Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I recorded Salem's Lot The Complete Mini Series off of Encore and determined that the DVD is, in fact, the complete unedited version. 183 minutes (as indicated on DVD) is the actual running time of Salem's Lot. It's on Encore all month (I'm writing this in September of 2014), so anyone is free to check this info. Encore is showing this as 2 parts, just as it was in 1979. Encore indicates the running time as 1 hr 40 minutes per episode, which equates to 200 minutes. The reason for the difference with the 200 minute original running time and the 183 minutes on the DVD, is that during Part 1 (Encore Mini-Series), there is a prologue previewing what you will see during the 2 parts (same as in 1979). Then, at the end of Part 1, you have the entire closing credits shown. Since the DVD shows this as one complete movie instead of breaking it into the 2 parts shown on TV...you won't get the closing credits twice. You only see them one time, after the complete DVD is over.... During Part 2, you have a lengthy recap of Part 1 AND the Opening Credits shown AGAIN (on the DVD you only see them once, not twice, since it's not broken down in 2 parts)...I took the 200 minute running time (as that's what shows on my DVR) and subtracted the Prologues from both nights, the Salem's Lot ending Credits from Part 1, and the Salem's Lot beginning Credits at the beginning of Part 2, and I came up with 184 minutes...but keep in mind, I didn't do this to the second..just minutes, so it may be off by a minute or so. I had my DVD running in the background on a computer and the end of Part 1 synced up perfectly with the same spot on the DVR...nothing was edited. Therefore, I'm confident the DVD of Salem's Lot is exactly the same as the mini-series. If someone is a purist, then yes, you are missing the prologue recaps, the ending theme music and credits after part 1 (but you get it at the end of the DVD) and Salem's Lot opening credits at the beginning of Part 2 (keep in mind, you get them at the beginning of the DVD). As far as the story itself, nothing is edited....It's on all month on Encore, anyone is free to do the same thing. I've owned this for years, but I ordered another one recently to determine if there were any changes. It's identical to the original release, other than being in a clam case, instead of the cardboard snapper case that was part of the previously issued DVD. As I did watch the Encore presentation in High Def, to be honest, the DVD is just as good, since the source appears comparable to what's on the DVD. I didn't notice any significant improvement. In fact I think the DVD is from a cleaner source. Some have commented that it was edited into a 3 hour single movie by CBS for the second showing, and that is correct...but keep in mind, the 3 hour version on CBS had commercials, so the actual running time was about 2 1/2 Hours. The second broadcast was cut by about 33 minutes. All 33 of these cut minutes are on the current DVD. As an FYI, I've seen both of the versions when they were originally broadcast. I can say for certain, the DVD is the complete version...minus prologues, and a repeat of the opening and closing credits on both parts. If you are holding off because you feel the DVD is edited, you are missing out. This is it. In fact, I prefer not having it broke down into 2 parts as the continuity of the DVD makes this a better viewing experience.