Here are the choices!!
Superman [1978] - “The KCOP Television” Version
Running Time: 191 min - In 1994 KCOP-TV from Los Angeles (at the time a syndicated television station) ran the Salkind international version of “Superman” on its network, marking the first time that the complete extended version of the film had been shown on television in the United States. Foreign markets had been showing the Salkind international cut for years prior to 1994, but it was not until KCOP-TV had acquired the broadcast rights to the film that viewers would see for themselves just how much had been missing from the film and its previous extended TV broadcasts. All of the footage that had been excised from the ABC telecasts and the 1990 syndicated TV broadcast, including the trimmed nude footage and the profanity, was preserved in the film. But the most significant footage did not occur until halfway through the broadcast. Following Superman’s rescue of Air Force One, the film showed a new scene of Superman conversing with the spirit of his father Jor-El in the Fortress of Solitude. This scene marked the only on-screen dialog between actors Christopher Reeve and Marlon Brando in the film (though the two had filmed other scenes for “Superman II”). Using music lifted from the cue “Destruction of Krypton” from the original soundtrack, the new sequence added significant emotional depth to Superman’s character.
Viewers were also treated to additional footage between Lex Luthor and Otis, as well as a large amount of footage focusing on comic moments between Luthor, Otis, and Miss Teschmacher during the missile hijacking. Another sequence that first appeared in the KCOP telecast was a re-edited version of Jimmy Olsen at Hoover Dam, followed by an alternate introduction of Lois’ interview with the Indian chief. This sequence is of importance because it uses as an underscore an alternate version of “Misguided Missiles” that omits the Love Theme motif from the track. (This cue remains unreleased to date in an official capacity.) Another scene extension that makes its first appearance in the KCOP telecast is a discussion between the Army general and a senator about the cost of the XK-101 project. The scene was trimmed from the ABC telecast due to the presence of profanity in the scene: “Two hundred eighty million dollars spent on this project, and not a god damned thing we can do about it.”
This version of the film remains the longest known version of the film to exist, as it is the only source of approximately 35 minutes of some of the above scenes that have been shown to date. This version has also been telecast on stations around the world, and with the popularity of Internet-based sources, it remains a highly-sought collectible for film fans everywhere.
- ? DVDr
- Fan Preservation
- Source - VHS recording of OTA broadcast
- Fullscreen
OR
Superman II [1978] - “Restored International Cut"
Running Time: 146 min - This project began as a fan edit. The hope was to recut the film to make it feel more like Donner's "Superman the Movie." Before work could seriously begin, the extended TV broadcasts needed to be acquired to include some of those great Donner moments that didn't make it into the theatrical cut.
There would always be those hard-core fans that would want to see everything. So with the support of fans and friends from around the globe, the fan edit was put aside, and the business of restoring the entire film began. It took about 2 years to acquire the footage, and make it watchable, but the results were less than satisfying. The word once again went out for extended broadcasts, and both Bill Williams and Jonathan Hoyle answered the call. The choice wasn't easy, but after a lot of scrutiny, Bill's footage was the actual source chosen to improve RIC. But special thanks to Jonathan for sending his original master as well.
It's been said many times, this film will never win any quality awards. The footage supplied came from home recordings. So anyone expecting amazing detail and clarity will be sorely disappointed. But if you've seen any version of the extended broadcasts, you'll probably appreciate the way it's presented here. Great care has been taken to make the film as watchable as possible, no commercials, no subtitles, no station ID's. Thanks to the generous help of a very talented individual, even the audio got a polishing as well.
The final two disc RIC DVD set contains:
- The complete two hour, twenty-six minute version of the film.
- On-screen commentary track, detailing what footage Donner shot, and other RIC trivia.
- Long out of print documentary "The Making of Superman II."
- Long out of print "Superman II Soundtrack."
- "Lost Scene Gallery" - features pictures of Donner's unreleased work on Superman II.
- "Restoration Demonstration" - features before and after footage samples.
- Complete RIC artwork folder with printable Cover and Disc art in TIFF file format.
- 2 DVDr
- Fan Preservation
- Source - VHS recording of OTA broadcasts, Official VHS
- Fullscreen
OR
The Wizard of Oz: The “ADigitalMan” Special Extended Edition
For those of you with the official DVD or special edition Laserdisc, you'll know from the supplements that the Scarecrow had an extended dance sequence during "If I Only Had A Brain" that mirror's what the Tin Man did in the following scene. It was choreographed by none other than the great Busby Berkeley. Unfortunately it was lopped out (with other things) to improve the run time (it was about three and a half minutes itself). When the movie was restored, a pristine copy of this number was still in the vaults and restored along with it, though not reinstated. Rather, it was just one gorgeous piece of supplemental material. Screw it, I put it back in. It looks positively grand. Thought I'd share my blasphemy with you guys. I think Busby Berkeley is smiling somewhere right now. Also featured on this disc as a second audio track is Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon when selected it creates what has been called the “Dark Side of Oz” synchronicity - DVD Easter egg is “Echoes: Jupiter and Beyond the Infinite” this is a synchronicity of the film 2001: A Space Odyssey and Pink Floyd’s Echoes from the album Meddle.
- Fan Created Edit
- 1 DVDr
- Source - Official DVD
- Widescreen
OR
Halloween VI: The Origin of Michael Myers -“The Producers Cut Workprint” - “Unknown” Creator
This is the only known “non-composite” transfer of the original "The Producers Cut" workprint VHS. This DVD features the highest quality of any of the Producer’s Cut transfers; professionally digitally restored and authored this transfer may be the finest release of the Producers Cut yet.
DVD Specifications
Digitally Restored VHS Workprint Transfer
43 minutes of additional footage
Aspect Ratio: Widescreen [1.85:1]
Dolby Digital 2.0
Theatrical Trailer
Interactive Menu with Chapter Selection
Running Time: Approx. 93 Minutes
Region 0
FYI - The Superman stuff is coming in trades and I hope to have it within the next 10 days
I'll leave this up to the MYSPLEEN gang BUT choose wisely my friends as these are all in their own unique way very RARE and hard to find (or they were anyway!!
) - Of course this will now get some of these DVD's into the hands of some Dark Dealers and eJackers and they will certainly seek to profit from them... But, I'm sure we can get some out there and FLOOD the market with them - therby cutting into their prof