MovieChat Forums > Bloodline (1979) Discussion > Has anyone watched the expanded TV versi...

Has anyone watched the expanded TV version?

posted 16 years ago by ricardozaldivar
13 replies | jump to latest

It supposedly includes 40 min of aditional footage left out from the theatrical release. This was apparently done in an attempt to bring some coherence to the film since the theatrical version su**ed so much that it didn't make sense at times.

Sadly the version on DVD (which by the way it's only available on Region 2) it's the theatrical version. But apparently they re-edited the film for network TV into something that made more sense, (the snuff-film subplot in particular is puzzling on the theatrical/DVD version). Also, based on the amount of material shot for the film (40 more minutes of footage for TV!) one can only conclude that the final product of the film was way too long and had to be trimmed down and the editing went awfully wrong.

Has anyone seen it/recorded it from cable TV?

[–] LarissaXX 15 years ago

I remember seeing it as a miniseries.. but that was very long ago..
I watched it because I was collecting all the books written by Sidney Sheldon.

Sarah Palin: "Our next door neighbours are foreign countries". No, really?!

[–] EliotTempleton 8 years ago

You never saw Bloodline as a mini-series. Other Sheldon novels, yes, but not this.

[–] LarissaXX 8 years ago

How do you know what I did or did not see in The Netherlands? The mini series was first and then it was released to DVD.
I found a review that also lists it as a mini series because it was shown in different parts.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/review/B00I94ZF2C/R25GNJK1PI1ERB/ref=cm_cr_dp_aw_rw3?cursor=3&sort=rd

Maybe you should read the Trivia of the film before you make yourself look ridiculous. It clearly states the 📺 TV version is 40 minutes longer than the original film!

[–] Doctor_Mabuse1 15 years ago

I think that Bloodline could be markedly improved if the forty minutes were restored and the entire awful WWII flashback removed. Also essential would be any footage which more closely ties the snuff-murder sub-plot to the body of the film. Finally, the whole film should be re-edited to focus tightly on the Audrey Hepburn character and to create any possible suspense.

Of course this will never happen... but it should, if only to redeem a single film starring our loverly Audrey.

[–] watanabedan-dswat 14 years ago

I have the longer version on video tape. It isn't any better and, unfortunately, DOES include the period flashbacks. Still, there are interesting things about it that make it worth a peek.

[–] tighmalone 14 years ago

I just got back from a vacation in Florida and actually took this book along with me for poolside reading. I hadn't read it since I was a teenager in High School. I vaguely remember seeing the film on TV in the early 80s, but don't remember much of it.

Is there any way that I could get a copy of the version that you have? Could you possibly dub it over to DVD, I would gladly pay a small price for it. Certainly to cover the cost of the DVD and shipping.

Let me know, I can be reached at [email protected].

I would greatly appreciate it if you could. I'd be interested to see it now after finishing the book and some odd 20+ years have passed since I last saw it.

Cheers!

[–] scupit46 13 years ago

I would love a copy of this version in its entirety. Is there anyway that you could make a copy for me?

Gladly pay any costs incurred. Susan

[–] IAmGoatboy 12 years ago

I would love to see the uncut version too.

[–] luciofulci-1 11 years ago

Has anyone had any luck in tracking down the TV Version? I am also interested in seeing it and have lots of alternate TV Versions to trade if anyone has it.

[–] EliotTempleton 8 years ago

I don't believe there's any such thing as a longer version of Bloodline. Why splice in extra footage to a movie that everyone agrees is dreadful as it is? Can anyone believe that adding more running time to this abomination would somehow improve it? Even if we got more of Audrey, that would mean we'd probably get more of the thoroughly unpleasant Ben Gazzara, the most consistently thoroughly unpleasant actor in screen history. Or, God forbid, we might get more of the unfunny comic relief of Omar Sharif and Irene Pappas, or more of the abysmal non-acting of Michelle Phillips. The only two people coming out of this movie with their dignity intact are Audrey and Beatrice Straight.

[–] LarissaXX 8 years ago

Just because you have not seen it does not mean it does not exist! You also claimed I never saw a mini series of it in TV ? How would you even know what was on Dutch television in the 90s?!

Maybe you should read the Trivia of the film before you make yourself look ridiculous. It clearly states the 📺 TV version is 40 minutes longer than the original film!

[–] EliotTempleton 8 years ago

It may have been shown on television in mini-series format, but it was conceived and filmed as a theatrical motion picture. That's like calling the first two Godfathers a mini-series, because they were edited together and shown over several nights on American television. Relax.

[–] LarissaXX 8 years ago

Yes, the film was made into a mini series with 40 extra minutes of footage. Sorry I overreacted to the part where you said "I never saw it". It was like 25 years ago. I only remember being disappointed. I had seen a mini-series of If tomorrow comes which happened to be shown while I was reading the book. I bought Bloodline as well and it is still my least favourite Sidney Sheldon novel. I liked how he used South African in the book because I could understand it without knowing the language because it originates from the Dutch language.