Amazon Prime Studios is under fire for shortening the classic Christmas film, It’s a Wonderful Life by cutting out the key scenes where George Bailey sees what life would have looked like if he was never born. The suggested reasons have varied from removing disturbing scenes for modern sensibilities to a copyright dispute.
I read once of a movie theater owner who wanted to show a doubleheader film with the Sound of Music but did not want over four hours of viewing…so he cut out all the songs.
For viewers, the impact is the same when the scene goes from the angel Clarence telling George he has to earn his wings to George running through the streets of Bedford Falls in his unrestrained happiness. There is reportedly no explanation of why he came to the epiphany.
One explanation is that the suicide scene is now considered too dark. There is also a suggestion that, even though the film is now in the public domain, there is a continuing copyright dispute over the struck scenes.
The copyright claim is curious because Amazon still offers the full movie as an alternative. Notably, the reason that the film is in the public domain is because Republic Film (which purchased the rights after RKO sold it to Liberty Films which was then taken over by Paramount) failed to renew its copyright in 1974. It was an apparent glitch.
However, there is a dispute that goes back to the original short story by Philip Van Doren Stern who penned the short story The Greatest Gift. While the film itself has a lapsed copyright, Stern renewed his copyright in 1971 for an additional 28 years (Congress then extended expiration dates under the Copyright Act of 1976 until 2038). I have been a long critic of these copyright and trademark laws, but Congress has been an eager partner in such extensions.
So, there is a copyright claim based on the short story. In 1990, the Supreme Court viewed a copyright challenge connected to the movie Rear Window. Putting aside the fact that Jimmy Stewart appears to be the Kevin Bacon of copyright cases, the Court ruled that the unauthorized exploitation of a film could infringe the copyright of an underlying work like a short story.
So, if A Wonderful Life has been reduced to a Not-So-Wonderful Hour, it may be because Congress continues to daisy-chain extensions of copyright periods. As Clarence said, “Strange, isn’t it? Each man’s life touches so many other lives.” The same can be said of copyrights.
Jonathan Turley is the Shapiro professor of public interest law at George Washington University and the author of “The Indispensable Right: Free Speech in an Age of Rage.”
“Simplicity itself. Skin, debone, demarrow, scarify, melt, render down and destroy. Every adjective that counted,
every verb that moved, every metaphor that weighed more than a mosquito–out! Every simile that would have
made a sub-moron’s mouth twitch–gone! Any aside that explained the two-bit philosophy of a first-rate writer–
lost!
Every story, slenderized, starved, bluepencilled, leeched and bled white, resembled every other story. Twain
read like Poe read like Shakespeare read like Dostoevsky read like–in the finale–Edgar Guest. Every word of
more than three syllables had been razored. Every image that demanded so much as one instant’s attention–shot
dead.
Do you begin to get the damned and incredible picture?
How did I react to all of the above?
By “firing” the whole lot.
By sending rejection slips to each and every one.
By ticketing the assembly of idiots to the far reaches of hell.
The point is obvious. There is more than one way to burn a book. And the world is full of people running about
with lit matches.”
~from the Coda of Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
“A Christmas Carol” could use shortening. Axe the Ghost of Christmas Past; too much tragedy, and who needs it, anyway?
Oops. I just read the same idea below.
The version I have is the unabridged one, so I looked up the edited version and was stunned at what they did to it. They have inexplicably cut out the most important scenes of the whole movie – all of them, the ones between the time Bailey meets his guardian angel at the bridge and when he realizes his meaning of life has been restored. This makes the movie make no sense whatsoever. He meets Clarence, the angel, and *immediately* Bailey is renewed and restored to full joy of life, with no explanations or scenes showing why and how. It is the complete destruction of one of the classic movies of American cinema.
It is as if they released a version of A Christmas Carol that proceeds directly from the first, bedside appearance of the Ghost of Christmas Past to Scrooge immediately rejoicing in the true meaning of Christmas and awarding Bob Cratchit a raise of salary.
The complete version of Wonderful Life is still on Prime, get it while you can. It is 2 hours and 10 minutes long.
