Heaven's Gate: back in the skates again? (1 Viewer)

[Dennis Nicholls]

According to this article, Cimino's Heaven's Gate is coming back, at least for a limited run.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmp...heavensgate_dc


I never saw it in the public theaters. The DVD version is 3 hours 39 minutes - is that the "shortened by 90 minutes" version? If so, why is Kirk restoring that version rather than the original one?

 

[Michael Reuben]

AFAIK, this was never released to theaters.

BTW, the documentary on the making of the film, Final Cut, is excellent.

M.

 

[Peter Apruzzese]

The full-length 225-minute cut is very impressive. While not without flaws and certainly overlong, it's the kind of large scale picture that I wish would get made more often today. I saw HG at the Cinema One in New York during its initial run (on what turned out to be the final day, with a sold-out house) and the 70mm presentation was staggering. Sadly, this current re-release is at possibly the least impressive venue in New York for a large-screen spectacle (the Film Forum).

 

[MatthewA]

Peter, if it's in 35 you can always book it at the Lafayette if you want.

 

[Peter Apruzzese]

It's definitely in 35mm, the FF doesn't have 70mm capability. For my Saturday morning series at the Lafayette, the running time would create a problem with our first-run early matinee, so I don't think I'll be booking it anytime soon. I would like to see it again, though.

 

[Randall Dorr]

HURRAY!!!

Heaven's Gate is at the top of the list of films I love that most others hate.

It's doubtful I'll be able to see it on the big screen, but with a restored print, there may be a new DVD on the horizon.

Also, the five hour and twenty-five minute version was just the first rough cut. I'm pretty sure the version at 219 minutes is Cimino's preference.

 

[Jim Barg]

It is the preferred cut, although when Cimino screened the rough cut for the UA brass, he said it would be '15 minutes shorter' (quoted from Final Cut).

Kirk was in Rochester last May to screen the film at the Dryden Theatre, and I'm sorry I missed it. Trying to watch the 219-minute cut on DVD was not worth it - since I have a 13" TV, the spectacle was lost on me and I couldn't make it through 10 minutes. It'd be nice to take a chance on it at a local multiplex... but that'll never happen, sad to say.

Was Final Cut made into a documentary? The book was a fascinating read, and there's certainly enough there to make a really good doc out of it.

 

[Paul Linfesty]

Yes. It aired recently on TRIO. Along with showings of HEAVEN'S GATE.

 

[Jim Barg]

Ah, the reason I was unaware of it... don't have Trio at the house (though I want to, if only because I'm dying to see Spaced). Hopefully Sony/MGM will stick it on the eventual DVD rerelease... thanks.

 

[george kaplan]

I'm still confused by the thread title Is there a roller derby in this movie or something?

 

[Dennis Nicholls]

Oh, George, this is proof that you've never seen it. Nineteenth century roller skaters is a sight to see and not soon forgotten.

 

[robert galasek]

Was there ever any more news on a special edition of HEAVEN'S GATE (possibly including the 2004 documentary "Final Cut: The Making of 'Heaven's Gate' and the Unmaking of a Studio")? I thought the change of management at MGM's home video division caused this to be delayed, in the same way as the special editions of Leone's Dollars special editions were, but has HEAVEN'S GATE been abandoned? Love it or hate it, it is still an important part of film history and deserves a better DVD that the one that exists now.

 

[SamT]

I just saw the criterion release. 3h37. I really liked it. First, it felt liked I achieved something. Probably the longest movie I have seen and all in one sitting. (unless LOTR EE is longer). Although it's the "short" version I feel it could have been even shorter. The movie could be just over 2 hours without throwing out any scenes. Keep all of them but shorter. Almost all scenes feel like they go for too long.

I was very impressed with the first hour of the movie. The busy outdoor scenes in the city are very impressive. The rest didn't feel as big scale as the beginning of the movie. Even the last fight didn't feel big or epic to me, it was underwhelming.

Spoilers. Did not understand the ending. Was the girl at the end the same from the beginning? Was he married to her during all these times, during the movie?

 

[Richard V]

I just saw the criterion release. 3h37. I really liked it. First, it felt liked I achieved something. Probably the longest movie I have seen and all in one sitting. (unless LOTR EE is longer). Although it's the "short" version I feel it could have been even shorter. The movie could be just over 2 hours without throwing out any scenes. Keep all of them but shorter. Almost all scenes feel like they go for too long.

I was very impressed with the first hour of the movie. The busy outdoor scenes in the city are very impressive. The rest didn't feel as big scale as the beginning of the movie. Even the last fight didn't feel big or epic to me, it was underwhelming.

Spoilers. Did not understand the ending. Was the girl at the end the same from the beginning? Was he married to her during all these times, during the movie?

My understanding is no, not married during the entire time of the movie.

 

[SamT]

He had that picture of himself with her during the movie

And what was that ending? It was presented like something important was happening between them but we don't get what.