MovieChat Forums > Tales of the City (1994) Discussion > Uncensored DVD available?

Uncensored DVD available?

posted 17 years ago by everettwilde
25 replies | jump to latest

I have heard from a few folks - and the reviews on amazon state as well - that the DVDs of Tales is censored. Specifically, that various scenes are dubbed. Which is rather sad and pathetic given all the first film went through to be shown in the US.

Does anyone have any knowledge of any planned re-release? Does anyone here have any connection to Maupin or anyone else involved and can plead this case. I realize the box set was probably meant to be the final release, with the extras and such. And if that's all there is then that's what I'll end up with. But... it's such a wonderful film. One of the few good book adaptations produced on this side of the Atlantic. Ever.

Just wondering...

[–] BobbiesGirl 17 years ago

Buy the British dvd. That isn't cut.

Something tells me something's gonna happen tooonight!!!

[–] pcrabtree 17 years ago

How do your purchase the British version of the DVD for Tales of the City??

[–] AllyMcMel 17 years ago

Amazon have the 3 series - www.amazon.co.uk. Make sure your DVD machine plays Format - PAL, Region 2 (European) before purchasing.

Mel

[–] lostintwinpeaks 17 years ago

This is cool. So Region 2/UK DVDs definitely are uncut and original?

[–] MuMu2525 17 years ago

yes, the UK versions are uncut (as they were when first screened on British television), but note that only the first and second series has been released in the UK on DVD so far. The third one ("Further...") is only available on Amazon.co.uk as a US/region 1 import.

[–] puirt-a-beul 17 years ago

yes, the UK versions are uncut (as they were when first screened on British television), but note that only the first and second series has been released in the UK on DVD so far. The third one ("Further...") is only available on Amazon.co.uk as a US/region 1 import.

Hmmm, here in Australia all three series have been available on DVD for a number of years now. They're uncut, coded for all regions, and even come in a single boxed set.

Some detail of it here, on a site that will do international orders:
http://www.ezydvd.com.au/item.zml/221465

But as with UK discs, you have to be sure your equipment can play discs formatted for PAL displays, rather than the North American standard of NTSC.

[–] massagefortoday 17 years ago

I had the Australia released box set with the publisher number KAL013 on the label.
The scene with DeDe and the Chinese American delivery guy has been deleted. So her subsequent pregnancy and all the remarks about her infidelity being "noticeable" at the art gallery are incomprehensible.... So I went back to the VHS which are truly "unedited".

[–] puirt-a-beul 17 years ago

I dunno, massage, I've got the Australian box set, and rewatched it not so long ago, and as far as I can tell, all the scenes between DeDe and the delivery guy (Lionel, I think? Although I might be wrong about that) are there. You never actually saw them having sex, or going into the bedroom; but it's hard to miss. She makes up an order with the grocer just to get someone to come to the house and talk to her, she asks him to stay and chat, he says he's busy, she says "Please...", and it's pretty obvious what's about to happen.

It cuts off to another thread about one of the other characters, and when it comes back, Beauchamp's arriving home, the delivery guy is just leaving, he's a little breathless, and you can kinda tell he's only just got his pants back on in time.

I didn't think there was anything more needed to make sense of her pregnancy and, for instance, the "yellow" reference at the art gallery ... is there something more explicit in the VHS transfer ? I can't imagine why they would have cut anything out -- not there, when they have no issue at other parts of the story with showing full-frontal nudity and same-gender kissing.

You might very well think that. I couldn't possibly comment.

[–] Funnyboy73 17 years ago

Which scenes/lines have been dubbed over? I own the DVDs, but can't recall offhand what was changed.

Could someone kindly help?

Bring me the head of Paris Hilton.

[–] chandler-5 17 years ago

Two scenes - when Michael is walking down the street with the tall gay guy, the line "and a big stick" is supposed to be a word that rhymes with "stick."

Also, when Parker Posey get angry at Brian while in bed, although you hear her say "up yours," her lips clearly form the F word.

There's also a music change. When Mouse and Jon are skating, the music should be "I Love To Love You Baby," but they apparently had music licencing issues.

Are these issues not present in the UK-released DVDs?

[–] metalion_sos 17 years ago

I don't know abou the UK releases, but the Aussie ones have all the correct dialogue and the Summer song.

---
"I don't keep typing paper in the closet!"

[–] smith-684 17 years ago

oh rats, then I just started watching a cut version. I hate that.

[–] 17 years ago

[deleted]

[–] goosh69 14 years ago

What is hilarious is that netflix sent me DVDs with the swear words OBVIOUSLY dubbed, but the nudity intact! Frontal! Made no sense.

"I am the Defender of the Weak, and Enemy of the Weak Minded." - Me

[–] mp989 13 years ago

Ok the link that was posted, for the Australian complete set--it says on the link that it's NTSC and not PAL--I know SOME Aussie DVDs now are NTSC (which I find odd). Can someone confirm what this is? (I'd be thrilled if it were NTSC, but someone here already said PAL)

http://www.ezydvd.com.au/item.zml/221465

[–] preppy-3 13 years ago

Sorry Chandler but you're incorrect. Those aren't edits.

I just saw volume 1 of the 1995 VHS version which is uncut and has those two scenes in it. Michael and the tall gay guy DO say "stick" and not "p****". Parker Posey DOES say "Up yours". Her lips may be forming something else but that's the line. If they did change "I Love To Love You Baby" that's unfortunate but not a big deal.

[–] minogueboy27 12 years ago

Sorry Preppy but whatever you were watching was 100% Edited/Dubbed. I have the Australian DVDs and Michael and his Friend do say "And a big D**k". And Connie does say "*u*k you to Brian". And the track Love to Love You Baby is still in the scene on this release also.

[–] preppy-3 12 years ago

Well mine are the original VHS copies which say uncut...but maybe not.

[–] MuMu2525 11 years ago

The UK DVD release still has all of those things in too (Michael says "big *ick", Connie says "**** you" to Brian, and "Who's That Lady" and "Love To Love You Baby" are played in the roller skating rink).

[–] onthemarktexas 11 years ago

I recently e-mailed Acorn Media about whether the upcoming 20th Anniversary Edition would contain the edited or original broadcast cut. In their response, they explained that Acorn Media owns the rights to distribute the edited cut (for Region 1) and that Channel 4 Distribution owns the rights to the original broadcast version.

Luckily, I own a region-free bluray player, so I have the Region 2 (original broadcast) version. The (Region 1) 20th Anniversary Edition will be the same edited version that we've all seen here in the U.S.

[–] lynchnut-2 11 years ago

20th Anniversary DVD uncut. Read my review below:

http://theruedmorgue.blogspot.com/2013/08/tales-of-city-20th-anniversa ry-edition.html

[–] 11 years ago

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[–] lynchnut-2 11 years ago

It has, admittedly, been some years since I watched those tapes (assuming you bought the same ones I owned back in the day), but I'm 99% sure that what I wrote in the piece about the dubbing in episode two applies to those. It'd be great it you could let me know one way or the other, though.

[–] 11 years ago

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[–] jasnevnsactor 8 years ago

I just bought the series from iTunes and it is the uncensored version. It is $19.99 on iTunes in the TV section. It's not in HD but it is a really good copy, good audio.