There seems to be a lot of confusion in the database as to how to deal with releases that contain more than one version of the same film. I have a few of these and they all seem to be profiled in different ways.
I've listed below all the ways I can think of that these releases are packaged:

Separate versions on separate discs
Currently I have one that is profiled as a traditional box set(no info in parent) and another as a modified box set (info in both parent & child).

Separate versions on different sides of the same disc
Note: I'm not talking about widescreen/P&S here. At the moment these seem to be profiled as a normal 2 sided disc. But why should they be treated differently to the ones on separate discs?

Separate versions the same side of the disc
At the moment this type can't be profiled separately, so dividers are used to separate films.

Separate versions available via branching
At the moment this is listed as an "Other Feature" in the profile.

Now at the moment, the rules for "Disc Features" state that the "Other" section is to be used to give "Indications for multiple versions of a film" - but does this only apply if the versions are on the same disc?

The "Box Set" rules only say that a box set is "any release that includes more than one film" - but do alternate versions count as a different film? And if they do, why aren't the 2 sided discs profiled this way?

So, discuss: is a different version of the same film a different film or an extra? Should how that alternate version is packaged make a difference?

Skip your not getting the whole story this is over Criterions release of Brazil, which isn't really the same film.  Where the contributor tried to change the box set to a single profile.

Here is one of the many old discussions over this release.

http://www.intervocative.com/Forums.aspx?task=viewtopic&topicID=104320

I'm sure there are more but, I'm just lazy to search for the others.

In reality I think there are only a few releases that are treated this way, Criterion's Brazil and Ultimate Dawn of the Dead are the only two that come to mind.  Possibly the Universal's release of Dune since i has different director credits but, not sure.

As I noted, Duplicate data unecessarily, are you telling me both films contain different castr and crew data.

Like i said the only difference is Runtime and the rule was written with Brazil in mind as well. Creating a whole profile just to dsitinguish runtime? Just use the longest version.

Skip

Quote:

are you telling me both films contain different cast and crew data.

According to the old Intervocative thread which I've just read, yes!
The cast is different on the alternate cut of Brazil. But I don't want this to get bogged down on a debate about this particular film.
So is your opinion that regardless of how it is packaged or how different the cuts are, alternate versions are not to be classed as separate films?

I would vote to change the Brazil box set profile to a Ben-Hur style modified box set profile. IMO the alternate cut is a bonus feature.

Quoting Mole:

Quote:
Vanishing Point: R1, 0 24543 11040 8

UK & US versions on opposite sides of the disc.

US version: 98 minutes, English, French, Spanish audio tracks

UK version: 105 minutes, English audio only, but has the added attraction of an additional scene, with an additional (albeit uncredited) actress....Charlotte Rampling.....

The rules say to use 105

Skip

Quoting northbloke:

Quote:
Mole, can I ask - how is that currently profiled?
And how do you think it should be profiled? 

I think I've kept this one as local, as a box set, where the parent uses the UPC and the children use Disc IDs, one child per side.

I remember it was discussed on the old forums, but I can't remember what was the outcome, which is probably why I didn't contibute it.

Edit: just checked the online. The profile there is a single mish-mash of both UK & US releases, in that:

run-time given is for the UK version. 1:45:42 = 106 mins, as per rules, although the "other features" section states "Includes 105 minute UK version"

audio tracks are for the US version, and Ms Rampling is listed in the cast list with suffixed by "(scenes deleted)". Note: she is uncredited in the UK version.

Quoting skipnet50:

Quote:
Quoting Mole:

Quote:
Vanishing Point: R1, 0 24543 11040 8

UK & US versions on opposite sides of the disc.

US version: 98 minutes, English, French, Spanish audio tracks

UK version: 105 minutes, English audio only, but has the added attraction of an additional scene, with an additional (albeit uncredited) actress....Charlotte Rampling.....

The rules say to use 105

Skip

Skip I don't own this release but, it appears from Chris's comments that the contributors decieded this was a box set due to the additional scene that included Charlott Rampling.  It was probably the best way for them to capture the data.  Chris might know more around the history of this release.