# Anyone else remember the alternate ending to "Big"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** movies\ **Created:** [April 16, 2002, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-remember-the-alternate-ending-to-big/103864 "2002-04-16T02:03:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 37
**Author:** ![Helmut\_Doork](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e8c25b/32.png) [@Helmut\_Doork](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helmut_Doork)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2019, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-remember-the-alternate-ending-to-big/103864/721 "2019-07-29T18:36:10Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > There is no “NZ TV version from 1989.” New Zealand got exactly the same movie everyone else did. CITE?? Movies are **absolutely** edited specifically to cater to the tastes and sensibilities of certain countries. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2019, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-remember-the-alternate-ending-to-big/103864/722 "2019-07-29T18:37:10Z")
> [@Helmut\_Doork](#): > > Actually I’ve seen Day For Night multiple times, and that alone qualifies as an “expert” in this thread, based on comments like ‘actor X, who wasn’t on set that day, or in the scene at all, doesn’t recall it happening, so that’s proof it didn’t happen’. etc. Yeah, those aren’t strong arguments. Neither is, “Maybe the second unit director spontaneously decided to shoot an entirely different ending, all on his own, and nobody knew it happened, and also somehow he got the ending to New Zealand TV shows without anyone else involved in the movie ever finding out.” I’m still curious if you think the case for, “Nelson Mandela died in prison in the '80s” is still open for debate or not? ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2019, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-remember-the-alternate-ending-to-big/103864/723 "2019-07-29T18:42:07Z")
Yes, 2nd unit directors are a thing. Yes, the main director wont usually be on set during 2nd unit stuff. However, the main director WILL be involved with casting anyone with lines (especially if they are the main fucking characters, despite being different actors) and editing of 2nd unit stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2019, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-remember-the-alternate-ending-to-big/103864/724 "2019-07-29T18:45:03Z")
> [@Helmut\_Doork](#): > > CITE?? > > Movies are **absolutely** edited specifically to cater to the tastes and sensibilities of certain countries. Yes, I’m aware. I did not claim that no movie is ever edited to conform to local tastes or sensibilities. I’m saying that there is no New Zealand TV version that’s different from the version that was released in the states. The idea that such a version exists is purely an invention by people who are inexplicably attached to the idea of an alternate ending. As pointed out, it fails on several fronts, not the least of which being that the idea that there’s an alternative ending to _Big_ is not something that is unique or exclusive to New Zealand. Lots and lots of Americans think they saw this ending, too. If, as you suggest, this edit exists because it was made for a specific foreign market, how did so many Americans end up seeing it, too? ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2019, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-remember-the-alternate-ending-to-big/103864/725 "2019-07-29T18:48:33Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Because it’s really interesting in the context of this particular discussion. There’s a term for this sort of mass false memory: [The Mandela Effect](https://www.snopes.com/news/2016/07/24/the-mandela-effect/), named specifically for the phenomenon of many people beng startled when they heard Nelson Mandela was being released from prison, because they had specific memories of reading about him dying there. So, I’m wondering what your take on that is, given that you think “proving something did not happen” is some sort of logical impossibility. Do you think the fact that Nelson Mandela became president of South Africa in 1994 does not prove conclusively that he did not die in prison in the '80s? The Mandela Effect may be more similar than you think to the current case - it seems quite possible that people who remember Mandela dying in prison are thinking of another well-known anti-apartheid campaigner who did die in prison and whose death was memorialized in a movie in the 1980s - Stephen Biko, just as people thinking of an alternate ending to Big may be thinking of 14 going on 30. ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2019, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-remember-the-alternate-ending-to-big/103864/726 "2019-07-29T18:50:04Z")
