Undoubtedly, The Terminator stands as a timeless classic in the realm of cinema. Its theatrical release presented audiences with a near-flawless rendition of James Cameron’s vision, arguably achieving cinematic perfection. However, within this cinematic masterpiece, there lies a small yet pivotal scene that was omitted, and Gale Anne Hurd, the producer, has shed light on the reasons behind its exclusion.
Acknowledged as one of the quintessential ’80s films, The Terminator not only captivated audiences but also ignited a franchise that has left an indelible mark on the landscape of filmmaking. While the inaugural installment is revered as a thrilling science fiction spectacle, its successor, T2, has earned its place among the pantheon of greatest action films ever made. However, the subsequent entries in the series have been met with varying degrees of acclaim, prompting many to suggest that embarking on a chronological viewing of the Terminator movies is a daunting endeavor, fraught with both cinematic highs and lows.
Behind the scenes of the original Terminator film, production encountered its fair share of challenges, leading to interference from the studio and ultimately resulting in the excision of a particular scene.
Gale Anne Hurd, a key figure in the production as one of the producers, has recently unveiled some behind-the-scenes anecdotes from the Arnold Schwarzenegger-led project on Twitter. Among these revelations is the disclosure of a deleted scene involving the inclusion of financier acquaintances of the studio, a decision that proved detrimental to the scene’s integrity.
Hurd elucidated: “The Terminator financier John Daly’s Hemdale Films had an output deal with Orion Pictures but hadn’t yet made a hit (that changed with our film and Platoon). They insisted we use financier friends not actors in this scene, which ruined it for us.”
Further elaborating on the circumstances surrounding this decision, Hurd speculated: “I think [Daly] insisted they be in the film because the financiers were promised a return on their investment and had yet to receive one. Daly never believed the film would be a success.” Fortunately, Daly’s skepticism regarding the film’s prospects was grievously misplaced.
The scene in question serves as a subtle nod to the overarching narrative of the Terminator franchise, providing a crucial link to the storyline of T2 by depicting Cyberdyne Systems’ acquisition of the CPU chip that would ultimately pave the way for the rise of Skynet and the subsequent downfall of humanity. In this regard, the omission of the scene inadvertently robs audiences of a pivotal piece of the franchise’s lore, while simultaneously underscoring the complexities inherent in the filmmaking process.