Everything they touch ………
I subscribe to the view of Turner Classic Movies–a film is a work of art–a collaboration between the one who conceived the story, the screenwriter who put it into script form, complete with entrances, exits, where the furniture, doors, and everything else is, the storyboard artists, the actors and actresses, the extras, the stunt doubles, the ones who composed and performed the music, the director, the set designers, including carpenters, painters, make up artists, hairdressers, the ones who designed the wardrobe and sewed the clothes, the electricians, the sound engineers, lighting experts–everything–and as a work of art, what gives anyone the right to take anything away from a completed film? Even after a film has been edited, oftentimes, they will go back and put back things that were taken out–so you have “director’s cut”. Editing a film is like painting over Mona Lisa. TCM doesn’t take out nudity, profanity, or even racist and misogynistic tropes. However, it does show films with these elements later at night when children aren’t likely watching, and for racist and misogynistic tropes, they have a little discussion when the film is introduced, explaining that the film was a product of its time, and while we don’t say the “n” word anymore, and we don’t sanction women getting carried off against their will, as in “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers”, or sanction women or young children being slapped around or beaten, or show black people happy to be slaves like in “Gone With the Wind”, we still show the films because they have artistic value.
Amen. We are adults here.
One of the most ironic examples of censorship. It’s hard to find an original version of the movie “Animal House”.
“Animal House” was one of the greatest satires on authority and government itself – so they censored it!
From a pure copyright legal view, shouldn’t it be legally required for the movie to clearly advertise “Edited Version – Not original Version” since we pay the cable/streaming bill? And an option to watch the original copyrighted version.
The original is the best
@Dennis McIntyre
What you fail to mention is that Washington state applies a seven percent tax to capital gains over 250 million. Washington, is “taxing the rich” and the rich aren’t having it, who would? And this isn’t something that requires a bevy of CPAs to decipher either, it’s a fool’s errand, because everyone understands capital gains. People have grown incredibly tired of all this disingenuous nonsensical flexing; time to reintroduce intelligence to governance, time to halt the Tammany Hall, time to move America forward for the sake of all. Have brain cells to spare? Step into the light!
At the top of the discussion section, there is a headline that reads “26 thoughts on “It’s a Wonderful Hour: Amazon Shortens Christmas Classic By Cutting Key Scenes”.
Shouldn’t that say “25 thoughts and a comment by Dennis McIntire on “It’s a Wonderful Hour: Amazon Shortens Christmas Classic By Cutting Key Scenes”?
Jonathan: It’s interesting you would discuss Amazon Prime Studios, aka Amazon MGM Studios. It dovetails with your earlier column (12/22/24) complaining that Washington state’s proposed “wealth tax” would drive the wealthy out of the state. As I mentioned in a comment Jeff Bezos, who owns Amazon, was one of those who decided he didn’t want to pay more in taxes so he fled to Florida. There are some interesting aspects to that move by the second richest man in the world.
Where did Bezos move in Florida? It’s “Indian Creek Village” known as the “billionaire bunker”. The publication Benzinga describes ICV as “it is it’s own city, with only 89 residents and a police department whose sole job is keeping non-residents out”. Indian Creek is located on a small island in Biscayne Bay. The only access is over a small bridge. A fleet of boats patrols the surrounding waters to keep out the riff raff. Of course, Bezos owns many other properties around the country. His total property portfolio is worth an eye-popping over $500 million.
Bezos didn’t buy just one property but three on the island for $250 million! After moving to Indian Creek Bezos sold nearly $13.6 billion of his Amazon stock. Had Bezos remained in Washington state and sold his stock he would have been subject to a $954 million capital gains tax (separate from the proposed wealth tax). So in buying the three properties in Indian Creek Bezos saved $700 million. Smart move, right?
There may be one downside for Bezos move to Indian Creek. The island is located in an area with an “extreme wind factor” risk from hurricanes. Climate scientists predict that with extreme weather events caused by climate change a Category 4 hurricane, like Helene, could devastate Indian Creek. Bezos doesn’t appear worried.
