Osato
Senior HTF Member
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- Feb 7, 2001
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- Tim
In the Han-shot-first chronicles:
In late 1963, the final pre-release cut of Charade had both Hepburn and Grant using the word assassinate(d). Director Donen realized the problem--this was right after Kennedy's assassination--before the movie opened in early December 1963, so he had the dialogue looped to say eliminate(d) instead.
The Criterion Blu-ray (and I assume all other DVDs and Blu-rays) now has the original assassinate(d).
On the commentary, Donen animatedly asks by what right was assassinate(d) restored? He says he did not authorize it, and it was not the released version of the film, so there's no justification for restoring it.
Is Donen right? Discuss.
It was changed back after initial screenings. The 2 commentary participants who worked in the film are both surprised about this!!!
Great audio commentary on the criterion.