MovieChat Forums > Shirley Valentine (1989) Discussion > open letter to Paramount

open letter to Paramount

posted 16 years ago by stevenvh
11 replies | jump to latest

Dear sirs,

I haven't seen "Shirley Valentine", but I heard so many great things about the film that I'd buy the DVD blindly.

On the other hand, I also hear lots of complaints, mainly about two things.
1. DVD is in "full screen" aspect ratio, while the original is in widescreen.
2. The English dialogs have been dubbed in something which is called "American English".

Those two complaints are sufficient for me to decide NOT to buy the DVD.
From the comments I hear I get the impression that many (European) film lovers feel the same about this.

I understand Paramount is a commercial business. Is destroying one's own market a new business concept?

Could you please let us know when you plan to release the original "Shirley Valentine" on DVD? Feel free to post here. We're looking forward to it.
In case you want a decent product manager, please contact me through private message. Looks like you surely can use one.

Regards,
Steven Van Hulle

[–] dmedinacooper 16 years ago

Actually, I just bought the DVD and if you go to setup, you have options for the dialogue: one is American English and another is UK English. Just select UK English and you have the original movie. You can also select subtitles in several languages (including American English) if you so desire! American English may be the default (which I haven't checked)...which is very silly, if true.

[–] stevenvh 16 years ago

Ah, that's good news! At least for one of my points. Is it still "full screen"?

[–] autumnboyq 16 years ago

I'm watching it right now and it is widescreen…

[–] jbgwilliams 15 years ago

The US version is widescreen, the UK version is full screen - really annoying! So I presume the version with the choice of UK or US soundtrack is the US version.

[–] jdown-1 14 years ago

FWIW, the PQ of the DVD released in America is great.

[–] billyed 16 years ago

I have the UK version and the only thing that's dubbed is the name of the store where Dougie and Jeannette bought their Jacuzzi...she said "K-Mart" but her lips were saying something else...no doubt for American audiences.

Shirley told them a thing or two in the dining room!

"If you can make a girl laugh, you can make her do anything!"..

[–] greatblissqueen 15 years ago

I always thought that was stupid. Never once in any K-Mart did I ever see a jacuzzi. Who ever dubbed that in didn't do their homework first.

[–] Danzence 15 years ago

Since it's set in Liverpool. There are no "k-mart" places.

[–] Cessquill 11 years ago

The original line was MFI instead of K-Mart, a low cost UK self assembly furniture outlet. They don't do jacuzzis either - that's sort of part of the joke.

[–] x-caitlin-x 13 years ago

I think I must have got a copy with American English (although it was region 2). I've not watched it in ages, but as I recall it replaced: suspender belts with garter belts, Ford Cortina with Ford Escort, and MFI with K-Mart. There may have been others, but I can't remember them if there were. It's been one of my favourite films since long before DVDs, so it was a big shock the first time I heard the dubbing! I'll have to dig out my copy and see if there's an 'English English' language option on there.

x-caitlin-x

[–] BillyFisher 12 years ago

I just double-checked the R2 version, and there's no option for widescreen or for the original British English track. This has long been an annoyance to me, especially since the DVD case explicitly says it's part of "The Widescreen Collection."

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