Comparison between the Warner DVD Version [represented by the German DVD] and the US Artisan DVD Version (Unrated).

INTRODUCTION

When Laurel Entertainment and the American television channel ABC in 1993 announced that they plan to create a TV-miniseries of Stephen King's "The Stand" the fans were both excited and sceptical. On the one hand it was more than obvious that the format of the miniseries was favorable for King's novel (which has more than 1000 pages, a complex story, and a great amount of characters). On the other hand it was not quite clear whether or not the dark material would be aired uncensored (especially the first third of the book where an aggressive form of the influenzavirus wipes out 99% of humanity). Would they be able to show all the people dying in the same explicit way as the novel does? To the delight of all participants of the project as well as fans they were actually able to do so. "Standards and Practices" - ABC's censorship division that keeps a lid on preserving the boundaries of morality and taste - let the producers get away with a lot of things. This resulted in a pretty explicit depiction of the plague and its impact on the humans.


THE RELEASES AND THE DIFFERENT VERSIONS

Of course they couldn't show anything they wanted on TV. Overall they had to cut out 3 scenes, shorten some of the scenes every one in a while or replace certain sequences with alternative material. This mitigated version of "The Stand" is the one they later on released in the rest of the world on VHS as well as DVD. Warner Home Video was the international distributor. They combined 2 episodes into 1 movie and then released the whole series on 2 VHS tapes. In the year 2004 they released a double-DVD of the exact same version in some countries.
In the USA the label Artisan Entertainment bought the DVD publicataion rights. They used the opportunity to release an uncensored version of the movie. Not only did Artisan's version include the 3 scenes that were cut out, they also changed other things of the miniseries:

In the USA it's common to consider the commercial breaks when editing a movie that is supposed to be a TV release. Due to several fades to black the movie is divided into different acts which results in an episodical structure. Just before every commercial break there's a climax of tension which makes the viewer want to continue to watch the show. "The Stand" also includes these fades to black; however, for the uncensored version they mostly replaced them by dissolves or by just combining scenes that were "divided" by these fades (therefore, there's no dramaturgical pause). This results in several alterations/cuts of shots. These alterations/cuts will be mentioned, however, they won't be illustrated with screenshots from the movie.

After a rather short time the Artisan DVD was sold out and for a long time it was pretty hard to get your hands on one of the copies if you were not willing to pay up to 200 dollars on Ebay or Amazon-Marketplace. There did exist an Australian version which was nothing else than a direct copy of the Artisan DVD (split into two DVD-9 discs instead of one DVD-18 disc), however, this was just a bootleg.
Even the Warder-DVD did become a rare collector's-item and was not reissued to this day.

In 2007 the international publication rights of "The Stand" were sold to Paramount who decided to finally release the uncensored version internationally. Even though the PAL version of the Paramount-DVD is almost 15 minutes longer than the PAL version of the Warner-DVD, that doesn't say much. It only reveals the fact that the Paramount-DVD was converted from NTSC to PAL without a PAL-Speed-Up.

For this report it's a little tricky to give each version a name. Even thoug the Warner-DVD is based on the TV version, there still are minor differences (e.g. opening/closing credits, logos, and so on) - after all, Warner released the miniseries as a two-part movie (each of them with their own opening/closing credits and logos). Artisan on the other hand presented "The Stand" as a four-parter (even though you were able to watch 2 of the parts behind one another without any interruptions). Still, the Artisan-DVD's version includes a different distibutor logo and shows the opening credits at the beginning of the first part and the closing credits at the end of the fourth part only.
To avoid any confusion, the TV Version will be called "Warner version" and the uncensored version will be called "Artisan version".

This is a comparison between the TV version (represented by the German DVD released by Warner Home Video) - in this report it will be called "Warner version" - and the Artisan version (represented by the US DVD released by Artisan Entertainment).

The time designations always refer to the Warner version. The difference in time is always rounded up/off.

Overall, the comparison of the two versions results in the following differences:

3 cuts in the Warner version = 51 sec.
1 cut in the Artisan version = 5 sec.
1 alternative scene in the Warner version = 7 sec.
1x alternative distributor logos = 6 sec.
1x additional distributor logos in the Warner version = 21 sec.
10 fades to black of the Warner version were in the Artisan version replaced by dissolves = 44 sec.
3 fades to black of the Warner version were in the Artisan version replaced by a different cut =6 sec.
6 additional title cards in the Artisan version = 4 sec.
1 alternative title card in the Artisan version = No difference in time.
1 additional title card in the Warner version = No difference in time.
1x additional credits in the Warner version = 89 sec.
1x additional opening credits in the Warner version No difference in time.

