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Info: Star Trek movies - alternate versions...

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 (Edited)

First of all sorry that I’m starting a new thread for this, but the “All Things Star Trek” thread is slowly turning into a personal argument. I have a question (and hopefully it was not answered here before) - what are all the different versions of all Trek flicks?

Star Trek The Motion Picture

  • theatrical version - released on Blu-ray
  • ABC cut a.k.a. “Special Longer Version” - released on LD
  • Director’s cut DVD a.k.a. “Director’s Edition” - released on DVD
  • I heard rumours about a ~60min Super8 or 8mm version, something similar to the Star Wars releases - anybody has any info on this?

Star Trek II - The Wrath of Khan

  • theatrical version - released on Blu-ray
  • ABC cut - unreleased?
  • Director’s cut DVD version - DVD
  • Director’s cut 2016 Blu-ray version - 2016 BD - the same as the DVD version with the dialogue about Kirk’s son is muted
  • I heard rumours about a different theatrical version (maybe 70mm?) without the “II”, called simply Star Trek - The Wrath of Khan - any more info?

Star Trek III - The Search for Spock

  • theatrical version - released on Blu-ray
  • I heard about a different ABC cut - any more info?

Star Trek IV - The Voyage Home

  • USA theatrical version - released on Blu-ray
  • UK theatrical version called “The Voyage Home : Star Trek” - apparently released on VHS?
  • PAL DVD version - DVD - features a new beginning containing a montage of scenes from Star Trek II and III
  • are there any more versions?

Star Trek V - The Final Frontier

  • theatrical version - released on Blu-ray
    I guess this doesn’t have any different cuts released, or does it?

Star Trek VI - The Undiscovered Country

  • theatrical version - released on Blu-ray
  • VHS/Laserdisc version - released on LD/VHS
  • DVD version - released on DVD
    Are there any more versions? 3 different cuts doesn’t seem like enough, since Nick Meyer is a bit of a George Lucas and he tries to re-do his films constantly. I also heard that the REAL theatrical version had different closing credits, but I never managed to find any evidence of its existence.

Did they ever do different cuts to all the other movies? I know that Star Trek (2009) was released with some subtitle in some other countries but I can’t find it anywhere right now.

And a related question regarding the first Trek pilot The Cage. There were 6 versions produced (7 if you count the menagerie)

  • 35mm version shown to the network - unreleased
  • 16mm version - black and white, unknown if it’s the same cut as the 35mm version, the only thing I managed to get is an audio recording of a public showing, and it proofs that a LOT of footage is missing from all of the restorations
  • 1986 restoration - combination of the colour scenes from the Menagerie and the black and white scenes from GR’s private 16mm copy, misses a bunch of scenes which were in the 16mm version for “some” reason - released on DVD and Blu-ray featuring GR’s introduction
  • 1988 restoration - after Bob Furmanek found the missing colour trims they took the 1986 restoration and replaced the black and white footage with the trims, in many places slowed down or repeated from other scenes - released on LD (I think) as a part of the “From One Generation to the Next” 1988 TV special and on several VHS tapes
  • 2001 restoration - many scenes are trimmed so it’s shorter than the 1988 restoration, and it misses more dialog, they replaced some audio which was replaced for The Menagerie to the correct audio, but other parts were still taken from The Menagerie - released on DVD
  • 2009 restoration with original effects - even shorter than the DVD version with more audio changes - released on Blu-ray
  • 2009 restoration with CGI effect - same cut as previous version, but all effects replaced with CGI effects - released on Blu-ray

The audio recording of the 16mm version clearly shows all the audio changes done to The Menagerie (most notable the Keeper’s voice being pitch-shifted but there are also tons of small music changes), and that a lot of scenes were trimmed, I know that the chance is very very very slim, but I’ve seen some 16mm print on eBay a few years ago, so … Is there a chance that somebody from this forum actually has it?

