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First post updated with the myriad of films JayArgonaut mentioned.
Another addition: Philadelphia and I remember the situation because it was quite well publicised at the time. The storyline is partially based on the life of Geoffrey Bowers but TriStar had failed to honour an agreement to credit him and compensate his family. Years of litigation followed and the case was settled.
https://www.deseretnews.com/article/478479/FILMMAKERS-ADMIT-PHILADELPHIA-WAS-BASED-ON-REAL-LIFE.html
http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/news/real-reel-aids-case-article-1.724225
http://www.nytimes.com/1996/03/20/nyregion/philadelphia-makers-settle-suit.html
The end credits were then altered to include the following acknowledgement:
“This motion picture was inspired in part by Geoffrey Bowers’ AIDS discrimination lawsuit, the courage and love of the Angius family and the struggles of the many others who, along with their loved ones, have experienced discrimination because of AIDS.”
“Logic is the battlefield of adulthood.”
That’s news to me on the godfather front, but the restoration really did the best with what they could work with. I have the reissue early 90s open matte LDs and the restoration bds. I threw out the original DVDs which were quite awful, and I had the restoration DVDs but they never had differences that I noticed like the ones pictured on that website.
The only real evidence we can get that would tell us anything would be dye transfer prints from that era which should exist for part one and part two, as part two was the last American IB run done in the 70s.
That said IMO I don’t think the restorations are off at all considering the mammoth amount of work they had to do. The only downside is the mono original audio is relegated to a lossy track.
VADER!? WHERE THE HELL IS MY MOCHA LATTE? -Palpy on a very bad day.
“George didn’t think there was any future in dead Han toys.”-Harrison Ford
YT channel:
https://www.youtube.com/c/DamnFoolIdealisticCrusader
It surprised me that Coppola didn’t record new commentaries for the restored versions, as I would’ve loved to hear him reflecting in the context of the films receiving an overhaul. I own the Blu-ray, the 1997 W/S VHS releases and the P&S chronological Trilogy VHS. Out of curiosity, what did you think of the look of the Saga and EPIC broadcasts by AMC and HBO in recent years? Again, the issue wasn’t with the Restoration’s transfer but the colours that were imposed by Gordon Willis. 😃
Here’s another addition to the list that’s so obvious that it’s easy to forget.
After Ellison threatened legal action, subsequent prints of The Terminator have since carried, “Acknowledgement to the works of Harlan Ellison” during the end credits.
https://www.wired.com/2011/07/pl_prototypeglasshand/
http://birthmoviesdeath.com/2015/07/03/the-terminator-before-1984s-the-terminator
“Logic is the battlefield of adulthood.”
After Ellison threatened legal action, subsequent prints of The Terminator have since carried, “Acknowledgement to the works of Harlan Ellison” during the end credits.
https://www.wired.com/2011/07/pl_prototypeglasshand/
http://birthmoviesdeath.com/2015/07/03/the-terminator-before-1984s-the-terminator
Honestly, this is such a minor change that I’m not too bothered by it. That said, it would be a (relatively) easy project, if someone wanted to remove it.
“You don’t really mean you’ll kill me, do you?” - Juror 8
“Silence, Earthling! My name is Darth Vader. I am an extra-terrestrial from the planet Vulcan!” - Calvin “Marty” Klein
First post updated with the myriad of films JayArgonaut mentioned.
It’s certainly a fascinating topic but also worrying that so many filmmakers and studios feel compelled to retroactively alter - and in some cases, mutilate their work.
How could we have overlooked Mad Max 2/The Road Warrior? Its even been the subject of a project on here:
Warner Brothers has altered the colour timing on the HD master that has been used for the Blu-ray releases and HDTV airings.
http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-Road-Warrior-Blu-ray/66814/
Also discussed here: http://originaltrilogy.com/topic/Mad-Max-Rarities-Road-Warrior-Japanese-DVD/id/4451/page/5
“Logic is the battlefield of adulthood.”
The aspect ratio of Star Trek VI was altered to 1.85:1 on the 2004 SE DVD and the director also included the following visual alterations:
There is a new wide shot of Scotty reading the blueprints of the Enterprise in the dining hall.
