I legitimately cannot believe that there’s all this talk about Goncharov (1973) and no one here’s mentioned the Kubrick cut? Goddamn, people. Let me tell you, it was definitely an interesting thing to hear about (if not watch, which...well, read below).
So back when Goncharov was still in development in 1971, it was actually going to be a miniseries for the BBC, and Kubrick was asked to step in as director by Warner Bros, who held the international option for the books. He declined to direct (as at the time he was working on A Clockwork Orange, and we all know it was Matteo JWHJ 0715 who directed the whole shebang), but when he read the script he asked to edit the reels, and this was granted.
Obviously the feature version released in theaters was not the Kubrick cut, since keep in mind, it was meant to be a miniseries when he was on board. However, due to a very drawn-out contractual dispute between Warner Bros., the author’s estate and Mosfilm (the Russian/Soviet “right holders”, who tried to block the miniseries by claiming the books belonged to the Soviet state and thus the miniseries couldn’t be made without their permission)-which in and of itself deserves its own book-Warner Bros. was forced to downsize what it planned to do in order to recoup its budget. Still, two different Kubrick-edited work cuts of Goncharov exist despite the legal battle-a 9-hour cut (meant to be the miniseries), and a shorter 5-hour cut once the decision to shelve the miniseries was made. Warner Bros. then had Scorsese re-edit that down to a more “palatable” 3 hours, while Kubrick went on to develop and make Barry Lyndon.
Unfortunately, very few people have been given permission to see either Kubrick cut due to the aforementioned legal dispute. That said, I haven’t seen it myself, but my mother attended a screening put on by a Japanese businessman in 1982. It’s called “the Honolulu screening” (the second of only five known screenings of either Kubrick cut) and he’d put it on as thanks to the hospital staff for the care he received after his open-heart surgery. After seeing the interest in Gonacharov on Twitter based on the interest brewing on Tumblr, I asked her what she remembered, and from what she told me, I’m pretty sure she saw the 5-hour cut.
Some big differences between the theatrical cut and the 5-hour Kubrick cut, according to my mom:
-There were scenes of Goncharov’s childhood in Tsarist Russia, including the scene where he sneaks into the Winter Palace and sees all of the ostentatious riches and power of the men on top. It also shows Nicholas II (played by Michael Jayston, same as in Nicholas and Alexandra (1971) being alone and shot by Soviet troops in the basement. Obviously a foreshadow to Goncharov’s death.
-We also see how Katya and Sofia grew up, and it’s implied (though not shown) that they might have started their affair before Katya left for Italy.
-We actually see how Goncharov and Andrey meet-they’re on the boat to Istanbul as they flee Russia. We also see Goncharov’s affair with the Russian ambassador’s wife.
-Ice Pick Joe is not present in the film. Apparently he (and John Cazale) was added after the bulk of the filming had been done due to his performance in The Godfather. Definitely some reshooting was done.
-A character who IS present is Ambrosini’s Siberian man, Grigori Antonovokov (played by Christopher Lee). He joins Goncharov and eventually leads the men in revolt at the end.
-Another character present is Alexei, the child of Goncharov and the ambassador’s wife, who is basically smuggled into Naples and passed off as Andrey’s child from an old affair. The books have Goncharov and Andrey’s relationship develop in part due to his visits to see his son.
-Speaking of Alexei, it’s strongly hinted that Katya is aware of his existence, even though Goncharov never tells her about him. Sofia definitely becomes aware of him, and like in the book discretely smothers him in his sleep.
-Fruit stand scene is there, and it also includes Katya and Sofia’s carriage drive down the Amalfi Coast (updated to a car, obviously).
-The grandfather clock belonged to Ambrosini first and actually breaks three times throughout the movie. First time is when Ambrosini is murdered, second time is when Sofia murders Alexei, and the third time is when Goncharov is killed. It’s obviously not fixed that third time.
-Not surprisingly, Alexei’s death is why Goncharov and Andrey start to drift apart in the middle of the film.
