OVERALL: R2

The Japanese "Ultimate Edition" has an English DTS track, the original Italian mono track with all the extras found on all the MGM UE/SE releases.

Versions:
- The original English export versions ran for c.163 mins.
- The Italian theatrical version ran for c.174 mins.
- An early preview version, shown in Italy, included the fabled 'grotto scene'.
- The 1998 MGM DVD Version which was believed to be the original US theatrical version, but in fact used an Italian source and as a result, differs from the true US theatrical version.
- The 2003 restoration (running c.179 mins) rebuilds the film, using the Italian theatrical version as its basis and reinstating the grotto scene deleted after early preview screenings. This version includes new dubbing by Wallach and Eastwood (and a Lee Van Cleef soundalike) for scenes that were never originally dubbed into English, and a new foley track.

General notes about the new "Extended version" (all CE DVD´s - Source: Glenn Erickson - DVD Savant/DVD Talk):
There are approx. 18 minutes of new scenes. Approx. 16 of these are the same standard 7 scenes, that were shown on the original Italian theatrical version (for more info about the scenes, see the here). The one completely new scene is called "The Grotto". In it Tuco recruits three bandits to murder Blondie. This is the only scene not shown in the original Rome engagement in 1966, before the film was cut to 161 minutes for general release (in the US). The English audio track has been remixed. Re-recording English dialogue for the new footage was done with e.g. Eli Wallach and Clint Eastwood (they dubbed their new lines), and actor Simon Prescott imitated the voice of the late Lee Van Cleef. About the "deleted scenes":
1) "Extended Tuco Torture scene" is the uncut Italian version of the scene where Mario Brega beats Eli Wallach senseless. It was recut for all versions long ago due to negative damage, which resulted in the soundtrack background being chopped up to fit. The long scene (in full lenght) was not re-integrated into the feature on the DVD´s because the source was an imperfect print.
2) "The Sorocco Sequence" is a photo-and-text reconstruction of the legendary sequence often discussed on Leone web boards. Using a handful of stills and careful descriptions from Leone authors and experts Ulrich Angersbach and Ulrich Bruckner, the piece attempts to give a feel for what the scene was. Alberto Grimaldi said that it was finished but dropped even before the premiere. Snippets from it found their way into a French trailer.

CUTS:

• R1 America- MGM Home Entertainment - Yes - This release is a shorter version than the Italian theatrical version, however, most of the missing scenes is included on the DVD as deleted scenes. (162:14 NTSC)
• R1 Collector's Edition America- MGM Home Entertainment - No cuts - This is the most complete version, with around 16 minutes of additional footage. The differences from original Italian theatrical version are:
  - Missing scene: Shots of an elongated Tuco-torture scene have not been inserted, as no decent source material exists.
  - Added scene: The “Grotto scene”, where Tuco meets up with his gang who would later make an attempt on Blondie’s life (178:24 NTSC)
• R2 France- MGM Home Entertainment - Yes - This release is a shorter version than the Italian theatrical version, however, most of the missing scenes is included on the DVD as deleted scenes (156:59 PAL)
• R2 Special Edition France- MGM Home Entertainment - No cuts - This is the most complete version, with additional 15 minutes of footage. The differences from original Italian theatrical version are:
  - Missing scene: Shots of an elongated Tuco-torture scene have not been inserted, as no decent source material exists.
  - Added scene: The “Grotto scene”, where Tuco meets up with his gang who would later make an attempt on Blondie’s life (171:19 PAL)
• R2 Germany- MGM Home Entertainment - Yes - German theatrical version with cuts for violence (155:03 PAL)
• R2 Gold Edition Germany- MGM Home Entertainment - No cuts - This is the most complete version, with additional 15 minutes of footage. The differences from original Italian theatrical version are:
  - Missing scene: Shots of an elongated Tuco-torture scene have not been inserted, as no decent source material exists.
  - Added scene: The “Grotto scene”, where Tuco meets up with his gang who would later make an attempt on Blondie’s life (171:19 PAL)
• R2 Special Edition Holland- MGM Home Entertainment - No cuts - This is the most complete version, with additional 15 minutes of footage. The differences from original Italian theatrical version are:
  - Missing scene: Shots of an elongated Tuco-torture scene have not been inserted, as no decent source material exists.
  - Added scene: The “Grotto scene”, where Tuco meets up with his gang who would later make an attempt on Blondie’s life.
• R2 Western Legends Holland- MGM Home Entertainment - Yes - This release is a shorter version than the Italian theatrical version, however, most of the missing scenes is included on the DVD as deleted scenes (156:59 PAL)
• R2 Ultimate Edition Japan- MGM Home Entertainment - No cuts - This is the most complete version, with around 16 minutes of additional footage. The differences from original Italian theatrical version are:
  - Missing scene: Shots of an elongated Tuco-torture scene have not been inserted, as no decent source material exists.
  - Added scene: The “Grotto scene”, where Tuco meets up with his gang who would later make an attempt on Blondie’s life (178:24 NTSC)
• R2 Special Edition Portugal- MGM/LNK - No cuts - This is the most complete version, with additional 15 minutes of footage. The differences from original Italian theatrical version are:
  - Missing scene: Shots of an elongated Tuco-torture scene have not been inserted, as no decent source material exists.
  - Added scene: The “Grotto scene”, where Tuco meets up with his gang who would later make an attempt on Blondie’s life.
• R2 Special Edition Scandinavia- FS Film / MGM - No cuts - This is the most complete version, with additional 15 minutes of footage. The differences from original Italian theatrical version are:
  - Missing scene: Shots of an elongated Tuco-torture scene have not been inserted, as no decent source material exists.
  - Added scene: The “Grotto scene”, where Tuco meets up with his gang who would later make an attempt on Blondie’s life (171:19 PAL)
• R2 Spain- Filmax - Yes - Unknown cuts (153:04 PAL)
• R2 United Kingdom- MGM Home Entertainment - Yes - This release is a shorter version than the Italian theatrical version, however, most of the missing scenes is included on the DVD as deleted scenes (156:59 PAL)
• R2 Special Edition United Kingdom- MGM Home Entertainment - No cuts - This is the most complete version, with additional 15 minutes of footage. The differences from original Italian theatrical version are:
  - Missing scene: Shots of an elongated Tuco-torture scene have not been inserted, as no decent source material exists.
  - Added scene: The “Grotto scene”, where Tuco meets up with his gang who would later make an attempt on Blondie’s life (171:19 PAL)
• R4 Australia- MGM Home Entertainment - Yes - This release is a shorter version than the Italian theatrical version, however, most of the missing scenes is included on the DVD as deleted scenes (156:59 PAL)
• R4 Collector's Edition Australia- MGM Home Entertainment - No cuts - This is the most complete version, with additional 15 minutes of footage. The differences from original Italian theatrical version are:
  - Missing scene: Shots of an elongated Tuco-torture scene have not been inserted, as no decent source material exists.
  - Added scene: The “Grotto scene”, where Tuco meets up with his gang who would later make an attempt on Blondie’s life (171:19 PAL)

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Comparison added by Craig on 19/07/01
Comparison last updated by Rob_Hunt on 11/03/22

UPDATE LOG:

19/07/01: Initial entry.
13/05/16: ASINs added. RTs added to R2/4 2-disc releases. R2 France (x2), Germany (x2), Holland (1-disc) added.
08/02/21: Added Spain.
11/03/22: Updated title.