The Complete Kubrick

[leeunkrich]

Unfortunately, we don't get much of an explanation of these removals from the international cut's audio commentary, which is otherwise an excellent track.

Happy to hear you enjoyed my commentary track. I agree that it's frustrating to not have deeper insights into why Stanley chose to make the particular cuts he did. Unfortunately, there's no forensic evidence documenting the International version cuts. All we can really do look at the cuts he made and try to surmise why he made them. I do offer my broad opinions about the cuts writ large, but I'm afraid the specific decisions are amongst the many secrets Stanley took to his grave.

[CriterionPhreak]

Unfortunately, we don't get much of an explanation of these removals from the international cut's audio commentary, which is otherwise an excellent track.

Happy to hear you enjoyed my commentary track. I agree that it's frustrating to not have deeper insights into why Stanley chose to make the particular cuts he did. Unfortunately, there's no forensic evidence documenting the International version cuts. All we can really do look at the cuts he made and try to surmise why he made them. I do offer my broad opinions about the cuts writ large, but I'm afraid the specific decisions are amongst the many secrets Stanley took to his grave.

Thanks for replying! Your track is one of few extras in the Kubrick set that offers present-day comments and perspectives to his films. Most of the other extras are vintage documentaries and TV programs, which are great for historical perspectives. But present-day perspectives are interesting to me too. A lot of classic films (Kubrick's are no exceptions) are often re-appraised by a new generation of viewers who give new-found insights that previous generations couldn't. Fresh perspectives can be found from online forums, YouTubers, and such, of course. But I'm often willing to pay money to hear and read from someone who did the research and had the resources and skills to do so.

[Maladroit Aggregator]

Pre ordered and got my box set. Very happy with the quality and detail. A couple days later the Criterion sale started. My wife was pissed because when we looked at the Kubrick boxset, it was on sale half off! But we also saw we had around a $180 credit to spend for the sale?!!

Anyone who preordered the Kubrick set get a credit for the sale as well? We figured it was because we paid the pre order price and could have saved some money if we waited and ordered the box set during the sale. But looks like Criterion made things right. Thats my guess anyway. Definitely took full advantage of the credit!

I'll say again if anyone from Criterion is reading this: You are cunts for pulling this bullcrap, giving people who pre-ordered the Kubrick set at a higher price store credit amounting to 50% off. So basically people who have more leisure money, or no impulse control, get rewarded. You would have had potentially thousands of more pre-orders if this was a known policy. Meanwhile, the set is gone for who knows how many months? Great business practice, sheesh.

[domino harvey]

You are like the people who don’t want student loan debt forgiven because they already paid theirs off. This doesn’t affect or impact you at all, actually

[Noiretirc]

I don't really want to stir the pot, but whether this affects M.A. or not is kinda besides the point, innit?

I'm actually very surprised and slightly bothered about this news, and I ain't even getting this box!

[domino harvey]

No it’s not. If you bought it at a higher price direct from Criterion, it impacts you and in return you received a gesture of good will. Everyone else it does not impact. Like at all. Do you get upset about people who get upgraded from coach to premium economy on flights you didn’t take?

[Tuppence]

Having now watched the Criterion presentation, one thing I miss from earlier mono versions of the international version of The Shining is that after Danny's first vision in the bathroom mirror, there was a hard audio cut to silence when the "CLOSING DAY" title card came up, abruptly ending the low rumbling of the Penderecki once the elevator blood floods the lens. In the 5.1 remix, and now the mono version remastered by Criterion, it seems as if that moment had a slight bridge with the music slightly overlapping before fading out. Given that some of the earlier video masters had so many deviations from the original (especially on things like the opening and closing credits), I'm sold on the idea that that rather startling cut to silence was introduced in error, but it was extremely ominous and effective, and I regret its absence.