Are there any losers from Bezos decision to pull up stakes and move to Indian Creek? It will be the citizens of Washington state. The state faces big budget deficits with cuts to education, health care and other important services the residents of Washington state depend on. Does Bezos feel any social obligation to the state where he started Amazon and benefited from its infrastructure? Apparently not.
Bezos learned a valuable lesson from dealing with DJT. During his first term DJT attacked Bezos and Amazon. This reduced Bezos’ personal wealth by $10.7 billion. This time around Bezos has cozied up to DJT–even contributing $1 million to DJT’s inauguration. Bezos knows it is imperative that he stay on the good side of DJT by investing in what will become the most corrupt plutocracy in American history. Bezos also owns the Washington Post. Will the Post be as critical of DJT now that he is about to enter the WH for the second time? Or will the Post become part of DJT “state propaganda” machine like Fox News? Stay tuned.
Word Count: 478.
Intelligible rating: 0
Dennis – The Washington Post has been part of the “state propaganda machine” for many years. Your real complaint is that it might wander back into sanity.
Thank you for letting me know that we are about to become the most corrupt plutocracy in American history and enter an age of propaganda This is scary as hell after the competency, freedom, transparency, and fairness we have experienced for the past four years. Your brilliant insight is truly astounding.
Libtard
These people could screw up a Velveeta cheese sandwich. Just seems like an endless attack on American tradition.
You eat Velvetta? It’s “cheese food”–not cheese. Good for casseroles, especially those California blend veggie casseroles because it’s not real cheese, but not much else.
Gigi knows about fake cheese which explains the smegma breath Gigi exudes
#GigiSmegmaBreath
Wow–Tom–why are you MAGAs so angry and why do all of your insults involve sexual overtones? WTF is wrong with you.
@Gigi: why are you MAGAs so angry and why do all of your insults involve sexual overtones?
Ah… the mild mannered charitable Gigi – this may be her first post that doesn’t mention anything involving screams of rage directed at Trump and/or sexual proclivities.
This temperate young lass can’t bring herself to mention that the Biden Incest Is Best family had her hero president screwing his teenage daughter in the shower.
While the son took his cue from The Big Guy and was screwing his Sister In Law before his dead brother’s body was cold in the ground.
And young Ashley wrote that perhaps she became drug dealer, slut – and her brother’s pimp – because of Papa Biden’s Family Incest Shower Hour.
Meanwhile, the Crackhead Kid had his own porn channel featuring his favorite crack whore – Gigi.
Hunter Biden Laptop Online
https://bidenreport.com/#p=231
Given the explicit nature of the text and pictures of the Biden Laptop, this online version of the laptop contents is for an adult readership only.
ISBN: 978-1-7371866-3-2
@2022 by ICU, LLC
I’m so glad to find a place where I can vent. My poor husband was the only one I could find to listen to my rant of disgust at this crude act of tradition assassination. Those scenes are the reason for the story, for heaven’s sake. Without them, there’s no reason for George to appreciate what he’s had, done, and received in his life. My husband’s comment was, “Woke.” I think that must be the reason. Legal copyright and all that just provided a means of killing the idea that people appreciate being reminded that they should be more appreciative!
1
I wholeheartedly agree with you. They are continually chipping away at our history, traditions, rules, laws. I’m afraid that they will never stop. If they succeed at taking down our country in the future, they will go after each other. Thank God, I will be long gone by that time.
I have always been a huge advocate of electronic book readers. I think the ability t carry around an entire library of books on a device who’s battery lasts upwards of a month, and avoids all of the eye strain of a traditional screen is revolutionary. That being said avoid the Amazon Kindle like the plague. There have been numerous example of Amazon reaching back into your device and editing or even downright removing books you have purchased.
I carry the Kobo, which is a Canadian reader that has the capability to side load books from any number of sources including public domain libraries which they have no control over yet still has much of the functionality and quality of the Kindle.
Even books I have purchased I will usually download a spare copy from the Z-Library and side load it because it will have no DRM (Digital Rights Management) to restrict my reading experience.
