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Big Sleep: Extended Cut, The
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Faneditor Name:
Original Movie Title:
Fanedit Type:
Original Release Date:
1946
Original Running Time:
114
Fanedit Release Date:
Fanedit Running Time:
123
Time Added:
9
Subtitles Available?
Available in HD?
Additional Links:
Brief Synopsis:
A simple update of Doctor M’s Reconstructed Gangrel Hybrid Cut, now sourced from the 2016/17 blu-ray, taking this classic to its maximum possible runtime in the best possible quality.
Intention:
Howard Hawks’ noir is acknowledged as one of the pre-eminent examples of the genre, while Humphrey Bogart may not have been the first actor to portray Philip Marlowe he is probably the best known. The film was completed in early 1945 but the release was postponed until the end of WW2 so that more “topical” films could be released before they became outdated, in the meantime reshoots were made on the recommendation of Lauren Bacall’s agent in an effort to maximise her and Bogart’s screen chemistry enjoyed by audiences in “To Have and Have Not”.
Approximately twenty minutes were modified, some scenes entirely removed and others replaced, to produce the version released theatrically in mid-1946: the pre-release cut had been distributed to the US forces posted abroad in 1945 and was also preserved, getting its first proper release in 1997. This edit, following the path of its forbearers, takes the nine minutes left on the cutting room floor and re-inserts them at the required locations.
Approximately twenty minutes were modified, some scenes entirely removed and others replaced, to produce the version released theatrically in mid-1946: the pre-release cut had been distributed to the US forces posted abroad in 1945 and was also preserved, getting its first proper release in 1997. This edit, following the path of its forbearers, takes the nine minutes left on the cutting room floor and re-inserts them at the required locations.
Additional Notes:
The 1946 theatrical cut (restored in high definition) was used as the base, providing 92% of the total footage. The 1945 pre-release version was provided on the same disc as a bonus feature in standard definition and not so good shape, requiring de-interlacing, resizing, removal of repeated frames (to convert from 29.97 to 23.976 FPS), mild grading and some sharpening, Hopefully the difference is not so great as to be distracting, with any luck one will be too absorbed in the mystery to notice!
Special Thanks:
Many thanks to MusicEd912 for not only previewing the edit but starting the thread that prompted me to do it in the first place. Thanks as well to both tremault and That One Guy for technical advice.
Release Information:
Digital
Editing Details:
• Exported 1480x1080 H265 with mono audio, total runtime of 123 minutes with 2.25 Gb file size.
• Timestamps mark use of 1945 cut footage, exclusive sections of which are sometimes bookended by material also included in the 1946 cut to facilitate seamless transitions.
• Timestamps mark use of 1945 cut footage, exclusive sections of which are sometimes bookended by material also included in the 1946 cut to facilitate seamless transitions.
