Editing American History X (section)

==Release==
Kaye's original cut of the finished film had a run time of 95 minutes, which was delivered on time and within budget.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":5">{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/american-history-x-racism-edward-norton-pittsburgh-synagogue-attack-neo-nazis-20-anniversary-a8607316.html|title=20 years on, American History X has a greater urgency than ever|date=2018-10-30|website=The Independent|access-date=2020-04-08|archive-date=2020-08-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200819095713/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/american-history-x-racism-edward-norton-pittsburgh-synagogue-attack-neo-nazis-20-anniversary-a8607316.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Although it generated a positive response from [[test screening]]s, New Line Cinema insisted on further edits to the film.<ref name="Goldstein" /> Kaye was mortified, saying "I'm fully aware that I'm a first-time director, but I need the same autonomy and respect that [[Stanley Kubrick]] gets".<ref name=":4" /> Soon afterwards, Norton was involved with editing alongside Kaye, which was a difficult experience for the pair. At one point, Kaye punched a wall which resulted in [[Surgical suture|stitches]] to his hand.<ref name="Goldstein" /><ref name=":5" />

In June 1998, the film studio test-screened a second cut of the film which included changes made by Norton. The studio tried to persuade Kaye to release Norton's cut, but he objected.<ref name="Goldstein" /> Although the differences between the two cuts are disputed, Kaye objected to an additional 18 minutes of footage, and they disagreed with the length of certain scenes such as a family argument, Norton's anti-immigration speech, and a flashback where Norton's father is criticizing a teacher.<ref name="Goldstein" /><ref name=":4" /> Subsequently, the studio compromised and gave Kaye an extra eight weeks to edit and submit a new cut of the film.<ref name=":4" />

During this period, Kaye took a number of combative actions. He spent $100,000 on cryptic advertisements in the Hollywood [[Trade magazine|press]] that quoted [[John Lennon]] and [[Abraham Lincoln]], and condemned the behavior of Norton and the studio.<ref name=":5" /> At one point, Kaye brought a [[priest]], a [[rabbi]] and a [[Bhikkhu|Buddhist monk]] to a meeting with producers while videotaping the entire encounter. When the company offered him an additional eight weeks to re-cut the film, Kaye said he had a "radical" new vision in mind, which he did not know when he would finish. He collaborated with [[Nobel Prize in Literature|Nobel Prize]]-winning poet [[Derek Walcott]] on new narration for the film.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Waxman |first=Sharon |date=1998-10-12 |title=AN UNHAPPY BEGINNING |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1998/10/12/an-unhappy-beginning/d226f376-11aa-4257-9c0d-61f05c483c2e/ |access-date=2023-06-01 |issn=0190-8286}}</ref>

''American History X'' was due to premiere at the 1998 [[Toronto International Film Festival]], but Kaye requested that organizer [[Piers Handling]] withdraw the film.<ref name="theguardian" /> On July 28, 1998, after the eight week deadline, Kaye had nothing new to show and the studio announced that it would release Norton's cut. Kaye attempted to remove his name from the film credits, applying for various [[pseudonym]]s, including "[[Humpty Dumpty]]", a request that the [[Directors Guild of America]] (DGA) refused. Kaye subsequently filed a $200 million lawsuit against DGA and New Line Cinema, although the case was dismissed in 2000.<ref name=":4" /><ref name="theguardian" /><ref name="Variety" /> Kaye disowned the film, describing the released version, which was 24 minutes longer than his own cut, as a "total abuse of creativity" and "crammed with shots of everyone crying in each other's arms".<ref name="Goldstein" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=American History X and Tony Kaye, Hollywood Maverick|url=https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/american-history-x-and-tony-kaye-hollywood-maverick/|last=Lambie|first=Ryan|date=2016-09-05|website=[[Den of Geek]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200527040232/https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/american-history-x-and-tony-kaye-hollywood-maverick/|archive-date=2020-05-27|access-date=2020-05-19}}</ref> Kaye's behavior caused Hollywood to view him as unemployable, and he did not watch the film until June 2007.<ref name=":4" /> He later admitted that "My ego got in the way. That was entirely my fault. [...] Whenever I can, I take the opportunity to apologize".<ref>{{Cite web|title=Director Kaye recovers from 'X' debacle with 'Lake of Fire'|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2007-10-26-0710240855-story.html|last=Elder|first=Robert K.|website=chicagotribune.com|date=26 October 2007 |access-date=2020-05-03|archive-date=2020-09-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200909192512/https://www.chicagotribune.com/|url-status=live}}</ref> He did not direct another film until 2006's [[Lake of Fire (film)|''Lake of Fire'']].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Lake of Fire|url=https://www.pghcitypaper.com/pittsburgh/lake-of-fire/Content?oid=1339409|last=Hoff|first=Al|date=2007-11-29|website=Pittsburgh City Paper|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160507143502/http://www.pghcitypaper.com/pittsburgh/lake-of-fire/Content?oid=1339409|archive-date=2016-05-07|access-date=2020-05-20}}</ref>

===Home media===
The film was released by [[New Line Home Entertainment|New Line Home Video]] on [[DVD]] on April 6, 1999, on [[laserdisc]] on April 13, and on [[VHS]] on August 24 of the same year.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dvdsreleasedates.com/movies/4155/American-History-X-(1998).html|title=American History X DVD Release Date April 6, 1999|website=DVDs Release Dates|access-date=2020-04-09|archive-date=2017-07-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170707183753/http://www.dvdsreleasedates.com/movies/4155/American-History-X-(1998).html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=American History X [VHS]|isbn=0780625129}}</ref> The film was later released on [[Blu-ray]] on April 7, 2009, including seven minutes of deleted scenes and a theatrical trailer.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/American-History-X-Blu-ray/3445/|title=American History X Blu-ray|website=[[Blu-ray|Blu-ray.com]]|access-date=10 February 2017|archive-date=11 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211160304/http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/American-History-X-Blu-ray/3445/|url-status=live}}</ref>