Are there two versions of The Notebook's ending? If so, why?
Last night, my partner and I watched The Notebook on (UK) Netflix.
At the end of the film, Noah climbs into Allie's bed, where they hold hands and talk about miracles. Cut to birds flying over a lake, followed by the credits. There is no clear indication of their deaths.
However, we both distinctly remember, from previous viewings, an additional scene, in which the couple is discovered, both deceased, the following morning. This is borne out by the Wikipedia plot summary, which ends:
While sleeping, both Noah and Allie pass away and a nurse discovers them in the morning.
Are there two different versions of the film's ending?
If so, how did these come about? Were the two endings perhaps the result of differing censorship requirements in different markets, a special director's cut edition featuring previously unused footage, or simply heavy-handed editing by Netflix for some reason?
Best Answer
Netflix UK/Ireland has posted tweets that it was an alternate version that existed and was supplied to them by mistake. Their claim is:
Things you should know…
– we did not edit the notebook
– an alternate version exists and was supplied to us
– we are getting to the bottom of it asap
– apparently some films have more than one ending?!
One note, this tweet and the outcry that prompted it postdates your question by several months (February of 2019). But, according to Netflix a second version does exist, and that is what was shown.
Esquire posted a similar report, however they speculate that because Netflix actually licensed the film rather than just hosting (Which gives them more rights), that they were providing an alternate ending as a possible prelude to a sequel.
Pictures about "Are there two versions of The Notebook's ending? If so, why?"
Why are there two versions of The Notebook?
This is what Nicholas Sparks said about The Notebook's alternate ending. While Netflix is known to crop movies so that they can offer the best aspect-ratio for their viewers, they don't typically chop endings or switch things around. Apparently, the U.K. ending for The Notebook was out of their control.Are there 2 endings to The Notebook?
Another viewer noted this version is actually true to the book, writing, "The alternate ending of The Notebook is more similar to that of the actual book, and there's a sequel, so it's definitely prepping us for the sequel."Is there an older version of The Notebook?
The Notebook is a 2004 American romantic drama film directed by Nick Cassavetes, with a screenplay by Jeremy Leven and Jan Sardi, based on the 1996 novel of the same name by Nicholas Sparks.What does the ending of The Notebook mean?
In the original, the film ended with a scene at a nursing home; the two main characters, Allie (Rachel McAdams) and Noah (Ryan Gosling), are much older, and Allie \u2014 who has dementia \u2014 has recalled the time she spent with Noah when they were young. The pair end the film in a romantic embrace, dying with each other.The Notebook Deleted Scene - At The House (2004) - Ryan Gosling, Rachel McAdams Movie HD
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: Inga Seliverstova, EKATERINA BOLOVTSOVA, Jill Wellington, Ron Lach