“I think the ability t carry around an entire library of books on a device who’s battery lasts upwards of a month, and avoids all of the eye strain of a traditional screen is revolutionary. ”
What you said!
I had no idea Amazon interfered with & out right stole materials from my Kindle tablet. Thx for the info. I shall investigate Kobo.
I’ve noticed this about many books sold through Amazon, and now I only buy older, used versions of books online. I cannot prove why they are baldlerizing their books and movies (I can certainly guess), but I will not trust them or any other newly printed, Kindle, or audio book from them
@whimsicalmama
Same here, it’s something I started doing during covid when it was clear what was happening. As an avid reader, I hold onto my old books now as well when I used to make donations to public libraries from my large collection on a regular basis. It’s a shame, but the behavior if these people is shameful, and in more recent years I’ve extended the practice to other forms of media as well, including movies ripped and backed up to local hard drives, not someone else’s servers.
Glad I’m not the only preservationist out there – we will NOT be erased.
Same here! I bought Babes on Broadway because who knows when this will be erased, along with Al Jolsen:
Never seen that scene before, but I instantly recognized Mickey Rooney even in woggy blackface.
* Why? ” to unburden themselves from the burden that has been”… or wasvit– to unburden ourselves with the the burden by the burden of the burden that has been?
Destroy history aka
Amazon – Woke. Bezos needs to spend more time actually managing and bringing in non-Woke talent instead of cruising on hi yacht or spending time in Aspen/Vail. As I writee this I am watching the full version of Its a Wonderful Life and next the 1938 version of the Christmas Carol all uncut.
Aspen, not Vail. Not close and Aspen is where the liberal celebrities go. He’s on Billionaire mountain.
According to the article linked from this post, It’s a Wonderful Life was only in the public domain for 19 years, from 1974 to 1993. In 1993 Republic reasserted copyright based on its copyright on the story and on the music, and sent cease and desist letters to all broadcasters. Since then it’s only been available on NBC which has a contract with Republic. Presumably Amazon now has one as well.
Well Walt Disney was a dogged litigator for those who infringed on Disney Properties. I have heard the same anecdote about the “Mickey Mouse Law”. Amazon gives the lie to their explanation by having the complete film in their library for viewing. It’s A Wonderful Life was not a big hit when first released but as time has passed and that era of history fades, it has gained significance and love. Redemption, Context, a path not taken, and Love are as old as time but when put together like this film, you then get a classic. This film is 2 years older than me but I still love it.
Film can capture the full emotional package in a way that no other medium does. To cut that out is to make the film and its message worthless. That’s the crime.
“anecdote about the “Mickey Mouse Law”.
That is true. Special legislation made Disney World into a type of “Kingdom” where even the courts are packed. Recent changes in the law put Disney mostly back under the normal laws of Florida.
Try to find an unabridged copy of Tom Sawyer.
My husband has been slowly buying older versions of everything from Dr. Seuss to Dickens just so that our family has a library of authentic literature and history because we have entered an AI time where it will be easy to edit information and the younger ones won’t realize that they are being censored. we already have passed through periods where fig leaves we applied to art “for our own protection”, let’s not go there again.
Whimsical, your concerns are valid. Over the years, we’ve amassed shelves of signed books from conservative writers, preserving them out of a shared fear that such works might one day be altered. Alongside these, we’ve collected a significant amount of high-quality dinnerware—items with considerable replacement value, though the younger generations show little interest in them.
To safeguard these treasures, we plan to store them securely, with the hope that they’ll be rediscovered and appreciated by future generations.
To those distant descendants, far removed from anyone alive today or soon to be born: hello. We thought of you and wanted to leave behind a part of our world for you to explore.
“Try to find an unabridged copy of Tom Sawyer.”
archive.org can be a damned good source for original/unabridged versions of legacy books and publications.
https://archive.org/details/dli.ernet.3508
“Try to find an unabridged copy of Tom Sawyer.”
archive.org can be a damned good source for original/unabridged books and other publications.
https://archive.org/details/dli.ernet.3508
@Anonymous
Exactly. I have one. I have Mark Twain’s entire unabridged works, in fact, and always will. Oh, and – gasp! – I first got a copy of Tom Sawyer as a kid and did not grow up to be an unrepentant racist or cultural ignoramus. As a teen I enjoyed Zora Neal Hurston and her life and perspective just as much.
