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The Theatrical Version was compared with the Director's Cut, both available on the US Blu-ray from Vinegar Syndrome. Niccolò Paganini is a celebrated violin virtuoso, but his dissolute life is a thorn in the side of the Catholic Church. Paganini squanders his money and is a womanizer, taking a particular liking to underage women. Society increasingly turns its back on him and only his son Achille remains at his side... Paganini is an interesting film in many respects. It is the last film with Klaus Kinski and the only one he directed and wrote. Kinski was fascinated by Niccolò Paganini and tried several times to realize the film project, which he only finally succeeded in doing in the 1980s. However, the film is not a biography of Paganini; instead, Kinski projects autobiographical traits onto Paganini and made a largely incoherent film that is primarily held together by various themes. Kinski's lover at the time, Debora Caprioglio, plays his wife and his son Nikolai Kinski can be seen as Paganini's son. The boundaries between the historical figure of Paganini and Kinski's life are blurred. We hardly learn anything about Paganini's life, instead the focus is on Paganini's women's stories, which leads to various, mostly very revealing sex scenes. On May 28, 2024, the film was released on Blu-ray by Vinegar Syndrome Labs, a subsidiary label of Vinegar Syndrome. In addition to the restored theatrical version, it also includes the Director's Cut, which was pulled from a VHS. The Director's Cut is apparently an earlier cut that Kinski had to adapt at the insistence of the producers. The content of the film was trimmed for theatrical version, which seems sensible as Paganini too often gets lost in irrelevant scenes. Furthermore, the director's cut contains several sex scenes, including some very revealing moments. It's amazing what Kinski wanted to put into the movie.
The film was offered to the Cannes International Film Festival, but they turned it down because it was too pornographic. The scenes in the director's cut make this easy to understand. The film has been available on DVD in Germany since 2003. This apparently also includes theatrical version and the director's cut. Picture comparison: Theatrical version:
Director's Cut:
Runtimes:
[00:00:00][00:00:00]
The theatrical version begins with the Medusa logo.
The Director's Cut begins with opening credits.
Two clergymen can be seen in a carriage on the way to Paganini's house. In between are scenes of a holy mass. The dialog between the two men can barely be understood as the scene is overlaid with classical music. It is about how Paganini can receive the last rites. That is why they want to visit his house again.
One of the clergymen is let into the house by Paganini's son. When Paganini sees him, he sends him away. The boy begins to push the clergyman out of the room.
In the carriage, one of the clergy says that Paganini is a devil who is all about money and women. He is particularly fond of young women. The boy is frightened when he sees that Paganini is haunted by blood.
In the theatrical version, parts of these scenes follow later in the movie. Theatrical Version: 6 sec.. DC: 8:07 min. [00:00:10][00:08:11] The director's cut shows another shot of the audience.
DC: 1 sec. [00:00:14][00:08:17] Once again, the director's cut cuts to the audience.
DC: 1 sec. [00:01:19][00:09:20] Theatrical version shows a short camera pan across the stands.
The director's cut shows a different shot of the audience.
Theatrical Version: 2 sec. DC: 1 sec. [00:09:11][00:16:52] The close-up of Paganini with the violin is longer, then you see him earlier.
DC: 5 sec. [00:11:06][00:18:49] Another cut to the audience cheering Paganini follows. This is followed by cuts to the carriage. Paganini is heard saying that he is sick and ugly, but as soon as he plays the violin, the women cheat on their husbands for him.
DC: 17 sec. [00:11:08][00:19:07] Shortly after, two shots of Paganini playing his violin.
DC: 2 sec. [00:12:31][00:20:29] When the carriage has stopped, you can see Antonia looking out of the window. She sees the penis of a horse. Then you see Antonia earlier.
DC: 13 sec. [00:13:05][00:21:14] In the director's cut, there is a brief cut to the horse's erect member as Antonia masturbates.
DC: 0.5 sec. [00:16:24][00:24:26] In the theatrical version, while the man is delivering his indictment, it cuts to Paganini performing oral sex on the girl. Then the judge is seen and then Paganini again.
In the director's cut you can still see the judge and then they cut to Paganini.
