MovieChat Forums > The Shining (1980) Discussion > A bit disappointed with Netflix

A bit disappointed with Netflix

posted 7 years ago by metatron1970
8 replies | jump to latest

Rewatching Shining on Netflix again. Looks like enough people must have complained that the version that's been up the past couple of months was the International cut that lasts about 25 minutes shorter than the American version. The longer version I can watch whenever I want on Blu ray, but the International cut had virtues of its own (and was supposedly preferred by Kubrick). Though it may have been unintended, Netflix's uploading of the shorter version was eye-opening for Americans to get a taste of what European audiences have been seeing since 1980. Now the American cut is back on Netflix, but I hope at some point in the future Blu ray releases of The Shining will include both versions.

[–] AtomicReturns (1252) 7 years ago

I had no idea there were two versions. Thanks for letting us know. That would mean I've never seen the shorter international version - it would be interesting to see how the Kubrick-preferred one flows. I agree, there should be an option on Netflix to choose, but unfortunately I don't think they've ever done that for any movie in their library.

[–] Strannger (2007) 7 years ago

For anyone interested about the alternate ending read below:

When first released, the film had an alternate ending: after the shot of Jack's body, the film dissolves to a scene of policemen outside the hotel. It then cuts to a scene in a hospital, where Wendy is resting in a bed and Danny is playing in a waiting room. Ullman arrives and tells her that they have been unable to locate her husband's body anywhere on the property. On his way out, Ullman gives Danny a ball - the same one that mysteriously rolled into a hallway earlier in the film, before Danny was attacked in room 237. Ullman laughs and walks away and the film dissolves to the move through the corridors towards the photo. Stanley Kubrick had the scene removed a week after the film was released.

[–] AtomicReturns (1252) 7 years ago

Thx for that! I never read about the alternate ending. I wonder if there's footage of this out there.

[–] Strannger (2007) 7 years ago

I think imdb has a picture of the hospital scene so it has to be out there.

[–] StyxNyx (859) 7 years ago

Interesting. Thanks Strannger. I never noticed if that was on my DVD or not...probably not though.

[–] Strannger (2007) 7 years ago

I heard it was on the documentary where you see a little of it. I can't conform it as my copy is bare bones

[–] StyxNyx (859) 7 years ago

Oh, ok. Maybe I'll check out some docs about it on YouTube. Yeah, I checked my DVD copy...it's ooooold...and just says it has a commentary with Kubrick. I'll have to take a look at it some day though and see if I find any interesting tidbits.

[–] atd8vii (592) 6 years ago

I'm from Australia and I grew up watching the Euro cut, I wasn't even aware that there was another version until about 2010 when I saw it on Showtime. Now having seen both several times I still prefer the Euro cut because its a bit tighter around the edges and flows more seemingly I feel, though there's some great stuff in the US cut too.

I might combine the two and make my own cut of the film haha.