"Editorial control has long been a contested part of Hollywood filmmaking. Even after the Director's Guild of America managed to secure the ability to craft a director's cut as a standard contractual right in 1964, it was still quite common for theatrical versions to have been edited by the studio, producer, or distributor against the director's wishes. The onset of cable and video in the 1980s helped many celebrated auteurs like Michael Cimino, Ridley Scott, and Terry Gilliam realize their personal visions in a post-theatrical marketplace.
Behind-the-scenes stories of movies like Brazil and Blade Runner receiving a director's cut on video following a compromised theatrical version are arguably as well known as the films themselves in cultural discourses. Comparatively less known are those instances, when directors have not been able to get a second chance, with their preferred cuts remaining unmade or never securing an official release."
