I remember seeing this back on TV during summer afternoons, when I was little. I don't believe any of the footage ever made it onto a video release, which is a shame.

Does anyone know if this extended version still turns up on TV at all? I'd love to see it again.

a three hour version of the deep?! sign me up!

I don't remember is specifically, and the IMDB alternate versions section is not very detailed, but one of the major additions is a prologue that shows the U-Boat in distress, then sinking, which is where the wrecks come from that are the main target of the quest in the film. The prologue is supposed to feature a Peter Benchley cameo, and Robert Shaw and Eli Wallach's sons as well.

While the movie was a hit back in the day, it's a film Sony apparently has no regard for. Their most recent DVD has no extras and it's pan-n-scan.

Check out this thread from the Home Theater Forum:
The Deep at HTF

There were rumors of an extended The Deep for laserdisc said by some to be scuttled by a threatened lawsuit from Jacqueline Bisset. There was a "Pioneer Special Edition" laserdisc released in widescreen with the standard time running time of 125 minutes. Sony reps have said that the mediocre sales of the film on DVD thus far have put any special edition plans on hold. Of course, making the film only available in pan & scan is a severe handicap. There's also a question as to whether serviceable elements of the cut footage are still extant.

The original DVD release from Columbia included the widescreen version. It was a flipper disc with the WS version on one side and the FF version on the other. That original DVD release had the original poster art on the cover. THE DEEP was one of many Sony DVD's that were later downgraded and dropped one side of the disc (sometimes the WS version, sometime the FF). In this case, they dropped the WS side.

Indeed. The point still stands, however, that if Sony is/was tracking sales for a possible special edition, these numbers were likely significantly hampered in 2004-5 when Sony dropped the WS version. At this point, films such as The Deep and Hard Times have probably been available in P & S-only longer than when they were available in WS/P & S.

Here's a pretty complete list of the former flipper DVDs, some of which went to WS-only:

Widescreen Advocate

It would make sense for Sony to replace the flippers with single-sided releases but, in this day and age, to drop the WS side seems like commercial suicide.

THE DEEP wasn't a particularly good movie, was it? I was still at school at the time of its release and recall its main marketing "points" were the JAWS connection and Bisset. I dutifully went to see it and I seem to recall even reading a making-of paperback. Today Bisset is probably barely remembered if known at all by a good percentage of DVD buyers and Benchley's name isn't likely to sell it any more than it would THE ISLAND.

It has been a few years since I've seen the film, but I remember liking it a bit. It's a handsomely mounted production with some great under water sequences. I do think it tends to oversell the moray eel as a big Jaws-esque menace, but that's not really what the film is about. I would be intrigued to see it at 3hrs with the balance swung further to action/crime/adventure film.

I know the Jacqueline Bisset wet-t shirt scuba diving thing drives certain men wild...

I haven't seen THE ISLAND, but the ads and the paperback tie in cover as a kid intrigued me. I'm surprised it hasn't hit DVD, even if it's lousy. It stars Michael Caine and it's Panavision. Surely there must be something worthwhile in it?

Heterosexual types, yes. :P

Add me to the list of those who had no objections whatsoever to the shots of Jacqueline Bisset that were used to promote THE DEEP :).

THE ISLAND is a fun film. Pretty violent, and not without it's issues, but enjoyable nonetheless. It used to air on cable frequently, but seems to have disappeared pretty much. I'd love to see a SE, or even a decent DVD, of it.

If you have the ability to play European discs – look no further

FREIBEUTER DES TODES

I have it myself and it’s a lovely, anamorphic transfer without forced subtitles.

Cool. Thanks, Andrew.

I think the extended version is 2 1/2 hours rather than 3 hours. I think it was shown in a 3 hour slot on TV including about 30 min of adverts.