# What happened to the alternate ending to Big? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 17, 2008, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-the-alternate-ending-to-big/456801 "2008-07-17T05:06:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Galwegian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/galwegian/32/3426_2.png) [@Galwegian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Galwegian)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2008, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-the-alternate-ending-to-big/456801/21 "2008-07-17T15:12:29Z")
[QUOTE=Koxinga] That’s not the way I remember it. [/QUOTE] I’m perfectly willing to be corrected…or have I just been whooshed? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2008, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-the-alternate-ending-to-big/456801/22 "2008-07-17T15:26:51Z")
> [@](#): > > I’m perfectly willing to be corrected…or have I just been whooshed? It’s a quote from the Simpson’s episode where they go to Japan. Homer says it to Marge aboard the plane after she says “But you _liked_ **Rashomon**.” One of the funniest lines ever on the show. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2008, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-the-alternate-ending-to-big/456801/23 "2008-07-17T16:06:04Z")
What is the ending to the similar movie Vice Versa (1988)? > **[Vice Versa (1988) ⭐ 5.9 | Comedy, Fantasy](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096380/)** > > 1h 38m | PG Could it have the ending people are remembering for Big? ---
**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 17, 2008, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-the-alternate-ending-to-big/456801/24 "2008-07-17T18:24:24Z")
[QUOTE=Illuminatiprimus] People still rent VHS tapes? :eek: [/QUOTE] I should have clarified. I meant that my brother and I saw the ending on a VHS tape we rented…\*\*when Big first came out on tape(in the late '80’s). \*\* ---
**Author:** ![Dan\_Norder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4af34b/32.png) [@Dan\_Norder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dan_Norder)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2008, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-the-alternate-ending-to-big/456801/25 "2008-07-17T19:46:58Z")
[QUOTE=Mahaloth] Why has it not been found? [/quote] Because it never existed. You’re thinking of a TV movie that came out after Big that ripped off the premise of Big. Probably was one of those Disney TV specials. That would explain why you remember it having been a rental: you saw it on a TV and not at the movie theatre. I believe the younger age version of the adult that becomes a sudden new student was a blonde with light eyes (not a younger version of the character from Big). The actress, whose name I can’t remember, played the friend of some character on a popular TV show of the time featuring a teenage girl… possibly “My Two Dads” or something like that. ---
**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2008, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-the-alternate-ending-to-big/456801/26 "2008-07-17T20:05:02Z")
[QUOTE=Mahaloth] I should have clarified. I meant that my brother and I saw the ending on a VHS tape we rented…\*\*when Big first came out on tape(in the late '80’s). \*\* [/QUOTE] We got the tape when it first came out as well, and I never saw an alternate ending. In fact, we rented that film a lot before we eventually owned the VHS. We have, however, had a thread about this issue in the past (when I saw this one, I thought it might be a zombie thread) and it was more or less settled that the “alternate ending” is the actual ending for another film. Which isn’t surprising, because according to the IMDB, there were four other “body swap” films released the same year: **Vice Versa** , **Like Father Like Son** , **18 Again!** , **Dream a Little Dream** … ---
**Author:** ![pinkfreud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pinkfreud/32/17603_2.png) [@pinkfreud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinkfreud)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2008, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-the-alternate-ending-to-big/456801/27 "2008-07-17T20:05:10Z")
[QUOTE=Dan Norder] Because it never existed. You’re thinking of a TV movie that came out after Big that ripped off the premise of Big. Probably was one of those Disney TV specials. That would explain why you remember it having been a rental: you saw it on a TV and not at the movie theatre. I believe the younger age version of the adult that becomes a sudden new student was a blonde with light eyes (not a younger version of the character from Big). The actress, whose name I can’t remember, played the friend of some character on a popular TV show of the time featuring a teenage girl… possibly “My Two Dads” or something like that. [/QUOTE] I think the Disney TV movie you’re describing is [14 Going on 30](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094592/). ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2008, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-the-alternate-ending-to-big/456801/28 "2008-07-17T20:09:28Z")
