Editing objectionable movie scenes

Their hearts will go on and on…except in Utah. After the Titanic video went on sale Sept. 1, 1998, Sunrise Family Video in American Fork, Utah, began offering a unique service: For $5, Sunrise owners Don and Carol Biesinger will edit out the scene in which Kate Winslet poses nude for Leonardo DiCaprio, as well as the love scene in the back of a car. So far, almost 2,000 tapes have been brought in for clipping. ”We would be very happy if [Paramount] would make airline versions available to the public,” says Carol. ”We’d be happily out of a job.” Understandably, Paramount isn’t happy. ”Some consumers are offended by footage they feel is inappropriate. It does not give them the right to freely edit,” says a spokeswoman, who adds that the studio is looking into legal action. Responds Carol: ”If they can prove that what we’re doing is wrong or illegal, then we’ll quit.”

In the meantime, EW offers a peek at how some other popular films might have looked if they had been edited in Utah:

THE FULL MONTY Real plot: Unemployed steelworkers trapped in a grim existence put on a strip show to reclaim their dignity. Utah version: Unemployed steelworkers are trapped in a grim existence.

MULAN Real plot: A Chinese girl dresses as a male warrior and saves China. Utah version: A Chinese man saves China.

BOOGIE NIGHTS Real plot: A physically gifted busboy finds fame and fortune in the world of porn films. Utah version: A three-minute ’70s-music video.

THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT MARY Real plot: Ben Stiller suffers a zipper injury on prom night; he later becomes self-involved. Utah version: Cameron Diaz can’t understand why she’s stood up on prom night; she resorts to superstrong hair gel.

WHY DO FOOLS FALL IN LOVE Real plot: The real-life story about a man who had three wives at the same time. Utah version: The real-life story about a man who had three wives at the same time.

— Marta Murvosh