MovieChat Forums > C.H.U.D. (1984) Discussion > So what are the differences between the ...

So what are the differences between the VHS and DVD?

posted 16 years ago by drhackenstine
10 replies | jump to latest

I remember around 1991 I saw CHUD on the old KBD station that came on around my area back then. I remember the John Goodman scene happening right before the end credits rolled, with the CHUDS snarling at the window of the diner. I heard that scene was cut, but put back into the film for the TV version, which I saw. But I also heard that it was on the VHS release. Anybody know for sure? I also heard that the VHS release had humorous narration in some scenes to make it more spoofy. I guess New World and Tony Randall messed with it a bit. Can anybody confirm this or give examples? Plus, without the John Goodman scenes, how did the movie tie together with the climax of the film? I only know the DVD version now and only have vague memories of the old TV version. Any help?

[–] marcus-173 16 years ago

I just rented it from my local video store. (My first time watching - I had always wanted to see it as a kid!)
Anyway, it was an old VHS tape - might actually be the original copy from '84, I can't find any other dates on it.
There was no narration at all on the VHS tape -maybe a different version?
And yes (to my shock at the early role) John Goodman appeared at the end there. He ordered food at the diner with the other cop (Jay Thomas, I recognized him from some other movies.)
The waitress and John have a quick banter about how she cooks so well (I can't believe I can't remember what they say, I just watched it...but don't feel like fast forwarding it again - long time since I've had that problem) then the C.H.U.Ds all break through the windows and credits. Don't know if that's all the same.

Hope that helped! (Jeez I use parentheses too much)

[–] drhackenstine 16 years ago

Thanks!

[–] JefferyLeininger 16 years ago

i have the 'media' vhs release, the 'anchor bay' dvd, and i saw it on tv in the late eighties on Commander USA's Groovy Movies. on the vhs and tv versions, the diner scene is the end scene and leaves us believing the chuds are alive and in numbers. in the dvd, the diner scene happens before wilson begins pumping the gas into the sewers leaving the possibility the chuds were all killed.

my vhs release does not contain any narration. some say the commentary in the dvd is 'spoofy'. however, the vhs and tv versions have some voice overs that are not heard in the dvd. in the opening scene, the old hobo is reciting the names of all his favorite liquors, and complaining about how there's so much to do and so little time. in another scene, a hobo is grumbling about 'commies'. in the telephone booth sequence, the person on the other line asks if the little girl's grandfather had eaten 'mexican food' as he is eaten by a chud.

as far as i know, there was never a version 'without' the john goodman scene. having the diner scene earlier in the movie makes more 'sense' because it gave wilson the nudge to go ahead and start pumping the gas.

how this helped.

"not bad bosch, not bad."

[–] drhackenstine 16 years ago

Yeah, I read in one of my old Psychotronic video books that New World added narration to make the film more spoofy. I'm guessing they were meaning the voice overs you described. Anyway, thanks!

[–] CrazyJim2004 14 years ago

I had a copy of TV version on tape for years and then when I watched the VHS video version when I worked at a video store, I was surprised to see that several scenes were removed and the diner scene switched over.

My problem with the VHS version as opposed to the TV version/director's cut is they move the Goodman diner scene to the end when it pretty clearly happens (as others brought up) right before Wilson decides to pump the gas. More over, the ending theme no longer comes up after the Rev blows up truck, which I always enjoyed. Instead, we get some weird voice-over exposition and the diner sequence.

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[–] rboykins-1 14 years ago

On the dvd version there is an extra scene where they find Bosh's wife and show her in the river.

That's the only one i have noticed.

[–] CrazyJim2004 13 years ago

Yes, that's also in the TV version. It's weird that it wasn't included in all versions since it feels like an important part of the story.

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[–] JefferyLeininger 13 years ago

in the DVD there are extended scenes that are not in the VHS. these are:

1. when lauren (kim griest) is putting makeup on her butt, her and george (john heard) then have a conversation about staying home and "making stuff up"

2. the woman who is scared by the boxes that move around in the street (bloody hole) introduces herself to lauren inside the apartment building

3. lauren and george have a talk about her pregnancy and discuss having a baby

4. bosch is smoking and drinking in a bar, talking with fellow police officers after he sees his wife's head on the dock

please correct me if I'm mistaken on something here, or if I omitted a scene that was in the DVD but not in the VHS.

[–] CrazyJim2004 13 years ago

You forgot about him finding his wife's head.

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[–] JefferyLeininger 13 years ago

Oops! Thanks man, you're right. That was a critical scene because it got B.O.S.C.H fired up and ready to take on Wilson to the bitter end.

Jeff