Studio 54 (Extended & Theatrical Versions) [Blu-ray]

I like to watch directors' cuts of films. I think it gives insight not only to the director's vision, but into the process of film-making more generally and to the compromises filmmakers face.'54' was never a film I loved. I think I saw it only once, in the cinema, upon its initial release. I was impressed with Mike Myers who disappeared into his role, but the rest of the cast barely registered, and the movie had a vague "Goodfellas in the Discoteque" plot. It felt slight and forgettable.I later read about a directors cut that had been preserved on a VHS tape and how it was meant to be a major improvement. Legend had it that it was one of the great lost films. I was surprised then to learn that it is now available, and on streaming!The directors cut does indeed represent a major improvement dramatically for the film. The tax fraud and gangster-ish sub-plots now take a back-seat to a character study of a love triangle between Ryan Phillipe, Salma Hayek and Brecken Myer. Mike Myers is still great, though his character, a portrayal of the real life Steve Rubbell, is a much more sinister character here, a pervy, controlling manipulator who will remind people of Harvey Weinstein in 2022. The way the characters behave in this movie may have been considered "free-spirited" in the 1970s when it took place, and probably still played for laughs in the 1990s when the movie was made, but today would be considered very problematic.Phillipe's character flees a mundane working class suburbia, eventually reinventing himself as a gigolo bartender. Hayek and Brecken Myer are married club staff, though Myer is more conservative than his adventurous wife. The love triangle that emerges between them doesn't quite work, even in this cut. Phillipe and Hayek simply don't have enough screen time together to establish their mutual attraction. Nor do we spend enough time with Hayek and Brecken Myer to understand their marriage, or the lines they cross. It ultimately comes together, but it's up to the viewer to connect a few of the dots, and I think perhaps there are still more unrealised scenes between them. On the other hand, I don't even remember Salma Hayek appearing in the original theatrical cut but she is a key player here.I barely recall Neve Campbell in the original cut either, but her role seems even smaller here. She plays a stand-in for all the celebrities that frequented the club, and represents an object of desire for Phillipe and a reminder of his roots.The film does a great job of depicting the notorious decadence of club 54, and I was surprised to learn that some of the more outrageous scenes in the film have basis in actual fact (or legend) such as the balcony where strangers copulated freely, or the VIP cave full of drugged up celebs.Some of the footage here was salvaged from the VHS tape, and it looks very grainy on modern screens. Thankfully these shots are mostly few and far between, and they add a certain stylised quality to the film. It won't ruin your experience.If you liked the original theatrical cut, you owe it to yourself to watch this cut. If you were like me and saw unrealised potential in the theatrical cut, then you should watch this. If you have never seen 54 in any version, watch this one.

really good original copy in perfect condition no scratches

Been a fan of this film for many years, finally got round to watching the director's cut today and it is worth it. The extra scenes are lower quality than the rest of the film, but you hardly notice and they do add to/change the story.Enjoyed it again

A move that I enjoyed when it was released over 20 years ago and now including a few bits that were cut from the theatrical release due to studio pressure I beleive with executives at the time believing that the movie was not quite mainstream enough. The added bits are not as pristine but it's good to see them back where the director envisioned them to be. Great late 70s disco soundtrack.

I'm a huge fan of the mythos of the origial Studio 54, but unfortunately Miramax wouldn't let Mark Christopher have the final say. Ryan Phillipe's suprisingly good performance is cut, to highlight his torso and pout - and Mike Myers isn't given HALF enough time to show off his amazing take on Steve Rubell. Neve Cambell is as dull as usual, but gladly her on screen time is very limited.Overall, quite a depressing film - but only in the same way that Saturday Night Fever isn't a disco at all - it's a harsh telling of a 70s story.I was pleasantly surprised by this film, but it would have been SO much better if Miramax had let Christopher do what he intended, and kept all the cuts. What we need is a director's cut - that would get 5 stars.

So, I’ll admit that “54” has always been a guilty pleasure of mine. Mauled by the critics and largely ignored by the public after it was cut to pieces and reshot at the request of Miramax, I still found it a good film with an outstanding performance from Mike Myers. Without a doubt, he was sorely overlooked for an Oscar nomination. Viewing the Director’s Cut is a revelation - it is a totally different film! Watching the documentary on the extras on the disc reveals a fascinating story of how this cut came to be... very largely by serendipity. There a few places in the film when the inserted VHS “dailies” are noticeable but this does not detract at all if you are watching this cut and you have already seen the original cinema release. In my opinion, the audio on this release is greatly improved from the Blu ray of the cinema version. This Blu ray release serves as a reminder of how sometimes the powers-that-be at the studios can get it oh so very wrong. As a final point, this US release comes in a slim case and seems to be Region-Free (I watched it on a Region B player with no problems).

Interestingly I preferred the original cut of this movie. While the trip of leads had some extra dialogue and scenes which fleshed out their characters nicely (And I would have kept those scenes in) these also showed how Studio 54 was a place where the rich fed off the souls of the poor, while offering them a window into their world but giving them nothing in return once they were done with them. However the original ending where Steve Rubell appears one last time partly shrouded in darkness is no longer in the film. I felt this was a far more effective ending to the story. So yes some nice additions but the ending lacked the power of the original cut.

Good DVD