10 MINUTES MISSING from US dvd release of 'The Dead'
It's all here folks--I hate to think what John Huston would have done to these Lionsgate guys....they probably would have been among "The Dead"....
http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/thedead.php
Thank you for posting this as a warning to other fans of this fine film Brimad98.
After much anticipation of this finally coming to DVD Lionsgate's parsimony in failing to release the whole film is ghastly. I thought something was wrong with my DVD player when huge sections were missing from my viewing.
The biggest cuts seem to come from the early parts of the film. Most noticably missing is Freddie Malenson's arrival and Gabriel's making him presentable. Also gone is the explanation that there aren't enough men to go around at the dance and Mr Brown's asking the two young boyos if they know who won the horserace run earlier in the day.
At least it is in widescreen so we can see who is talking at the dinner table and the glories of the snowy scenes of Ireland at the end of the film.
I guess we have to wish that the Critereon Collection will one day (though it will be years away and I may not be around to see it) fix the travesty that Lionsgate has performed here.
I'll make a good Gordon, Gordon!
What we may hope is that Lionsgate recalls this, since the cuts can be chalked up solely to incompetence, as there are no issues of censorship or alternate versions in the footage.
Even then, the disc is barebones and the transfer mediocre. We're better off keeping a future Sundance broadcast on our DVRs.
According to the original poster's link...Lionsgate has issued a recall and will allegedly be releasing the complete version the week of November 23rd!
I was shocked when I watched it, as I am a huge fan of the story, and I knew there was a whole sequence of events clearly chopped off and most certainly not by Huston -- who crafted a masterful and faithful adaptation.
I'm glad to have discovered it was Lionsgate who was at fault, and that they are wisely working now to correct the matter.
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I was looking forward to this one. I just read the story again. I found out it was recalled, but I'm glad it will be released very soon in its proper form. Thanks.
There is no night as deep as this
Inevitable mind's abyss
Where I now dwell with foes alone
Great news that Lionsgate is recalling the disc and reissuing a complete version of the movie--the PAL version that has been out for years is complete and anamorphic and hopefully they might grab that print and send it out.
Also I hope they replace the ghastly cover art on the dvd cover--not appropriate at all considering the movie contained (although the PAL version was pretty crappy too--it seems just cut-up of parts of lobbycards on the front cover) -- it's strange nobody can figure out how to market this movie still, after all these years.
The original theatrical poster would make the perfect cover--they may not have the rights to it (the movie was made by Vestron Pictures), but anything would be better than what they have presently (and if they include the documentary on the making of "The Dead", people will be buying the disc from all over the world)
I just wanted to update everyone. I spoke with Lionsgate today (Dec 8, 09) and, although there press release says that they would begin shipping the week of November 23rd, they currently have no release date set for the corrected DVD. Who knows how long we will have to wait. It would be nice to get it before Jan 6 so we can view it on its proper day but there is no reason to hold our breath.
If any of you get updated info please post it here to help the rest of us. Thanks
I'll make a good Gordon, Gordon!
Okay I have a question then.
I've got the 73 minute version on dvd right now, but I could get the 83 minutes version on Itunes. Which should I go for?
Hello BobStage
I guess it depends on how quickly you want the full film. If Lionsgate is going to correct their error (and I have some fears about that at the moment) and you have submitted your receipt to them then it would seem a shame to pay for the film twice.
If you don't trust Lionsgate or you want the film more quickly then I would have one further question. Is the Itunes version widescreen or full. If full I would not buy it since you lose some of the beauty of the film - especially the glories of the wintery scenes of Ireland at the end of the film. But that is just me.
I hope that this is of some help and good luck to us all in finally getting the whole film on DVD.
UPDATE: After I typed this I found another thread here at IMDb wherein someone received the corrected DVD by UPS on Dec 16th. So you probably will want to wait a few days to see if your get yours before going to Itunes.
I'll make a good Gordon, Gordon!
So, I was just looking on amazon for the new R1 release of this (FINALLY!!!!!) and then I saw all the outraged reviewers citing the missing 10 minutes.
Well, the DVD for sale on amazon states that it is 83 minutes, but it is not being sold by amazon, but by an internet movie peddler named "moviemars" (I've bought a thing or two from them before. No problems).
So, is this the real deal? or is this left-over remnants of the version that is missing the 19 minutes???
Here's the link to this new R1 edition, that claims that it is 83 minutes: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B002LYD2MG/
Can anyone tell me if this is the real deal or if this is a 73 minute mistake??
Hello jackboot
My best advice is to tell you to contact the seller before ordering. Lionsgate has shipped the corrected version to the buyers who sent in their paperwork (well except for me but that is another story dag nab it) but they have, as yet, not made that version available to the public. So this seller might be selling the 83 minute version but you will want to make sure. The other thing you will want to check is the cost. If it is more than $15 you might want to wait. That was the original cost and when they finally make it available again I would assume that they price would be the same. If it is more and if you want it badly enough and if they will confirm the length then it is up to you to go ahead and purchase it. Good Luck!
I'll make a good Gordon, Gordon!
Hi, mad19571, and thanks for replying - I really appreciate it!!
Well, a seller on Amazon, named "moviemars" (http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/seller/at-a-glance.html/ref=olp_merch_na me_2?ie=UTF8&isAmazonFulfilled=0&asin=B002LYD2MG&marketpla ceSeller=0&seller=A2BA4D4U3M3NVW) has it for sale for $9.38 USD + $2.98 shipping - which doesn't sound bad to me.
I contacted them and they just kept brushing off my inquiries. They couldn't say because they didn't know and they weren't willing to find out whether their product was, or was not, the correct, 83 minute, version. It was actually annoying, verging on infuriating, trying to get a simple answer out of them. They kept replying with cheery form letter language "check the amazon description page".
I guess I'll hold off on buying it. They definitely did not close the sale with me.
jackboot, you can buy it on the Lionsgate site. The correct 83 min. version. Mine arrived in the mail last week, just a few days after ordering it.
http://www.lionsgateshop.com/product.asp?Id=23225&TitleParentId=3887
there are other sellers on amazon, and I've sent an inquiry to a few of them. But I may just order it from Lionsgate if I don't hear from them in a few days.
shareFinally ordered the R-1 DVD from that seller, Moviemars, and it did in fact arrive as the 83 minute version. I hope that, by now, all the of hacked shorter ones have been flushed out and removed from the marketplace.
The price of $9.38 + $2.98 shipping, was the best deal I could find online.
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