I posted on here about this one some time ago. I've seen numerous versions of this exploitation gem but all have been edited TV prints, including the recent DVD.

Can anybody advise which video release features the full *unedited* version?

I am afraid I can't help you Marc, I have been trying to get a straight answer myself as to which DVD/video releases are uncut for sometime now, but perhaps by process of elimination we can find out: If no one knows exactly which releases are the uncensored print maybe we can list which versions are cut?

To begin I can confirm that the Australian video release by Starbase is the television print.

It's about time somebody released this film restored. A little gem and Chuck Connors is fabulous. "Pick up that litter!"

The Swedish version is sadly also cut. I'll check which label it's on tonight post later.

I have the uncut version on DVD-R, having recently re rented it from the same store I got it from in the 90's. I just burned it about two weeks ago, but I did not write down who released it. ( I'm thinking Video Gems but could easily be wrong )
It did proclaim in bold letters on the front of the box " THE UNCUT VERSION " and the MAD BOMBER title was obviously video generated.
I'll see if I can swing by at lunch and confirm who released it. Not sure but I think it's the only uncut one out there ( and this film is really not worth watching if it's the TV print ). Bert Gordon throws in as much full frontal nudity as I have seen in a Restricted film, and some gory, graphic bomb victims. And Neville Brand's film veiwing habits are the stuff of exploitation legend!
Never seen a cut tape or DVD ( but the 2005 DVD is cut from what Marc has said in a previous post ) so I can't help with the cut list.

I have a VHS dub that I'm almost positive is uncut. I mean, it certainly has profanity and gore and nudity and sleazy content, but it's the only version I've seen, so I can't swear that there isn't a missing scene or something.

For what it's worth, my version is titled THE POLICE CONNECTION, not THE MAD BOMBER. That's not a "fake" title. Cinemation released it theatrically as THE POLICE CONNECTION with a slightly misleading 1-sheet.

Although my VHS is uncut, it's also full-frame and kinda dark, so there's definitely room to upgrade if somebody would get off their rump and put it out on DVD.

The uncut version was put out by Program Hunters Video in the US. It came in a big clamshell case. It's a nice print and fully uncut.

Yup, that's the company. I just checked at Video Oasis and Program Hunters, Inc it is. No date on the clamshell, but it reeks of the late 80's. I see them listed as producing a film in 1977, but no info on other video titles they handled. As Jeff mentioned, picture is bright and colorful.
So there is this release and Marty's POLICE CONNECION release ( label unknown ? ). That may be it.
It did get a DVD release last year ( Marc said it was the best looking version he's seen ), but it's the TV version.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000B7QCU...3-5767346?n=130

As far as I know, Marty, there are only 2 versions, the cut TV print and the uncut "Police Connection" version. If you have any nudity in yours, you've got the theatrical, uncut one. There was a pre-cert UK tape that I also think was uncut, but I'm not positive. Except for the Program Hunters tape, every other US VHS release I've ever seen has been the TV print, including the clamshell King of Video release from the mid-80's. It was released in Canada on Marquis Video as Police Connection, and I suspect that may be the source of the uncut grey market versions floating around. The UK tape still shows up on ebay.co.uk but I haven't seen the Canadian tape on ebay ever. Finally, there's a Japanese DVD release of it that claims to be 91 minutes (which would make it uncut) and letterboxed (which sometimes just means 16:9 enhanced on Japanese dvds) but it's hideously expensive, and after getting burned on a Japanese Messiah of Evil DVD that just ported over the p.d. version, I'm not ready to take the leap on this one.

Letterboxed (or LB) on a Jp DVD sleeve means the opposite; that the film is presented in widescreen but is not 16:9 enhanced. One of the "reviews" on Amazon.jp states the version on the DVD is not complete, so as with THE KLANSMAN it seems the listed rt. on the cover is misleading. I seem to recall looking at this DVD in a shop and something (maybe the copyright holder?) clued me in on the fact that it featured the TV version.

The Program Hunters tape is apparently available from the Amazon Marketplace, under the MAD BOMBER title. (It's the one listed as being "The Unedited Version.") I have this pre-record and it runs 90m32s, and, as others have noted, it does include nudity and other R-rated content that was always cut for TV showings. The IMDb lists 91m; I get the impression that's the complete running time. The cheesy box cover shown on Amazon (title in black font with yellow background, pic of girl in black bikini tacked on the wall, etc.) is the one you want; that's the Program Hunters cover.

Sadly, the UK pre-cert uses a BBFC:X censored version (running time = 83m51s @ 25fps).

Now I'm off to try and track down the Program Hunters tape.

