Black Cauldron deleted scenes

[Brandon Pierce]

I'm hearing some stuff about deleted scenes from The Black Cauldron. One in particular of the Horned King beheading one of his sidekicks, and I read that there's a "noticeable" film jump in the sound track where the scene was cut.

I actually haven't seen the mvie (or at least watched it in it's entirety) in years, and I don't recall this at all.

I also hear of other completed scenes that were cut, but fully animated. Do these scenes still exist, and does somebody have them?

 

[tucsoncoyote]

I'm hearing some stuff about deleted scenes from The Black Cauldron. One in particular of the Horned King beheading one of his sidekicks, and I read that there's a "noticeable" film jump in the sound track where the scene was cut.

I actually haven't seen the mvie (or at least watched it in it's entirety) in years, and I don't recall this at all.

I also hear of other completed scenes that were cut, but fully animated. Do these scenes still exist, and does somebody have them?

Actually According to IMDB, they state the following about what scenes are deleted and fully animated.. and here is what is said:

The version of the film released to theaters omits numerous fully-animated scenes, including:

• Shots of graphic violence as Taran fights his way out of the castle, and
• Shots of Eilonwy sporting ripped garments as she's hanging for her life with Taran and Fflewddur.
• The most well-known deleted scene, due to a clumsy jump it left in the film's soundtrack and a cel of the infamous scene appearing online, is that of a man being mauled by one of the Cauldron born.

Now I did talk to a friend of mine and in fact what you are describing is totally new and completely different that what either of us know about. So if this is true, then it's news to me and my friend. but the above data is known.

Edited Note: I did some further talking to my friend and he even says that on the DVD that has been released recently, that now in the final version, the one he has, he states that, "There is some blood that is shown 'spurting' from a wound inflected by Taran swiping the sword,but thats the most graphic thing as far as blood goes."

So there you go but as for the execution by the horned king? that's a new one to both of us.

 

[Chris Wood]

Any sign of a Black Cauldron Platinum Edition?

 

[Wussycat]

Those deleted scenes described on IMDb make me want to see a full version. Putting those scenes back in might make the film... you know... not boring.

 

[tucsoncoyote]

Disney's First R rated Movie?

Those deleted scenes described on IMDb make me want to see a full version. Putting those scenes back in might make the film... you know... not boring.

It makes you wonder that if you put those scenes back in, would this make the original PG Film an R-rated flick? (Think about it. blood, gore, and a bit of exposure? Hmmm I think Disney was trying to dodge an R rating back then.. and now it would be a PG rating (wouldn't it?)

 

[Dee]

While I don't recall deleted scenes being mentioned, a professor of mine who worked on the film was disappointed a scene he had animated, got cropped.

He had done some sweet animation of the king with flowing capes and such-- and much of it was cropped out.

 

[Peter Paltridge]

The most well-known deleted scene, due to a clumsy jump it left in the film's soundtrack and a cel of the infamous scene appearing online, is that of a man being mauled by one of the Cauldron born.

I was going to use this post to link you to that cel, but guess what--I CAN'T FIND THE ^&%#^% THING. I've been searching for an hour and I still can't find the place where I saw it, nor can I find the place on my hard drive where I saved it.

 

[silverwings]

I do hope they re-release the film soon. I had to dig up a gold collection version of it for my Disney Film collection that I'm forming.

It could really use the digital retouch that nearly all of the older films are getting nowadays. I know it was a cult-level movie, but the lack of releases is almost sad (compared to how many versions of other disney films there are?)

 

[creativerealms]

It makes you wonder that if you put those scenes back in, would this make the original PG Film an R-rated flick? (Think about it. blood, gore, and a bit of exposure? Hmmm I think Disney was trying to dodge an R rating back then.. and now it would be a PG rating (wouldn't it?)

PG 13 probably. Same reason Princess Mononoke got released under one of Disney's other companies instead of Disney themselves. They were to ready to pub something like that on the Disney line. Also nothing about the original Black Culdren screams R. though wasn't it made before PG 13 rating was created.

Anyway I see the uncut version getting a PG13 rating if Disney ever releases it. Yet you have to remember Disney has only released two PG 13 movies under the Disney name so far and that's the two Pirates movies.

While a step in the right direction I don't think Disney is ready for PG 13 animated movies with the disney name. Look at how long it took for them to accept The Nightmare Before Christmas as a disney movie (The kingdomhearts series.)

Yet still the Black Culdren uncut would be PG 13 now adays and not R.

 

[shadesofgray]

Having been around the studio during production, I know there is probably enough footage to make a second film.

After over a decade in production, and numerous changes in story, tone, direction and such lots of stuff was dumped. After all, they were trying to condense several books into one movie. Whole sequences fully animated and colored with the 'faire folk' [sp], including a musical number, were cut. As mentioned lots of darker scenes were also animated and later dumped. An associate once estimated over an hour of completed animation had been tossed. It was a time when Disney was searching for a direction... and a new studio head. The film was one of the most expensive in Disney history. Many who worked on it sight it as the 'worst' Disney animated feature.