DC: 12 sec. DC: 12 sec. [00:16:44][00:24:46] The theatrical version shows Angiolina in bed as the man tells that she got pregnant.
The director's cut uses an alternative shot of Angiolina in which the focus is mainly on her private parts.
Theatrical Version: 3 sec. DC: 2 sec. [00:16:54][00:24:55] After the attempted murder, the director's cut shows the shot of Angiolina that was seen earlier in theatrical version.
DC: 3 sec. [00:17:23][00:25:25] The director's cut has two more shots of Paganini having sex. The man tells us that he almost had an epileptic seizure.
DC: 8 sec. [00:17:32][00:25:42] Paganini is seen having oral sex with the woman. In between, a cut to one of the judges.
DC: 8 sec. [00:20:00][00:28:12] The director's cut shows a shot of Paganini at the window.
DC: 5 sec. [00:20:43][00:28:57] Paganini is seen earlier as he walks down the aisle.
DC: 9 sec. [00:20:52][00:29:15] The director's cut shows Paganini walking across St. Mark's Square in Venice. A gondola can be seen and we learn that Paganini has acquired opium. The woman in black can be seen in between. Another woman is thrown into the air.
DC: 1:04 min [00:20:59][00:30:26] Here the theatrical version shows scenes of Paganini and the woman in black in St. Mark's Square.
The director's cut shows the woman in black and then Paganini. After that, the woman in black can be seen earlier.
Theatrical Version: 35 sec. DC: 12 sec. [00:22:23][00:31:26] Theatrical version shows Paganini in St. Mark's Square.
The director's cut uses an alternate shot of Paganini.
Theatrical Version: 3 sec. DC: 4 sec. [00:22:29][00:31:34] After the cut to the picture, theatrical version again shows Paganini in St. Mark's Square.
The director's cut again shows an alternate shot of him.
Theatrical Version: 3 sec. DC: 14 sec. [00:22:52][00:32:07] Paganini can be seen earlier walking across St. Mark's Square.
DC: 20 sec. [00:23:14][00:32:47] Paganini is seen, then a cut to the woman in red beginning to masturbate.
DC: 10 secs. [00:23:19][00:33:02] The woman in red can be seen. Paganini walks along the corridor. The following shot begins earlier.
DC: 26 sec. [00:23:33][00:33:42] The corridor can be seen for longer. The woman in red masturbates, in between a cut to Paganini.
DC: 14 sec. [00:23:49][00:34:12] Paganini is seen for longer. Cut to the woman in red. Then you see Paganini earlier with the candlestick.
DC: 23 sec. [00:25:57][00:36:38] Paganini and the woman are seen in the gondola in the theatrical version.
The director's cut shows an alternate shot of the two of them.
Theatrical Version: 7 sec. DC: 16 sec. [00:26:21][00:37:11] Paganini and the woman are seen earlier in the gondola. Paganini tries to pull up the woman's skirt, but the woman stops him.
DC: 13 sec. [00:27:12][00:38:13] The director's cut shows Paganini with the candlestick. He pulls out a picture of the woman.
DC: 17 sec. [00:27:41][00:38:57] Paganini and the woman can be seen for longer. Paganini and the woman are then seen in the bushes. Paganini pushes her dress up and finally has sex with her. Paganini can be seen with the candlestick near the woman. Then Paganini with the naked woman in the bushes. He sucks on her breasts.
DC: 2:26 min [00:27:54][00:41:36] The director's cut shows Paganini pulling the woman off the horse. The shot of her running forward starts earlier.
DC: 15 sec. [00:29:40][00:43:33] The woman can be seen earlier as she puts on her stockings.
DC: 7 sec. [00:29:46][00:43:45] The woman can be seen for longer in the same shot as she puts on her stockings. The follow shot in which the woman stands up begins earlier. Her private parts can be seen.
DC: 8 sec. [00:30:08][00:44:14] The woman grabs Paganini between the legs several times before taking off his pants.
DC: 11 sec. [00:30:28][00:44:44] You can still see Paganini pushing the woman's dress up.
OV: 15 sec. [00:33:02][00:47:28] After Paganini was seen in the carriage, there is another cut to the chicken being killed.
DC: 1 sec. [00:33:13][00:47:40] The dead chicken on the ground can be seen.
