0
0
Have you ever watched a movie and when it was over, you just had the sneaky suspicion that you just witnessed a butchering? If you’re a cinema fan like me, and most importantly, an action cinema fan, then you know studio interference, or any kind of interference is unfortunately par for the course. Due to interference, more times than not, the finished product that made it to screens is by far not the one that was not intended. The two most recent and high-profile cases of this happened to the DCEU with Zack Snyder’s Justice League and David Ayer’s Suicide Squad. We were fortunate enough to see Snyder’s true intended movie and just how bad the one we got was but sadly, Ayer’s Suicide Squad looks to be lost forever. Now, these are comic book movies and not true action films per say but it happens way too much in the film industry.
Back in the 90’s during my martial arts craze, I was soaking up every and all that action cinema had to offer. Good, bad, ugly, it didn’t matter as long as it kicked, punched, shot and exploded. I remember when I first saw American Samurai from iconic action filmmaker Sam Firstenberg and starring heavy hitters David Bradley and Mark Dacascos in his first big role. How could you not get excited as it was billed as “Bloodsport with Blades” and featured dazzling and brutal weapon and empty-handed fight choreography that satisfied the bloodthirsty disciples of the Action Gods. Bradley was hot at the time coming off American Ninja 3: Blood Hunt, and Dacascos was showcasing the star he would become so this was a major addition to any serious action fan’s filmography. The movie also boasted a great martial arts supporting cast including Ron Vreeken, Dion Lam and Antony Szeto who had a sensational death scene. I was huge fans of all of them and when I finally got the opportunity to watch the movie, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off with it. Sure, I still enjoyed the hell out of it for what it was but alas, I still felt cheated with what I got.
Turns out I was right as the years went by and I interviewed Mr. Firstenberg not once but twice and finally discovered that with all the movies Sam made, American Samurai was indeed the one movie that unceremoniously received the interference treatment and was essentially butchered in post-production. I got the opportnity to ask Sam about the situation and his response is below!
The filming and the editing of American Samurai was all done in Israel. The reason was that the company owned a studio and editing facilities there, so it was probably financially viable. After I finished the filming and the editing of the movie all the material was sent to the company’s headquarters in Los Angeles. I stayed in Israel to direct several episodes of the television show Sweating Bullets (also known as Tropical Heat) that was produced over there. At that point of time the company was not producing or preparing any other movie and apparently, they had nothing to do but to mess around with American Samurai. Apparently, someone with a decision-making power did not like what he saw and wanted to change it so without my knowledge they hired an editor, changed the order of the story and injected few new scenes into it. In my opinion those changes and additions subtracted from the overall quality and effectiveness of the film and its impact but in the Hollywood way of filmmaking the producer is the final authority and can do with his movie whatever he or she want. Despite the fact that this experience was disappointing it did not change the way I approached directing movies I kept doing what I believe is the most effective way of telling compelling cinematic stories.
In terms of story for American Samurai, Sam added: “The way I see it a martial arts movie most have an element of mystery and suspense in it with some unknown portions which are only reveled at the end of the story. This was the way the movie was originally structured, it started with a mysterious dream and only at the end of the movie the big secrets of the hero and his nemesis are reveled. In the new edit the story was altered to be totally linear with nothing of mystery and no secret to be reveled at the end and without leaving it to the viewers to guess and add his or her interpretation to it all. It is a rather childish way of storytelling but luckily the main fights and action sequences could not be messed with and they stayed as was.” For my full interview with filmmaker Sam Firstenberg, CLICK HERE!
I watch American Samurai regularly to this day, but I always wonder what could have been.
Well, wonder no more action faithful. Mr. Firstenberg is a member of my private Action-Flix social group page, and he has announced that we will in fact get to see the version he intended! Thanks to Lyle Goodwin, who has been working closely with Sam, the official director’s cut of American Samauri is on its way! Goodwin is working long and hard on restoring the movie by working from two prints of the film to put it in order, remove the added scenes and restore the graphic violence that was trimmed for its North American release on VHS and subsequently DVD back in the day.
According to Sam’s latest Facebook post, “American Samurai, is being re-edited to include all the authentic graphic violence in the fights, removal of scenes that were not part of the initial production, scenes are being placed in their proper order, and sequences are straightened out to not only fix major continuity issues but also to fix the flow of crucial fight sequences and dramatic moments.”
It sounds to me that this will be a whole new experience of watching the film and it calls for a versus between the two styles of the movie. Sam’s cut will certainly inject more of the mysticism of martial arts with a deeper and more complex plot about the two brothers at war with each other. There is no date yet for the release of the director’s cut of American Samurai as Goodman and Firstenberg are still putting the final touches to it but there is a special trailer that they put out which you can scroll below to view!
American Samurai might have been released during the end of Cannon Films reign, but it still kept alive what made that company great with the retro/vintage action epics. Bradley was in his prime and Dacascos was on the verge, so this is essential action viewing for any serious, hardcore action fan. Keep up with the restoration of the Sam Firstenberg cut on Facebook by following the official social page!
Be sure to check out my second interview with Sam Firstenberg by CLICKING HERE and Lock N Load right here for more reports to follow as we are the ultimate destination for your Action Fix!!!!
Very informative article and everything mentioned is correct.