MovieChat Forums > Ragtime (1981) Discussion > Is the DVD edited or not?

Is the DVD edited or not?

posted 11 years ago by TheHighVoltageMessiah
3 replies | jump to latest

Hi. I want to see this film and get a copy, but on Amazon there are some reviews saying the DVD - that by now seems to be out of print - has cut scenes and censored them. Two of the reviews ranked "most helpful" on Amazon maintain this. The odd thing is, in the comments on these reviews, certain other people claim the DVD is not edited at all.

One review on Amazon says that the DVD release is only 115 minutes long (see here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R3CDWVPFDELAUU/ref=cm_cr_pr_cmt?ie=UTF8&a mp;ASIN=B0002WZTO8&linkCode=&nodeID=&tag=#wasThisHelpful). But Amazon lists the running time as 156 minutes.

Can someone settle this once and for all? The conflicting comments from people are so confusing. Is the DVD edited or is it not? If it is edited, what scenes from the original release are missing? Why do some people say the DVD is edited and some say it is not? Are there different editions of the DVD or something?

I'm really curious. Please explain.

[–] angrywolfie 11 years ago

Not sure if there are different editions, but the one I have, which is the US Region 1 DVD, is the original 155 min. version.

[–] Suthyrngrl 11 years ago

I didnt buy a copy because of this review. Good thing I still own an original VHS copy

I can't overemphasize the level of disappointment I have at the hack censorship Paramount management has engaged in with the DVD release of Ragtime. How they got Milos Forman to participate in adding commentary to that blatant smear of his efforts is is beyond me.

Does the studio actually think that diluting the film to "reposition" it (ergo, move it from an R to a PG rating) is going to dramatically grow its appeal? The core market for this DVD is the universe of film fans old enough to fondly remember seeing the original theatrical release in the early 1980s -- but what the studio is offering them (as many reviews here clearly state) is unacceptable.

I want to see Elizabeth McGovern's entire performance, Paramount - so I went to the secondary wholesale market and purchased a new old stock VHS copy, which contains the FULL original release.

Or put another way, one less DVD sale for you.

Because yes, while it's your right as the copyright holder, I won't purchase censored goods.

[–] maxman-5 8 years ago

What all was censored?