If I had a nickel every time some know-it-all told me that a TV cut of John Carpenter's Halloween (broadcast on Friday, October 30, 1981) was a figment of my imagination (that it never existed), I'd be one wealthy son of a gun.
Well, the NBC, "One Night Only" version of the slasher classic does exist, with twelve minutes of additional material directed by Carpenter to compensate for the deletion of its edgier elements. It surfaced among my YouTube suggestions. To flaunt the find, I've planted the link below.
This NBC revision holds an interesting segment with Donald Pleasance's Sam Loomis arguing with sanitarium-review staff on why Michael Myers shouldn't be transferred to a new facility. There's even a Michael Myers unmasking at the movie's end. Yeah, pretty fascinating stuff, though on the whole, this network offering is way too subdued and padded for my taste. I wouldn't recommend it except, well, I just want to put those lousy know-it-alls to shame.
At any rate, check out the presentation if you wish and Happy Halloween! (FYI: Take note of the Prom Night flub in the kickoff ad.)🎃
