 Originally Posted by MinionZombie
Now, having read the differences, I'd like to know what you think of that Lou - and indeed any of our American chums - what do you make of the scenes that were cut out for international audiences? Anything that you'd not miss, anything that you would really miss, and anything that you think should never have been removed from the flick at all?
Ok MZ, you asked for it, let’s go through one step at a time:
05:03
The conversation between Wendy Torrance and her son continues. She tells him in a lovely way that their vacations in the Overlook Hotel are going to be great fun and he must not be afraid. Cut back to Jack Torrance who managed to successfully apply for taking care of the, during the winter season, abandoned hotel. Mr. Ullman introduces him to his employee Bill Watson who should show Jack the hotel. Jeck tells him that he used to be a teacher and that he is now trying to become an author and that he is looking for changes in his life. The three men are talking about the hotel and about why it is closed during winter season, though the fantastic chances of skiing.
Lou’s opinion: this is a scene that should’ve been left alone. Why would this be cut? The conversation w/Jack and the Hotel people is interesting enough, and the scene with Wendy telling Danny about the overlook – while not “important to the story” per-se, it does set up kinda what’s coming. That, and this gives Jack's motivation for wanting to be at the Overlook in the first place.
12:07
After the brilliantly filmed vision of Danny in the bathroom, the whole scene of the doctor examining Danny is missing. She looks into his eyes and asks him about what has happened, what he did while he was brushing his teeth, if there was anything unpleasant. Despite the astonishing vision Danny denies all questions and does not uncover anything. Later Danny mentions his imaginary friend and the doctor asks if Tony asks him to do something for him. Danny answers that he does not want to talk about Tony. The doctor grabs her stuff and gives Danny the advice to stay in bed the whole day and leaves his room together with Wendy. Both women take a seat in the living room and are talking about Danny’s frame of mind. The doctor insures her that everything would be fine and that she does not have to worry about anything. Both are talking about the moment when Danny talked to Tony for the first time and Wendy mentions Danny’s injury at his arm which was inflicted by Jack. Wendy excuses the injury as a former accident and parental measure which got out of control due to the alcoholic abuse of Jack. Since then, she emphasizes, Jack has never again touched a bottle of alcohol.
Lou’s opinion: Ok, so this scene should’ve never been cut. This is where Wendy explains how Danny’s arm was broke, and to me, this gives us a glimpse of the ‘darker’ inner working of Jack, as well as some of the demons he has to tame and keep at bay (his alcoholism). Since Jack starts drinking in the Overlook’s bar later, this scene sets up why that’s an important turn in the movie. No idea why this would’ve been cut out. I realize Jack later explains Danny’s injuries, but that’s long after this scene, and this scene “preps” you for what’s to come.
20:46
Mr. Ullman leads the Torrances through the Colorado Lounge, followed by Wendy’s joyful comments that this is the most beautiful hotel she has ever seen. Ullman explains that the Overlook Hotel was the central station for the jetset before this term actually existed. Four American presidents and a lot of movie stars would have spend a night in the hotel.
Lou’s opinion: After watching that “spatial awareness and set design” of the Overlook (Thanks Danny, you mindfucked me on that one!), this is a very important scene too as it shows some of these anomalies in this scene. We could probably do without it, but I see no reason why it’s not left in there.
22:46
Wendy and Jack look around their future rooms while Ullman explains that they also have the chance to use any hotel room if their rooms would be too small for them. Jack is excited about the domestic room. Blind in to the hedge labyrinth where Ullman shows them the outdoor areas. He says that the labyrinth is very tricky and he would not even try to get through it without his background knowledge.
Lou’s opinion: Umm, this sets up the hedge maze scene later in the movie. Foreshadowing. It should’ve been left in, considering they only cut 42 seconds. Dumb cut, to be honest.
23:56
Instead blending in to the kitchen a scene with Ullman, who leads Wendy and Jack to the Golden Room, follows. He explains that the ballroom could contain 300 people and that all alcoholic drinks have been removed due to the winter break. Jack tells him that they do not drink. Ullman introduces them to Dick Hallorann, the chef. Danny joins them and they decide that Wendy is introduced into the kitchen by Dick while Ullman keeps on showing Jack the rest of the hotel. On their way to the kitchen Dick mentions Wendy’s strange nickname ‘Winniefred’ and asks if she is a Wendy or Freddie. She explains that she is a Wendy.
Lou’s opinion: ABSOLUTELY REQUIRED SCENE. This sets up “there’s no alcohol in the overlook” – yet we have the bar scene w/Jack and Grady later - not to mention Jack is a recovering alcoholic. This should’ve been left in there.
34:19
One can see Wendy how she pushes a coffee wagon through the hotel.
Lou’s opinion: I originally would’ve thought this would have not been a necessary scene – yet, after watching that thing Danny posted on the Overlook set design, this shows one of those anomalies and a big one, too (ie: where the kitchen is located in relation to the rest of the overlook). Should’ve left this 42 seconds in. Besides, it adds ambiance to the movie. Her, moving around in this massive hotel all alone. Sets a good tone/mood.
36:45
The conversation at the bed, while Jack is having breakfest, continues. Wendy admits that she firstly thought the hotel was scary, but she likes it now. The strong contrast to Jack who firstly loves it. He says that he has the strange feeling that he was here before and that this is not only a simple deja-vu but strong and intense emotions. Wendy tries to scare him away with ghostly sounds – more a lovely joke that a serious interpretation of ghosts.
