Firstly sorry for the (very) late reply and the mis-information, all of which I've corrected in the original post above!
On the film's opening night of "Gainsbourg" in which I'd ventured in fear to see the new cut for myself, I was surprised about what was left in and what had been taken out. I felt for sure the Madame Fréhel stuff would go, as she's largely unknown outside of France, but yet that scene and the film's more surreal moments remained intact. In fact of all the scenes removed, there was only two I truly missed.
I saw director Joann Sfar in the bar after the film (having previously met him at the UK first screening of the original cut) and chatted with him about the new cut of the film.
Not only as Alex said, is this version with his blessing but entirely of his creation after feeling some scenes dragged in screenings he'd been to. Optimum merely respected his wishes and released his preferred version!
The reason for the late reply is I wanted to compare the two versions and list roughly the differences which I've now done for you -
* Deletion of the scene where young Serge persuades in vain for his mother to buy him a gun to play with, even attempting to bribe her by saying he'll work harder on the piano. This proceeds the scene where he steals the gun from the shop.
* Deletion of the scene where Serge and Boris Vian walk to his apartment and the two lie in the road in an effort to stop a cab. While they wait Serge reveals he has an double that follows him to which Vian replies his is a werewolf. However two policemen soon end the conversation short. (This proceeds Serge arriving at Boris's apartment and explains a later scene where drunken Serge lies in the road before having the police escort to his concert)
* Longer scene of the "Baby Pop" groupies, as Gainsbourg wakes up in bed with two naked women as his Mug joyously tosses bank statements at him revealing how rich he is from "Poupée de cire, poupée de son" alone! This is the original lead in to "Qui Est In Qui Est Out".
* The groupies and party to "Qui Est In Qui Est Out" is cut short, removing Serge narrating about "the mouth being the primary sexual organ". His narration reveals the girl's in the room he has slept with and how he was with them. It reveals Gainsbourg's occasional cruel streak and proceeds the angry neighbour banging on the door.
* After Gainsbourg recites La Marseillaise at the angry press conference, we then see young Serge repeating it and triumphantly rising his fist to the audience.
* Deletion of an short exchange in the nightclub when a reveller comments to Gainsbourg about him being parodied on a French TV show. The new version removes these lines either because the show is unknown outside of France or because it doesn't tie in as being the night Gainsbourg met his wife, Bambou as that TV show wouldn't air until years later.
Out of the scenes there's only two I miss that I feel complement the film, the scene with the groupies and Lucien defiantly repeating the National anthem.
The new cut is leaner, granted but with those scenes included I'd have no qualms about the new version.
Either way, the mood and beautiful style of the original remain intact.
"IT'S AN OPPINION - IT CAN'T BE WRONG!" - The GREAT Jack Black!
M A R C
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Ambrosia-I
14 years ago
Many thanks for taking the time to do this, Marc. I enjoyed the version I saw very much, but it's interesting to know what was taken out and to know that the director preferred the version he finally released. Maybe once the film is out on DVD, he'll give the option of seeing both. That would be great because I would like to see it again.
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