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Killing A Chinese Bookie

Gatos

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BookieCoverArt-Cropped.jpg


Original name: The Killing of a Chinese Bookie
Fanedit name: Killing a Chinese Bookie
Original Run Time: 135 minutes (1976)/109 minutes (1978)
Fanedit Run Time: 79 minutes
Amount of Time Cut: 30 minutes
Original Studio Name: Faces Distribution


Intention:
The Killing of a Chinese Bookie was the first John Cassavetes film that I had ever watched. I knew of him as a director and was aware that he made less traditional, off-beat films. This was his attempt at a gangster film although it still had the feel of an arthouse film. The 1978 version (the second cut of the film) that I watched felt very long and many scenes went on far too long in my opinion. After I finished watching the film I thought to myself, this would be a great movie for me to try to fanedit. I watched the 1976 (original cut) of the film to note the differences. There are many, the most obvious of which is the length.


My intention with this edit was to trim or cut out as much of the extraneous scenes as possible. I wanted to make the pace faster. I also wanted to try to mold it into a more traditional gangster film. Interestingly, Martin Scorcese collaborated with Cassavetes on the plot of the movie.




Edit Details:
I consider this fanedit an edit of the 1978 version of the original film. Most of the changes involved cutting or shortening the strip club performances. The other big change was to completely remove the romance subplot.



Cut List:

- New Logo for Faces Distribution Company

- New Title Cards (in the same font style as the original)
- Cut almost all of the strip club performance scenes (dances and songs)
- Cut Cosmo’s celebration at the bar.
- Cut the limo picking up Rachel.
- Changed the casino scenes. The first half is from the 1976 edition and the scenes of the doctor and wife talking to the gangsters is inserted from the 1978 edition.
- Cut Cosmo auditioning the waitress and Rachel attacking the waitress.
- Cut the waitress at the restaurant making small talk with Cosmo.
- Cut Cosmo at Rachel’s house talking with Rachel’s mother.
- Cut Flo’s conversation with Cosmo in the warehouse (“you’re an amateur, take a walk”)
- Cut out Flo saying “that man is my friend”
- Cut out some of Cosmo’s dialogue addressing the crowd (“how many mothers do we have in the audience”)
- Cut out Cosmo’s explanation for Rachel leaving and toasting Rachel.
- Cut out Mr. Sophistication singing “I can’t give you anything but love”
- Edited the original credits/shortened the credits run time.
- Replaced the song playing over the end credits.


- Cut Cosmo wincing from the gunshot wound
- Cut out Cosmo jumping off the stage and grabbing his side and blood on his hands
- New Ending: Gunshot wound reveal with Cosmo standing on the sidewalk and freeze frame



Specs:
NTSC Single Layer DVD

Special Thanks:
Rogue-theX created the cover art, a custom production company logo, and custom title cards for this fanedit.



Teaser Trailer


 

veggieguy12

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Are you talking to me? Who the fuck do you think you're talking to? I'm the only one here, so you must be talking to me.

...Ahem! Well, this sounds pretty cool, dude. Congrats on completing your first fanedit. I'd like to watch yours and the original (the unaltered film, either the '76 or '78 versions); which would you suggest be first? I'm thinking to start with your cut.
 

Gatos

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veggieguy12 said:
Are you talking to me? Who the fuck do you think you're talking to? I'm the only one here, so you must be talking to me.

...Ahem! Well, this sounds pretty cool, dude. Congrats on completing your first fanedit. I'd like to watch yours and the original (the unaltered film, either the '76 or '78 versions); which would you suggest be first? I'm thinking to start with your cut.

I'd suggest watching the '78 version. In my opinion it is the version that is more "palatable" if you will. The '76 version is a lot longer and in my opinion very boring compared to the '78 cut. It would be interesting to get feedback from someone who watches the fanedit first and then the original film.
 

Brumous

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Excellent trailer- pacing, soundtrack, action, it's got it all. I am very eager to watch this.
 