Cuts and Additions:
• Added fanedit disclaimer and personal plate
• 0:24:06-0:26:15 – Marlowe searches Geiger’s house
• 0:26:54-0:27:29 – Marlowe drives Carmen Sternwood home
o Made an alteration from the Doctor M version (from what I can gather according to its cutlist), now fading from Marlowe in the car with Carmen to Norris opening the door from the inside (rather than to Marlowe waiting outside) to prevent a possible continuity error of the rain stopping and Marlowe losing his coat over the course of a few seconds
• 0:30:55-0:32:27 – Marlowe enters his apartment and puts Geiger's notebook on his desk
• 1:02:31-1:09:44 – Marlowe is taken to explain himself to the District Attorney, and the plot up to this point to the audience
• 1:42:47-1:43:12 – Marlowe removes his car registration papers and retrieves a gun from under his dashboard
• 0:24:06-0:26:15 – Marlowe searches Geiger’s house
• 0:26:54-0:27:29 – Marlowe drives Carmen Sternwood home
o Made an alteration from the Doctor M version (from what I can gather according to its cutlist), now fading from Marlowe in the car with Carmen to Norris opening the door from the inside (rather than to Marlowe waiting outside) to prevent a possible continuity error of the rain stopping and Marlowe losing his coat over the course of a few seconds
• 0:30:55-0:32:27 – Marlowe enters his apartment and puts Geiger's notebook on his desk
• 1:02:31-1:09:44 – Marlowe is taken to explain himself to the District Attorney, and the plot up to this point to the audience
• 1:42:47-1:43:12 – Marlowe removes his car registration papers and retrieves a gun from under his dashboard
User reviews
9 reviews
Overall rating
9.8
Audio/Video Quality
9.5(9)
Audio Editing
9.8(9)
Visual Editing
9.9(9)
Narrative
9.8(9)
Enjoyment
10.0(9)
Overall rating
9.4
Audio/Video Quality
8.0
Audio Editing
9.0
Visual Editing
10.0
Narrative
10.0
Enjoyment
10.0
A big Thank You to ParanoidAndroid for this great hybrid of the two versions of such a classic! It's not just 'more of a good thing' but a legit improvement in terms of seeing our detective do a lot of detecting and putting pieces together, but still not losing the great witty dialogue of some of the new '45 version scenes.
I'm not sure what the setup was that other reviewers were watching this on, but just on my laptop it was extremely obvious when the footage switched to a scene from the '45 version. I won't say it was "jarring", but I could easily tell every time it happened without seeing the cutlist (I checked after watching and was right). And even in the normal footage, it's not really "restored", it LOOKS like it's from '46. Some scenes are only partially in focus, or have degraded edges, and while the audio from the '46 scenes is pretty clear, there's a near-constant hiss in all of the '45 scenes. I'm not sure how bad the footage was before being edited, so even getting it to this level might have been a great achievement, but I will say that I never stopped noticing it while viewing. Thankfully, the film is so good that the A/V never pulled me out of it! (Thoughts on the movie as a whole here: https://boxd.it/5r8umP )
As far as the scenes being inserted though, you can't fault any of the editing here. This version flows like the story was meant to: still a complicated series of murders and double-crosses, but you follow Marlowe as he gradually figures out what questions to ask and then who to ask them to.... and eventually figures out all the answers. The narrative changes here make this a great detective story on top of being a great piece of Noir, and it's really a must-watch. Maybe you'll want to watch this first, maybe the theatrical release, I can see arguments for either way. But for me, this is a shelf-replacer. Thanks, PA!
I'm not sure what the setup was that other reviewers were watching this on, but just on my laptop it was extremely obvious when the footage switched to a scene from the '45 version. I won't say it was "jarring", but I could easily tell every time it happened without seeing the cutlist (I checked after watching and was right). And even in the normal footage, it's not really "restored", it LOOKS like it's from '46. Some scenes are only partially in focus, or have degraded edges, and while the audio from the '46 scenes is pretty clear, there's a near-constant hiss in all of the '45 scenes. I'm not sure how bad the footage was before being edited, so even getting it to this level might have been a great achievement, but I will say that I never stopped noticing it while viewing. Thankfully, the film is so good that the A/V never pulled me out of it! (Thoughts on the movie as a whole here: https://boxd.it/5r8umP )
As far as the scenes being inserted though, you can't fault any of the editing here. This version flows like the story was meant to: still a complicated series of murders and double-crosses, but you follow Marlowe as he gradually figures out what questions to ask and then who to ask them to.... and eventually figures out all the answers. The narrative changes here make this a great detective story on top of being a great piece of Noir, and it's really a must-watch. Maybe you'll want to watch this first, maybe the theatrical release, I can see arguments for either way. But for me, this is a shelf-replacer. Thanks, PA!
User Review
Do you recommend this edit?
Yes
Format Watched?
Digital
M
(Updated: August 31, 2023)
Overall rating
9.8
Audio/Video Quality
10.0
Audio Editing
10.0
Visual Editing
10.0
Narrative
9.0
Enjoyment
10.0
Who can resist EXTRA BETTY & BOGGIE....
