Very few directors had complete control of their films in the studio system. Even if Browning was very involved in the editing and turned in what he considered the final cut, there was nothing to prevent Carl Laemmlle from having it re-edited if he didn't like the results. It was his studio and his money used to make the movie which was owned and controlled 100% by Universal, not Browning.

Kerry Gammill
www.monsterkid.com