There was a [fascinating article in the June 30, 2008 issue of The New Yorker](http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/06/30/080630fa_fact_gawande): > [@](#): > > If visual sensations were primarily received rather than constructed by the brain, you’d expect that most of the fibres going to the brain’s primary visual cortex would come from the retina. Instead, scientists have found that only twenty per cent do; eighty per cent come downward from regions of the brain governing functions like memory. Richard Gregory, a prominent British neuropsychologist, estimates that visual perception is more than ninety per cent memory and less than ten per cent sensory nerve signals. People believe what they see, but they really shouldn’t. The brain has an amazing ability to integrate memory into reality, conflate two memories together and see things that are not there. ---
**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2008, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-the-alternate-ending-to-big/456801/29 "2008-07-17T20:09:42Z")
[QUOTE=pinkfreud] I think the Disney TV movie you’re describing is [14 Going on 30](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094592/). [/QUOTE] The comments on its IMDB page are helpful. Including this (bolding mine) > [@some guy on the IMDB](#): > > I agree with your answer, but I think there were practical reasons too. **Peggy is reverting back into a teenager to be with her boy friend. No longer a woman around 30, she can no longer drive, work (too you for working papers), sign legal documents, or even take care of herself** Don’t you think that Lloyd took over the role of guardian? From Saturday I suspect that Lloyd was already aged to an adult so that Peggy could transfur everything to him. The reason they were late that morning was so the last papers could be signed and Peggy turned into a young teen > My only question is how long Peggy stays an emotional adult? In a few days will she start to act like a kid again? > > AD ---
**Author:** ![Dan\_Norder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4af34b/32.png) [@Dan\_Norder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dan_Norder)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2008, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-the-alternate-ending-to-big/456801/30 "2008-07-17T20:14:54Z")
Yes, it was definitely 14 Going on 30 – “Young Peggy” (Peggy was the love interest of the boy in the grown up body) in that is played by Amy Hathaway, who was on some episodes of “My Two Dads” – and the IMDB photos of her as an adult make it clear she is the same person I remember as being in the ending of the TV movie ripoff of Big… very distinctive eyes. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2008, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-the-alternate-ending-to-big/456801/31 "2008-07-17T20:30:53Z")
> [@](#): > > People believe what they see, but they really shouldn’t. The brain has an amazing ability to integrate memory into reality, conflate two memories together and see things that are not there. Yes, and Stephen Jay Gould wrote one of his columns on this, noting his incredibly misremembering of the geography near Devil’s Tower Monument. But most of the time we _don’t_ conflate memories. If we were perpetually doing it, we couldn’t function. Stephen Jay Gould wouldn’t be able to remember minutiae and construct hios remarkable articles. Such things happen only a small fraction of the time, which is why he remembered it so vividly, and built an article around it. I haven’t seen Big or the movies like it, so I can’t comment on them here. Heck, I haven’t sen the missing scene from **Young Frankenstein**. But, based on the evidence, I don’t think people were misremembering. Sometimes the Alligator Blinks. ---
**Author:** ![choie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/choie/32/7829_2.png) [@choie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/choie)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2008, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-the-alternate-ending-to-big/456801/32 "2008-07-17T20:35:41Z")
Seems like if someone really had a copy of this, it would’ve shown up on YouTube by now, no? I know that was ages before YouTube was in existence, but it never ceases to amaze me how many TV clips – many dating before the age of common usage of home VCRs – show up there. ---
**Author:** ![Dan\_Norder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4af34b/32.png) [@Dan\_Norder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dan_Norder)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2008, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-the-alternate-ending-to-big/456801/33 "2008-07-17T20:47:11Z")
[QUOTE=CalMeacham] But most of the time we _don’t_ conflate memories. If we were perpetually doing it, we couldn’t function. [/QUOTE] People do it all the time. Some more than others. Luckily most of these mistaken memories aren’t things that would cause any major dysfunctions. It’s not like **Mahaloth** is suddenly going to forget how to eat because he watched Little Shop of Horrors and suddenly thinks only talking vegetables can eat. If you want to dispute the science because you refuse to believe it, that’s your own choice… but it’d be just yet another example of how people believe what they want to believe instead of what’s in front of their faces. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2008, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-the-alternate-ending-to-big/456801/34 "2008-07-17T20:56:28Z")
