Brokeback - 'What began as a warm handshake...'

A picture retrieved from the Brokeback Mountain cutting room floor has caught our imagination - it's the one with Jack and Ennis sitting round their fire, eating their misbegotten elk and laughing rather uncharacteristically. Hardly surprising, because when Jake Gyllenhaal described that scene for Ted and Lisa, he made it very clear that this was not a Jack and Ennis moment but Jake and Heath sharing a laugh about the decidedly unromantic behaviour of chewing elk round the campfire. It was a Jake and Heath moment.



This picture was retrieved and so have some others, but you have to wonder what we're missing. This was brought home to me when I was watching this video. It's a feature on Brokeback Mountain which, in addition to some pieces of interview, includes images from the trailer and from the film itself, which seem to have got lost between the beautiful mountains of Alberta and the theatres.



So, I've been on a search for Brokeback Mountain's deleted scenes. The script shows they existed and other people have referred to them, but with those involved in Brokeback's production supporting Ang Lee's decision to leave them out, hearsay may be all we get. Tom Benz, the Production Manager, was certainly diplomatic here when asked about the 'lost scenes'. James Schamus, the executive producer of Brokeback, told AfterElton about the DVD: 'They wanted to put in some deleted scenes. There was a discussion about deleted scenes, but quite frankly, as Ang said, “The reason I deleted them was because I wanted to delete them. So why would I put them in the DVD?” [Laughs.]'


This does, of course, beg the rather horrible question of whether they really are deleted deleted scenes! By all accounts there is one scene that did not make the cut - or the original script - that everyone involved never wants to see again. And that is the scene that James Schamus himself added - the infamous hippie scene. This scene took a week to shoot instead of the intended two days and pushed the filmshoot over schedule. The scene showed Jack and Ennis rescuing hippies from an overflowing brook. Its aim was to show the two men were competent cowboys but with a healthy redneck loathing for hippies - Ennis: 'If it's a hippie, we ought to scalp him.'


Fortunately, thanks to Brokeback photographer Kimberley French, some pictures survive.



But this isn't the only missing scene. In another scene, Ennis was portrayed tending a sick calf in a barn.


The film was originally to begin with Ennis at Signal's gas station learning some unpleasant truths about Joe Aguirre before he located Aguirre's trailer. One would think this scene was removed because the alternative opening - Ennis and Jack eyeing each other up slowly and carefully outside the trailer - was so irresistible and iconic.


Other deleted scenes include Jack giving Ennis an expensive rifle, which Ennis refused; a truck carrying Jack and Ennis up to the sheep and then down again, their summer done; and a steer wrestling scene.




It is very clear why a scene in which mechanics sneer at Jack and Randall was removed. This scene was due to be snuck in between Ennis and Cassie's one-sided showdown in the diner and Ennis' final visit to the post office. With this deleted scene gone, the mystery between Jack and Randall survives for us and for Ennis and the Dozy Embrace is left intact as our farewell.


Finally, another removed scene shows Ennis at the Godforsaken Twist family plot.


I think noone would question Ang's decision to remove these scenes from a film that is in innumerable ways near perfect - where every scene has a multitude of purposes, meanings and intentions, thanks to a stunning script stunningly delivered, acted and directed. Yet, with these scenes safely removed from the film that stands as Ang wished it to stand, it would be a gift to those of us who treasure this film and the men and women who made it, if we could take a look.






Thanks to Finding Brokeback for their meticulous and loving dedication to preserving Brokeback's places and memories. Pictures from Kimberley French/Focus Features and IHJ.