MovieChat Forums > 54 (1998) Discussion > The Original Directors Cut has been show...

The Original Directors Cut has been shown in 2008!


-"A director's cut of 54 makes the disco drama one of the best queer films ever"

-"Now, Christopher has outlived the regime that forced him to compromise his film, but he clung to the digital tapes and assembled this cut in an effort to recreate his original vision."

-"The couple hundred people in attendance Friday night got exactly what they'd expected -- a director's cut of disco drama 54. Except, it turns out, we had absolutely no idea just what we were missing the first time around."

-"It's not an expanded edition; it's an entirely different movie."

-"we see Shane sleep with dozens of men and women, for career advancement or simply pleasure. Phillippe is in nearly every scene, and his performance is strong, sympathetic and seductive. It's also frequently nude,"


//Christopher has shown his version this year at- http://www.outfest.org/fest2008/index.html - film festival.

Link: http://www.popnography.com/2008/07/lost-in-transla.html
Link: http://weblogs.variety.com/thompsononhollywood/2008/08/outfest-uncover.html?cid=124976308#comment-124976308

Please post comments that you want the original directors cut out on DVD, maybe someone at Disney, who now owns the rights, will do the right thing.

-"GOOD NEWS: Landmark will revive it for two more screenings later this month, midnight on Aug. 15 and 16 in NYC at the Sunshine Cinema"

Link: http://www.landmarktheatres.com/Market/NewYork/NewYork_frameset.htm

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Please post comments that you want the original directors cut out on DVD, maybe someone at Disney, who now owns the rights, will do the right thing.


If Disney releases a director's cut dvd of 54, I will DEFINITELY BUY it!

But'cha Y'Are, Blanche! Y'Are In That Chair!

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just watched 1998 54 but this directors cut sounds like a better story. i would buy it.

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I visited this page to see if there was any sign of a directors cut being released! Come on Disney!!!!!

Erotic is when you use a feather. Porn is when you use the whole chicken

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REALEASE IT!

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I am not sure if the director's cut will be better than the theatrical cut, but I would definitely buy it just to compare the two.

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I always want and prefer to see the director's intended version of any film. That's their position and right to have their cut out there. Dvds are the perfect tool to have different versions and any material produced for films. And I've been very disappointed that the potential hasn't been met just because a movie didn't fair well. Maybe that other version, the intended version would. If the version is out there then put on the Dvd. It's just a plain waste if it's just been collecting dust. The production has a director for a reason. Now let's see his vision as he was hired to produce.

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jack-crow, I'm really pretty shocked imdb doesn't have any trivia or mention of the original version. Before the film was released, Entertainment Weekly had several articles about it. If memory serves (and don't quote me), the film was completed but when the rough cut made it to the studio, they freaked out about the love triangle between Phillippe, Myer and Hiyak. (Putting it into perspective, the film came out post-Boogie Nights -- but pre-Will & Grace, at a time when gays were just beginning to acheive some on-screen acceptance.) Fearing that they were putting out a gay movie (though I dunno what they were expecting from a flick about Studio 54), the Weinstein brothers demanded countless cuts and numerous re-shoots. The result was a completely different (and from all accounts, wholly inferior) movie than the cast and crew set out to make. The original version was supposed to have been phenomenal; the released version was from most accounts mediocre.

I saw the movie when it hit video; I remember thinking that version was messy and ultimately it didn't leave much of an impression on me. After reading those harrowing articles in EW over a decade ago, I always hoped the director's cut would see the light of day. Nice to know that it's been reassembled and screened, but a DVD would be even nicer... even if it is merely a bootleg (cuz I'm not holding my breath about Disney backing it).

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I saw the movie when it hit video; I remember thinking that version was messy and ultimately it didn't leave much of an impression on me. After reading those harrowing articles in EW over a decade ago, I always hoped the director's cut would see the light of day. Nice to know that it's been reassembled and screened, but a DVD would be even nicer... even if it is merely a bootleg (cuz I'm not holding my breath about Disney backing it).


I think Miramax was more of a problem than Disney. Apparently Harvey Weinstein despite courting the gay community is uncomfortable with gay themed films. I highly recommend the book 'Down and Dirty Pictures' about independent film in the 90s.

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I hope they do come to their senses and release the version shown at Outfest. I wasn't able to attend. This is one DVD I'd actually purchase instead of waiting for satellite.

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[deleted]

Any news? I wanna see Shane and Greg kiss!

Bimbo Boy
http://www.bimboboy.com

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Hi, BimboBoy. Breckin Meyer, who played Greg, once said in an interview that his first screen kiss was with Phillippe. Breckin and Ryan are best friends since they were 19 year old struggling actors competing for the same small parts.

"I'd never ask you to trust me. It's the cry of a guilty soul."

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Haha cool! Ryan is really hot. I wish they'd release that version on Blu-ray.

Bimbo Boy
http://bimboboy.com
http://twitter.com/bimboboy

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[deleted]

Please sign the petition to get the uncut version released:
http://www.petitiononline.com/studio54

Thanks! :)

Bimbo Boy
http://bimboboy.com
http://twitter.com/bimboboy

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Just saw it last Saturday at the Berlin Film Festival.

I agree: it's a waaaaay completely different film.

A real shame, it would've helped back in the 90s to the careers of Phillipe, Hayek, Mark Ruffalo (!), Breckin Meyers and Mike Meyers even acts

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How many boys do Ryan kiss//have sex with in the director's cut? :P

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