Different Versions
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Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — Sybil
afn01288 — 18 years ago(January 13, 2008 02:35 AM)
I just watched this classic again today and.well, WOW.
However doing a bit of reading here and Googling, it seems like the version I rented may have been the 122 min cut version.
Although this was OK as the work is so well known in our cultural memory, but I always feel cheated when a film is longer and apparently, though a recent release on DVD, not the best cut (or at least not including both and letting me decide).
Can anyone comment on what is available on DVD and which, if more than one, is uncut? -
justbeth82 — 18 years ago(January 14, 2008 04:55 PM)
I have this on VHS and learned a few months later that mine infact was cut as well..for instance there was a scene were Sybil was at Dr. Wilbers and she was crouched in the corner sucking her thumb and Dr Wilber said "what did that monster do to you?" and that was like the end of part 1..my version however did not have this..it sometimes air's on WE and on there is shows the full version..I dont think theres that much that is cut out only a few things. It doesnt change the story or anything
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lucie_52 — 18 years ago(January 15, 2008 06:54 PM)
Check out the 30th anniversary 2-disc special edition DVD. It was released a couple of years ago by Warner Brothers. It has the full uncut movie (~198 minutes) and a disc of interesting, if somewhat disappointing special features. You can find it on line or at places like Target. You really, really need to see the uncut version. From what I understand, the cut versions are really butchered. WE runs it from time to time pretty much uncut, but with oddly placed commercials that are very distracting and chop the movie in strange places.
It's never too late to be who you might have been - George Eliot -
afn01288 — 18 years ago(January 16, 2008 05:29 AM)
Thanks a lot. Later, after posting, I looked at the DVD itself which has the run time (uncut) and is labelled Disc 1 (apparently as you said 1 of 2). Sometimes Blockbuster online almost forces you to take sets of DVD's, but didn't with this one.
Also the BB mailing sleeve listed the film as the cut time, so that was odd, but go figure!
I seldom set a stop watch or such, but always hate to get something chopped up even if there were genuine (but I really consider that quite doubtful and would prefer to decide on my own), aethitic intentions.
I'll probably find Disc 2 even if "disappointing" since this really is a classic.
Again, thanks for the FYI!! -
lucie_52 — 18 years ago(January 16, 2008 04:01 PM)
The interviews with Joanne Woodward and Sally Field on Disc 2 are really interesting and definitely worth watching. I just wish there had been another hour of talking to them instead of some of the other stuff and I wish they had interviewed them together instead of separately.
It's never too late to be who you might have been - George Eliot -
lucie_52 — 18 years ago(January 19, 2008 10:57 AM)
I totally agree on both counts. Commentary would have been great. And there's no doubt that Stern wrote an awesome screenplay, but I felt myself thinking, "enough already" after a while. I wanted to hear more from the actresses who brought his screenplay to life.
It's never too late to be who you might have been - George Eliot -
brendanchenowith — 18 years ago(February 24, 2008 10:26 PM)
When one of the features was listed as "therapy session tapes", I thought thaey would include excerpts of the actual recordings of Shirley Mason. I was disappointed then, but the rest of the features are interesting.
It also would've been nice if there was audition video of the other actresses.
I saw the best minds of my generation destroyed by madness, starving hysterical naked. -
jefgg — 10 years ago(March 30, 2016 11:55 AM)
The film, originally 198 minutes long, was initially shown over the course of two nights on NBC in 1976. Due to high public interest, the VHS version of Sybil was released in the 1980s, with one version running 122 minutes and another, extended version running 132 minutes. Several key scenes, including Sybil's final climactic "introduction" to her other personalities, are missing in both versions. The film is shown frequently on television, often with scenes restored or deleted to adjust for time constraints and the varying sensitivity of viewers. The DVD includes the full 198 minute version originally displayed on the NBC broadcast.
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eileen-guthrie555 — 9 years ago(September 19, 2016 07:29 PM)
Warner Brothers released a 30th Anniversary edition at 187 minutes long in a 2 disc set. I was originally thinking I'd buy it but I'm still looking for the complete movie as shown when it originally aired in 2 parts, 198 minutes long. I'm very frustrated because everything available online says special edition 2 disc set 187 minutes which would mean its an abridged version of the original film. You can rent the original 3 hours plus from Netflix but I still can't find the full film to purchase. If you know anywhere, please tell me. Thanks.
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bradster67 — 9 years ago(September 20, 2016 07:58 PM)
No no no eileenthe 30th Anniversary is not an abridged version of the original film. The DVD is the complete version of the film itself as it originally aired in 1976, and is the most complete version commercially available.
Here is what was cut out of the original 1976 airing for the DVD release which makes the DVD 187 minutes instead of 198 minutes:
At the end of part one, there were previews for part two. Part one also had end credits. At the beginning of night two, there were previews for that evening and, if I recall correctly, scenes from the previous night. Part two also had opening credits. Deleting part one end credits and part two opening credits made the film seamless as one film, not a film in two parts.
The above is the only thing that was deleted from the original airing for the DVD release.
I bought the DVD and was thrilled with it. If you are a fan of this great film, buy the 30th Anniversary DVD. I'm sure that you will be greatly pleased with it. -
eileen-guthrie555 — 9 years ago(September 21, 2016 12:31 PM)
Thanks for the information, now I'll order it. Thanks again. Sally Field was amazing in that film, as was Joann Woodward. Any extra's? I recently saw an old interview Sally did a few years after Sybil aired.
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bradster67 — 9 years ago(September 21, 2016 04:51 PM)
You're very welcome.
Please order it. You are clearly a fan of the film as am I. You will love the DVD release. It's a definitive release of a great and disturbing film.
I haven't watched the DVD for a while, but I do recall new interviews with the writer Stewart Stern, Sally Field and Joanne Woodward. There is also a great interview with a woman (whose name I can't recall) who was friends with the real "Sybil', whose real name was Shirley Ardell Mason. Mason passed away in 1998. Her friend kept Shirley's 'secret' until after her death.
I believe Sally Field gave the performance of her career. At that time, she was known as a comedic actress. The character of 'Sybil' was quite a departure for her. She gave an outstanding and award winning performance.
My favorite performances outside of Field were Natasha Ryan as young Sybil and Martine Bartlett as her motherOH!!! and Brad Davis as Richard.
Here's wikipedia's link on Mason:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shirley_Ardell_Mason -
eileen-guthrie555 — 9 years ago(September 22, 2016 10:45 AM)
I think you're thinking about Roberta Guy. After Dr Wilbur passed away from complication from Parkinson's. Roberta made sure there were nurses available for her around the clock. She would stop in every day to see how she was doing.
This movie was one of the things that drew me towards psychology. It's funny how the mind works. At the time I believed the story Dr Cornelia Wilber told but after almost 10 years of study psychology, with the emphasis on abnormal psychology, it has only raised more questions then answered.
I have never been more happier than seeing Sally's last 1970's series was get cancelled. It forced her to look at her life and career. She divorced her husband, moved to NY and studied with Lee Strasberg at the Actor Studio. She had done so many fluff roles as an actors and taken on the role was Sybil, she said she knew it would be very challenging. But, she amazed everyone. A 8 Emmy nominations with 3 wins, 12 Golden Globe nominations with 2 wins and three Oscar nominations, with 2 wins. Everyone now says Gidget who?
The little girl who played the younger version of Sybil, I knew her from my mom watching soap operas. She was a very good child actress.
Have you've seen Shirley's art works, so very talented. My favorites are Falkirk Forest and Sailing Ship.