While no officially released "Unrated Cut" containing all deleted footage exists, several significant scenes were cut from An American Werewolf in London
for pacing or to appease the MPAA. Most notably, an extremely graphic attack on three homeless men (tramps) was filmed but deleted and is now largely considered lost. Notable Deleted & Altered Scenes The Tramp Attack
: This is the most famous "lost" scene. It involved the werewolf brutally killing three homeless men in a London park. John Landis cut it after test audiences found it too intense and distracting from the film's flow. Jack’s Toast Scene
: A brief, grisly moment was removed from the U.S. theatrical version where food falls out of the undead Jack's torn throat while he tries to eat toast. The Sister Phone Call
: A scene where David calls his sister to say goodbye before attempting suicide was accidentally omitted from some early DVD releases due to a mastering error, though it is restored on modern Blu-ray and 4K releases from Arrow Video Extended Romance
: The love scene between David and Nurse Alex was originally longer and more explicit but was trimmed to secure an "R" rating. The "Happy Together" Alternate
: In some early 1990s TV broadcasts, the song "Happy Together" by The Turtles was used during the love scene instead of Van Morrison's "Moondance" due to licensing issues. Behind-the-Scenes Insights Nudity & Continuity
: During the transformation, director John Landis avoided full-frontal shots of David Naughton because the actor was uncircumcised, while the character David Kessler was written as Jewish. Lost Footage an american werewolf in london deleted scenes cracked
: Much of the cut gore, including more graphic shots of the climax in Piccadilly Circus, is believed to have been discarded or lost over the decades, making a true "Director's Cut" unlikely. practical effects used in the famous transformation scene? Alternate versions - An American Werewolf in London - IMDb
The search for a specific "Cracked" review of the An American Werewolf in London
deleted scenes suggests you might be looking for an article from the popular humor site Cracked.com, which often features "mind-blowing" or "disturbing" deleted scenes in its listicles.
While there isn't a single standalone review by that name, the deleted scenes of this 1981 horror-comedy are legendary among horror fans and often highlighted on sites like Cracked.com. The Infamous "Lost" Scenes
Most "reviews" of the deleted footage focus on three major segments that were cut to avoid an X rating or because they were too intense for test audiences:
The Tramp Killings: This is the "Holy Grail" of lost horror media. It reportedly featured the werewolf brutally dismembering three homeless men in a junkyard. Director John Landis claims it was cut after a disastrous test screening where the audience was too horrified to laugh at the later comedy.
The "Toast" Scene: A short, grotesque moment where Jack (Griffin Dunne), in his decaying undead form, tries to eat a piece of toast, only for it to fall out of his open throat. While no officially released "Unrated Cut" containing all
The "Thumb" Scene: A brief shot during the final Piccadilly Circus rampage where David (as the werewolf) spits out a human thumb, likely belonging to the man he killed in the Tube. Why They Are Rarely Seen
Missing Footage: Unlike modern films where deleted scenes are on the Blu-ray, much of this footage is considered lost media. Only still photos of the "Tramp" scene and the "Toast" scene exist in behind-the-scenes books and documentaries like Beware the Moon.
Director's Stance: John Landis has often stated that he believes the theatrical cut is the "director's cut" and that showing too much of the wolf would have ruined the suspense. Where to Learn More
If you want to dive deeper into the "Cracked-style" trivia about these scenes:
The Lost Media Wiki has a detailed breakdown of what exactly was filmed vs. what survived.
Arrow Video's 4K Restoration includes the most comprehensive documentaries on these missing pieces, though the actual footage remains unreleased. Where to find the still photos of the deleted kills? Other classic horror movies with famous "lost" scenes?
An American Werewolf in London features notable deleted scenes, most famously a "Tramp Attack" sequence removed for extreme brutality and considered lost. Other trimmed moments include additional gore effects, such as Jack attempting to eat toast and a severed thumb scene, alongside alternative broadcast edits. For a broader look at famous deleted scenes, see this Cracked.com article www.reddit.com Content: During the scene where Jack Goodman (Griffin
The Myth: David spends weeks in the hospital. In the final film, we see Nurse Alex Price (Jenny Agutter) flirting with him briefly. The Cracked Truth: The original cut featured a three-minute montage of David’s physical therapy and his growing romantic attachment to Alex. It included a scene where David tries to use a urinal while still bandaged, falling over, and Alex having to help him—a moment of awkward intimacy that explained their sudden bond. Why cut? Landis felt it slowed the pace. He preferred the shock of David leaving the hospital 20 minutes in rather than 30.
Director John Landis has stated that the final cut of the film is his preferred version, meaning there is no "Director's Cut" with added footage available on DVD/Blu-ray. However, several scenes were cut for pacing or content:
A. The "NBC" Scene (Network TV Version) The most famous "deleted" footage is actually an alternative take filmed specifically for network television broadcasts to soften the R-rated content.
B. Extended "Piccadilly Circus" Climax The finale of the film, where the werewolf rampages through London, was originally longer.
C. The "Demon" Visions During the infamous "Undead" nightmare sequence, there were originally shots intended to be more surreal or disturbing that were trimmed.
D. The "Sex Scene" (The Gap)
An American Werewolf in London remains one of the most beloved genre films — equal parts horror, dark comedy, and aching tragedy. John Landis’s 1981 classic has rightfully earned cult status thanks to its sharp screenplay, groundbreaking makeup effects by Rick Baker, and the unforgettable emotional core between David and Jack. Over the years, fans have been obsessed not just with what made the final cut, but with what didn’t. Here, we crack open the most intriguing deleted scenes — reconstructed from production notes, interviews, and surviving footage — and explore what they reveal about the film’s original shape and the creative choices that tightened it into the masterpiece we know today.
Thanks to a 2023 deep-dive by the Lost Media Wiki and a subsequent 4K scan of a workprint discovered in a private collector’s basement in Burbank, the fog has lifted. Here are the major deleted scenes that have been "cracked" (analyzed, described, or partially restored).
What survives: Audio interviews with cast and crew. What’s missing: Several additional scenes of Jack’s ghost tormenting David in subtle ways — rearranging objects, whispering off-screen hints, and appearing in reflections. These vignettes would have expanded Jack’s personality and the dark humor between him and David. Why it was cut: Redundancy and effects budget. While charming, the extra scenes didn’t advance the central arc, and the production had to prioritize practical effects and makeup for the transformation sequences.