> [@](#): > > If you want to dispute the science because you refuse to believe it, that’s your own choice… but it’d be just yet another example of how people believe what they want to believe instead of what’s in front of their faces. Why would you think I’m disputing the science? What have I said that would give you that impression? I might dispute if it’s happening in a particular case, but that’s definitely not the same. Nor am I disputing whether it’s happening or not with Big. As i say, I have no evidence. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2008, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-the-alternate-ending-to-big/456801/35 "2008-07-17T22:41:01Z")
[QUOTE=Revtim] It would not have been shown in the theater (or most theaters), hence the term “alternate” ending. [/QUOTE] That sort of “alternate” ending was never done (except with _Clue_, and that was a disaster). Back in 1988, Hollywood wasn’t interested in providing the type of alternate ending that you see routinely now on DVD. With DVDs, such things are done to provide extras, but they were not done twenty years ago. And even today, films aren’t released with different versions to different theaters (other than maybe IMAX versions). It wasn’t on the original VCR tape, either. And, as I said, it would have been a piss poor ending that would have contradicted what happened in the film. At the end, Josh realizes he needs to grow up, and Susan specifically states she does not want to relive her adolescence again. To have her change her mind at the last minute is dramatic pandering of the worst sort – and made no sense. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2008, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-the-alternate-ending-to-big/456801/36 "2008-07-17T22:58:34Z")
[QUOTE=RealityChuck] That sort of “alternate” ending was never done (except with _Clue_, and that was a disaster). Back in 1988, Hollywood wasn’t interested in providing the type of alternate ending that you see routinely now on DVD. With DVDs, such things are done to provide extras, but they were not done twenty years ago. [/QUOTE] [Here](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alternate_ending) is a list of movies that have alternate endings. Note that _First Blood_, 1982, had an alternate ending. ETA: I should add that this list does not include _Big_. ---
**Author:** ![Weirddave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@Weirddave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weirddave)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2008, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-the-alternate-ending-to-big/456801/37 "2008-07-17T23:23:12Z")
Just because an ending is piss poor and conflicts with the entire tone of the film up to that point doesn’t mean that it won’t be used, which, as Chuck says, is “dramatic pandering of the worst sort”. _Pretty in Pink_ I’m looking at you. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2008, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-the-alternate-ending-to-big/456801/38 "2008-07-18T00:44:34Z")
[QUOTE=squeegee] > [@RealityChuck](#): > > That sort of “alternate” ending was never done (except with Clue, and that was a disaster). Back in 1988, Hollywood wasn’t interested in providing the type of alternate ending that you see routinely now on DVD. With DVDs, such things are done to provide extras, but they were not done twenty years ago. [Here](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alternate_ending) is a list of movies that have alternate endings. Note that _First Blood_, 1982, had an alternate ending. [/QUOTE] And 30 years ago, special prints were released specifically for drive-in theaters. ---
**Author:** ![Death\_of\_Rats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a6a055/32.png) [@Death\_of\_Rats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Death_of_Rats)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2008, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-the-alternate-ending-to-big/456801/39 "2008-07-18T01:12:56Z")
[QUOTE=Happy Scrappy Hero Pup] I just wanna know how you’re gonna explain that one to the Department of Youth & Family Services. [/QUOTE] “Hey, Ma! I know you are in your 60’s now but I am taking Couger-ism to a new level and need you to raise me through my teen years again. That won’t be an issue right?” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2008, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-the-alternate-ending-to-big/456801/40 "2008-07-18T02:10:04Z")
[QUOTE=gaffa] People believe what they see, but they really shouldn’t. The brain has an amazing ability to integrate memory into reality, conflate two memories together and see things that are not there. [/QUOTE] In 2002, a study was done where, thanks to some well-written fake ads and photos, some people were able to recall vivid memories of going to Disney World and meeting Ariel (who wasn’t introduced until 1989) and Bugs Bunny (a Warner Bros. character). The brain is a funny thing. (Tnen again, Bob Eubanks swore that risque Newlywed Game answer never happened and was surprised as anybody when it finally surfaced.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-the-alternate-ending-to-big/456801.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-the-alternate-ending-to-big/456801.md?page=3)