Original Cut of Historically Poor Marvel Film Released, Offering a Potentially Better Version

Overview

A previously lost alternate version of the 1990 Captain America film has been rediscovered, offering a glimpse into director Albert Pyun’s true vision.
This recently unveiled cut implements a non-linear narrative style, featuring World War II scenes interspersed throughout the film as flashbacks.
Critics regard this alternate version as a remarkable enhancement over the original theatrical release, which faced significant studio intervention and received negative reviews.

As fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe gear up for the debut of a new Captain America film slated for early next year, an unexpected revival is taking place for a classic version of Steve Rogers. This renewed attention shines a light on the 1990 film, which, at the time of its release, did not resonate with audiences and was burdened by the edits imposed by the studio. The original vision of the film was significantly altered, leading to its initial tepid reception.

Discovery of the Alternate Captain America Cut

A new version of the 1990 Captain America film featuring Matt Salinger has recently come to light. This resurrection occurred during a screening hosted on the Twitch streaming platform, where attendees were treated to a surprise presentation without prior notice of its connection to Marvel. Justin Decloux, who hosted the event, revealed that this version reflects the director’s intended cut rather than the compromised version that was released in theaters.

Initially filmed in 1989 and intended for a summer 1990 release, the movie faced numerous delays, ultimately being relegated to direct-to-video distribution. Upon its eventual unveiling, it was met with harsh criticism from comic book fans who deemed it poorly crafted and lacking in production quality—most infamously highlighted by the recognizable rubber ears on Captain America’s cowl.

Captain America (1990)
Director	Albert Pyun
Screenplay	Stephen Tolkien
Starring	Matt Salinger, Ronny Cox, Ned Beatty, Darren McGavin, Michael Nouri, Melinda Dillon, Kim Gillingham, Scott Paulin

During the streaming event, Decloux noted, “You know all those WWII scenes in the theatrical release’s opening 30 minutes? In Albert’s Original Cut, they’re spread throughout the film as flashbacks in a non-linear order. Instead of seeing the fight with the Red Skull by the rocket right at the start of the movie, it’s scattered throughout the film in clever ways, to the point that even in the climax, it intercuts the WWII Red Skull fight with the Present Day Red Skull fight!”

Decloux, who has authored a book exploring Pyun’s work and has conducted extensive research on this version of Captain America, argues that the non-linear format would have significantly elevated the film, offering a narrative depth that was lacking in the final cut. While some design choices may remain contentious, he maintains that this version showcases the director’s intent to tell a more compelling story that had been obscured in the version most audiences previously encountered.

For further details, you can check the source from FilmBuffOnline and additional imagery at GameRant.