Movies that were updated, then the original was "lost"(other than Star Wars)

In 1988 George Lucas testified before Congress that the colorization of B&W films would lead to the original films being lost forever. Flash forward a decade and GL does almost this very thing to his own films through the SE's.

So my question here is:

What movies, other than the OT Star Wars, have been "updated," then the original "lost?" Star Wars is probably the most famous example of this sort of thing happening, but are there other examples of this phenomenon?

I remember back in the 90's as a teenager loving the 1st two Alien movies but hating the 3rd. I haven't taken the time to watch the SE of Alien 3 yet but I have heard that the SE fixes almost every problem that movie had. The main point here is that no matter how bad the original cut of Alien 3 was, you can still get both versions, it was never "lost."

A director's cut did at one time exist, now that original footage of "Legion" is lost thanks to studio intervention. :(

Kepling said:

I remember back in the 90's as a teenager loving the 1st two Alien movies but hating the 3rd. I haven't taken the time to watch the SE of Alien 3 yet but I have heard that the SE fixes almost every problem that movie had. The main point here is that no matter how bad the original cut of Alien 3 was, you can still get both versions, it was never "lost."

 If you ever get the chance, watch the SE cut of Alien3. It's a much better film because of it. It goes from being a bland, awkwardly paced and unscary monster movie to a surreal, arty science-fiction take on death and religion and the monster is wisely relegated to a MacGuffin. The film finally finds a distinct voice rather than feeling like a retread of the past films. 

It's not perfect. Nothing on God's Earth could improve the line "To them, we're just...CRUD", and it would have been great for them to improve the compositing on some of the more iffy SFX. But it's really amazing how much editing can make or break a film. 

The original Lon Chaney Phantom of the Opera kind of counts -- the silent 1925 cut was later re-released in 1930 as a sound film with half the film entirely reshot. The original version survives only in 16mm prints of such poor quality that it's often omitted entirely in home video re-releases. (Kind of like the GOUT on DVD...)

pittrek said:

The sound mix on Alien 3 SE sucks, it even uses on set audio for several scenes, but as a movie it's much better than the theatrical version.

But to the original question - I know only about the Star Wars movies. Which is even more frustrating.

 The sound was fixed for the Bluray edition. They even had the original actors come in and re record their lines  

GL's other movies, THX-1138 and American Graffiti. Also many Disney movies, like The Lion King.

LexX said:

GL's other movies, THX-1138 and American Graffiti. Also many Disney movies, like The Lion King.

What was changed in American Graffiti? I'm too stoned to Google. 

Neglify said:

LexX said:

GL's other movies, THX-1138 and American Graffiti. Also many Disney movies, like The Lion King.

What was changed in American Graffiti? I'm too stoned to Google. 

 If my memory serves me correctly, the biggest change is the opening shot with the diner. They digitally erased the buildings behind it and put in a new sunset. The rest is unchanged apart from some DNR. 

Mavimao said:

Neglify said:

LexX said:

GL's other movies, THX-1138 and American Graffiti. Also many Disney movies, like The Lion King.

What was changed in American Graffiti? I'm too stoned to Google. 

 If my memory serves me correctly, the biggest change is the opening shot with the diner. They digitally erased the buildings behind it and put in a new sunset. The rest is unchanged apart from some DNR. 

Ah. Well, at least it's a bit of a minor change (aside from the DNR), so it's not like he re-edited it so Greedo shoots Bob Falfa and that's what causes him to roll his car. That'd be some bullshit.

darth_ender said:

I believe some additional scenes were included since the DVD release of Star Trek VI, and I don't think the theatrical version is available anymore.

 The Bluray editions of all the films are the theatrical versions. The first time for several on home video!

I'd argue that 'The Magnificent Ambersons' is the most famous example of this.

There were loads of films long before Star Wars, that were recut and then the original lost.

Mavimao said:

darth_ender said:

I believe some additional scenes were included since the DVD release of Star Trek VI, and I don't think the theatrical version is available anymore.

 The Bluray editions of all the films are the theatrical versions. The first time for several on home video!

 I wouldn't mind a Blu-ray release of the "VHS version" of The Undiscovered Country (with the extra scenes with Rene Auberjonois as Colonel West, but not the silly mid-2000s alterations of an important scene from the last DVD version).

ATMachine said:

...extra scenes with Rene Auberjonois as Colonel West...

Wait. What?

http://en.memory-alpha.wikia.com/wiki/West

ATMachine said:

I wouldn't mind a Blu-ray release of the "VHS version" of The Undiscovered Country (with the extra scenes with Rene Auberjonois as Colonel West, but not the silly mid-2000s alterations of an important scene from the last DVD version).

Silly doubleohfive. I was actually referring to the intercuts to the principal conspirators (Admiral Cartwright, General Chang, and Nanclus the Romulan Ambassador) during the scene when Spock obtains their names from a forcible mind-meld with Valeris.

A highly distracting addition to what had been a very tense scene--and the added sound effects do nothing to improve the jarring feel of the cut-aways.