Summary of Weighing the Value of Director's Cuts | Scanline

00:00:00 - 00:45:00

This video discusses how director's cuts can improve or harm a film, using the example of "Blade Runner." It also discusses how directors often have regrets about their films and make changes based on their own opinions, which can lead to the neglect of an original version that may be better.

• 00:00:00 Director's cuts are versions of films that are typically more authentic and closer to the creator's ideal version. Welles used final cut privileges on his early RKO films to make changes that he believed would make them better. However, RKO made extensive edits to the films without Welles' consent, ultimately destroying Welles' original vision. This article discusses Welles' fight for creative control and how it relates to the director's cut.
• 00:05:00 The video discusses how director's cuts are becoming increasingly common, and how Blade Runner is one of the earliest examples of this. One criticism of the film is that the final scene, which is supposed to be a climactic moment, is ruined by a voice-over.
• 00:10:00 The video discusses the differences between the original version of "Blade Runner" and the director's cut, which is better in many ways. One difference is that there is no voiceover, which adds to the feeling of uncertainty and doom. Another difference is that the happy ending has been removed, further emphasizing the sense of uncertainty.
• 00:15:00 The video discusses how a director's cut can be helpful or harmful, and how different versions of a film can create different reactions. A specific example is the director's cut of Blade Runner, which was initially poorly received but has since been acclaimed as a masterpiece.
• 00:20:00 Director's cuts can improve a movie, but they can also be unnecessary, offensive, and even damaging. This video discusses the case of "Dizzy Crime Wave," which has had various cuts made over the years. The original version is discussed, and it is found that the director wasn't happy with it. The main point of the video is that directors often have regrets about their films and that they make changes based on their own opinions rather than following the original intent of the filmmakers.
• 00:25:00 In the video, titled "Weighing the Value of Director's Cuts | Scanline," film scholar Gordon Hale discusses the trend of directors' cutting their films to improve them, which he says often results in a "quick reaction shot, there and suddenly the gags aren't quite as funny, the sex scenes aren't as breathless, the fights lose their Drive, the dialogue drags just a little more padding, and the intangible Gestalt of the original is lost." He also points out that this trend poses a threat to the integrity of art, as it can lead to the neglect of an original version that may be better. Hale cites the example of Francis Ford Coppola, who would have destroyed his own career had he continued making changes to Apocalypse Now after it was released.
• 00:30:00 In this video, a filmmaker discusses the importance of director's cuts and how changes made to a film can be regretted. He then discuss the case of Federico Fellini, who made a number of changes to his films over the years.
• 00:35:00 The vid discusses the different director's cuts of "THX 1138," which Lucas originally wanted to be left as is, but which were later meddled with by studios. The vid also touches on the value of collaboration and the importance of other crew members in a project.
• 00:40:00 In this video, Scanline editor Shannon discusses how director's cuts can improve the quality of a film, but also how they can be easily co-opted into the same commercialism that necessitated them in the first place. Skillshare, an online learning platform for creators, offers a free two-month trial of their editing classes to those who watch the video.
• 00:45:00 This video is a tribute to Rutger Hauer, who passed away this year. It discusses how director's cuts can be good or bad, and how they can affect the emotions and beliefs of moviegoers.