[Noiretirc]

No it’s not. If you bought it at a higher price direct from Criterion, it impacts you and in return you received a gesture of good will. Everyone else it does not impact. Like at all. Do you get upset about people who get upgraded from coach to premium economy on flights you didn’t take?

Well, the next time I take an economy flight, and I don't get upgraded, I will be bothered about those who did get upgraded on other flights.

(Believe it or not, I think this analogy is apt! But I'll shut up now.)

[CriterionPhreak]

Pre ordered and got my box set. Very happy with the quality and detail. A couple days later the Criterion sale started. My wife was pissed because when we looked at the Kubrick boxset, it was on sale half off! But we also saw we had around a $180 credit to spend for the sale?!!

Anyone who preordered the Kubrick set get a credit for the sale as well? We figured it was because we paid the pre order price and could have saved some money if we waited and ordered the box set during the sale. But looks like Criterion made things right. Thats my guess anyway. Definitely took full advantage of the credit!

I'll say again if anyone from Criterion is reading this: You are cunts for pulling this bullcrap, giving people who pre-ordered the Kubrick set at a higher price store credit amounting to 50% off. So basically people who have more leisure money, or no impulse control, get rewarded. You would have had potentially thousands of more pre-orders if this was a known policy. Meanwhile, the set is gone for who knows how many months? Great business practice, sheesh.

Those who pre-ordered got *store credit*, which must be spent on Criterion's website; while those who didn't pre-order saved real money during the half-off sale, but risked having the item out of stock. So there are pros and cons for both groups of people. Life has no certainty, and you always get one of three things: a happy surprise, a nasty surprise, or just as you expected. Throughout your life, these outcomes often even out.

[Noiretirc]

Profound!

1. I consider myself a Criterion fan of many years, and would you believe that I knew nothing about this credit? (I know...I know..."How could you not know?" Etc.)

2. I inquired with a local shop about the price of this box with their distributors. The price was insane. Could it be that this reflected the initial Criterion price? (I know...I know..."Why not order from Criterion?" I like using local if I can! Silly me.)

3. Who knows what the fucking duties / tariffs are anymore? I'm from the Evil Empire Of Canada. I can't fucking keep up.

4. I know I said I'd shut up. Sue me.

[DimitriL]

You would have had potentially thousands of more pre-orders if this was a known policy.

They’ve literally been doing this with day-of releases for years. People have been asking about if they did this - since the set was announced! - and informed that this is their usual policy. Since you’ve decided to be mean and personal, let’s just say this is a you problem.

[DamoBray]

Hi all, I'm hoping someone has a "Life in Cinema" panel ticket they can't use for tomorrow night at Nine Orchard. I already have the party ticket, so I only need the panel. I'll pay $375, triple face value, and we can do the Eventbrite name transfer or meet at the door, whatever works for you. Big Kubrick fan, would love to be in that room. Message me here. Thanks!

[Stefan Andersson]

On the Full Metal Jacket mono soundtrack, Paint it Black is played erroneously in 25 fps, not 24, during end credits. On the 5.1 mix, the song is playing at 24 fps.

Michael Chaiken comments:
“We talked to /editor/ Martin /Hunter/ and /sound editor/ Nigel /Galt/ about this, and Nigel said that the original theatrical mono mix, the Stones song in the closing credit sequence, runs at 25 frames per second. A little bit too fast, which Nigel [admitted] was a mistake.
“So the mistaken or slightly distorted version went out into theatres initially [in ’87], but they ended up fixing it. So it’s possible that the first FMJ DVD, which came out in 1999, had the original sped-up version, but subsequent releases of the film on DVD were fixed.
“But we [Criterion] decided to leave it that way. For preservation purposes and particularly in the matter of Criterion’s FMJ mono mix, we decided to leave it that way. But if you listen to the FMJ 5.1 mix, the song is playing at 24 frames per second.”

Source: Oct. 28, 2026 post here:
https://hollywood-elsewhere.com/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WImm2nf30ZI - discussion beginning at 1:05:32.