Lacks artistry?!?! You gotta be joking. Just because you're a squeamish sissy doesn't mean this version lacks artistry. Get real.

To me, the unrated version of this scene is just over the top. I prefer the restraint of the R-rated version; it's gruesome enough. The indulgence of the unrated version takes me out of the story. It lacks artistry.
Yes, I agree.

To me, the unrated version of this scene is just over the top. I prefer the restraint of the R-rated version; it's gruesome enough. The indulgence of the unrated version takes me out of the story. It lacks artistry.

They were obligated to get an R-rating, so yeah, it's censorship.

It's not censorship ,but allowing the film to receive an R rating. Of course it had to toned down. They didn't have to, but chose to.

X-rated/unrated elevator scene:
.
X-rated/unrated dream sequence:
.

I have never seen the X-rated version of Dressed to Kill, but have read it is much more graphic just the R-rated version and the commercial TV prints. I agree what some have said that the R-rated version gives the film more of "Hitchcock" "Psycho" effect concerning the murders where everything is not spelled out for the viewer. For this reason, I think the R-rated version is better.
Joe

Board,
I have the unrated film version on DVD. I dont care what anyone else says, the murder scene in the elevator is so horrifically graphic, on the unrated version, that I am spooked to the point of paranoia, about entering and exiting elevators. That scene of violence is so vicious, and cold blooded. It just maakes me think about all of the real weirdo's, in real life, that are engaging in such acticity, somewhere in this world. What a truly horroriffic scene of terror!!! Thanks, Brian for my wonderful nightmares, I will be suffering from with the aftereffects of this film.
Anthony Cashmere
It isn't fair, using the living, to bring back the dead!!!-THE SCREAMING SKULL

It's not that badly edited though.

Correct, although with the censors doing this, it actually brings this film more into line as a Psycho tribute, because it was the principle of not actually showing the death blows that Hitchcock used to make the shower scene more disturbing.