Part 1 (Warner DVD, Disc 1)

0:00:00
Alternative Distributor Logos
The Warner version begins with the Warner-Home-Video-logo and the Worldvision-Home-Video-logo.
The Artisan version begins with the Republic-Pictures-logo.
Warner version 6 sec. longer

Warner Version:	Artisan Version:

0:00:21
Alternative Title Card/Black Screen Replaced by Dissolve
The Warner version begins with a biblical quotation from the Book of Revelations from chapter 6 verse 8. The quotation is displayed en bloc. Then the quote fades out and the movie cuts to the close-up shot of a barb wire fence.
The Artisan version begins with a quotation of T.S. Eliot. The quotation is versified and doesn't fade out but rather dissolve into the shot of the barb wire fence. Even though the Eliot-quotation is shown a little longer, the dissolve offsets the difference in time.
No difference in time.

Warner version:	Artisan Version:

0:01:26
Additional Title Card
In the Artisan version you see a title card that names the episode "The Plague".
No difference in time.

0:05:35
Additional Title Card
In the Artisan version there's an additional title card of the cast during the opening credits.
No difference in time.

0:27:52
Fade to Black Replaced by a Dissolve
In the Artisan version a fade to black was replaced by a dissolve. The shot of Stu who looks out of his hospital room's window is slightly longer in the Warner version.
Warner version 3 sec. longer

0:39:06
Fade to Black Replaced by Different Cut
While in the Warner version you see a black screen after the shot of Nick who steps out of his prison cell the Artisan version continues the scene without any interruption. The shot of Nick is slightly longer in the Warner version and the following shot after the black screen begins a little earlier in the Warner version (so that the TV reporter is able to say that part of her text which in the Artisan version could already be heard during the shot of Nick).
Warner version 5 sec. longer

0:48:55
Fade to Black Replaced by Different Cut
In the Warner version Larry's encounter with the monster-shouter ends with Larry looking for it. Then follows a fade to black. The following scene of Lloyd and Poke. They're already shown on the other side of the crossroads. The loud rock music from their car radio starts after the black screen.
In the Artisan version Larry shakes his head because of the monster-shouter and then leaves the screen on the left. You already hear the rock music from the car radio. When Larry is so close to the left side of the screen that you can only see his shoulder the Artisan version cuts to Lloyd and Poke inside the car. In the Artisan version they almost crossed the crossroads.
No difference in time.

1:01:09
Fade to Black Replaced by a Dissolve
The Warner version fades to black while the Artisan version dissolves to the next scene. The following scene where Nick holds a tissue in front of the ill prisoner's mouth and nose is slightly longer in the Warner version.
Warner version 3 sec. longer

1:25:30
Cut in The Artisan Version
In the Warner version Stu goes down the road a little longer before the scene fades to black. The fade to black is also longer than in the Artisan version.
Warner version 5 sec. longer

1:26:02
Additional Title Card
In the Artisan version there's an additional title card that names the next episode "The Dreams".
No difference in time.

1:56:28
Fade to Black Replaced by Different Cut
At this point the Warner version fades out while Larry approaches the tunnel portal. The following shot of Larry inside the tunnel begins a little earlier in the Warner version.
In the Artisan version the scene goes on uninterruptedly. Larry goes into the tunnel and then follows a cut to the shot inside the tunnel.
Warner version 1 sec. longer

2:31:45
Fade to Black Replaced by a Dissolve
The shot of Nick and Tom who run away from Julie Lawry is a little longer in the Warner version (which then fades to black). The following shot of the street starts a little earlier in the Warner version.
In the Artisan version you instead see a dissolve.
Warner version 5 sec. longer

2:43:40
Fade to Black Replaced by a Dissolve
Again, a fade to black was for the Artisan version replaced by a dissolve. In the Warner version Mother Abagail is shown a little longer before the fade-out. After the fade-in Nick is shown slightly earlier ramming the sign into the ground. In the Warner version he hits the sign 3 times with his hammer. Then he gives it a slight jolt. The Artisan version starts with the jolt.
Warner version 5 sec. longer

2:50:55
Additional Title Card
In the Warner version there's a title card naming the executive producers.
No difference in time.

2:51:00
Additional Credits in the Warner Version
The Warner version shows the credits after the fade to black. This marks the end of the first part of the miniseries. The Artisan version stops the movie after the fade to black. Then the viewer is requested to turn the disc around.
Warner version 89 sec. longer

Part 2 (Warner DVD, Disc 2)

0:00:00
Additional Distributor Logos in the Warner Version
The Warner version again begins with the Warner-Home-Video- as well as the Worldvision-Home-Video-logo (for this see cut 1 from Disc 1). The Artisan version starts without any logos.
Warner version 21 sec. longer

0:00:22
Additional Opening Credits in the Warner Version
At the beginning of the second part of the Warner version there are entirely different opening credits. The Artisan version doesn't show any credits.
No difference in time.

0:00:33
Additional Title Card
Instead the Artisan version shows the next episode's title: "The Betrayal"
No difference in time.

