OVERALL: Draw

Some of the interviews (Kristofferson & Mansfield) are included on the French, German & US releases. The German release includes two versions of the film & most of the extras from both the UK & US releases.

The UK release is cut (59s of BBFC-imposed cuts to a cockfight and horsefalls) but also includes the original stereo mix - absent from the US, French & German discs - and some exclusive special features, including a slightly edited version of the superb documentary "Final Cut: The Making and Unmaking of Heaven's Gate" (the cuts in this documentary seem to have been made owing to rights issues).

If you want additional books, soundtrack CD and special packaging, get the 5-disc "Limited Edition" box set from Carlotta Films.

General notes:
The current "Extended Director's Cut" (premiered in 2012 Venice Film Festival) was personally supervised by Michael Cimino (and produced by Joann Carelli and Peter Becker). It's the only version that has his "unequivocal approval".
"Extended Director's Cut" is essentially the same as the original 219-minute "1980 Premiere Version" (released on DVD by MGM) but without the intermission (several minor tweaks were also made: Cimino shortened some shots in the second half of the film and removed one line of dialogue). For this version, Cimino also adjusted the film's colour scheme slightly, making it more naturalistic (the aesthetic of the original version/s was dominated by browns and yellows).

CUTS:

• Blu-ray A America- Criterion Collection - No cuts - Extended Director's Cut (217:04)
• Blu-ray B France- Carlotta Films - No cuts - Extended Director's Cut.
• Blu-ray B 3-Disc Limited Collector's Edition Germany- Capelight Pictures - No Cuts - Includes the Extended Director's Cut (216:53) & the US Theatrical Cut (154:00)
• Blu-ray B United Kingdom- Second Sight - Cut - Extended Director's Cut (216:18). 59s of BBFC-imposed cuts: 'Compulsory cuts were made to remove scenes of unsimulated animal cruelty orchestrated by the film makers (in this case, a cockfight and sight of horses being deliberately tripped in a cruel fashion)'

Do you own a release not listed? Then please visit our forums and let us know!

Comparison added by Anthony_DiPaola on 21/11/12
Comparison last updated by Mark_Meakin on 21/12/19

UPDATE LOG:

21/11/12: Initial Entry.
26/11/13: French.
08/12/13: Added UK release.
21/12/19: Added German release. US/French ASINs added.