MovieChat Forums > Valmont (1989) Discussion > MISSING CRUCIAL SCENE ON DVD!!!!!

MISSING CRUCIAL SCENE ON DVD!!!!!

posted 19 years ago by DJ-S
34 replies | jump to latest

I saw Valmont when it came out in the theaters, I only saw it the one time yet it stuck with me as a great film. I purchased the DVD to recapture the moment and share with my friends. I was watching it prior to sharing it to ensure that my opinion had taste had not changed. It had not but at the end a crucial scene seems to have been cut. Valmont after leaving the encounter with the Marquise and Chevalier, goes to Madame de Tourvel residence and later goes to Cecile de Volanges. If I recall, the scene consisted of Valmont secretly entering Madame de Torvel's residence with flowers and finding her husband home leaves the flowers and quietly sneaks out. What happened to the scene, it rounded out the ending and made the final scene even more poignant? Otherwise it is unclear that the man taking Madame de Tourvel to Valmont's grave is her husband. Anyone understand or know why the re-edit? Anyone know where I can get an uncut copy?

[–] lkpurdy 19 years ago

I have read either here at IMDB or on Amazon that the VHS version contains the missing scene. I don't know where you could find a copy. I had never seen the movie before renting on DVD, and I had to ask someone here on the board to explain what had happened - the ending makes no good sense without it.

Good luck!
LKP

[–] LainieBlueEyes 19 years ago

Hi, DJ S ~
Thanks for making this post and telling about the missing scene. I just watched this movie for the first time; I saw the DVD version, and thought that the final scene was odd. I assumed that we're to assume the man with Madame de Toruvel is her husband, but it just seemed so awkward, almost like an afterthought.

The scene you describe sounds as if it would make the ending much clearer. I wonder why it was cut?!

Elaine

*****
Are you telling me you built a time machine out of a Delorean?!

[–] pattyrose 19 years ago

I agree, the end scene leaves a lot for the watcher to assume. Knowing about the missing scene also makes the whole drunk-bar scene make more sense, too. I thought it was weird that he got so upset over the 15-year-old girl mess. But it makes sense that he was also upset knowing that he had lost Madame de Toruvel back to her husband.

[–] DJ-S 19 years ago

Thanks for the feedback, I don't understand why the scene was cut. I hope someone can tell us, it is why I loved the film in the first place.

[–] asinyne 19 years ago

I watched a version with the scene missing also. I feel that valmont was so upset at the end because he realized what a wortless, shallow person he had been all his life and that he wanted to die. Thats why he picked the bums to be his witnesses, obviously he felt like a bum himself and deserved no better. Great flick.

[–] ElenaYakovna 19 years ago

Thanks for this post! I just happened to stop by for no reason other than I was thinking of this film again. I have an old VHS copy and was thinking of "upgrading" to DVD, but after hearing that this scene was removed I think I'll stick with the tape (and treat it very carefully in future).

[–] houseofscorpio 19 years ago

Yes, I have the original VHS tape (originally $89.00, but I bought itfor $10 from a video place that was losing its business to a big chain back in '91). I would think that cutting that scene is a mistake. It also makes the ending more poiant (sp?). Tourvel betrays her mores and morals to have an affair, she evenually goes back to her husband, who obviously forgave her and takes her to her ex-lovers grave. His acceptance makes brings her back from the brink. Which makes me wonder why Tourvel's husband never came back when she fell ill in Dangerous Liaisons. It's not as if she suddenly got sick.

[–] csturak 19 years ago

I just saw Valmont for the first time on cable. (when it came out in theatres I was a little overwhelmed with all the costumes dramas of the time...but now I'm sorry I didn't see it on the big screen. Milos Forman made a visually stunning and surprisingly moving film.)

Anyway, I just thought I'd add to this thread that Showtime is running the cut version. (I never would have known about that scene without reading here.)

It probably originally got cut for time, since it was fairly long-running -- but why worry about that with a DVD release? What a shame. (Unless, of course, Forman himeself had a reason for cutting it -- too sentimental for Valmont, even as he's coming to terms with his failed character? Perhaps.)

I'd love to know, and to see the missing scene.

Thanks for pointing it out, and I hope you can track down a complete version.

[–] bilhan 18 years ago

I bought the VHS version instead of the DVD after reading this site. I too feel that the deleted scene is very inportant to the story. I am glad I opted for the VHS, the quality of the tape I have is not that great but worth it all the same. A very stunning movie to say the least. The scene was not that long and should not have been deleted. If anyone hears of a DVD version that has the deleted scene let us know as I would really like to have the DVD.

[–] sjoyd24 18 years ago

Like Elena I just popped on to this site for a quick look to see if any new posts were up and I did not know about the missing scene either. I have tried to collect all of Colin's movies and everytime I think I have the complete set I read something like this. It was the same with the Advocate and the Hour of the Pig. Thanks for posting this information I will try to get a vhs copy.

Just popped over to ebay - got a vhs copy for $5.99 plus postage - thanks again

Received my copy today ll.ll.05 and the deleted scene was there. The copy I received is very good and I can't for the life of me understand why this scene was deleted. The film makes more sense with it included.

[–] 18 years ago

[deleted]

[–] tholar-1 18 years ago

Interesting you mention that. I just taped it off of Showtime, and it does not have the missing scene. I went back to an old vcr copy I made years ago taped off of Bravo before they went commercial. This version HAS the missing scene. Now we wonders why the scene is absent from currant showings. The studio maybe?

[–] justDennis 18 years ago

For U.S. viewers with cable (and maybe sattelite?) and high-def service, the movie channel HDNet Movies is showing Valmont (with the missing scene restored) in June and July 2006. For specific air dates and times, check this link:

http://www.hd.net/movies_search_results.html?keyword=valmont&wheretosearch=title

"Valmont" looked *great* in high definition!

[–] 18 years ago

[deleted]

[–] jose_monso 18 years ago

Same in Spain. I got the release sold some months ago with the newspaper EL PAIS. The scene is there and I agree it's crucial.

[–] abs_is_back 18 years ago

I first saw this movie on one of the cable channels... it was either HBO or Cinemax. The scene was in that showing. I thought it was wonderful and can't imagine the movie without it. I've been looking for the DVD, but it just won't be the same without that scene.

[–] renatus50 17 years ago

I have the Brazilian edition and the scene is also missing. Can anyone tell me if the spanish edition is widescreen? If it is I´ll ask a friend to buy it and mail it to me. I really hate having a DVD with this scene missing.

[–] quick-26 17 years ago

I also have the Scandinavian DVD release (bought in Denmark, but including Swedish, Norwegian, Finish and Danish subtitles) and it includes the scene with the roses also. BTW, it has been "dumped" on the market here, selling at our "10-kroner" shops for, well, 20 Kroner (about $3). Too bad about the New World versions!

[–] 17 years ago

[deleted]

[–] oksana_golubtsova 17 years ago

I support the opinion for the European release: I have a French version and it's complete. Certainly, the end would have been less understandable should the described scene disappear. My DVD I got from eBay (in case someone looks for it)

[–] politicon2003 17 years ago

Funny in my DVD version, a one euro good quality giveaway plus removable subtitles that came as an option with a Greek sunday newspaper, the scene with the bouquet has not been cut. I see yout point though it would be nonsensical to have cut it.