While the theatrical cut is better than the pre-release version, I couldn't read those book pages and they were on the screen for a far too short amount of time that I had to pause the movie. But I feel the ending is better paced in the pre-release version. Anyone agree?
I'm from Paris... TEXAS
Yes. It's commonly accepted that the ending in the pre-release version is superior because it's allowed more time to breathe than the one in the theatrical version.
The reason that the ending is so truncated in the theatrical version is that Howard Hughes threatened a lawsuit if the ending wasn't altered, as in its pre-release form it bears a strong resemblance to that of The Outlaw (1943); material was cut from the ending for the theatrical release until Hughes was satisfied that it was significantly different enough from the ending of his film.