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29 May, 2009

KISS AND KILL


In search of Fu Manchu...



I'm looking for either the original prerecord or a dupe of this alternate version of Jess Franco's THE BLOOD OF FU MANCHU (1968). This version was released on US video in the 1980s. It was about 10m shorter than BLOOD..., better paced and had a different scene arrangement. In fact the opening scene of an expedition cutting their way through a thick jungle may have been an inspiration for the opening scene in RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK.

This may be the same as the German version which is listed in some sources as running 82m. I would also be interested in seeing this version, which is out on R2 DVD. The Blue Underground DVD of THE BLOOD OF FU MANCHU runs 94m. The great advantage of that presentation is that it looks terrific, is in original aspect ratio and is loaded with bonus materials.

I actually rented KISS AND KILL from a local video store about 20 years ago but failed to copy it. When I returned to the store sometime later I discovered that it had been removed from their inventory.

If anyone can help me out with one or both of these it would be much appreciated. I can be contacted at monell579@hotmail.com.

If anyone has any further information on these please post it below. Thanks.

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9 comments:

  1. Anonymous5:36 AM

    LP-mode label Star Classics once put out a retitled version called KISS OF DEATH that might also be the shorter version.

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  2. Anonymous6:59 PM

    doesn't the German DVD feature the shorter German cut in addition to the English version?

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  3. Anonymous2:35 AM

    Damn, I used to have this video (LP-mode). Found it in a Woolworth bin many years ago for around $2.00. The cover art was a cropped and greenish version of the poster art. I too recall thinking that the VHS edit was better paced than the better looking BU presentation. Not sure if I have a copy of it anymore but if I do I will drop you a line. - Damian

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  4. Robert Monell8:21 AM

    doesn't the German DVD feature the shorter German cut in addition to the English version

    I had read a in a review of that DVD that it did. I'm not sure though if it is the exact same version as K&K. I actually have yet another version, AGAINST ALL ODDS, on video. This is pretty much the same scene arrangement as BLOOD... but with some of the nudity and sadism cut out/obscured. There were at least three different versions circulating on US video: KISS OF DEATH, AGASINST ALL ODDS, K&K.

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  5. robertmonell8:23 AM

    Damn, I used to have this video (LP-mode). Found it in a Woolworth bin many years ago for around $2.00. The cover art was a cropped and greenish version of the poster art. I too recall thinking that the VHS edit was better paced than the better looking BU presentation. Not sure if I have a copy of it anymore but if I do I will drop you a line. - Damian

    I think the video which I rented was also in LP. If you can locate yours that would be great Damian. Thanks.

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  6. Robert Monell8:26 AM

    AGAINST ALL ODDS may be a TV version with just a new title card added.

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  7. Robert Monell8:27 AM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  8. Robert Monell8:33 AM

    LP-mode label Star Classics once put out a retitled version called KISS OF DEATH that might also be the shorter version

    That's yet another shorter version of BLOOD... but doesn't have the same scene arrangement of K&K. It's more of a censored/obscured for nudity version of BLOOD... .

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  9. Robert Monell5:36 PM

    Thanks to Robert Guest and Eric for coming up with prerecords of this. I'll be reporting here after I watch it. Still looking for the German version.

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