Hm, my Trash Mountain disc of Messiah of Evil is 16:9 enhanced but features the cropped P.D. version commonly available. The King Records DVDs of Big Guns and Price of Power are the opposite, as you say, 4:3 but presenting the whole scope image. It seems letterboxed can mean either one on a Jp DVD. Reagrdless, thanks for the info on Bomber, since you might have saved me $40 in a moment of weakness!

Needless to say, be wary of the Amazon sellers. I emailed a couple beforehand to be sure and sure enough they were mistakenly selling the cut version, thinking it was unedited. Some of the boxes of the cut version still say Rated R so it's easy to get fooled.

So the question remains, since John says the Program Hunters tape has a video burn MAD BOMBER title, what's the source for Marty's POLICE CONNECTION tape? Maybe the Marquis vhs?

According to the IMDb, THE POLICE CONNECTION was the title of Canada's Marquis Video VHS.

It's not supposed to. These symbols are meant to be used as guides for the buyer, and have been adopted by most, if not all, companies. However, sometimes the indies (eg. Avanz) screw up, perhaps in cases where the sleeve is designed ahead of the master being received, or simply when the right hand doesn't know what left is doing. But in 99.9% of cases you can safe that LB in a little box with lines above and below indicates a widescreen non-ananmorphic transfer.

I finally got a chance to check out the uncut version of this film tonight and I was blown away (boooooo yourself). This is a great little sleazy gem and I can't imagine how it plays cut down. Chuck Conners, looking like a psychotic Charlton Heston, is amazing as the mad bomber. I loved it when he would browbeat anyone for basically doing anything. Not to be outdone, Neville Brand is great as the sleazy rapist. They should have done a Steckler title like THE MAD BOMBER MEETS THE SLEAZY RAPIST.

I got a copy of the uncut Canadian VHS release, copyright 1983 by Marquis Video Corp, Ontario, Canada. The print is scratchier and darker than the more common cut print, and also has a theatrical title card with the Police Connection title in place of the Mad Bomber. It's definitely not the video generated title on the other uncut video release. It's amazing what a difference a few minutes makes: the uncut version plays like a different movie! Also interesting is that the rape scene in the back of Brand's car and the subsequent chase through the woods appears to use different footage, since the girl's dress is open and she's exposed in the uncut version but covered in the TV print.

I bet this is the version I have. Now if I could just find an uncut print where I could actually see what happens in the night scenes...

Can anybody provide a cover scan of this version?

The cover is up at Amazon, right here:

Program Hunters cover

Does anybody recall seeing a trailer for THE MAD BOMBER / POLICE CONNECTION on a tape or DVD anywhere? I'm trying to track one down.

It might be a long shot, but try contacting the folks at Something Weird. I could have sworn they had a trailer for it on one of their trailer tapes.

I've been through all the SW trailer tapes I have and it's nowhere to be seen.

I could swear I've seen one someplace. I doubt I can find it, but I can give it a shot. Marc, did you check all the DUSK-TO-DAWN TRASH-O-RAMA SWV compilations?

I've been through volumes:

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 8 / 9 / 10

Am missing Vol 7

I'll try to remember to take a look at 7.

One think to remember - I reckon it didn't get a US theatrical release as THE MAD BOMBER. I think it was only released as THE POLICE CONNECTION. All the tapes and discs bearing THEMAD BOMBER titles look video generated.

It's not on 7 either. Boy, I could swear I've seen a POLICE CONNECTION trailer someplace.

Marc, I saw this on TV countless times in the 70s. It was always listed in the TV guides as THE MAD BOMBER, though I don't recall specifically if the prints that aired had that title. Do you think it could have had a video-generated tile in the pre-VCR days, prior to 1980, when I saw it? On the other hand, it's possible that the various VHS releases may simply have never used a print with the MAD BOMBER moniker. I could be wrong, but I'm just supposing here.

Wasn't this also called GERONIMO at one time, just to confuse the hell out of Chuck Connors fans?

Yes, apparently so but recently whilst searching for a US one-sheet I was only able to turn up posters under the Jerry Gross title THE POLICE CONNECTION.

I've still not managed to find a trailer under any title.

I see this one is listed as being in Troma's library - I wonder if there's any chance of them doing it?

It's a long shot, but could the Japanese DVD have a trailer? I don't have it.

All I know is that when Chuck Connors tells you to pick up your trash, you had better damn well do it.

Hey, look what's up on eBay right now! An original 1973 theatrical release still with the MAD BOMBER title. It says "Jerry Gross presents THE MAD BOMBER." How's that for proof?

Here it is:

"Pick up your trash!"