MovieChat Forums > Les Miserables (1978) Discussion > Different running times of the DVDs

Different running times of the DVDs

posted 16 years ago by Maethus
6 replies | jump to latest

I'm a bit confused. I already read that in America the DVD version of "Les Miserables" (1978) misses 30 minutes.
(This one: http://www.amazon.com/Miserables-Richard-Jordan/dp/B0002235R6/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1204565962&sr=8-2 )

However, other DVDs have a different run time.

http://www.amazon.de/Miserables-Anthony-Perkins/dp/B0002ZM53S/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1204565949&sr=8-4

Amazon says that this German DVD is 140 minutes long. I don't really believe that since there still would be 10 minutes missing which wouldn't make sense.

http://www.amazon.de/Miserables-Richard-Jordan/dp/B000BQ52MY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1204565949&sr=8-1

This is the newest German DVD edition of the film. Amazon lists 117 minutes as the running time, so I guess the first German DVD is also only 117 minutes long?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Miserables-Richard-Jordan/dp/B00004I9PE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1204565956&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Miserables-Richard-Jordan/dp/B000V6AES6/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1204565956&sr=8-4

These are two DVD editions you can find on amazon.co.uk. The latter one was published just recently. Still, Amazon lists 137 as the run time.

On ebay I saw a Polish DVD and the seller said that it would run 150 minutes.

Can anyone shed some light upon this?

[–] mebes05 15 years ago

The film originally was a miniseries on TV that ran for two consecutive nights in a row, at about two hours long each night. (I wasn't alive at the time; I have to take my mother's and an Amazon.com reviewer's words for it). I am inclined to believe them because I saw the four-hour long version of the film in a French class in high school some eight years ago. (I wish I knew where the teacher got it!)

Apparently, in the US, for VHS the film was edited to 150 minutes. For DVD, down to 120. I haven't found any other American versions that play longer than that, unfortunately. The full version was exquisite.

[–] rocht 14 years ago

The 150 minute version is my goal to find-- some lovely Javert dialogue was snipped n those missing 30 minutes-- and this was the only production to shot Valjean's coffin scene-- in order to get snuck out of the convent. Some wonderful soul posted it on YouTube-- the whole 150 minute version, in 15 segments. Check it out if you can! Sadly, the story was cut down to various lengths to suit different markets/audiences.

[–] Nooner_the_Dog 13 years ago

The 150 minute version is available at Alibris.com. I just ordered my copy and hope it's the same.

http://www.alibris.com/moviesearch.detail?invid=10740901777&quserid=DIGITALD&qtit=les+miserables&mtype=V&qsort=&page=1

[–] KennisonDF 13 years ago

I just checked the Alibris web page that you provided and it lists the DVD as UPC#012236133131, which is the 123 min version. This contradicts the web page description of the DVD as having a run time of 150 min.

What did you actually receive from Alibris, the 123 min. version or the 150 min. version?

[–] Nooner_the_Dog 13 years ago

Unfortunately it ended up being the 123 minute version. Why do they do that? I didn't send it back as I figure something is better than nothing and it's been so long since I saw it.

[–] fordbeebe 11 years ago

The 123 minute version is the theatrical release. The film was edited down to 123 minutes and released in many european countries.