Valeris’s interrogation scene has been entirely reedited. There are now close up shots of Kirk and McCoy when they speak their lines instead of being in wide shots. When Spock and Valeris name a particular conspirator, the face of that person briefly appears in a flashback like style.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0102975/alternateversions
The colour timing on Do The Right Thing was altered by the cinematographer for the 2009 anniversary edition.
http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/37694/do-the-right-thing-20th-anniversary-edition-2-disc-set/
https://www.reddit.com/r/criterion/comments/6huod5/do_you_think_criterion_will_re_release_do_the/
“Logic is the battlefield of adulthood.”
DRACULA (1979) drained of colour.
Should color timing differences be included? I feel like that would include every modern reissue of a catalog title at this point, and for most all we have to go on is old video masters anyway, with no way of knowing if those old masters were accurate either.
I feel like the list should only include content changes, not different color timing or other too-nebulous-to-properly-codify things.
It surprised me that Coppola didn’t record new commentaries for the restored versions, as I would’ve loved to hear him reflecting in the context of the films receiving an overhaul. I own the Blu-ray, the 1997 W/S VHS releases and the P&S chronological Trilogy VHS. Out of curiosity, what did you think of the look of the Saga and EPIC broadcasts by AMC and HBO in recent years? Again, the issue wasn’t with the Restoration’s transfer but the colours that were imposed by Gordon Willis. 😃
Here’s another addition to the list that’s so obvious that it’s easy to forget.
After Ellison threatened legal action, subsequent prints of The Terminator have since carried, “Acknowledgement to the works of Harlan Ellison” during the end credits.
https://www.wired.com/2011/07/pl_prototypeglasshand/
http://birthmoviesdeath.com/2015/07/03/the-terminator-before-1984s-the-terminator
Allegedly some early video copies don’t have that credit, as Harlan bought The Terminator on LD and was perturbed it wasn’t there. At least that’s what I read somewhere many years ago.
Where were you in '77?
Allegedly some early video copies don’t have that credit, as Harlan bought The Terminator on LD and was perturbed it wasn’t there. At least that’s what I read somewhere many years ago.
That’s interesting, I wonder if the wrong master was used for the transfer. It probably ruined his plans to show off to his friends. I bet he threatened another round of litigation. 😃
“Logic is the battlefield of adulthood.”
For the DVD release, Disney has censored the 1-800-SPANKME scene in The Santa Clause after complaints from parents whose children had called what turned out to be a real number. 😄
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0111070/alternateversions
http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19971019&slug=2566882
Here’s the scene from an LD rip.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AiOwAbjhyDo
Funnily enough, the BBC aired an uncensored version just two years ago.
“Logic is the battlefield of adulthood.”
Should color timing differences be included? I feel like that would include every modern reissue of a catalog title at this point, and for most all we have to go on is old video masters anyway, with no way of knowing if those old masters were accurate either.
I feel like the list should only include content changes, not different color timing or other too-nebulous-to-properly-codify things.
I’m inclined to agree, but to a point it comes off as seriously revisionist. When it’s something like a slight CC (such as the amount of yellow in Raiders), I feel like that’s just a mastering thing. But when It’s a major point of contention, or a result of improper handling of a negative, that it should be addressed.
For the time being, unless I am convinced otherwise, I think I’ll leave off The Road Warrior but include Do the Right Thing.
DRACULA (1979) drained of colour.
Can you elaborate?
For the time being, unless I am convinced otherwise, I think I’ll leave off The Road Warrior but include Do the Right Thing.
Consider the following, from the thread link I included:
The best evidence was provided by the original cinematographer on the commentary track IIRC. He talked of having to go to the film lab multiple times to push the colors to get that more saturated look of the desert. That is the intended look reflected on the 35mm theatrical prints, the VHS, LD and DVD issue from a print sourced master. That used a US print under the RW title and slightly edited. The BD uses what is presumably a fresh HD scan of the Australian master, hence the uncut film and MM2 title card. It also is the master so it lacks the intended color timing, making it yet another film misrepresented in HD due to using camera negatives and not replicating theatrical color timing.
