An American Werewolf In London Deleted Scenes 'link' | 720p |
Even a horror masterpiece like An American Werewolf in London
(1981) had to leave some gore on the cutting room floor. While the film is famous for Rick Baker’s Oscar-winning effects, several scenes were removed or altered due to pacing, test screenings, or strict "R" rating requirements. The "Lost" Tramp Scene
The most famous "lost" footage is an extended sequence featuring the werewolf attacking three homeless men (tramps) in a junkyard.
What happened: The scene was reportedly very graphic and followed the werewolf’s rampage along the Thames.
Why it’s gone: Director John Landis removed it after test audiences reacted negatively. Some sources suggest the sequence distracted from the main story, much like the famous "Spider Pit" scene from King Kong.
Status: Considered lost media. No known video or audio survives. Jack’s Toast Problem
In the scene where the undead Jack (Griffin Dunne) visits David in the apartment, there was a gruesome practical gag involving breakfast.
The Scene: As Jack eats a piece of toast, the food was shown falling directly out of his torn, rotting throat.
Why it’s gone: It was removed to help the film secure an "R" rating in the U.S.. David’s Phone Call Home an american werewolf in london deleted scenes
One of the more poignant deleted moments involves David attempting to reach out to his family.
The Scene: Just before David attempts to end his life with a penknife, he makes a long-distance call to his sister, Rachel, in the U.S.. He tells her he loves his parents and asks her not to fight with their brother, Max.
Status: This scene was actually included in the original theatrical release but was famously missing from certain Region 2 Special Edition DVDs due to a mastering error. It is restored on most modern Blu-ray releases. Other Notable Edits
The Porn Theater Attack: While the final film shows David spitting out a victim's thumb, some accounts suggest more graphic footage of the theater massacre was trimmed.
The Sex Scene: The intimate scene between David and Nurse Alex Price (Jenny Agutter) was toned down and shortened to satisfy censors.
Alternate Music: Early TV broadcasts sometimes replaced Van Morrison’s "Moondance" with "Happy Together" by The Turtles during the love scene. Behind The Scenes Saturday: An American Werewolf In London
There are no officially released "uncut" or "director's cut" versions of An American Werewolf in London
. However, several significant scenes were cut by director John Landis, mostly to avoid an X rating or because of negative reactions from test audiences. Most Famous Deleted & Lost Footage The Tramp Attack Even a horror masterpiece like An American Werewolf
: The most legendary "lost" footage is an extended, extremely graphic sequence where the werewolf attacks a group of homeless men (tramps) near Tower Bridge. It reportedly showed the men being brutally killed, including one being bent backwards over the hood of a car. It was removed after test audiences reacted poorly to the excessive gore. Undead Jack Eating Toast
: A short comedic-horror moment featuring the decaying Jack trying to eat a piece of toast, only for the food to fall out of his torn throat. Extended Love Scene
: The sex scene between David and Alex was originally more explicit but was toned down to secure an R rating in the U.S.. Extended Piccadilly Circus Rampage
: Additional shots of the final rampage were filmed, including more graphic injuries to bus passengers being thrown through windows. Home Video Variations & Errors
While the theatrical cut is the standard version, certain home video releases have minor differences due to editing or mastering errors: Missing "Suicide Phone Call"
: In some Region 2 (UK/European) DVD releases, a scene where David calls his sister to say goodbye before attempting suicide was accidentally omitted. Most Blu-ray and 4K releases, such as the Arrow Video and Universal editions, have restored this. Music Changes
: Some early TV broadcasts substituted the song "Moondance" by Van Morrison with "Happy Together" by The Turtles during the love scene due to licensing issues. Is there a "Director's Cut"?
John Landis has stated that he does not own the film and cannot release a new version. Furthermore, much of the cut footage—specifically the tramp attack—is considered lost media , meaning the original film elements may no longer exist. special effects used in the famous transformation scene? Alternate versions - An American Werewolf in London - IMDb 6) Alternate or Extended Transformation Edits
6) Alternate or Extended Transformation Edits
- What’s in it: Alternate camera angles, longer cross-dissolves, and makeup inserts that either lengthen or slightly alter the werewolf transformation’s rhythm.
- Why it’s important: The film’s transformation scene is legendary—any alternate takes show the creative process behind the effect and highlight how editing decisions sharpened the impact. For special-effects enthusiasts, they’re candid lessons in practical-effects storytelling.
The "Surreal Soho" Montage
The film is famous for its depiction of London’s seedy Soho district. But a deleted musical montage, set to The Marcels’ version of "Blue Moon," was shot to bridge David’s descent from "tourist" to "wolf."
The footage included:
- David walking past a butcher shop where the hanging meat twitches.
- A street performer melting into a puddle of wax.
- David laughing with a prostitute whose face flashes into a dog’s snout for a single frame.
Landis cut the entire montage because it leaned too heavily into The Twilight Zone aesthetic. He wanted the horror to feel grounded in reality, not expressionist nightmare (except for the explicit dream sequences). Only two frames of this montage survive in the trailer for the film.
Howling Omissions: A Guide to the Deleted Scenes of An American Werewolf in London
John Landis’s 1981 masterpiece is a tight, 97-minute fusion of horror, comedy, and tragedy. But like any great film, its path to the final cut was littered with excised moments, trimmed dialogue, and one infamous, expensive sequence left on the storyboard floor. While no "deleted scenes" have ever been officially released as bonus features (Landis has steadfastly refused to produce an extended cut), the original shooting script and contemporary production reports reveal several key omissions.
Below is a complete reconstruction of the major scenes cut from An American Werewolf in London.
Crying on the Cutting Room Floor: The Lost Horror of An American Werewolf in London
In the pantheon of horror-comedy, few films cast a longer shadow than John Landis’s 1981 masterpiece, An American Werewolf in London. Celebrated for its Oscar-winning practical effects (the first of its kind for Best Makeup), its perfect tonal balance of slapstick and dread, and its haunting use of a moon-themed soundtrack, the film is a sacred text for genre fans. Yet, like many great works of chaos, the final cut of Werewolf is only half the story.
For decades, fans have pored over the film’s final 97 minutes. But what lies in the shadowy vaults of Universal Pictures? What jokes were deemed too dark? What gore was too extreme? This is the definitive guide to the deleted scenes, script revisions, and lost moments of An American Werewolf in London.
