MovieChat Forums > Greed (1925) Discussion > Differences Between Versions

Differences Between Versions


What are the differences between the 2, 4.5, and 7 hour versions other than length. I would guess that no one has seen the 7 hour version, but what about the released version and the older version?

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I'm not sure about the differences between the lost versions but I can tell you about the differences between the surviving version (133 minutes) and the restored version using photos (239 minutes). It is a representation of the fullest version of Greed. If you don't feel like reading all of this another post says that the full version of Greed is on youtube.

-in McTeague's childhood there are new scenes of his abusive and alchholic father. He abuses the mother and dies of a heart attack.
-McTeague's dental practices with Dr. Potter are shown.
-McTeague moves into the flats as a dentist.
-Marcus is intoduced as an asocciate to Potter in a 'Dog Hospital'.
-Maria is introduced as a woman who goes around and asks for 'junk' from people on Mac's flats.
-Grannis is intoduced as a man who has a secret love with Ms. Baker. (They listen to each other from their rooms next to each other)
-Trina is introduced. She makes toys for Uncle Oelbermann.
-Marcus drops by Trina's family who have mischievous boys.
-Maria brings junk to Zerkow who holds a junk shop. She tells a story of her father (from Mexico) who has thousands of gold plates.
-At a picnis Trina falls from a swingset and chips her tooth. Marcus gets her to go to the dentist's office (McTeague).
-Mac becomes obsessed with Trina.
-After the day at the carnival Mac goes home with the Sieppe family. he sleeps in Trina's room and obsesses over her things.
-After Mac advances on Trina at the railway station Trina heads home and tells her mother. mac tells Marcus who willingly gives up Trina to Mac.
-Mac buys tickets for Trina, her mother and Little Owgooste to a play.
-When they get home there are extra congratulations as Trina gets news that she won the lottery. They head to Mac's parlor and they hold a party.
-Zerkow gets mad at Maria for selling the ticket to Trina.
-Trina stores money with Uncle Oelbermann.
*Not added but the knife throwing scene is moved before the wedding.
-Mac tells Trina about Marcus and his knife.
-The wedding is extended a little.
-Maria and Zerkow are married. Zerkow marries her because he wants to know where the golden plates are.
-Mac and Trina see Marcus at a parade down town.
-Mac buys the house and Trina gets mad at him. Trina gives him money to make up for their quarrel but secretly hides money for her.
-Zerkow starts to get mad at Maria for not telling him about where her father's golden plates are.
-Trina and Mac plan a picnic where Marcus ends up being invited. mac and Marcus fight. Both suffer injuries.
-Zerkow beats Maria in drunken rage. Maria runs to Marcus to protect her.
-Trina sells belongings at auction. Grannis buys back their wedding picture for them.
-Trina gives some money to Mac from auction but keeps some for herself.
-Mac tries to regain job as dentist (just an intertitle).
-Trina finda Maria dead from Zerkow. Police find Zerkow in SF Bay(he commited suicide).
-Trina suffers bad dreams of Maria's death.
-Grannis and Baker finally talk to each other. They share a cup of tea. Grannis shows he sold his books and is just as rich as Trina.
-Trina buys Zerkow's place to save money.
-Mac becomes abusive and starts biting trina's hands.
-Grannis and Baker marry and get a door put between their rooms.
-Trina worries about Mac after he leaves.
-Trina has to have two of her fingers amputated. Mac hangs out at bar and gets drunk. trina withdraws all of her money from Oelbermann.
-Kids find Trina dead at their school (a pretty gruesome shot).
-Mac flees to where he grew up and becomes a miner. He hooks up whith Carter and they go quartz mining. they find quartz but Mac is disturbed in the day. He takes Carter's gun and flees into Death Valley.
-Pursuers interrogate Carter.

And that's just about it.

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You've already given the details, ccewilliams, and you've made an impressive list. I'd only add that, in a general sense, the character of Zerkow (who isn't even in the 133 minute version) in the 239 epic is rather significant, and Maria Miranda Macapa is far more fleshed-out in the 239 minute version, a legitimate character rather than the flittering maid who has perhaps one or two minutes in the 133 minute rendition of the film.

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thankyou cce williams!!!
cannot believe Mayer cut the four hour version after reading that, let alone the 8/9 hour one! wonder what could have been in there?



When Mac leaves Trina with a fishing rod and his canaries, in the 133 min version less than 5 mins later he goes to the school to get her to give him the money. I wonder if the full length version of the film showed Mac traveling around inbetween these two bits?

Anyone read the book and can say what else will be missing?

What a film!

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I have just watched this for the first time so I have only seen the restored 4 hr print (it was actually the only version I could find).

I am guessing what was added was all the still shots. I think without them the most significant thing that is lost is the addition of Grannis/Baker & Maria/Zerkow. I see this two couples as a reflection of what Trina/Mac could have been & what they eventually became. Perhaps you don't need the comparison to appreciate what has happened but it does add weight to the story & characters.


Although the early parts of the film must have went over my head because I missed the parts about Mac's childhood but reading about those parts that also seems to be a reflection of what was to come for Mac like he could not escape his past.

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