Death Wish 2  

Dir Michael Winner / 1982 / USA

Other
Sexual Violence

Later in the month Fox Columbia Film Distribution submitted a 'Soft Version' running 2426.26mtr (88m 41s). It was passed with an R, with the violence described as:
Frequency: Frequent
Explicitness/Intensity: Medium
Purpose: Gratuitous

This was the version that went on to have a theatrical release in Australia.

A video release followed on the RCA/Columbia Home Video label. This heavily censored tape runs 84m 49s, and is missing around four minutes of footage. The rape and muder of Rosario (9-15min approx), and the rape of Carol Kersey (15-18min approx) are both heavily edited.

May 1984 saw the film back before the Censorship Board. Valley View Video Library were awarded an R for an 87m print. The violence described as:
Frequency: Frequent
Explicitness/Intensity: Medium
Purpose: Gratuitous

In February 1984 it became law for all video tapes to be classified. The censors began the slow task of reviewing all the titles that had been released up until that time. They finally got to the old RCA/Columbia Home Video release of DEATH WISH 2 in April 1985. Despite being censored, they still gave Refused Registration to the 85min print because of 'Gratuitous Sexual Violence'.

September 1985 saw the film banned once more, again for 'Gratuitous Sexual Violence'. The applicant, Amalgamated 16mm Film Distributors, appealed the decision, and in September 1985 the Review Board awarded it an R. Although it is not listed as such, the 85m running time would seem to indicate the print was pre-cut before submission.

Around 2000, an Australian "no-name" label VHS appeared, with a running time of 88m 12s. 

It made its Australian DVD debut in 2003 on a double-bill with the original DEATH WISH. This Columbia-Tristar disc is titled DEATH WISH ULTIMATE COLLECTOR'S PACK, and is fully uncut at 87m 50s. See here for a detailed description of the differences between the censored RCA/Columbia Home Video VHS and uncut Columbia-Tristar DVD.

In September 2005 it premiered on Foxtel's Showtime Greats Channel. At 85m 35s it is over two minutes shorter than the uncut DVD. It does however include slightly more footage than the old RCA/Columbia VHS release. The rape of Rosaria is slightly longer, as is the rape and death of Kersey's daughter. The print is credited to Sony Pictures International Television.

In April 2006 Sony Pictures released the Death Wish - The Vigilante Collection. This set contains all five parts of the series. It needs to be confirmed what version of Part 2 it contains.

DVD Comparisons

Death Wish 3  

Dir Michael Winner / 1985 / USA

Hoyts Distribution had a 2479.00mtr (90m 36s) print banned in November 1985. The reason given was violence, which was described as:
Frequency: Frequent
Explicitness/Intensity: High
Purpose: Gratuitous

A censored print running 2468.70mtr (90m 14s)was passed with an R in March 1986. The violence was now described as:
Frequency: Frequent
Explicitness/Intensity: Medium
Purpose: Gratuitous

This was the version that went on to have a theatrical release in Australia.

Hoyts Distribution had the film back before the censors in late April 1986. A 90m 'Edited Version' was passed with an R for violence, which was once more described as:
Frequency: Frequent
Explicitness/Intensity: Medium
Purpose: Gratuitous

Late April / early May 1986 saw the film banned once more! The version ran 89m, and was Refused Registration due to violence, which was described as:
Frequency: Frequent
Explicitness/Intensity: High
Purpose: Gratuitous

These latter two submissions most probably relate to the proposed video release. This eventually appeared on the RCA/Columbia Home Video label running 86m 28s. This version is heavily censored, removes bad language, and actually runs slightly longer than the uncut version. In one scene it makes use of alternative footage , though judging by the running time, there must be more. Here are some of cuts.

RCA/Columbia VHS - Censored (Clothed) Version - 86m 28s
Sony Pictures R4 DVD - Uncut (Topless) Version - 86m 22s

Note that the cut scene times refer to the Sony Pictures R4 DVD.

THE RAPE OF THE GIRL

Before (VHS) - The girls is grabbed and they begin to tear her top.

Cut - The top is torn off and they begin to fondle her breasts. (DVD 41:11 to 41:14)

After (VHS) - Old couple arrive. One of the gang tell them to "get out of here!". The DVD says "get the fuck out of here".

Before (VHS) - Car stops and the girl is pulled from the car.

Cut - The girl begin pushed around and brief shots of her breasts. (DVD 41:57 to 41:60)

After/Before (VHS) - Girl is carried down the corridor, followed by a shot of one of the gang pushing her.

Cut - The girl lands on the mattress, the gang jump on top and fondle her breasts. (DVD 42:07 to 42:18)

After - Man saying "They raped her"

THE TOPLESS GIRL

At 74:21 in the DVD the topless girl is dragged from the house by the gang. In the VHS she has a top on. The scene goes on to show several other shots of her.

At 74:30 to 74:32 she is carried up the stairs, again alternative clothed footage is used in the VHS.

At 74:36 to 74:38 she runs topless to escape gun shots. Again she is clothed in the VHS.

Before (VHS) - Bronson shoots the gang member in the blue T-shirt. He falls backwards down the stairs and we see a brief shot of the blood stain on his T-shirt.

Cut - The fall continues to the bottom of the stairs. We also see a brief shot of the girls face as she cries and cowers in the doorway. (DVD 74:44 to 74:48)

After - Shot of Bronson's face.

SHOOTING BURNING VICTIMS

Before -  The gang throws petrol bombs into a house which then explodes.

Cut - Two people run from the house on fire. The gang leader machine guns them. (DVD 76:13 to 76:23)

After - Gang members running away from the police.

This must be just a small sample of the cuts/alternative footage in the RCA/Columbia VHS. Please send in any other details if you spot them.

The print that premiered in 2002 on Foxtel's Encore Channel has been further cut down to 85m 30s for an MA rating.

In April 2006 Sony Pictures released the Death Wish - The Vigilante Collection. This set contains all five parts of the series, and has an uncut (86m 22s) version of Part 3.

DVD Comparisons

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