MovieChat Forums > Author! Author! (1982) Discussion > Alternative end

Alternative end

posted 8 years ago by ragingbull1965
5 replies | jump to latest

The DvD version I have shows the film ending and the end credit rolling after Pacino and the kids read the Times review at the newsstand. But the version I remember seeing in the cinema showed a different ending. That ending showed the kids congratulating the success of Pacino's play by dumping a large cake on him in his bed. Does anyone know why there is this discrepancy? If this topic has already been discussed, I apologize for being redundant but I don't have the time to read all previous reviews. Thanks in advance.

[–] modano1973 8 years ago

No reason has been found as to why two different endings exist on home video for the film.

The ending showing Ivan and the kids back at home with the cake being dumped on him in bed to celebrate the success of his play, was included on various VHS releases by CBS/Fox Video and Fox Video, which i both previously owned.

There was another change made on the DVD version which are the opening credits to the film.

The version of the film shown on Netflix is the same as the DVD release.

Some time ago, i had added the differences between the DVD and VHS releases in the Alternate Versions section of this page:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083598/alternateversions?ref_=ttsnd_ql_5

[–] ragingbull1965 8 years ago

Thanks for the reply. I prefer the original ending but it's still a delightful - and arguably Pacino's most underrated - film.

[–] 8 years ago

[deleted]

[–] modano1973 8 years ago

I agree. The original ending is much better than the abrupt newspaper stand ending. What's interesting is that in this ending, when the film freezes on the one shot before the end credits come up, you can hear some of the audio from the original cake ending.

It was a definite change of pace for Pacino, coming off the controversial film Cruising.

[–] Dan_Garten 7 years ago

Interesting.