I'm pretty sure that the MGM tape is cut - this TV version has numerous extra gore/violence shots, lots of weapon injuries (Throwing Stars, Nunchucks, etc) and a cockfight sequence! Can you get the running time of your friend's tape?
Hi. I'm Raf's friend.
I have the MGM tape, and all the violent scenes, gore, Frank's throat-cut, stars, nunchakus, cock-fights is there.
may be there have been different editions, mine is for sure uncut. I reauthored MIA's DVD, added the missing pieces,
it's PAL. Difference makes more than 4 minutes. I'll enumerate.
These are the cuts:
1. There was a cut in main subtitles (just when writing Franco Nero and Susan George). In the UK (MIA DVD) version there's just
a black background and in MGM VHS there's Sho Kosugi with nunchakus.
2. The very first fight scene between Kosugi and Nero is entirely cut in UK version. Kosugi fights with ninchakus, Nero cuts the chain in half, then only Nero runs away from him. And in UK this part is very badly cut.
3. The fight scene in the woods between Nero and two maroon ninjas - after Nero cuts maroon ninja's hand in UK version we see Nero jumping over the camera etc. In MGM VHS after that part another maroon ninja jumps, Nero nails his hand to the tree, then throws a star that gets into ninja's forehead.
4. Then there's a cock-fight, right after that Nero training with nunchakus, Susan stops the car and offers to take him to the town. That's all cut in UK.
5. There's a short cut with slight gore when scums are beating Pee-wee (Frank's worker).
6. Nero fighting in the bar, there's a cut with ear-clap. Nice moment, short but very nice.
7. Another cock-fight before the hook comes with new recruits.
8. When Frank goes to the meeting there are some little cuts when Nero takes care of the guards (repeated punches, neck breaking etc).
9. There's a cut when Kosugi demonstrates his skills to mister Parker (nunchakus is cut)
10. One of the most gory scenes - Kosugi sneaks on the wall and kills the guard by smashing the head. In the UK version he just silently passes by, the guard keeps smoking and then we see Marry Ann pouring wine.
11. In frank's killing scene there were many cuts - after Kosugi cuts Frank's hand he even breaks it, Frank runs away, sees Marry Ann, runs to her, Kosugi throws a star after Frank, first one misses, he throws the second, it gets into Frank's leg, then only he cuts Frank's throat. That throat-cut part is also cut in the UK version.
12. There's a frame showing stars when Nero is prepared to go get Venarius.
13. After Nero kills the guard and then comes upstairs, he throws a star on another one with rifle. Killing with star is cut .
14. There are also many cuts when Nero kills the guards in the end to get to Venarius, three guards' killings are completely cut, I just don't know the weapons to explain how he kills the first, something like nails. The second one he kills with darts. And the third is a gory one - Nero's star gets into the bald guard's forehead standing beside Venarius. In the UK version you just notice that the bald guy somehow disappeared (but he was just standing there) and have to guess that Nero kills the other guard (not bald) beside Venarius with dart as he just falls down.
15. Christopher George's death scene is cut as well, they tried to cut as much as possible not to show the star, and in MGM tape
we even see the star flying and getting into his chest. This one is shot just great.
16. There's also a star cut in the final Nero-Kosugi fight scene.
I think that's all.
