Savage Streets
Dir Danny Steinmann / 1984 / USA
Roadshow has this title Refused Registration in
September 1984. The 2468.7mtr (90m 14s) print was banned for:
Violence
Frequency: Infrequent
Explicitness/Intensity: High
Purpose: Gratuitous
Other: Sexual Violence
An appeal to the Review Board in October 1984 was unsuccessful and the Refused Registration was confirmed. I believe this was cut, and Refused again in 1985.
July 1986 saw CBS/Fox Video submit an 85m edited version to the the censors.
It was Refused due to 'Gratuitous Sexual Violence'. A second edited version,
running 83m, was prepared, but in October 1986 this too was Refused. Again it
was for 'Gratuitous Sexual Violence'. November 1986 saw the film finally passed
with an R-rating for:
Violence and Language
Frequency: Frequent
Explicitness/Intensity: Medium
Purpose: Gratuitous
This third edited version runs 81m (80m 45s), and was released soon after on tape by CBS/Fox Video.
Thanks to Lucas W for this in-depth look at the censored CBS/Fox VHS.
I thought you may like this list of cuts made to
the CBS/Fox tape of SAVAGE STREETS. I compared this a long time ago to the uncut
Dutch VHS. Remember those pre-DVD days when this was the only way to find uncut films.
Anyway, my dub of the Dutch version is now long gone, so I can't go back and
confirm the length of the cuts. Those that I have listed are approximate.
The position of the cuts in the film mean the CBS/Fox tape. Anyway, I hope this
all makes sense.
THE OPENING
The CBS/Fox tape begins with Vince visiting Heather in hospital. This scene is repeated later in the film at 53m 50s. It is possible it was shown twice so as to boost the films running time following the massive cuts. This scene does not appear at the start of the uncut version.
COLLECTION TIME #1
10m 30s approx (30s censored) - The Scars collect money from a guy and his girlfriend. One pulls off the girls top. Missing are shots of one of the gang touching the girl's breasts, and another putting his head between them. Jake then kicks the man.
COLLECTION TIME #2
14m approx - The Scars collect money from Stevie. Missing is a shot of Jake squeezing Stevie's balls.
SHOWER SCENE
20m approx (30s censored) - After Heather and Brenda are shown together in the gym a shot of the girl's showers has been removed. This was presumably taken out to remove full-frontal nudity.
SIGN LANGUAGE
23m 20s approx - Heather is showing the gang member how to do sign language. He says "Now I've got one to teach you" Missing is him putting a finger from one hand between a ring he makes with his other hand.
HEATHER IS ATTACKED/CATFIGHT
20m 30s approx
Censored (40s) - Heather is pushed around between the gang as they fondle and kiss her.
Censored (15s) - The end of the fight between Brenda and Cherry (?) is missing.
Censored - Heather's clothes are torn off as the gang fight over who will be first.
HEATHER IS RAPED
Before Brenda is shown in the Principal's office.
27m 20s approx - Censored (30s) - More shots of Heather's rape.
Before/After - Brenda and her gang leave the school
27m 42 - Censored - The rape is over and Jake kicks Heather as she lays on the floor.
THE GANG IN THE CLUB
Missing is one brief shot of a gang member touching a girl.
FRANCINE IS MURDERED
53m 50s approx - The gang members chase Francine. Jake throws her off the bridge. A shot her body on the road has been removed.
VINCE'S FLASHBACK
53m 50s approx - This is the scene which is at the start of the CBS/Fox tape. Missing is a very brief flashback by Vince of the rape of Heather.
TWO GANG MEMBERS TALKING
61m approx - Censored - The two gang members get out of the car then walk along whilst joking about Heather's rape and Francine's death. This should be followed by their murder by Brenda, then the death of Vince as he is ran over. However, in the CBS/Fox tape the death of Vince has been moved to before the murder of the two gang members.
JAKE IS WOUNDED
67m approx - Censored -Close-up shot of Jake removing a crossbow bolt from his leg
JAKE VS BRENDA
71m 30s approx
Censored - Jake strangles Brenda.
After - Brenda stabs him.
Censored - Jake pulls the knife from his body.
After - Brenda gets up/
Censored - Jake strangling Brenda.
After - Brenda sets him on fire.
JAKES DEATH
75m approx
Censored - Jake stumbles around as he burns. He falls to the ground as Brenda looks on. The police cars begin to arrive.
VOICE OVER
At the end there is a voice over in the CBS/Fox tape, that does not appear in the Dutch VHS.
"This afternoon Brenda Wilson was arranged before the Los Angeles supreme court. Brenda Wilson, a jury of your peers has found you guilty of three counts of first degree murder. However, due to extraordinary circumstances surrounding this case, I hereby sentence you to 24 months probation. Sentence suspended, case dismissed"
***
It can now be found on Dutch DVD under the title DE BLOEDWRAAK VAN EEN MEIDENBENDE. This release on the Video Entertainment label is uncut, and in English. In the U.S, Jef Films Inc issued a DVD in 2003. here
The excellent Schnittberichte.com site has an examination of the cuts made to the German version. It is a German language site, but contains images of some of the footage that was censored from the Australian CBS/Fox version.
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