MovieChat Forums > The Thief and the Cobbler (1995) Discussion > Will someone explain the difference betw...

Will someone explain the difference between the versions...

posted 13 years ago by dev-33
6 replies | jump to latest

and why in the heck there are multiple releases of this film? I grew up with the Matthew Broderick version where the thief talks (albeit in his head) and Tack says more than three words.I went on Youtube and found all these different versions: "The Thief and The Cobbler: recobbled," "Arabian Knight," "The Princess and the Cobbler," and then just plain ol' widely released "Thief and the Cobbler." Yikes.

I found out about these other versions, and I got very confused. Does anyone know the difference between the versions, and why there were different versions made? Oh and which one's the "atrocity" and which one's the "masterpiece"? Excuse my ignorance, but they all seem pretty similar to me, minus different audio/some cut scenes. Thanks :)

Yeah they call me the Hiphopopotamus, my lyrics are bottomless..............

[–] 13 years ago

[deleted]

[–] miso5000 13 years ago

First version: "The Thief and the Cobbler", directed by Richard Williams. No songs, no dialogue for the thief, Tack only says 3 words. Only available as a low-quality bootleg of a workprint that fills in the unfinished scenes with pencil tests & storyboards. Fifteen minutes remained to be completed before control of the film was taken away from Williams due to him taking too long.

Second version: "The Princess and the Cobbler", directed by Fred Calvert. I'm not very familiar with this version, but it has a lot of original footage cut, and it along with the originally unfinished scenes is replaced with lower quality animation. Only released in South Africa & Australia. A workprint of this version is available.

Third version: "Arabian Knight", produced by Miramax. Even more original footage cut, Tack voiced by Matthew Broderick. Released on video under the title "The Thief and the Cobbler".

Fourth version: "The Recobbled Cut", edited by Garrett Gilchrist. Uses the best available sources to reassemble Richard Williams' original version, but utilizes some Fred Calvert animation to replace originally unfinished scenes, and adds some extra audio to give it a slightly more "mainstream" feel.

Hit up Google, Wikipedia, and YouTube for further information. :)

[–] dev-33 13 years ago

ahhhhh it's all so clear now :) thanks for responding, miso!!

Yeah they call me the Hiphopopotamus, my lyrics are bottomless..............

[–] miso5000 13 years ago

You're welcome. ;)

[–] webb-kristieann 13 years ago

I love the movie because of the animation, but I'm disappointed in the editings of the third version. I wished The American Distributers allowed the second version to be released in US. The third version is a bit childish.

[–] vlechtja 12 years ago

Glad I watched the first version.
The pencil sketches did annoy me a trifle though.

Where is my Mjöllnir ! Where is my Mjöllnir ! Arrrghh!