M
Michael Solomon \(MS-MVP\)
Frank, the run time of its official theatrical release is 139 minutes. My
DVD version is listed as 148 minutes but it includes the intro that ran
against a black screen as the house lights dimmed and the intermission.
That said, it did premiere at 156 minutes, 2 hours and 36 minutes, again, I
don't know if that time includes the intro and intermission since run time
is usually considered to be from studio logo to final credit and often
excludes intermissions if any. After the premiere, some additional editing
was done on the film. I don't recall there ever being a theatrical release
at longer than 156 minutes.
There might have been one longer version prior to the official US premier of
the film. MGM was nervous about the length and Kubrick upon first seeing
the film also expressed a desire to tighten it up a bit.
I'll have to time the version I have to see how long it runs, intro,
intermission and film to the end of the print.
I have a vague recollection of a nearly 3 hour release on video tape.
However, if such a print ever existed, I doubt it will ever be released on
DVD. Some years ago there was a fire at the MGM vault and many masters were
destroyed. It took several years before the official theatrical release
version of 2001 was fully and properly restored. Because of the fire, there
were also several copies of 2001 around with incorrect footage as MGM had
apparently attempted to piece it back together from various bits and pieces
of stray footage they had.
I've also seen incorrect versions on various premium movie channels, not
only of 2001 but also "Close Encounters" and some others. When I've
inquired about this, I was told these were the versions supplied to them by
the distributors. It should be noted, these films don't always come to the
premium movie channels directly from the studios, they also come from
distributors who may "sell" a group of films in a package. I could give you
a long explanation of why this is and how it can interfere with the
"integrity" of the film but I've already strayed way off-topic!
--
In memory of our dear friend, MVP Alex Nichol.
Michael Solomon MS-MVP
Windows Shell/User
https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/communities/mvp.aspx
Backup is a PC User's Best Friend
DTS-L.Org: http://www.dts-l.org/
DVD version is listed as 148 minutes but it includes the intro that ran
against a black screen as the house lights dimmed and the intermission.
That said, it did premiere at 156 minutes, 2 hours and 36 minutes, again, I
don't know if that time includes the intro and intermission since run time
is usually considered to be from studio logo to final credit and often
excludes intermissions if any. After the premiere, some additional editing
was done on the film. I don't recall there ever being a theatrical release
at longer than 156 minutes.
There might have been one longer version prior to the official US premier of
the film. MGM was nervous about the length and Kubrick upon first seeing
the film also expressed a desire to tighten it up a bit.
I'll have to time the version I have to see how long it runs, intro,
intermission and film to the end of the print.
I have a vague recollection of a nearly 3 hour release on video tape.
However, if such a print ever existed, I doubt it will ever be released on
DVD. Some years ago there was a fire at the MGM vault and many masters were
destroyed. It took several years before the official theatrical release
version of 2001 was fully and properly restored. Because of the fire, there
were also several copies of 2001 around with incorrect footage as MGM had
apparently attempted to piece it back together from various bits and pieces
of stray footage they had.
I've also seen incorrect versions on various premium movie channels, not
only of 2001 but also "Close Encounters" and some others. When I've
inquired about this, I was told these were the versions supplied to them by
the distributors. It should be noted, these films don't always come to the
premium movie channels directly from the studios, they also come from
distributors who may "sell" a group of films in a package. I could give you
a long explanation of why this is and how it can interfere with the
"integrity" of the film but I've already strayed way off-topic!
--
In memory of our dear friend, MVP Alex Nichol.
Michael Solomon MS-MVP
Windows Shell/User
https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/communities/mvp.aspx
Backup is a PC User's Best Friend
DTS-L.Org: http://www.dts-l.org/