That girl with the tissues up her bra - you would wouldn't you? Let's face it.
1.
A tie-in book was published with the release of the film which featured a novelisation of sorts based on the original scripts (not to mention comic strip sequences and lots of nice production photos). Obviously this book features an expansion of the original storyline and many scenes which aren’t in the film are mentioned in the book storyline. One such scene however was presumably filmed and then cut and features John Belushi’s ‘Bluto’ causing extra mayhem in the cafeteria scene opposite a ‘wimpoid student dishwasher’ (a cameo by director John Landis, freshly shorn and shaved for the scene). The scene involved Bluto helping himself to a free lunch (from other people’s leftovers) and was presented in the Animal House book as a photostory:
The beginning of the scene features in the film - we see Bluto find a golf ball (dispatched into the canteen soup in an earlier scene) and eat it with relish. The grabs above appear to be production photos taken directly to the right of where the film camera would be.
2.
The book also reveals an odd bit of re-editing in the ‘sink night’/inauguration scenes. In the film, freshman Kent 'Flounder' Dorfman (Stephen Dorff) is given a resounding thumbs-down by the rest of the frat, at which point rush chairman Otter attempts to appeal on his behalf:
OTTER
Okay, the kid is a zero. It’s true. But think back to when you were freshmen. Boon, you had a face like a pizza with anchovies, right? Everyone thought Stork was brain-damaged. Hardbar beat off so much he sprained his wrist. I myself was so obnoxious the seniors used to punch me out at least once a week. So this kid Dorfman is a total loser. Well let me tell you the story of another loser…At which point the place erupts into derisory moans, boos and flying glasses.
The text of the book however reveals an extra bit of dialogue:
OTTER …but let me tell you the story of another loser. It was at a college a lot like Faber. This kid was a real wimp, and everyone teased him constantly. And when they got tired of teasing him they just ignored him. But that kid hung in there and he grew and he developed. And today that wimp…today that wimp is King Olav IV, monarch of Norway!
(The place erupts with boos, moans and derision)
The edit is pretty obvious, technically, though quite why this bit of amusement was removed is unclear.
The film continues with Pinto (Thomas Hulce) and Flounder receiving a rude awakening by Otter and Boon (armed with fire extinguishers) and the inauguration ceremony in which the new pledges are given new names by Bluto. Despite his earlier less-than-enthusiastic welcoming, Flounder is also present. The reasons for this sudden change of heart are glossed over completely in the film but tie in with the following bit of dialogue:
BLUTO
From now on, your name will be ‘Pinto’.
PINTO Why Pinto?
BLUTO (Belches) Why not?
The book reveals exactly why Larry Kroger was re-christened ‘Pinto’. After the fire extinguisher wake-up scene, Otter and Boon break the bad news to Flounder that he’s been blackballed. They do however give him a chance to transgress the rules by revealing something private and embarrassing about his best friend Larry. Without hesitation he reveals that he has 'spots on his weenie' (due to a childhood tar accident) and thus is accepted as a pledge. Otter and Boon leave, after solemnly promising Larry that not a word about his tar-tainted dick will reach anybody else. The original inauguration scene continued as follows:
BLUTO
From now on, your name will be ‘Pinto’.LARRY Why Pinto?
OMNES BECAUSE YOU’VE GOT A SPOTTED DONG!!!
(The freshmen are doused with beer, etc…)
3.
The scene featuring Mr Jennings (Donald Sutherland) attempting to interest his class in Milton's 'Paradise Lost' obviously took two takes as the blackboard-scrawled 'Satan' changes slightly between shots. Alternatively (but less likely) there was only one camera present and the shot had to be taken twice anyway.
4.
Legal difficulties over copyright ownership led to a mid-eighties video release of the film featuring different music to the version shown in cinemas and on television. This situation may have been cleared up for current editions, we're not sure.