I must say, this has polish and luster and is the go to version of this clsasic for me. It may not be refernce level HD due to the source material, but I don't mark down (nor should anyone frankly) when the limitation is the source.
Those extra Betty scenes and dialogue, and the clarity brought to this by having itall in one place is a joy to behold.
Sure, there are a few narrative quirks, but given that we get the 45 and 46 material in one place...MEH to quirks, it adds to the noir feel all over.
The 45 scenes are a touch softer, but on smaller setups will be missed by most. The pacing is exquisite, the tongue in cheek moments glorious and bot, they don't make 'em like this anymore...and more the shame..
Thanks "Marvin" for your diligence and hard work.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
I must say, this has polish and luster and is the go to version of this clsasic for me. It may not be refernce level HD due to the source material, but I don't mark down (nor should anyone frankly) when the limitation is the source.
Those extra Betty scenes and dialogue, and the clarity brought to this by having itall in one place is a joy to behold.
Sure, there are a few narrative quirks, but given that we get the 45 and 46 material in one place...MEH to quirks, it adds to the noir feel all over.
The 45 scenes are a touch softer, but on smaller setups will be missed by most. The pacing is exquisite, the tongue in cheek moments glorious and bot, they don't make 'em like this anymore...and more the shame..
Thanks "Marvin" for your diligence and hard work.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
W
Overall rating
10.0
Audio/Video Quality
10.0
Audio Editing
10.0
Visual Editing
10.0
Narrative
10.0
Enjoyment
10.0
The Big Sleep is one of those stone classics that has its merits in both versions; they’re both so good it is, indeed, a rare occasion when, as Roger Ebert mentioned, “studio interference was exactly the right thing” (we’re specifically talking about that horse conversation).
I’ve always enjoyed comparing both versions, but Paranoid’s cut brings it all together. One may question the pacing, but that’s not due to the editing - this film ain’t no Maltese Falcon by nature. It’s a witty slow burn, and every scene is essential in trying to sort out the myriad plot.
Thanks, Paranoid, for presenting one of the all time classics in a way that preserves it all so preciously. Flawless.
I’ve always enjoyed comparing both versions, but Paranoid’s cut brings it all together. One may question the pacing, but that’s not due to the editing - this film ain’t no Maltese Falcon by nature. It’s a witty slow burn, and every scene is essential in trying to sort out the myriad plot.
Thanks, Paranoid, for presenting one of the all time classics in a way that preserves it all so preciously. Flawless.
User Review
Do you recommend this edit?
Yes
Format Watched?
Digital
D
Overall rating
10.0
Audio/Video Quality
10.0
Audio Editing
10.0
Visual Editing
10.0
Narrative
10.0
Enjoyment
10.0
This is one of those edits that belongs more in the category of "important contribution to film history" along with LastSurvivor's "Phase IV: The Evolution Cut" and many of TM2YC's preservations. No longer will viewers have to choose between the two different but excellent versions of TBS, this one has everything you need all in one place. More atmosphere, more saucy banter, more plot details -- no need to ever watch this classic in any other version. Thanks to the original editors and to ParanoidAndroid for dusting it off and sprucing it up a bit for us.
R
Overall rating
10.0
Audio/Video Quality
10.0
Audio Editing
10.0
Visual Editing
10.0
Narrative
10.0
Enjoyment
10.0
This our 4th time watching this essential Noir. I'd have to say we felt this edited version was the most satisfying experience of them all.
It was overly distracting to make sense of the plot before, however it now all threads comes together.
This edit is the way to see the film. Have an entertaining time with Bogart and Bacall in this complete version.
It was overly distracting to make sense of the plot before, however it now all threads comes together.
This edit is the way to see the film. Have an entertaining time with Bogart and Bacall in this complete version.
User Review
Do you recommend this edit?
Yes
Format Watched?
Digital
N