Maybe someone can answer me this question. Why on earth did criterion make the "Love conquers all" or 94 "cut" version in fullscreen. This just seems so idiotic, especially from a company like criterion, to me that I'm even entertaining the notion that maybe my dvd is just messed up. Even I know that is impossible. Anyway this really surprised me, any insight would be greatly appreciated.

thanks

I believe that is the only way that version is available. It's only been shown on television.

That's why Gilliam was so pissed off about it. Too many cuts to his masterpiece, including the OAR.

I don't believe there was any letterboxing going on in televised movies in that era (mid-to-late 80's)--but someone will correct me if I'm wrong. Plus, I think the point is to show the horribly edited version as it would have been seen by television audiences at that time.

Interesting to speculate---if Gilliam's 142-minute cut had been somehow lost (much like Welles' cut of The Magnificent Ambersons), and all we were left with was the studio's 94-minute version, would Brazil still be considered a masterpiece?

That version of the film only exists as a fullscreen television broadcast master. This change to the AR wouldn't've happened had that version ever actually played theatrically, so Gilliam would've had no reason to be upset over any change in that respect, despite victant's suggestion.

DJ

Excellent responses, thanks for answering my question. I knew there had to be a logical explanation. Criterion wouldn't overlook something so obvious as OAR.

Besides, after watching it once (for curiosity's sake w/ commentary on), there really isn't much reason to even use that third disc again. Unless you're teaching a class or something, but then again, why not teach them about widescreen as well while you're at it?

K

It would have been considered a masterpiece only by those who saw the Gilliam version.

Unless some entity made a concerted effort to destroy all the pertaining film elements no major studio film made within the last 25 years should ever be "lost". There is now too much emphasis on preservation to let that happen. Too many treasures have been lost in the name of saving space or deterioration.

I think the studios learned their lesson. You can eventually make money on via DVD (or whatever comes next). But you have to have the elements to do so. I am sure many a studio exec at GE, Disney and Viacom are gnashing their teeth at the lost millions that many early television kinescopes would have brought if they only had them now. Think of all of the treasures rotting in cans right now.

So, yes Brazil would still be a masterpiece but thankfully we don't need speculate or wonder.

BTW, there are some scenes, shots and lines in the Love Conquers All version that are NOT in the director's cut.

That's because Sid Sheinberg and the studio had access to all of the raw footage. Sid just cut the movie to his liking. TG puportedly left much of Kim Griest's performance on the cutting room floor.

Probably in 20-30 years after we take all his work in as a whole and the legend builds up around the film. Maybe just seen as a flawed masterpiece.

Does anyone prefer the original theatrical release over the director's cut? There are some scene changes Gilliam made that I don't really like.

The set is already highly regarded but imagine if all three versions had been included.

three versions? i'm sorry i don't know what you mean.

The three versions would be the original theatrical release, the US television cut, and Gilliam's final cut.

original theatrical release - 131 min.

US television cut - 94 min.

Gilliam's final cut - 142 min.

There are actually four versions of the movie: US Theatrical Cut, European Theatrical Cut, Director's Final Cut, and MCA "Love Conquers All" TV Cut.

The Director's Final Cut (the one on the DVD) is very similar to the European Theatrical Cut, but Gilliam tweaked a few little things (like playing the opening credits over the image of clouds, rather than a black screen).

Josh is correct, there are four cuts of the film. The main change in the Final Director's cut from the European cut is the use of the intro from the American Theatrical version. The changed into was the only suggestion from Sheinberg that Gilliam liked. Info on all the different cuts, as well as a lot of other info on the film, can be found in the FAQ at the following link:

http://www.trond.com/brazil/

For more info on Gilliam go here:
http://www.smart.co.uk/dreams/

Actually want to clarify a few more things.

The reason the "Love Conquers All" cut is only available as a TV master is because the work on this edit was halted after Gilliam successfully got Universal to agree to release his 131 minute cut of the film to theatres.

Ironically, it's Gilliam himself who is at least partly responsible for the "LCA" cut being finished. After the film finished it's theatrical run, Universal asked Gilliam to come in and edit his own 97 minute version for the television broadcast. Gilliam refused. It was at this point that editors at Universal rediscovered the LCA edit, and appearently decided to finish it since it was already close to the correct running length.

This explains why this edit occasionally fades to black and fades in again; those were the spots where the commercial breaks would've been.

While the LCA cut is a TV cut of the film, it is not the only TV edit of the film. Sometime later on another cut of the film was made for TV, one that's closer to the American Theatrical cut, but edited for time. This is the one that usually is shown on TV these days. This other TV cut is usually not brought up when discussing the various cuts of Brazil because it was still without Gilliam's involvement and is little different from other TV cuts of films, where the edits are done for time.

As a huge fan of this movie, I would hate to see the original theatrical versions "lost." I have a copy on vhs which I am guessing is the US theatrical release. Unfortunately, I never got to see it in the theatre.

isnt the non criterion one the original theatrical release? So if you have that plus the Criterion one youve got all three releases

It used to be. Now it's the longer, final cut.

I've seen all four versions, and I liked the European cut a lot. When I saw it, I was surprised that one of my favorite lines from the U.S. version ("My God, it works!") was missing.

The Universal DVD was always of the Final Director's cut. However, before DVD, Universal released the American Theatrical Cut on P&S VHS.

Personally, I find the Final Director's cut to be the best, with the caveat that I wish Gilliam had included the "My God, it works" line in it.

If Criterion or Universal ever go back and revisit this title, to do an anamorphic transfer and perhaps 5.1 sound, it'd be nice if they offered the various cuts through seemless branching. If Criterion did a remastering of the first disc in the set, then offered an inexpensive exchange program for current owners, that'd be sweet.

Best Buy.com has the criterion for $35.99 with free shipping. I used six best buy bucks that I had from McDonalds and got it for $31.79 after tax.

I rented this movie a little while back and I must say that there was not a single moment in this movie that I really could follow. This was primarily due to the fact that I couldn't really understand the edge in his humor.

This is the ONLY movie after which I just had a blank faced look. Didn't really know what to think of it. Did I like it? I'm not exactly sure. Did I hate it? I don't think so...

Anyways, can someone please explain to me his brand of humor and a "Reader's Digest" version of the point to this movie...... if there is one?

Thanks. Sorry to branch off on this topic... just curious.

Brazil is the film that really does it for me. All throughout, I keep thinking to myself how much I love the part that is about to come up, and then when that ends I smile about how much I love the next part as well..... And the final 15 minutes or so that encompass the ending sequence are one of my favorite sequences in any film. I think this is a film that you either love or you don't... I showed it several films and one was adamant about how much of a piece of crap it was while the other two absolutely loved it like me.

And you've just gotta laugh during the bit with the workers playing volleyball with flames all around them. Just great stuff!