 Terry Gilliam (qv) was asked to do a film class during the battle  of this film at USC. Terry agreed, and took advantage of the  situation by preparing to bring an "audio visual aid", which was his  cut of the film, which would have been allowed. Unfortunately, two  days before the event, students advertised a free screening of the  film. When he arrived it was announced that Universal would not  allow him to show the film. During his speech to the class, he was  interrupted by studio executives phone calls. They eventually  allowed him to show a clip of the film. He showed the entire film,  and repeated the screenings for over two weeks. It was during one of  these screenings that Los Angeles film critics saw the film, and  awarded it the Best Picture of the Year award, which was responsible  for getting the film released the way Gilliam wanted it.