Lou’s opinion: Should’ve been left in. Shows how Wendy hated it there, but now is getting comfortable, while the exact opposite is happening w/Jack. Seems like an important fact to point out considering what happens later, right?
37:53
A take is missing in which Jack, with the back to the audience, pushes a ball onto the wall and the following fade to the outdoor area. Wendy and Danny walk out of the hotel and Wendy shows Danny the trash bin.
Lou’s opinion: Not sure this is a necessary scene, but it shows jack is slowly “slipping” out of his mind. 
40:35
While Wendy works with the huge can opener, the TV is on and shows the actual news reports that shows the weather as well as the news about Susan Roberts, who is missing for about 10 days.
Lou: Ok, this I could deal with. No issues with this cut. It does foreshadow weather, but so does the scenes with Hallorann, so I don't see this as "required"
45:52
Jack again starts tapping the typewriter. Then one can see the title ’Thursday’. The movie is cut to Wendy and Danny how they have fun in the snow.
Lou: I’m ok with this one, too.
51:18
Wendy and Danny are watching TV in the hall. Danny asks if he can go and get his fire engine but Wendy does not allow it because Jack went upstairs for taking a nap. Because he wants to wants to have his peace Danny should not wake him up. Danny continues begging and promises to be quiet.
Lou: Meh, I could go either way with this one. Basically, it’s all about Wendy telling Danny, “don’t disturb your father” – considering Danny and Jack’s issues in the past, this reaffirms their relationship, but I think it’s been covered elsewhere in the movie.
66:04
Jack looks at a bourbon glass and mumbles that having a drink would end 5 months of abstinence. Lloyd, the bartender, asks Jack how things are working and Jack responds that there are just some unimportant issues with his wife. Lloyd agrees while refilling Jack’s glass and says what bartenders often use to say: women – one can not live with them, but also not without them.
Lou’s opinion: ABSOLUTELY REQUIRED. All of the scenes w/Grady are not only fun to watch, but let’s you in on Jack’s mind which is slowly slipping away from him without him really noticing until later. Grady rocks, and this scene should’ve been left in.
78:55
Jack reminds Wendy on Danny’s attack in the bathroom before they went to the Overlook Hotel to make the most recent happenings more plausible.
Lou: Meh. Not sure this would matter in the movie. I could go either way.
91:40
Giving her thoughts a voice, Wendy moves around the room. She thinks about leaving the Overlook Hotel immediately, if necessary via the snowcat. She is also aware that Jack would stay in the hotel. Her thoughts are interrupted when she notices the words ‘Redrum’ from Danny’s room. Worried she goes into Danny’s room and finds him sitting in his bed. She tries to talk with him but he answers with Tony’s voice and says that Danny went away. Wendy hugs her son.
Lou: Umm, this is foreshadowing (snowcat) in a major way. Should’ve been left in. How could they cut out one of the most iconic scenes in the movie? "REDRUM"! I mean, c'mon! 
94:56
Jack removes two other relays from the radio and moves on. Fade to Hallorann, who tries to contact the family Torrance for the third time. The attempt fails again and he can be seen in a thinking position. Cut to the title ‘8 a.m.’.
Lou: Umm, yeah. If this scene isn’t shown, most people would think, “why doesn’t she just use the radio to call for help?” Again, foreshadowing has been cut out, for no good reason.
96:12
In the plane Hallorann asks a stewardess when they are going to land in Denver. Fade to the Overlook Hotel with a long camera panning on Jack who sits with his back to the audience and continues tapping. Again a fade. Now one can see Halloranns plane which is landing, then the movie cuts to ‘Durkin’s Garage’. The owner Larry Durkin enters his shop where his phone is ringing. He takes the phone and Hallorann is on the other line. Hallorann explains that he urgently need to get to the Overlook Hotel this night to look after the Torrances. Because of the weather conditions he asks for a snowcat to get through the hotel. Durkin agrees.
Lou: More foreshadowing left out to dry. While it’s not an exciting scene, it does set up the conditions that Hallorann is going to have to face to get to the Overlook.
99:29
While the TV offers sounds from a Roadrunner cartoon, Wendy explains her son that she will be going to the floor shortly to talk to daddy. Danny is still speaking with Tony’s voice and keeps on concentrating on the cartoon. Wendy sneaks out of the room but takes a baseball bat, which was standing in a corner, with her.
Lou: While this establishes that “Danny isn’t here, Mrs. Torrence” still, I’m not sure the movie would suffer without this scene. This cut doesn’t bother me as much as the others.
133:27
Wendy is still stumbling through the house. She looks into the Golden Room where she can find some skeletons.
Lou: Yeah, I don’t think it’s a “necessary” scene, but there is certainly no reason why it should be cut for the UK’ers out there.
So there you have it. This is strictly my opinion, and I don’t expect others to agree, but those are my thoughts. It seems they cut out a lot of the foreshadowing in the film – which, to me, hurts it. If foreshadowing is done correctly, there’s nothing like watching the movie then saying, “Awww shit, I should’ve saw this coming! Earlier he said…….” I like that kind thing if it’s done correctly, say, like Edgar Wright did in Shaun. Rememeber when Ed and Shaun are in the Winchester and Ed pretty much lays out the ENTIRE movie in one sentence (have a bloody mary, take a bit of the king's head, save the princesses, etc.) – which you’d never know until you watched it a few times? Yeah, that kinda stuff I like if it’s done in a smart, interesting way.
Anyone else care to chime in on these cuts? 
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