The original release was cut in 1984 to obtain a PG rating, in order to make the film more widely assessible (avoiding a 15 rating as the UK's 12 rating did not get rolled out until 1989). When it came to the UK Region 2 DVD release, Paramount requested to release the original cut; however, the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) apparently required the consent of the director. This was not forthcoming, thus edits were replicated as close as possible to the original UK theatrical release from1984. The scenes that were originally cut from the UK version in 1984 were:



• In sacrificial Thuggee ceremony, the tearing out of the young victim's heart, and sight of it in High Priests hand was reduced, implying it was seized by magic



• Shots of the pulsating heart removed, except the final one when it burst into flames



• Greatly reduced terror of victim as he is lowered into fiery vortex, missing all prolonged emphasis on his screams as the cage descends. The film cuts away as soon as he disappears through trap door, and his death is reduced so that it ends a lot quicker



• Reduced sequence where Indiana cries out as his voodoo doll is burned in flames



• Reduced drinking of blood and whipping of Indiana, and deletion of the flogging of Shortie



• Reduced line "leave him alone, you bastards!" to simply "leave him alone!" (on some prints the line is excised entirely)



• Removal from soundtrack Indianas cries of agony as he writhes on ledge after drinking blood



• Close shots of Willie screaming as she is locked in cage and lowered towards the fire removed, and reduced sobs on the soundtrack and the sight of her suspended over flames



• When Shortie burns the guards chest with the torch, the sound of flesh scalding has been eliminated



• Heavily cut fight between Indiana and overseer, removing in particular heavy punches to back, chest, and head. Also the sound effects of all impact blows have been reduced, so they approximate to the sounds associated with old-fashioned fisticuffs



• Shortened sight of blood on roller after overseers death



• More reduced sound effects of impact blows on soundtrack, including screams of pain as fight leads into final chase in the mine cart



• Reduced sounds of punches to High Priest's head on rope bridge



• Removal of sight of High Priest's head cracking against rock face as he falls, and sound effects removed of his body bouncing off the cliff before he hits the water.



Although the UK DVD release continued to have these cuts, the UK Blu-ray release is the original cut of the film, identical to the US Blu-ray release, and is therefore the first time the film has been released uncut in the UK. Edit