The Great American Fourth of July... and Other Disasters - Long and Short

[vakkotaur]

Some time ago I saw The Great American Fourth of July and Other Disasters. Except I did not see the thing mentioned in that linked. I saw the thing that the linked program was edited from. The original, full version is closer to a full 60 minutes (though I was once sure it was nearly 90 minutes) than the shrunken "television hour" of what most know. What happened? Disney did. Disney snapped it up and cut it down. I saw the original, uncut version made for PBS's American Playhouse. And it was hilarious.

Jean Shepherd (who also did A Christmas Story which I find not to be as good) tells the story of a small town American Fourth of July and the various stories and side-stories to it all. To fit within the one-hour commercial television slot, stuff was cut. Most of the major stories are still there, but enough little bits are cut that it's a shadow of what it should be. It's annoying. It's very... almost. Maybe if you haven't seen the original, full version the cut down version can be pretty good. But if you know there are bits missing, it's quite frustrating. It's a cinnamon roll without the cinnamon: The bulk is there, but it's not all there, the part that really makes it is missing. I'd like to see it again, but only if it's the complete thing.

Comments

I remember this one

[jugularjaguar.livejournal.com]

I saw it some time ago. There seems to be at least 3 in this series.

Christmas Story, the best of course. The next with the same cast. About fishing for Crappie I believe and lastly this one.

When they did not include Darin McGavin in it as Dad, I thought what was the point there.

[vakkotaur.livejournal.com]

I don't recall the third one, and I'm not big on Christmas Story (maybe the Red Ryder bit was just too cliche for me), but this one I'd like to see in full. I never really kept track of the actors. I watch a show for the show, not to see the actors... though in certain parts I can see being disappointed at a character being played by someone new. I suspect I'd have some difficulty now watching anyone but Jeremy Brett as Sherlock Holmes.

Maybe because I am older

[jugularjaguar.livejournal.com]

There are just a few actor/actress I follow. an example is Jeff Bridges. I don't think there has been one movie I have not liked him in. Maybe is just more picky about his roles then other performers.