“Logic is the battlefield of adulthood.”
DRACULA (1979) drained of colour.
Can you elaborate?
DRACULA (1979) has a (revisionist) desaturated look applied to it.
The opening credits for Dracula (1931) are edited.
IMDb: “The title card was revised at the last moment to include playwrights Hamilton Deane and John L. Balderston. But the old title card, with the movie’s title in a different typeface, is still visible briefly at the tail end of a lap dissolve to the second credits card.”
This explains while all releases of Dracula pre-2012 features a noticeable jump when the opening title card cross fades into the next set of credits. For the BD Universal ‘fixed’ this by recompositing the opening card so it now crossfades accurately into the next set of credits.
Here is the opening card pre-2012:
Here it is on the BD:
Notice how the letters don’t exactly match up in both?? For example look at the bat’s eyes in both shots or the wing behind the letter ‘D’ in Dracula.
Someone on CHFB had made a recreation of the original opening card that was cut at the last minute but I can’t seem to find it at the moment.
I’ll stick with my DVD, just as I have with Aliens.
Yep that is my plan.
It’s a good plan. 😃
I forgot the UK version of Pulp Fiction: uncut during the theatrical run but then censored with visual alterations on UK VHS and the DVD in order to avoid any accusations of glamorising drug use. (The UK Blu-ray is uncensored)
“Although uncut in UK cinemas, the video versions were all re-framed to remove the sight of the needle piercing John Travolta’s arm. This re-framed version is the one which was also shown on network TV (BBC 2).”
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110912/alternateversions
An infamous example that for the life of me, I’m surprised I didn’t list earlier…
Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song: censored via visual alteration since 2005 for UK home video releases.
All thanks to Mario Van Peebles forgetting that loose lips, sinks ships, or in this case, alerts motion picture organisations about dishonest testimonials. 😄
http://www.bbfc.co.uk/case-studies/sweet-sweetbacks-baadasssss-song
http://www.melonfarmers.co.uk/hitss_su.htm#sweet_sweetbacks_baad_asssss_song
“Logic is the battlefield of adulthood.”
talking of pulp fiction…
Still waiting for the actual gory shot of the guys head been blown off in the car, which has never been released done on purpose by tarantino to show he was toning the film down to appease the censors… I doubt it will ever be released.
It is uncut now btw in the UK and the censorship has been waived on those but nowhere the very gory gunshot…
(The UK Blu-ray is uncensored)
😃
“Logic is the battlefield of adulthood.”
I Am Legend: a home video version with an entirely different ending, in order to open the door to a sequel.
http://www.movie-censorship.com/report.php?ID=4949
Not a visual alteration: Disney substituted the opening song lyrics on all home video versions and theatrical re-releases of Aladdin after complaints during the original theatrical run.
http://articles.latimes.com/1993-07-10/entertainment/ca-11747_1_altered-lyric
(I learned about this one from a documentary, turns out that Disney had already prepared alternate song lyrics in the event of complaints.)
“Logic is the battlefield of adulthood.”
The alternate ending from I Am Legend wasn’t to open the door for a sequel. It was the original ending until test audiences reacted poorly to it (I guess they didn’t want to feel sympathy for the monsters), then they changed it before theatrical release.
The alternate/original ending is better. Still a meh movie though.
Thanks for the info. At the time when the alternate version was released, I remember journalists (clearly now, erroneously) pointing to the sequel agenda. Test screenings often do more harm than good. Many a classic suffered at the hands of audiences who just didn’t get what they watched. Agree with you about the ending, disagree about the film. 😃
Alexander: multiple versions with alterations on home video.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0346491/alternateversions
Again with Oliver Stone: JFK re-cut for home video.
http://www.movie-censorship.com/report.php?ID=93992
Keeping with Stone, Savages, Natural Born Killers and Nixon have all been revised with alterations on home video.
How could I forget Night Watch? I bought the Russian DVD because the Western releases had been altered.
“Logic is the battlefield of adulthood.”
I added the Stone films that have specific references, Aladdin, and Night Watch. I’m not quite as concerned about regional censorship, especially since Pulp Fiction was released uncensored later. My main concern is revisionism.