US vs. UK versions?


I thoroughly enjoyed ISLAND AT WAR during its initital PBS run in the US but shortly thereafter I became aware of what appears to be some sort of discontinuity. All PBS listings for the series (and what I watched) list ISLAND AT WAR as five episodes. Yet the UK listings, as well as the dvd content have six episodes. I have not yet purchased the dvd to re-watch nor did I record the PBS versions during their run.

Does anyone know if PBS in the US 'dropped' an episode or merged episodes or made so many cuts as to overall shorten the series into five episodes? I cannot find any references to the discrepency of the five/six episode counts.

Can anyone shed any light on this? Thanks!

btw -ISLAND AT WAR needs to have closure with the fate of its characters. We NEED a second series!

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[deleted]

As it often does, PBS edits their episodes, sometimes too much as they do with Foyle's War. In this case, they merged the episodes from six into five. In fact, I believe there is actually a scene or two that was in the PBS airing that wasn't included in the DVD, but since I didn't record the series (I own the DVD) I can't be sure.

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Yes, there are quite a few scenes and extra lines in the television broadcast that didn't make it to the dvd. I just completed taping the program from the recent PBS rebroadcast so I am comparing it to the dvd. Most of the cut scenes are not crucial to plot development, but they do help to fill in the gaps and help to explain some of the characters more fully. I don't know why they bothered to cut these few scenes from the dvd; some of them were rather lighthearted and fun.

I have asked WGBH (my local PBS station) if they would consider producing an unabridged version to sell.

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I've just got the dvd and haven't noticed anything different yet, not threw watching it though. Just finished the first disc, but I believe everybody so I know there's gonna be scenes missing. I don't think I'll notice the differences though, I most likely won't remember them. I havn't watch 'Island at War' since it's initial run an PBS. Though it's not uncommom for PBS to take away from their shows or to add to their shows. Since the dvd was released by Granada/ITV, it's most likely the UK broadcast version. The same thing happened to me when I bought 'The Forsyte Saga' on dvd (also released on dvd by Granada). It was the UK broadcast version, but PBS aired so many new scenes that were cut out, most likely deleted scenes, to make it even longer than it's 6 eppys. I was bummed, the PBS version seemed so much better. Luckly PBS recently re-aired it so, I taped that version.

It's win/lose with PBS sometimes. When I bought the dvd of 'He Knew He Was Right', BBC relesed it on dvd, it had the complete four episodes. When PBS aired it they butchered the mini into two episodes and cut so much stuff out, stuff important to the plot to. The only way we'd ever get versions of the films PBS airs the way it actually airs on PBS, is if they themselves (WGBH Boston) put it out on dvd. Like they did with 'The Ruby in the Smoke'. It's exactly the same edit as was shown on Masterpiece Theatre. Which is bad because I happened to see the original BBC version and PBS heaviy edited it. They cut out an entire side plot. See, it's a win/lose for people like me who love to get the dvd's for programs like these.

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The version advertised in the UK is listed at 400 minutes with Bonus footage, Filmographies.

http://sendit.com/video/item/7001000137455

To be released 10th September 2007

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Yes, it is incredibly frustrating to me that ITV decided to cancel their plans to produce two additional series of this wonderful program that would have taken the story to the end of the war. I can't believe they would leave us all hanging as to the fate of the characters. I have written to my local PBS station asking if there are any plans to reconsider producing another series. The response I got was that the program was very popular, but there are still no plans to make another series at this time. I think that the more viewers bug them, the better the chance of another series. We can only hope.

The televised version was broadcast in 5 installments and the dvd has the program broken into 6 shorter episodes. The content is basically the same, except there are a few scenes in the televised version that didn't make it to the dvd. So in answer to your question, no, PBS didn't drop an episode, they just divided the episodes differently.

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Thanks to all who provided information and answers.

How INCREDIBLY FRUSTRATING to find out that there are scenes in the merged 5 part showing of ISLAND AT WAR presented by PBS that are missing from the 6 part dvd of the same. Usually it is the opposite, as was mentioned about Foyle's War and other shows presented on PBS that are trimmed down from the UK episodic versions.

I have just purchased the dvd set. Now I feel that I have to wait for PBS to rerun the series so I can 'burn' a dvd copy of the PBS broadcast in order to get the extra scenes. I was not aware that PBS has already rebroadcast the series since its initial run. That being the case it may be a long wait for me to obtain the PBS version.

And as for the filming of new series, I feel if that is not picked up within a reasonable length of time it will never happen because people will move on and etc. So it is paramount ASAP to convince the powers that be that there is a very strong following for the show.

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Barron 5,

I agree with you that another series needs to be made soon or it probably won't happen. All we can do is to try to contact PBS, ITV, Granada Television and whoever else we can think of and urge them to make another. I hope popular opinion will sway them.

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I wonder if the reason that they did not proceed with further seasons is that the writer died in 2004?

http://saucybetty.blogspot.com

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I'm so annoyed. KTEH showed 5 episodes of Island at War and I sat down to watch, what I thought was the conclusion, and another program was broadcast!

Reading your posts, I realize that a conclusion was never filmed and all the characters are left in limbo....never mind a second series, we need a proper ending to the first.

Am I right in my views, or can someone who has the DVD shed any light.

Thanks.

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[deleted]

Saw it on PBS, bought the UK DVD. Unfortunately, I didn't check here first, so I didn't know about the missing scenes! Right away, within the first 10 minutes, I was most annoyed to realize the DVD didn't include June singing 'Beat Me Daddy, 8 to the Bar'. I love her singing, I hate that that scene particularly is missing. Unfair.

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[deleted]

I just want to understand something. Has anyone bought the US DVD, the outrageously over-priced PBS-released set? I'm wondering if it includes the scenes that are missing on the UK DVD, but were included on the PBS run of the program. If the American DVDs have these scenes, I'll consider buying it, despite the cost. Anyone?

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[deleted]

Oh, I've got the tapes, but they're really terrible quality. Second-generation copies from my grandparents, and their VCR's reception of PBS is pretty fuzzy. That's why I was so keen to buy the DVDs, and so disappointed that they were cut. Oh well, I guess the tapes aren't any worse than some stuff I taped 20 years ago. DVDs have spoiled me. I'll just keep checking to see if my PBS station re-runs it.

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[deleted]

I just bought a Like New Region One copy on ebay for CHEAP and it came with three dvds and six episodes....

I TRULY MISS STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN!

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