Incredible: a working version of the Bruce Willis action film “The Last Boy Scout” has appeared in the United States, which will now be released in 4K UHD version.
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Bruce Willis and the action genre: Almost all movie lovers will immediately think of the name “Die Hard.” The classic 1988 action film by John McTiernan catapulted the actor, previously best known for the TV series “The Model and the Sniffer,” straight to Hollywood Olympus overnight.
This hit film also set new standards in terms of action and started a trend towards creating a new archetype in the genre. You can currently purchase the complete box set of all five installments on Blu-ray for top price on Amazon.
In one fell swoop, a simple and ordinary guy was offered the role of the main character. He was even allowed to be somewhat sloppy, as long as his name was Bruce Willis. But “Die Hard” is not the undisputed number one among the best action films of the now-retired actor. This title is disputed by the 1991 action hit The Last Boy Scout – Survival.
The team behind it was full of action movie experience, with Bruce Willis and Damon Wayans in front of the camera, and director Tony Scott (Top Gun – They Don’t Fear Death or the Devil), producer Joel Silver (Lethal Weapon) and screenwriter Shane Black (Predator) behind them.
Now there’s exciting news for fans: on the Bristol Cult Film Society’s Cult Film Podcast, James Pearcy and James White, producers at Arrow Video, revealed that the previously unknown print came to light almost by accident:
“A small college film club asked Warner for a copy of The Last Boy Scout to screen.”
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“The Last Boy Scout”: how does the reproduction differ from the theatrical version?
The studio complied with the request, but apparently – perhaps accidentally – sent a reprint, which is an older version than the final theatrical cut. Not only does it contain entirely new material, but it also contains many other pieces and much more action at a much heavier pace.
This gives people pause because at the time, The Last Boy Scout was facing an NC-17 rating in the US. You wouldn’t be able to see a movie there if you were under 17, even if accompanied by an adult. In addition, many movie chains do not include films rated above R in their lineup, so director Scott had to use the scissors extensively.
Screenwriter Black recalled that his script was much more cynical, much darker. The villain Milo (Taylor Negron) was not just a mob henchman, but also a sadistic director. The film initially featured much more brutal violence, which was interspersed with friendly humor between Bruce Willis and Damon Wayans.
Arrow Video is currently trying to license the workprint from Warner Bros. If it had succeeded, there would be nothing stopping a restored 4K UHD release. As a fan of the cult film, I would be very happy about it.