What is not so well known is that after the film debuted and bombed, the studio re-cut the film to be more 'family friendly' and did some test releases of it as "The Magic Cauldron". Texas was one of the test states. That version did not do any better. It would be totally forgotten if it were not for the fact the studio created a small amount of merchandise to support the test. I often wonder which cut has been used for home video.

Considering the amount of work that went into the film, it is a shame it did not do better. Not a bad film... simply dull. It received a large amount of critical wrath directed more at the studio (which was having an identity crisis not unlike the recent Eisner exit) . At the time, most felt Disney could do nothing right. Interesting films from TRON to SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES got caught up in the frenzy. Too bad. The film boasts some nice animation, and perhaps the last character designed by legend Milt Kahl.

 

[silverwings]

The film was one of the most expensive in Disney history.

I thought that honor went to Sleeping Beauty?

 

[Peter Paltridge]

What is not so well known is that after the film debuted and bombed, the studio re-cut the film to be more 'family friendly' and did some test releases of it as "The Magic Cauldron". Texas was one of the test states. That version did not do any better. It would be totally forgotten if it were not for the fact the studio created a small amount of merchandise to support the test. I often wonder which cut has been used for home video.

That was a test release? Implying it wasn't cross-country? I always thought it was.....I ended up seeing the re-release, but remember nothing about it. Oh, and the full rename was "Taran and the Magic Cauldron."

So, please tell us what we all want to know, Mr. Gray, if possible: can the original cut of this film be assembled, or has all the extra footage been destroyed?

 

[Maxie Zeus]

The youngsters out there will have to trust me on this ... And I'd feel happier if some of my fellow old guys remembered this too, but ...

I remember when this came out, because someone at Disney had the jaw-droppingly bad idea of getting some (surely out-of-work) actors, slathering them prosthetics to make them look like the characters in the movie, and sending them out "in character" to the TV morning talk shows. It was one of the most horrifying things I've ever seen; and you should have seen the look of frozen disbelief on Joan Lunden's face as she tried to "interview" these guys ...

 

[Chris Wood]

The youngsters out there will have to trust me on this ... And I'd feel happier if some of my fellow old guys remembered this too, but ...

I remember when this came out, because someone at Disney had the jaw-droppingly bad idea of getting some (surely out-of-work) actors, slathering them prosthetics to make them look like the characters in the movie, and sending them out "in character" to the TV morning talk shows. It was one of the most horrifying things I've ever seen; and you should have seen the look of frozen disbelief on Joan Lunden's face as she tried to "interview" these guys ...

Would it make you feel better that I can remember who Joan Lunden is?

 

[Dee]

The youngsters out there will have to trust me on this ... And I'd feel happier if some of my fellow old guys remembered this too, but ...

I remember when this came out, because someone at Disney had the jaw-droppingly bad idea of getting some (surely out-of-work) actors, slathering them prosthetics to make them look like the characters in the movie, and sending them out "in character" to the TV morning talk shows. It was one of the most horrifying things I've ever seen; and you should have seen the look of frozen disbelief on Joan Lunden's face as she tried to "interview" these guys ...

I kinda wish I coulda seen that.... hehe.

 

[Tobias]

Having never seen the movie (though I want to), is it safe to assume that the Black Cauldron was the Treasure Planet of it's day? (A beautifully animated film that got savaged by critics and bombed horribly despite actually being pretty good?)

 

[Maxie Zeus]

Having never seen the movie (though I want to), is it safe to assume that the Black Cauldron was the Treasure Planet of it's day? (A beautifully animated film that got savaged by critics and bombed horribly despite actually being pretty good?)

I've only seen it once, and that was several years ago, but I wouldn't call it "pretty good." There were a few striking moments, and I appreciated the attempt to do something that wasn't a fairy tale like Cinderella or just cute like Sword in the Stone. But I remember the animation looking like the typical late-seventies Disney stuff (i.e., the kind of thing that led Don Bluth to quit the studio) and the story was all over the place. I think there's a reason no one has ever really tried to revive its reputation: while not a disaster, it just isn't very good.

That said, I'd be very interested in seeing extra stuff or deleted scenes from the film. The film is not without interest, and interesting failures sometimes have fascinating stuff connected to them.

 

[Brandon Pierce]

I re-watched The Black Cauldron. It's not terrible, but not the greatest thing. It has a pathetic ending for example.

By the way, where exactly is the film cut during the cauldron Born sequence. I watched that part and didn't notice any jump in the soundtrack.

 

[Chris Wood]

I don't know why everyone is so harsh on the film.

Anyway, I always wondered if any CGI was used during the cauldron scene where all the ghosts are creeping about. Anyone know?

 

[Hordesman]

I also hear of other completed scenes that were cut, but fully animated. Do these scenes still exist, and does somebody have them?

Given that Katzenberg determined the scenes that should be cut, I'd assume the footage is still at Disney if it still exists.