DC: 4 sec. [00:38:14][00:52:32] A man can be seen in the carriage talking to Paganini. He talks badly about the Habsburgs.
DC: 15 sec. [00:43:39][00:57:58] Theatrical version shows Paganini walking around the room.
Theatrical Version: 5 sec. [00:44:27][00:58:39] The director's cut shows the woman masturbating on the bed for longer. Then follows the shot of Paganini, which was brought forward in theatrical version. Finally, we see the woman masturbating on the bed again.
DC: 54 sec. [00:52:27][01:07:13] A shot of the carriage is seen before cutting to Paganini at the window.
DC: 6 sec. [00:52:33][01:07:24] The previous shot of the carriage follows in theatrical version after Paganini is seen.
The director's cut shows another cut to the carriage.
Theatrical Version: 6 secs. DC: 5 sec. [00:56:37][01:11:17] The theatrical version shows a new scene. A man with white make-up stands on the stage and pretends to be Paganini. He pretends to play the violin. The women present insult him as a swindler and a lecher who has his way with little girls. At the end, the audience storms onto the stage.
Theatrical Version: 1:33 min [01:03:31][01:16:25] The director's cut shows a shot of the ceiling before Paganini is seen on the couch.
DC: 1 sec. [01:04:18][01:17:11] The director's cut shows Paganini with a candlestick and his violin case. He says that they want to confiscate his violin.
DC: 7 sec. [01:04:52][01:17:51] The theatrical version shows the scenes here in which the priest comes into Paganini's room, but is then thrown out again by Paganini and his son. This is followed by the conversation in the carriage and how the boy is frightened by the blood in Paganini's handkerchief. In the director's cut, these scenes were already shown at the beginning of the movie.
Theatrical Version: 3:29 min [01:08:46][01:18:15] Paganini can be seen longer on the meadow. Another shot of him follows.
DC: 9 sec. [01:14:10][01:23:34] When Paganini plays himself to death, theatrical version shows scenes in which Paganini finds his dead wife.
In the director's cut, you see instead how the servants walk across the courtyard and notice the music. They stop and listen. Cuts to Paganini and his son. The servants finally start to laugh.
Theatrical Version: 47 sec. DC: 46 sec. [01:15:04][01:24:26] The director's cut continues to show Paganini playing. His son runs to him. In between scenes of a goat being slaughtered.
DC: 41 sec. [01:15:12][01:25:14] The director's cut earlier shows the son running up the stairs.
DC: 2 sec. [01:15:20][01:25:24] Paganini collapses. In between cuts to his son and the flashback in the gondola.
DC: 21 sec. [01:15:22][01:25:48] The theatrical version cuts to Paganini's son.
The director's cut shows a different shot of him.
Theatrical Version: 1 sec. DC: 1 sec. [01:15:26][01:25:53] The woman can be seen getting out of the carriage for longer.
DC: 8 sec. [01:15:27][01:26:02] The theatrical version here shows the son running up the steps.
The director's cut shows an alternative shot of the son.
Theatrical Version: 1 sec. DC: 3 sec. [01:15:30][01:26:06] The director's cut inserts a shot of Paganini having sex in the meadow.
DC: 5 sec. [01:15:31][01:26:12] The director's cut shows the son playing with a bike, then another cut to the son running down the stairs.
DC: 2 sec. [01:17:01][01:27:41] A shot of Paganini and his wife on the gondola is seen.
DC: 5 secs. [01:17:04][01:27:49] The theatrical version inserts the previous flashback as the son is seen.
In the director's cut, the son can still be seen.
Theatrical Version: 5 sec. DC: 1 sec. [01:20:53][01:31:26] The theatrical version shows another shot of the son by the coffin, then a flashback of him playing with the bike.
Theatrical Version: 11 sec. [01:21:25][01:31:46] The theatrical version shows Paganini with his wife in the gondola. The boy at the coffin can be seen. The picture is slowed down. The Italian credits follow.
The director's cut shows the boy in the coffin with Paganini. The boy can be seen. In between, a short flashback of Paganini with his wife in the gondola. The English credits follow.
Theatrical Version: 2:58 mins DC: 2:27 mins |
