additional scenes with Skinny Blond Guy with his shirt off, also include Cute Little Brunette in a bikini.  

I for one LOVE the musical number with Peterson and the kids.  It's worth tracking down an E-Bay copy for that reason alone.

I've never seen the Danish-American cut, only the Danish cut and the AIP cut.  I'd be interested if anyone knows of a source.

Also, the REPTILICUS historian Chris K. was thinking of is Kip Doto, who has written a book on the movie.  I have his contact info if anyone is interested in contacting him for a copy.  (e-mail me - webmaster@scifilm.org)

[StatCat]

I've only seen the AIP cut but I'm currently trading with someone and one of the movies I want is the Danish version. There is a also a model of reptilicus out there by m5 (?) kind of deformed looking and cartoony that I've seen before.

[John]

>When i did "Voyage to a prehistoric planet",

 Now you need to do Voyage to the Planet of Prehistoric Women and Planet of Storms (Russia original that the other two films were made from).

[Flangepart]

Nice thought, John. I could call it my "Borscht Trilogy." Ah, it was in a Canadian/Hungarian resteraunt i first had Borscht. Not bad! Haveing Borscht by Niagara falls....sounds like a movie title to me........

[Vermin Boy]

A couple of years ago, I picked up a copy of Reptilicus while shopping with my cousins from Denmark. They flipped; Apparently, Reptilicus is regarded over there like Godzilla is over here. The best exchange was between me and their mother:

Her: (disgustedly) That is the worst movie EVER!
Me: (gleefully) I know!

[Foywonder]

I love giant monster movies, but REPTILICUS just hurt.

"DA MONSTER IS LOOOOOOSE!!!!!!"

Try hunting down a copy of THUNDER OF GIGANTIC SERPENT, a Hong Kong variation of REPTILICUS only with a giant snake. Also quite awful, but at least the F/X are slightly better. Less puppetry and more Toho-ish.

[Flangepart]

Thunder of Gigantic serpent.
....Am i the only one not thinking of flatulent kaiju?
....Diden't think so..............