In this edition of Make/Remake Dakota and Stephanie look at a unique pair of films… the exact same film cut two ways. In 1953 Italian Neorealist director Vittorio de Dica paired with David O. Selznick to make an American film his way. He cast American actors Montgomery Clift and Jennifer Jones and plopped them in Rome to tell the story of an American wife having an affair while in Europe and deciding she wants to go back home to her family.
Despite wanting to produce a Neorealist film, Selznick eventually became bored with the concept and cut out all the moments that make a trademark de Sica film so memorable. The result was two different version of the same film.
Terminal Station, the original cut is 90 minutes long and is more nuanced compared to Indiscretion of an American Wife, which clocks in at only 60 minutes.
The topic for this episode was inspired by filmmaker Kogonada’s video essay “What is Neorealism?” showing the major differences between the two films and a bit of history of the project.You can watch both versions of the film in full on Youtube.
Terminal Station – the full ninety-minute version
Indiscretion of an American Wife – abridged sixty-minute version
