Oh yeah, does anyone that was around at the time remember the mini-controversy that surrounded the film shortly after it's release? Apparently, one of the paintings or pieces of art in Pacino's office was either used without permission or the artist had a problem with some of the crazy shit that was happening with it towards the end, so when the "Special Edition" came out on home video, the only thing that was special about it was that the artwork had been removed from the scene. I just looked it up on Wikipedia to be sure, and here's what they had to say about it...
"The film was the subject of legal action following its release. The claim was that the sculpture featuring human forms in John Milton's apartment closely resembled the
Ex nihilo sculpture by
Frederick Hart on the facade of the
Episcopal National Cathedral in
Washington, D.C., and that a scene involving the sculpture infringed Hart's rights under copyright law.
[8] After a federal judge ruled that the film's video release would be delayed until the case went to trial unless a settlement was reached, Warner Bros. agreed to edit the scene for future releases and to attach stickers to unedited videotapes to indicate there was no relation between the sculpture in the film and Hart's work.
[9"
I forget, but did anyone mention that Taylor Hackford went on to direct "Ray" and had also directed "An Officer and a Gentleman"? Oh jeez, he also did the current Jason Statham/Jennifer Lopez joint, "Parker". If most of Statham's non-"Crank" work wasn't so horribly average and generic, I'd almost suggest doing a show on THAT film, since it stars two esteemed HDTGM alumni.