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Eyes Wide Shut (1999) More at IMDb Pro »

Because of the film's contreversy; several versions of the film have been released in the United States.

Citing contractual obligations to deliver an R rating, Warner Bros. digitally altered the orgy scene for the American release of Eyes Wide Shut, blocking out images of graphic sexuality by inserting additional figures into the scene to obscure the view, thus avoiding an adults-only NC-17 rating that might have limited distribution of the film, as some large American theaters and video store operators have a policy that disallows films with that rating. This alteration of Kubrick's vision antagonized many cinephiles, as they argued that Kubrick had never been shy about ratings: A Clockwork Orange had an X-rating.

A complete, uncut version has been released by Warner Bros. Pictures, and is availible on DVD. The film is also, interestingly enough, un-edited in all international versions. In the UK, upon the film's theatrical release, no alternations where made, and in Australia, the film has been released (theatrical, home video and DVD) in an unchanged form.

ALTERNATE VERSIONS OF THE FILM INCLUDE:

*All British prints are missing the recitation of a passage from the Bhagavad Gita (the holiest Hindu book) during an orgy scene. Warner Brothers cut this before release of the film due to protests from Hindu organizations. It was also removed from all worldwide home video releases of the film.

*The original theatrical version included a goof in an early scene (a boom operator was reflected on a steel shower stall post in Victor Ziegler's bathroom): this has been digitally removed on the home video releases.

*In the DVD/Video version, when Nicole Kidman gives her monologue about yearning for the Naval Officer, she mouths the words "We made love." But the words "You and I made love," are heard. This was done to clear up the confusion about whom she actually made love to.

*In most non-English language versions translated copies of the letter Dr. Harford recieves when returning to the front gate of the house with the "forbidden party" and of the newspaper article about the ex-Miss N.Y., Mandy, were shot and replaced the original English text.

*In the lengthy shot where Nicole Kidman dances naked in front of a mirror to Chris Isaak's "Baby Did A Bad Bad Thing," the second half of the shot, once Tom Cruise walks over, has been zoomed considerably for the DVD. The first half is as it was shown in theaters, with rear nudity from Kidman, but seconds before Cruise enters the frame, the image starts to zoom up and in rapidly, so that when Cruise enters, only a section from his elbow up is visible. In the theatrical version and the original unrated trailer, when Cruise enters, the frame goes well below his navel.

*The Region 3 release (Hong Kong) is uncut, but does NOT contains the passages from the Bhagavad Gita recited during the orgy scene. The verses, "paritranaya sadhunam, vinasaya ca duskritam, dharma-samstapanarthaya, sambhavami yuge yuge", are heard on the soundtrack (track 9), but not any DVD or video releases.

Eyes Wide Shut has such a fascinating story surrounding it that books could be written on the movie's actual meanings. The film's puzzling narrative has inspired several interpretations, many of which see the film as a psychological allegory, often as a dream, rather than as an actual straightforward erotic drama.

Something you should note is that EWS is based on the novella "Traumnovelle", by Arthur Schnitzler. It deals with sexual obsession between two couples in Vienna, Austria. Kubrick has updated the story to present day New York City, with Cruise and Kidman play Dr. William and Alice Harford, the two principals. Cruise becomes shocked and almost ruined when he learns that Alice had an erotic fantasy about a man that she had seen during a family holiday in Cape Cop(sp?), and as he wanders the street late at night, grapples with his desire for revenge by sleeping with another woman. As many would have figured out, there is an infamous orgy Harford attends. He hears about it from Nick (who he met at the party, remember?)The movie follows Harford as he agonizes over both what his wife had told him and his feelings of jealousy, rage and revenge. This whole issue takes on a deeper meaning, since, in real life Cruise and Kidman where actually married (from 1990, until 2001).

But anyway, some have stated they believe that Bill's sexual adventures (after the party) was all some bizarre dream. Others have conjured deeper meanings, such as that the orgy was a satanic cult, out to overthrow Bill. Nonetheless, Eyes Wide Shut is a very symbolic and metaphorical film. For example, the password for the orgy is "Fidelio," a word that points at the theme of marital fidelity, but does not indicate clearly that Bill's journey might be a dream. Fidelio is also the name of the only opera by Beethoven, which tells how Leonore, disguised as a prison guard named "Fidelio", rescues her husband Florestan from death in a political prison.

Overall, there is no harm in creating your own interpretation. Most of the ideas on the film's actual meaning have probably surfaced from someone's interpretation.

In addition, comprehensive websites such as http://www.jeffreyscottbernstein.com/kubrick/eyeswideshut.html and http://www.movienavigator.org/eyeswideshut.htm provide deep analysis on the films hidden meaning. Also, if you have a specific question or query, direct it to the IMDB message boards for the film.