Gatos

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Brumous said:
Excellent trailer- pacing, soundtrack, action, it's got it all. I am very eager to watch this.

Thank you so much for the compliment! I'm really glad you enjoyed the trailer. I've always been a huge fan of movie trailers. To me they are a separate artform unto themselves. I've tried my hand at creating trailers before but "something" always seemed to be missing and I was never happy with the final product. An idea for the concept of this trailer came out of the blue and I am proud of how the trailer turned out.

I hope you enjoy the fanedit too of course!
 

LastSurvivor

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All completed then Gatos? Excellent news. Totally agree about trailers being an artform unto themselves - always find it a huge challenge to create them and your one for Killing a Chinese Bookie leaves me wanting to watch the movie itself. How long did you end up working on the edit in the end?
 

Gatos

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LastSurvivor said:
All completed then Gatos? Excellent news. Totally agree about trailers being an artform unto themselves - always find it a huge challenge to create them and your one for Killing a Chinese Bookie leaves me wanting to watch the movie itself. How long did you end up working on the edit in the end?

I would say it took me about 6 months from the time i first started working on it until completion. But I wouldnt say I was working on it everyday for 6 months, there were lots of multiple week breaks along the way because life got in the way.
 

Rogue-theX

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This review is based on my opinions and my own personal viewing experience, nothing is meant as an attack. Spoiler warning.
VIDEO: I watched this on my laptop monitor and the quality looked perfect to me, I never noticed any artifacting or anything like that.
AUDIO: Audio quality was just fine to me, i listened to this on my headphones even and nothing stood out. Well done!
EDITING: The story is told quite well, the plot is coherent, I did not feel that anything was missing. The only thing i didnt like was a slightly abrupt fade out/in scene transition, i know why it was done but i wouldn't have made that move if it was my edit, this is a very minor gripe however.
ENTERTAINMENT: I found this to be very enjoyable, i like how the story seems to focus on the main charachter, and we follow the story with him, this makes things more engaging.
Very well done Gatos! 9/10
APPROVED!

Cant find the big red thumb up thingy, anyone know where to find it? for now i'll use this one :thumb:

EDIT:
approved.png
 

Rogue-theX

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Thanks Dwight :)

Uhh... i dont think that review was quite 300 words, can it still count? Pretty please?
 

Gatos

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Thanks for the review Rogue!
 

jamiemark

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This is the second edit (Bionic Bob's new Trek edit being the first) lately where the disc artwork folder doesn't extract properly.
Not sure who to ask anymore, but can someone fix this please??
 

jamiemark

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Those links worked, thanks. The ones off the website don't.
 

L8wrtr

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I'll doc the pay of the guy responsible for goofing the 'official' download for the covers by 100%, and then fix it.
 

LastSurvivor

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Gatos.. now have the original movie in my hands... will be watching soon and can't wait to check your edit out thereafter. Which version do you recommend I watch first on the Criterion disc? The 76 cut or the 78 one?
 

Gatos

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LastSurvivor said:
Gatos.. now have the original movie in my hands... will be watching soon and can't wait to check your edit out thereafter. Which version do you recommend I watch first on the Criterion disc? The 76 cut or the 78 one?

Definitely the 78 cut. The 76 cut is much longer and very boring in my opinion. My suggestion for viewing order: First the 78 cut -> Then my edit -> And finally, if you're brave the 76 cut!
 

Gatos

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L8wrtr said:
I'll doc the pay of the guy responsible for goofing the 'official' download for the covers by 100%, and then fix it.

That would be a conflict of interest, no? :p
 

LastSurvivor

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Definitely the 78 cut. The 76 cut is much longer and very boring in my opinion. My suggestion for viewing order: First the 78 cut -> Then my edit -> And finally, if you're brave the 76 cut!

Interesting :) There's me thinking you would suggest watching the 76 cut first!! lol. I'm glad I asked. Will let you know how I get on.
 
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