Edit: George Plimpton wins the Internet today. I had thought thy deleted the curb stomp from American History X Amazon version. That wasn't the case. It takes place later like George says.

In fairness, when I watched it and didn't see the scene in the first few minutes, I thought they deleted it. A google search confirmed this. But the Amazon version does contain it.

My bad/

It's been a while since I've seen this, but I absolutely love this movie and have seen it several times.

I was very young when I saw it for the first time, and I recall being almost sick from the curb stomp scene... but I'm trying to remember... Did it actually show him kicking the guy? I truly can't place it.

The original? Yes. Very graphic.

The new "edited" version? No. nothing. It shows him slapping him in slow motion. That's it.

Sweet, now my copy of it with the curb stomp is a collector's item.

Is it Criterion collection?

http://geekshizzle.com/2014/01/10/controversial-cut-scene-american-history-x/
Disappointing

I just watched it about a month ago and both scenes were in the movie. I think it was on IFC, but I'm not really sure.

queso1 said:

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Is it Criterion collection?

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Nope, just regular. It's pretty old though.

Good! Those two scenes were very disturbing and scaring to my high school eyes. I feel not necessary to the movie. IMO

Great movie

Were you watching on Freeform?

Junkhead said:

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http://geekshizzle.com/2014/01/10/controversial-cut-scene-american-history-x/
Disappointing

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This link makes it sound like the theatrical release contained these scenes but they were cut for all home releases. I have owned both DVD and Blu Ray versions of this movie, and both kept these scenes. Neither are any special sort of "Unrated" or "Director's Cut" release or anything either.

Amazon

Reminds me of this:

Wonder if the director and the studio authorized these changes to paint a frown on the Mona Lisa?

The sound of the teeth on the curb makes my skin crawl to this day...

queso1 said:

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So I'm assuming anyone who was over 16 in the 90s saw this flick. A pretty good one. I remember the curb stomp scene. It was extremely graphic and left a lasting impression on me. The subsequent prison scene was also very powerful. However, they set the movie.

Last night I noticed it on Amazon. I fired it up and enjoyed Norton banging Vicki Valencourt while his truck was being robbed. I eagerly awaited the horror of the curb stomp. Next thing I know it cuts to a slow motion Norton slap and then to Edward Furlong in high school.

Wait, what? Did I miss something? Yeah. Apparently, all present commercial versions of the film have the the curb stomp or prison scenes removed. They have been edited out.

I'm not sure I remember when a movie has had crucial elements just wiped from the film. I realize these are disturbing images, but it's a disturbing movie.

I realize that American History X is no Godfather, but what if PETA had the Jack Woltz scene removed? It just seems wrong.

Thoughts?

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Did you actually watch the entire movie? Because I'm 99% sure the movie does open with the beginning scene and then flashes ahead to Edward Furlong in high school. You don't get the actual entire scene with the curb stomping until halfway through the movie...

I've watched this movie before on dvd and it definitely had both these scenes in it

dp

I'm pretty sure the prison scene and the curb stomp happen at the beginning. I googled it and they said it was removed from the movie.

But I think you are right that it was later in the movie...but my understanding is that it was removed from current versions. google says it happens at 56 minutes. I'm going to check and going to be real embarrassed if it's on this version.

queso1 said:

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I'm pretty sure the prison scene and the curb stomp happen at the beginning. I googled it and they said it was removed from the movie.

But I think you are right that it was later in the movie...but my understanding is that it was removed from current versions. google says it happens at 56 minutes. I'm going to check and going to be real embarrassed if it's on this version.

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I'm almost certain neither one happens in the first half hour. Removing them entirely would be some serious bull**** though. I never understand stuff like that. Don't want to see that stuff? Watch a different movie.

Yea, neither scene is in the first half hour.

See my edit in OP

Mr. Plimpton is right. I had forgotten the movie started that way. They don't show the full scene until about 53 minutes in. Just confirmed that this scene is included on the Amazon version.

txswag06 said:

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Edit: George Plimpton wins the Internet today. I had thought thy deleted the curb stomp from American History X Amazon version. That wasn't the case. It takes place later like George says.

In fairness, when I watched it and didn't see the scene in the first few minutes, I thought they deleted it. A google search confirmed this. But the Amazon version does contain it.

My bad/

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GeorgePlimpton said:

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txswag06 said:

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Mr. Plimpton is right. I had forgotten the movie started that way. They don't show the full scene until about 53 minutes in. Just confirmed that this scene is included on the Amazon version.

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queso1 said:

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GeorgePlimpton said:

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txswag06 said:

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Mr. Plimpton is right. I had forgotten the movie started that way. They don't show the full scene until about 53 minutes in. Just confirmed that this scene is included on the Amazon version.

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It is weird that you found that article on google though

Well that was my original response last night before I Googled and found that article. I thought I was misremembering. Should have trusted my gut instinct.

It's linked by another poster above as well.

queso1 said:

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It's linked by another poster above as well.

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I know, I saw. It's just odd. I wonder if they really did do that for some versions?

https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/o8b4a/til_that_american_history_x_was_originally/

Apparently there was an alternate ending where Derek is standing in front a mirror shaving his head, but it wasn't included. The amount of outrage that ending would have caused would have been nuts.

This is one of those movies that could not be made nowadays because they white supremacists are not ultra evil caricatures and the people from other races that they fight are not the good guys (there are no good guys in this movie).

It was a fantastic portrayal of how racial relations can spiral out of control. Great movie.

Vander said:

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https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/o8b4a/til_that_american_history_x_was_originally/

Apparently there was an alternate ending where Derek is standing in front a mirror shaving his head, but it wasn't included. The amount of outrage that ending would have caused would have been nuts.

This is one of those movies that could not be made nowadays because they white supremacists are not ultra evil caricatures and the people from other races that they fight are not the good guys (there are no good guys in this movie).

It was a fantastic portrayal of how racial relations can spiral out of control. Great movie.

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They should have ended it with Derek in front of a mirror in the bathroom with a pair of clippers clearly turned on. Him staring down at the ground contemplating going back to his old ways. Leave it up to the viewer as to what his choice will be. That would have left the viewers thinking.

Best movie I'll never watch again.

This is an amazing movie. Norton should have won an Oscar for it.

EVERY kid in high school...10th grade...should have to watch this unedited. Remember this is also the year that sophomores have to read all the WWII depressing **** that basically makes you want to kill yourself. (The Pearl, The Good Earth, all of E. Hemmingway, etc.) This movie would be just as educational and more relevant to present day, how destructive racial hatred is.

Btron said:

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Good! Those two scenes were very disturbing and scaring to my high school eyes. I feel not necessary to the movie. IMO

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Those are the two key events that shape dereks character.

Before Derek kills the carjckers he is just a vandal spewing hatred. The look he gives when the police arrive was one of accomplishment and self-assurance.

Then when he sees the hypocrisy of the AN in prison, they deal with browns/blacks for smack, they don't really care about the "cause". When he starts playing basketball, he too "deals" with the black inmates. At which point the AN takes him and he completely abandons the cause.

That rape, more than the smack deals, is what reformed Derek when he got out. Without the rape, he would likely have just seen the AN in prison as posers or sell-outs, which would have fueled his radicalization when he was released.