> [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > That is crazy talk. :eek: I was _there_, man! I am almost 100% certain that I remember hearing the Wiggle/jiggle lyrics and then later hearing the Glimmer/Shimmer and thinking something along the lines of “Hmm, they changed the song.” Here is one commercial featuring wobble/wiggle/jiggle lyrics. We are now down the rabbit hole, folks. [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xA26RTvDGs4) ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2019, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-remember-the-alternate-ending-to-big/103864/727 "2019-07-29T18:59:06Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > Can you give a single example of tv stations adding previously unreleased content to Hollywood films? At the risk of actually adding even a hint of support to our recent BigLiever, I know of two such examples. I don’t know if they were done with the consent of the director, or what, but they were done. ST:TWOK had two scenes added concerning Scotty’s nephew that were not in the theatrical cut, and Airplane! had a LOT of cutting room floor scenes added to make up for all the NSFTV scenes pulled (otherwise it would have been a 30 minute broadcast). It was almost like watching a different movie at times. And the scenes weren’t that funny. I don’t think either movies’ scenes were added in DVD bonus scenes, interestingly enough. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2019, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-remember-the-alternate-ending-to-big/103864/728 "2019-07-29T19:02:02Z")
> [@Helmut\_Doork](#): > > The second unit director (a real thing! someone besides the main director tasked with various shots, mainly ones that don’t require the lead actors, done without main director on set usually!) decides to film sixty seconds of the woman as a young girl at the window-door of the classroom, during the other classroom scenes. Hundreds of thousands of feet of footage, why would this shot have had special resonance with the actors at the time, for them to distinctly recall it decades later? Now who doesn’t know how movies work? The second unit films either specialty shots like stunts and SFX or location shots to save time and money. They are hired guns. They don’t have any creative control of the movie. They film what they are told. They don’t waste time and money filming scenes on a whim. They sure as hell don’t take it upon themselves to hire a child actress and film a new ending to the film. > [@Helmut\_Doork](#): > > CITE?? > > Movies are **absolutely** edited specifically to cater to the tastes and sensibilities of certain countries. I was unaware that New Zealand has much different sensibilities than the other English speaking countries. Do they require more Hobbits? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2019, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-remember-the-alternate-ending-to-big/103864/729 "2019-07-29T19:02:19Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > At the risk of actually adding even a hint of support to our recent BigLiever, I know of two such examples. I don’t know if they were done with the consent of the director, or what, but they were done. > > ST:TWOK had two scenes added concerning Scotty’s nephew that were not in the theatrical cut, and Airplane! had a LOT of cutting room floor scenes added to make up for all the NSFTV scenes pulled (otherwise it would have been a 30 minute broadcast). It was almost like watching a different movie at times. And the scenes weren’t that funny. > > I don’t think either movies’ scenes were added in DVD bonus scenes, interestingly enough. The tv stations added those scenes? ---
**Author:** ![Helmut\_Doork](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e8c25b/32.png) [@Helmut\_Doork](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helmut_Doork)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2019, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-remember-the-alternate-ending-to-big/103864/730 "2019-07-29T19:05:40Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Yes, I’m aware. I did not claim that no movie is ever edited to conform to local tastes or sensibilities. I’m saying that there is no New Zealand TV version that’s different from the version that was released in the states. First you show your CITE that NZ would absolutely, positively have seen the same TV version as the US. :dubious: Actually Czarcasm, incapable of continuing this debate without working blue, has summoned me to the troll thread in the cesspit, so I will end here and continue there. ---
**Author:** ![Helmut\_Doork](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e8c25b/32.png) [@Helmut\_Doork](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helmut_Doork)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2019, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-remember-the-alternate-ending-to-big/103864/731 "2019-07-29T19:09:04Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > Now who doesn’t know how movies work? The second unit films either specialty shots like stunts and SFX or location shots to save time and money. They are hired guns. They don’t have any creative control of the movie. They film what they are told. They don’t waste time and money filming scenes on a whim. They sure as hell don’t take it upon themselves to hire a child actress and film a new ending to the film. Wouldn’t have been a new actress, merely, the studio saying - second unit! the ending isn’t testing well- pick a cute girl from the classroom scene and film her waving at the window at Josh. It would be a ‘reshoot’, maybe Marshall would do it, maybe not available, maybe didn’t want her to, who knows, who cares. Reading the Wiki entry on second units two minutes before your post doesn’t mean you fully understand them. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2019, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-remember-the-alternate-ending-to-big/103864/732 "2019-07-29T19:10:10Z")
> [@Helmut\_Doork](#): > > First you show your CITE that NZ would absolutely, positively have seen the same TV version as the US. :dubious: > > Actually Czarcasm, incapable of continuing this debate without working blue, has summoned me to the troll thread in the cesspit, so I will end here and continue there. I didn’t “summon you” anywhere. ---
