FILM ARCHIVE / WORKPRINT
Beetlejuice
Workprint1988Horror, Fantasy, Comedy
After a tragic car accident, newly deceased couple Adam and Barbara Maitland discover that they are trapped as ghosts inside their beloved Connecticut home. When the eccentric Deetz family moves in and begins transforming the property, the Maitlands desperately attempt to frighten the unwanted newcomers away.
Unable to make themselves visible to the living, they eventually encounter Betelgeuse, a mischievous and dangerously unpredictable bio-exorcist who promises to rid their home of its human inhabitants. However, his increasingly chaotic behaviour threatens to make their afterlife far worse than they ever imagined.
Directed by Tim Burton, Beetlejuice combines supernatural comedy, bizarre practical effects and gothic fantasy into one of the most distinctive films of the 1980s.
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THE DIFFERENCES
What changed in this version?
The Beetlejuice workprint is an early editing version of the 1988 film, featuring alternate sequences, additional footage and scenes that were subsequently removed or modified before its theatrical release.
The circulating original workprint is predominantly black and white, with visible timecodes and a slightly different running time from the completed film.
The edition labelled Workprint (Coloured) is generally understood to be a colourised presentation of this early cut, allowing viewers to experience the alternative footage in colour rather than its original monochrome appearance. However, the precise restoration or colourisation process used for this particular edition has not been independently verified.
Unlike the theatrical release, the workprint offers a fascinating glimpse into Tim Burton's creative process, revealing how certain scenes, visual effects and story elements evolved during post-production.
Differences From the Theatrical Version
- Alternative afterlife sequence: When Adam first attempts to leave the house following his death, he encounters a dark environment filled with enormous moving gears instead of the familiar desert landscape.
- Additional Lydia footage: An extended sequence shows Lydia developing photographs of Adam and Barbara, followed by an argument with Delia and Lydia attempting to convince her father that the ghosts are real.
- Extended attic sequence: Additional footage shows Adam and Barbara hanging outside the attic window while a sandworm threatens them.
- Alternative ending: The workprint includes additional material involving Lydia returning home on her bicycle and her parents discussing the future of the house with Jane.
- Shortened dance sequence: Lydia's memorable final dance sequence is shorter in the workprint.
- Missing waiting-room sequence: A scene involving Betelgeuse in the afterlife waiting room is absent from this earlier edit.
Archival Significance
The Beetlejuice workprint represents an important piece of the film's production history, preserving material that offers an alternative perspective on the development of Tim Burton's supernatural comedy.
Although the workprint follows essentially the same storyline as the theatrical release, its deleted sequences and alternative visual concepts reveal creative decisions made during editing.
The Coloured Edition provides another way to experience this rare version, particularly for enthusiasts interested in early film cuts, deleted material and the preservation of cinema history.
Archive Note: This is an unofficial archival presentation and should not be confused with an officially released director's cut or an authorised colour restoration. The original circulating workprint is documented in black and white, and the origin of this particular coloured edition remains unconfirmed.