It’s truly ironic that the richest among us seem to be dead set on eliminating all that actually enriches the human experience of life and balances a mind and heart toward actual equanimity and human solidarity.
“and balances a mind and heart toward actual equanimity and human solidarity.” It’s almost as if these oligarchs want to staunch free thinking and the individual.
One of my pet peeves these days are the products like Grammarly in that they make cookie cutter speech for morons who couldn’t pass a real English exam of what we learned in 7th grade back then. They don’t realize that all of their produced speech through these apps will make their statements as easily identifiable as AI art is to a real artist. The problem is that these under/miss- educated hapless tools will not realize that there isn’t a truly individual, creative thought anywhere in their material and anyone with some character towards honesty will eschew their blatherings as just that – computer generated pap.
I don’t know much about these products, but I believe we should acknowledge that they may evolve similarly to chess programs, which can now consistently defeat world champions.
Will they be able to evolve as our best writers?
* try finding any reference that Tom sawyer ever existed in a few generations. A product of western civilization….
Copyrights and patents both need to go into the public domain after some foxed period. Like so many other laws government has foisted upon us they are only to benefit the hordes of lawyers we suffer.
Copyrights and patents both need to go into the public domain after some foxed period.
They do. Indeed the constitution requires this. The fixed period for copyrights on works by natural people is now 70 years after the author’s death, and on works by corporations it’s 90 years from first publication. Anything published by a corporation before 1934 is now in the public domain, as is anything written by someone who died before 1954.
@Robert @Anonymous
Beat me to it. Indeed, they already do. The anti-copyright movement is as ignorant as any other form of radicalized temper tantrum. There is no such thing as perpetual copyright, and while it is in effect it does drive innovation by restricting imitation, and creators should be permitted to benefit from their own work during their own lifetime.
Anyone in opposition to this is, IMO, too lazy to rely on their own creativity, and would likely not appreciate me taking their paycheck after claiming credit for a hard week of whatever work they do. This is a big factor in generative algorithms as well, but that’s a separate conversation.
As an artist and creator of a family business that creates art/designs for our customers, I am always irritated when a competitor would “borrow” our designs and use them but the cost of copywriting each creation -especially for a small business – makes it impossible. I would like to know which unelected bureaucrat, with little real world experience, decided what that fee should be. And trademarking is even worse. Even my icon here at this blog is a design that I created based on the scientific symbol for a quantum entanglement but I have not copywrited it because of the cost.
Shakespeare had it right, first kill all the lawyers…
I know that the point that Professor Turley seeks to make in his column is about intellectual property law, but I suspect that the IAWL culprit is actually a series of far less than optimal decisions that were delegated to Amazon’s AI bot, and implemented with insufficient human review (or none at all). I suspect that we are about to see the weaknesses and foibles of “artificial intelligence” technology exhibited on a very frequent basis. Hopefully the damages will be limited.
Asked to Write a Screenplay, ChatGPT Started Procrastinating and Making Excuses
https://futurism.com/screenplay-chatgpt-procrastinated
Another reason against these copyright extensions is that they prevent some authors from ever being heard. In the past, with the shorter copyright duration, authors whose work did not sell well at first could still see their works in print even though they would not profit. Good for the reputation. Now, it the work doesn’t sell well, it dies by copyright longevity. Also, anecdotally, one of the extension laws was passed to save Disney from losing Mickey Mouse. At the time was called the “Mickey Mouse Law.”
* I’ll just respond here, Amazon is hacked fyi. Be sure not to use bank accounts, change out passwords, change out accounts etc. Nightmare.
It’s a wonderful life is a morality play. What if the same idea were used with an immoral person and all the lives they touched. Morality is your impact upon everyone.
How about film stars? Think about it.