**Author:** ![Helmut\_Doork](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e8c25b/32.png) [@Helmut\_Doork](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helmut_Doork)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2019, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-remember-the-alternate-ending-to-big/103864/733 "2019-07-29T19:12:50Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > The tv stations added those scenes? For the fifth time- \*\*no one \*\*said NZ TV was given access to unused studio owned footage, and given carte blanche to add or subtract as they saw fit for their broadcast. No studio would allow that. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2019, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-remember-the-alternate-ending-to-big/103864/734 "2019-07-29T19:14:58Z")
> [@Helmut\_Doork](#): > > … > Doesnt DO Anything- something dozens of people (with OVER 1000 posts) swear they saw, swear it exists, but no proof, but of course it exists, because faulty memory happens, but not to long time SDMB posters- proof just hasn’t surfaced yet… What do you mean by “Doesnt DO Anything-”? ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2019, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-remember-the-alternate-ending-to-big/103864/735 "2019-07-29T19:15:39Z")
TV versions do have additional scenes, but Big never did. Everyone who thinks it did is remembering the 14 going on 30 ending. > [@garygnu](#): > > I presume this has already been posted, but [here is the actual ending to the movie _14 Going On 30 that_](https://youtu.be/6783tkwbZw0) people have been mistakenly remembering as _Big_. That is the ending we were all thinking of and it has been posted. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2019, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-remember-the-alternate-ending-to-big/103864/736 "2019-07-29T19:15:51Z")
> [@Helmut\_Doork](#): > > For the fifth time- \*\*no one \*\*said NZ TV was given access to unused studio owned footage, and given carte blanche to add or subtract as they saw fit for their broadcast. No studio would allow that. Then why does the studio have no evidence that this alternative cut exists? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2019, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-remember-the-alternate-ending-to-big/103864/737 "2019-07-29T19:16:29Z")
> [@Helmut\_Doork](#): > > For the fifth time- \*\*no one \*\*said NZ TV was given access to unused studio owned footage, and given carte blanche to add or subtract as they saw fit for their broadcast. No studio would allow that. I was addressing a response from another poster. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2019, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-remember-the-alternate-ending-to-big/103864/738 "2019-07-29T19:17:01Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > Can you cite any examples of television networks independently _adding_ previously unreleased content to Hollywood movies for their broadcast? Probably not the station adding stuff but alternate cuts of a film have popped up unexpectedly on TV. One time I was reading a _Blade Runner_ thing where it was mentioned that an extra line by Bryant saying something like “I want you to go down there and check it out.” (Leon’s room) was seen in some versions. But there was no verification. Ooh, ooh. I have a copy from an NY superstation on Beta that has that line. Time to check. Oops, the beginning had been recorded over right up to that spot. Drat. Now for some lines by a couple of SDMB favorites: “I design your eyes.” “Chew, if only you could see what I’ve seen with your eyes!” One cannot automatically rule out odd versions popping up on TV. (And being recorded. Then VCRs, now DVRs and what not.) But if you have the production schedule, the shooting script, and on and on you can really, absolutely, definitely rule out otherwise unrecorded scenes ever having been made. ---
**Author:** ![Helmut\_Doork](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e8c25b/32.png) [@Helmut\_Doork](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helmut_Doork)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2019, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-remember-the-alternate-ending-to-big/103864/739 "2019-07-29T19:17:20Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > I didn’t “summon you” anywhere. you mentioned me _there_ because you couldn’t properly debate me _here_. so now others have come along, agreeing TV airings can and do have alternate scenes, and they sometimes aren’t included as DVD extras. So they only thing making this one illogical is Penny fucking Marshall didn’t recall shooting it because she may not have! ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2019, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-remember-the-alternate-ending-to-big/103864/740 "2019-07-29T19:17:59Z")
> [@Helmut\_Doork](#): > > Sorry, thread very long- has anyone covered that the IMDB site says that a 2005 Canada Book of Lists gives this as an alternate ending? Yes. In fact here is the page from that book. It does say that, but it offers no citation. Perhaps I am the source since this thread predates the book. 😃 [Here is the page from that book.](https://imgur.com/XY5xFAO) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-remember-the-alternate-ending-to-big/103864.md?page=36) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-remember-the-alternate-ending-to-big/103864.md?page=38)