Why? Why? Why? Why?????


Why did they bother to put it on DVD and then cut it to shreds?!?!

There are just no words.

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This review from Amazon.com explains all: http://www.amazon.com/review/R1U3LJHBEF1VBX/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm

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Thanks for the link. I guess the least they could do was have both versions on the DVD, since I had no idea that there WERE two cuts. Still, I'm grateful to have it on DVD. I still have my original taping of Wonderworks from the 80s, though I doubt that (and my VCR) will last forever.

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I purchased both the DVD and three VHS tape set. The DVD runs under 150 minutes while the VHS set runs around 160 minutes (excluding the PBS promos). Because the DVD is based on a six episode airing with 25 minutes per show, that forced the film editor to select what would air on the UK TV time slot. The DVD version is what that film editor chose to show on UK television for the 150 total minute air time. The PBS TV program was aired in three 58 minute shows. That film editor also had to select what would air to fit into the PBS TV time slot for around 174 minutes total air time. There probably was a master version that exceeds both of these edits (if you want to call it a director's cut). But, the distributor of these video sets probably only had the film edited versions based on the UK or USA broadcasts. These film edits included the opening and closing credits for each aired episode. For a commercially produced video, you would want to retain this format for your product. The original master version probably was a full length non-stop series without the benefit of being broken down to separate episodes (with opening and closing credits). While a director's cut version would be the choice of many buyers of a video, the distributor has to be willing to make the investment of marketing such a version. In most cases, they take the cheaper way of selling edited film versions only. Who knows? Maybe the director's cut of this TV series no longer exists?

Update. The actual total run time of the VHS version is not 174 minutes. Because there are PBS promos at the start of the tapes, that takes up about 4 minutes for each tape. I also noticed something odd about the three VHS tape set that I have. For the second tape of the 3 tape set, it repeats about the final three minutes of the scenes from the first tape on the beginning of the second tape. I don't know if the PBS TV Wonderworks broadcast did the same or not when it aired the three part series. The first tape ends at the beginning of the rat scene while the second tape begins at the point when Sara wakes up after her first night in the attic room. So there was an overlap between the first and second tape. If I cut out the PBS promo material and the repeat scenes from the second tape, the VHS version is only about 10 minutes more than the DVD version. From a continuity and plot hole standpoint (and not making any comparison with the novel), I would choose the DVD over the VHS version. Both versions have plot holes, abrupt scene shifts, and continuity issues, but the DVD version has scenes from the beginning of the program that is cut out of the VHS version which omits critical background information about Sara before she leaves for England and on her first day in school. And the DVD has the letter reading scene near the end, which made for a plot hole for the VHS version. So I feel that the UK/DVD film editor chose the better scenes overall than the USA PBS/VHS film editor. If you had to buy only one, I would recommend the DVD version. The VHS version is much cheaper since VHS format is now becoming scarce and if that is all you can afford, it still is a worthwhile series to see in that format.

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There are two DVD versions of the program. The original airing on the UK TV was shown in six episodes totalling just under 150 minutes. The E1 Entertainment DVD release is based on this airing. This DVD has been discontinued and prices are rather high since it is no longer in distribution. The other airing in the PBS Wonderworks TV in the USA was shown in three episode format totalling over 160 minutes. The Feature Films for Families DVD release is based on this airing. This DVD can be purchased on either the www.familytv.com or www.steppingstones.com websites. Note that this particular DVD version is not exactly the same as the VHS tape versions of the program. The distributor decided to remove all episode breaks, so the program runs straight to the end without any breaks or pauses. Note also that certain words have been censored on this DVD release unlike the VHS releases (words like slut, dear Lord, etc.)

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