Shall We Dansu?

[Lawrence Marceau]

To the KineJapan List:

    I am currently using a laserdisc copy of _Shall We Dansu?_ in my
introductory course on Japanese film.  When I printed out the
information from the IMDB (International Movie Database) site on the
film, it said that the runtime is 118 minutes in the US version, while
it is 136 minutes for the domestic version.  This is a huge difference,
in my opinion, and I would appreciate feedback by those on the list who
are familiar with/have easy access to/ both versions.  Also, are these
differences reflected in the screenplays that are apparently currently
available?  I notice that one screenplay is in bilingual form.

    While I'm on the subject, I would like to repeat a question that was
asked in this forum over a year ago:  Is the voiceover at the beginning
of the film, on the "Japanese" cultural tendency to hide overt
expression of one's emotions, especially that of love between spouses,
also in the domestically released version?  My recollection was that it
is.

    Thanks in advance.

    Lawrence Marceau