Original 'Salem's Lot TV miniseries

[aKINGreader4ever]

+Hey All,

I recently watched Salem's Lot again, it's a classic; but why did they cut the VHS format 2 2hrs? I have both but watching the cut version runs the movie. I'm glad I have the DVD it is so much better.
-K-

[cj114]

Although David Soul would not have been my first choice I felt he rather "took" the part and now cannot imagine any other.

Rather like "Gary Sinise" as Stu in the Stand. Not my first choice either but made a good job of it.

[aeroplane]

+Hey All,

I recently watched Salem's Lot again, it's a classic; but why did they cut the VHS format 2 2hrs? I have both but watching the cut version runs the movie. I'm glad I have the DVD it is so much better.
-K-

The dvd version is about 3 hours and is based on the original television miniseries. The VHS version is closer to 90-100 minutes. The reason the VHS movie was cut by close to two hours was because that shorter version of Salem's Lot actually received a theatrical release in some foreign countries, though not the US. So when a VHS version of Salem's Lot was released, somebody chose for that version to be the first one released on VHS. However, there was also a VHS tape released for the full three hour version. That one was issued on 2 VHS cassettes/tapes.

[champ1966]

Just bought it on DVD (decided I'm going to collect the films now I've got all the books) its 184 mins long so hopefully the uncut version.'Salems Lot was my first proper experience of Mr Kings work.I came home from a friends house,turned on the telly and the scene where the grave digger is in the rocking chair came on.I'm like "what is this" picked up the book the next week,and the rest as they say is history

[dsurrett]

Hmm. I need to see if it's on NetFlix.

[bryantburnette]

I've actually always been kinda curious to see the "theatrical" cut. I know it's shorter, which means it's almost certainly not as good ... but the completist in me would like to see it someday, just for the heck of it.

[Ezzun]

Hey everyone - this is only my second post, but I'll just tell you an amusing little story about the first time I watched Salems Lot.

My parents were out and my older brother was looking after me - he was about 16/17 and I was 13... I started watching it and could not stop, even though I was more or less crying in fear. By the end I was so full of terror, I realised I was doing full on push ups on the floor in front of the tv - I have no idea why!!!! Before I went to bed I made myself a crucifix out of two pens taped together and held it to my chest all night. I did not sleep a wink all night and cowered in absolute terror, eyes wide open, every single sound seemed to send icy chills throughout me. In the morning, I got up in the full daylight, and went to do my paper round, still holding my pen/crucifix out in front of me and still experiencing almost mortal fear!!!!

I tell my kids this now, and they fall about laughing...

Mind you, they've been bought up on Twilight and all that, and think Vampires are all romantic and nice looking...

The fools...

[leftrightwriterman3613]

This was one of those rare times when television did it right with a miniseries. 'Shogun' comes to mind as another. This was by far one of my most memorable and enjoyable TV viewing experiences...not to mention, super-scary for me at the time!

I only wish that the others who have -- and I believe the term to be apt -- 'altered' some of Stephen's stories to cinematic form would have had such success.
I also agree that David Soul was not a good choice as part of the cast. He just looked to much like a beachboy to be as effective as I would have enjoyed.

Anybody wanna go surfin'?