0:17:46
Fade to Black Replaced by a Dissolve
Again, the Warner version shows a fade to black while the Artisan version shows a dissolve. The previous shot of the motorcade as well as the following shot of the Colorado mountains are slightly longer in the Warner version.
Warner version 4 sec. longer

0:34:10
Fade to Black Replaced by a Dissolve
After the shot of the people gathered around Lucy, the Artisan version directly fades to the shot of the house where the commitee retired for deliberation. The Warner version again shows a fade to black. Both sequences before and after the black screen are slightly longer in the Warner version.
Warner version 6 sec. longer

0:44:19
Fade to Black Replaced by a Dissolve
And here we go again. In the Warner version, Nick (looking rather uneasy) as well as the exterior view of Tom's house are shown a little longer and divided by a fade to black. The Artisan version fades from the one scen to the other one.
Warner version 4 sec. longer

1:11:34
Fade to Black Replaced by a Dissolve
And another fade to black. In the Warner version the panning shot over the instruction on how to build a bomb is a little longer followed by a a short shot of Harold's hand reaching for the walkie-talkie. After the black screen Nadine with the carton under her arm is shown a little earlier when she walks up the path in the garden. The Artisan version (as usual) dissolves from the one scene to the next one.
Warner version 5 sec. longer

1:26:19
Additional Title Card
In the Artisan version there's an additional title card naming the next episode "The Stand".
No difference in time.

1:42:22
Cut/Alternative Scene
Now you see the first mitigated scene of the Warner version. Instead of just cutting the scene out they (partially) replaced the censored sequence by more harmless alternative footage. The two versions differ as follows:
When the camera pans to Randall Flagg after Dayna's suicide, the Warner version cuts to the lounge of the casino. Flagg's scream resounds through the whole building. The camera then pans to Lloyd and Whitney who are standing in a crowd of Flagg's supporters. Just as the other people around them they anxiously look around/at each other. Then follows a fade to black.
In the Artisan version the scene of Flagg goes on a little longer. The camera pans towards him. He stops screaming, runs to Dayna and lifts her from the broken glass. He looks at her dead body in his arms (you see her blood-besmeared throat) shakes her and then has to realize that she's dead. He screams "Bitch!" and throws her corpse to the side. Then he just stands there for a second and breathes heavily. After that he turns around, goes to the wall, and hits a pillar while angrily screaming. Then the Artisan version fades to black as well.
Artisan version 10 sec. longer

Warner version:	Artisan Version:

1:50:30
Cut Scene
Another censored sequence. When Flagg rapes Nadine, this whole scene was mitigated for the Warner version.
Randall Flagg sits up after kissing Nadine. Nadine eagerly looks at him. Then, the Warner version directly cuts to Flagg's transformation to his monster-shape. Cut back to Nadine who comments this with an unbelieving "No." Then follows a cut back to Flagg who continues to transform into a demon. He responds "Oh, it’s too late to say no dear. Much too late." Nadine shouts "No!" twice, followed by a long shot of her and Flagg building himself up above her in front of the bonfire. You hear Nadine screaming in pain and Flagg screaming with relish.
In the Artisan version ,however, the scene is more ruthless. After Nadine eagerly looked at him the Artisan version shows a shot of Flagg (at this point still human) opening his belt with a predatory grin. Then he bends over Nadine. Nadine comments it with the unbelieving "No". Cut to Flagg. He bottles her up and forces her to have sex with him while she pleadingly screams "Noooo!". Cut back to Nadine who tries to make Flagg see reason with an energetic "No!". She clenches her teeth in pain. Then follows Flagg's first transformation. Cut back to Nadine who screams "No!" twice. Then Flagg responds with "Oh, it’s too late to say no dear. Much too late." followed by a further transformation to a demon. Then you see a close-up shot of Nadine's face contorted with pain. When she screams "No!" her screams get more and more pleading and shrill. She desperately tries to keep her blouse shut. Then follows the shot of her and Flagg in front of the campfire which you already know from the Warner version.
Artisan version 13 sec. longer

Warner version:	Artisan Version:

1:50:56
Cut Scene
The third cut scene. Just after Nadine got raped the Warner version shows Stu, Glen, Larry, and Ralph taking a rest in San Rafael Swell in Utah. As opposed to the Artisan version a short sequence where Flagg and Nadine drive through the desert in the direction of Las Vegas. Flagg happily sings "Baby Can You Dig Your Man" and laughs while Nadine apathetically sits on the passenger seat. ABC's censors probably thought that it was a little too cynical to show Flagg in this happy mood just after the monstrous sexual intercourse as if raping someone was an amusement for him.
Artisan version 21 sec. longer

2:14:58
Fade to Black Replaced by a Dissolve
Another fade to black from the Warner version was in the Artisan version replaced by a dissolve. Before the black screen the Warner version shows the bird a little longer. The tracking shot over the lake after the black screen begings slightly earlier in the Warner version.
Warner version 4 sec. longer

2:52:19
Additional Title Card
Subsequent to the title card that mentions executive producers the Artisan version shows another title card that says "The End". Then the credits roll.
Artisan version 4 sec. longer