Hopper criticizes 'Swing Vote' editing

NEW YORK, Aug. 9 (UPI) -- Hollywood actor Dennis Hopper says numerous great scenes were cut out of his new film "Swing Vote" before its U.S. release.

The "Easy Rider" star, who plays a Democratic presidential candidate in the comedy, said a "subplot" based around his character was completely removed from the film during the final editing process, The New York Daily News said Friday.

"I got cut out of that movie," Hopper said at a Cinema Society screening. "My (character's) subplot was completely cut."

The actor, who was at the New York screening for his other film "Elegy," said the related scenes were likely cut to improve the film's length. But for the cinema star, such cuts essentially removed his character from the film.

"It's probably because they thought it was too long, but when I saw the final cut, I thought, 'I'm not even in this movie!'" Hopper told the Daily News of the film, which stars actor Kevin Costner.