MovieChat Forums > Suna no onna (1964) Discussion > Do multiple versions of this film actual...

Do multiple versions of this film actually exist?

posted 3 years ago by Alocirp (683)
2 replies | jump to latest

I first saw this movie as a teenager after blind buying a DVD copy off eBay years ago. It was advertised as including two versions of the film—a 123-minute original cut, and a 147-minute 'director's cut'.

Maybe the copy I received was a knockoff bootleg, because despite the DVD menu showing options for both versions, only the longer, director's cut could actually be selected and viewed.

Since my first viewing, Woman in the Dunes has been among my favorite movies, and I've watched it multiple times over the subsequent ~15 years. However, despite checking out several different sources, I've never come across a 123-minute cut of the film.

Does it actually exist somewhere? Has anyone seen it? Even if I'm never able to view it for myself, I'd at least like to know what the differences between the two versions are. For some reason though, I can't even find that info anywhere online.

It's a shame the board for this great film is so dead, but if anyone has any info on the shorter cut of the movie, I'd love to hear about it.

[–] [deleted] 2 years ago

Never heard of another cut but would love to know more

[–] Alocirp (683) 2 years ago

After re-digging into this a bit, I first noticed that IMDb has seemingly removed one of the two alternate run-times previously listed on the film’s page. Still, there are a few references to multiple versions:

1. Wikipedia:

With a run time of 123 minutes / 147 minutes (director's cut)...

..The roadshow version of Woman in the Dunes was released in Japan on February 15, 1964 where it was distributed by Toho. The general release for Woman in the Dunes in Japan was April 18, 1964; the film was cut to 127 minutes.

The film was released in the United States by Pathe Contemporary Films with English subtitles on September 17, 1964. The film ran at 127 minutes. The film was also featured in the New York Film Festival on September 16, 1964.

2.) DVD Versions:

https://www.dvdcompare.net/comparisons/film.php?fid=8941

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film5/blu-ray_reviews_73/woman_in_the_dunes_blu-ray.htm

CUTS:
-R1 America- Image Entertainment - No cuts "Theatrical Cut" (123:49 NTSC)
-R1 Three Films by Hiroshi Teshigahara America- Criterion Collection - No cuts - "Director's Cut" (147:00 NTSC).
-R2 Japan- Asmik Ace Entertainment - No cuts: Contains both "Theatrical Cut" (123:03 NTSC) and the "Director's Cut" (146:35 NTSC).
-R2 United Kingdom- British Film Institute - No cuts - "Director's Cut" (140:55 PAL)

My DVD (Asmik copy) should have both versions of the film. As I mentioned, the menu does show an option for both cuts, but doesn't actually allow you to select/view the shorter one; only the "Director's Cut".

I cannot find ANY information regarding how they might differ, assuming an alternate edition even exists. There are various “Theatrical vs. DC” type sites that thoroughly compare film versions, but nothing for this one.

Considering the evidence, I do wonder if a "theatrical version" was myth all along, somehow lost over the years, or possibly still out there somewhere.