MovieChat Forums > Kaidan (1965) Discussion > Amazing Kwaidan Fact: Woman of Snow cut ...

Amazing Kwaidan Fact: Woman of Snow cut for 1964/65 Int'l Release!

posted 17 years ago by christomacin
12 replies | jump to latest

Yes, the entire Woman of the Snow was completely cut out of the film during it's original international release in 1964! In fact, even the "full version" on Criterion DVD has 22 minutes cut out! I haven't seen the extra 22 minutes, but I think the film works perfectly as it is. However, to cut a whole episode? Come on! Woman of the Snow is perhaps the signature segment of the whole film, though Hoichi the Earless is probably more famous. What were they thinking? If they were going to cut an episode, it should have been the Black Hair, not WotS. This is perhaps the studidest and most mindless (not to mention most destructive) cut I have ever heard of. It is like cutting out the shower scene from Psyhco. This segment is essential and I believe it is has become the most favorite episode of many viewers. I find the prospect of 22 minutes of unseen Kwaidan footage bewildering and titilating. How could there be more to a film I always found a perfect "dream film"? One day I will find out.

[–] morthvargr_burz 17 years ago

The UK 'Masters of Cinema' release of the film includes the 21 mins that you're missing as well as a huge illustrated 72 page booklet which is fantastic!

[–] 17 years ago

[deleted]

[–] svenrufus 10 years ago

What's included in the extra minutes? Does it add to the story? It stands up fine on it's own, but I am left wondering...

[–] tuffysmom 10 years ago

I agree with many of the posters here -- my favorite part was Woman of Snow, so it's mind-boggling that it was cut. If any, I would have probably cut the last episode or the Black Hair one. Woman of Snow was just poetic and gorgeous.

[–] Trouter2000 17 years ago

Thats insane, similar butchering was done to Once Upon a Time in America, with an atrocious end result. Personally I think they should allow the director to decide what his or her preference for the films release is. After all, isn't art only as great as its artist?

Last film seen: Kwaidan 9/10

[–] Lammy85 17 years ago

They cut out "Woman in the Snow"? GAD! That was not a good idea. If I had to choose which one to cut, I would have cut either "Black Hair" (although that one freaked me out) or take some minutes from "Hoichi".

[–] Adam1964 16 years ago

I agree completely about "Once Upon a Time in America". But for me, I think the slashing done on "The Abyss" was worse since the entire point of the film was to show that the Aliens COULD destroy us if we didn't change (giant tidal waves - which were cut), but they hoped we could fix the world outselves.

The released version has no real point. A foolish editing job.

[–] NoodleLizard 13 years ago

Once Upon A Time In America is one of my all-time favourite films, and it maddens me that it's so underrated - and this is mostly because of its theatrical release in which Leone was forced to arrange it in chronological order (the entire POINT is that it's non-linear!) and cut pieces out here and there.

As such, the true version has sort of become a cult classic, when I believe it should be held up there among both Leone and De Niro's best work.

These bastards!

[–] legio-yow 16 years ago

I find it hard to understand why they cut Woman of the Snow rather than Black Hair. WotS is the best episode, while Black Hair is the anchor around this movie's neck: I would barely object to it being cut.

s for the extra 22 minutes, the film is a good length as is. It hardly needs, or wants, anymore scenes.

[–] Bitterblogger 15 years ago

Yes, it is a good episode--Black Hair worked, though it could have been edited--but, really, even for 1965, isn't the set for the blizzard just cheesy as all get out? Could it look any more fake?

[–] Golem36 11 years ago

The director deliberately wanted a synthetic look for this film. This achieved a surreal and painterly style. "Woman of the Snow" looks like a moving painting (those sets are truly beautiful).

[–] Golem36 11 years ago

Please go to the Criterion Collection and ask for a re-release on Blu-ray uncut. Thank you.