MovieChat Forums > Ragtime (1981) Discussion > Changes from original, and King /X para...

Changes from original, and King /X parallels



I ordered a used VHS and was surprised to notice certain changes. Every place that Cagneys Police chief Waldo uses the N-word, it has been edited out. The word "colored" is dubbed in instead. Yet we still get to hear Willie Conklin use the N-word multiple times. ??? Why?. Also, in the original version, when Waldo orders the sniper to fire, we are looking at Cagneys face. In this version, the camera is on Walker the entire time, and we only hear Cagneys voice order the murder.

Another thing I had not noticed before was the total MLK vs Malcolm X imagery. When Booker T Washington argues with Coalhouse, his argument is almost word for word MLK. Coalhouse counters with straight Malcolm X.

The truth is spoken here.

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Check your VHS again. I have the VHS and we're NOT looking at Cagney's face when he gives the order to fire. The two versions are identical. And if you read more about the film in the IMDB, you'll find that Cagney refused to use the word *beep* so the word "buck" was substituted in the script.

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Maybe you are a right and I am mixing things here. Will check .

The truth is spoken here.

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