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pittrek said:

First of all sorry that I’m starting a new thread for this, but the “All Things Star Trek” thread is slowly turning into a personal argument.

Hahahaha.

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TV’s Frink said:

pittrek said:

First of all sorry that I’m starting a new thread for this, but the “All Things Star Trek” thread is slowly turning into a personal argument.

Hahahaha.

Be nice.

Forum Moderator

Where were you in '77?

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SilverWook said:

TV’s Frink said:

pittrek said:

First of all sorry that I’m starting a new thread for this, but the “All Things Star Trek” thread is slowly turning into a personal argument.

Hahahaha.

Be nice.

I think that’s a silly reason to start a new thread, not to mention that conversation already ended. Not sure what the problem is.

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 (Edited)

The ABC cut of The Search for Spock that you’re referring to is not extended but actually hideously cut down. Reportedly, the original editing (and this survives in the comic adaptation from DC, by the way) made it so that the Grissom material takes up most of the first act with little cutaways to the other characters until the stuff with the Enterprise in the 2nd act. However, they (rightfully, IMO) decided that it would be stronger to focus on the Enterprise crew for the first third.

Now, the ABC cut does open with the Grissom like the script… But that’s because they apparently cut off everything that happens before.

By the way, there are also records of workprints being shown for both The Wrath of Khan and The Voyage Home. I’ll try and look for the list of extensions for The Wrath of Khan. I saved it a long time ago.

Edit: Here it is.
A few seconds of footage were cut from the simulator scene.
A brief snippet of deleted footage from the scene where Kirk receives his copy of ‘A Tale of Two Cities’ including the statement of Saavik being half-Romulan. Additionally, Spock asks if Kirk is feeling oppressed by something.
A longer take of the McCoy/glasses scene.
Chekov originally had a different log entry, designating he was duty officer. This was redubbed after the workprint.
Carol and David originally had a longer scene with each other, likely more exposition about either Genesis or Kirk.
Chekov spotting a child in the Botany Bay window, and knocking him and Terrell off of a cliff. While the workprint did not reportedly include this take, this scene was controversial in magazines for putting a stuntman in blackface for one take.
Terrell finding Khan’s baby in the Botany Bay.
Marla McGivers is mentioned by name in Khan’s speech.
The Ceti Eel scene was originally a little longer and more graphic. I believe the Director’s Cut has hints of this.
Kyle and Beach (of the Reliant) attempt a rescue, but Terrell (under the eel’s power) convinces them to beam aboard Khan’s crew.
Like the first film, Spock and Saavik originally spoke English in their conversation. This was redubbed after the workprint.
A scene detailing Sulu’s promotion. This is the one George Takei claims Shatner deliberately sabotaged with bad acting- those who have seen it say that was quite obviously the case.
Reportedly, the workprint essentially used the entirety of the Star Trek: The Motion Picture launch scene. This was cut down for the theatrical version.
An alternate take of the scene of the scientists arguing, unsure whether the workprint used the theatrical or director’s cut version.
Carol’s narration during the Genesis tape scene was changed to give a different explanation of the Genesis effect (it was to provide implication that Spock could return).
An alternate take of the discussion in Kirk’s quarters. I believe the workprint was closer to the Director’s Cut.
Kirk had a line about Chekov during the first Reliant encounter.
Scotty is seen telling the other engineers to stay at their posts.
The original cut of the Enterprise’s attack had Khan moving across the bridge shouting at Kirk. This can be seen in an early convention reel.
At one point Kirk recalls the “blind as a Tiberian bat” line while orbiting Regula 1.
McCoy reveals he had worked with Terrell.
The scene of David attacking Kirk was reshot at the studio’s consent. The original featured David leaping out of a cargo container, pulling a knife on Kirk, and actually winning their brawl (this can be seen in the Starlog magazine coverage for the film). This actually reflects a major script change. Reportedly, Kirk had NO idea of his relation to David and learned of it in this scene. The insert shots in the final edit are easy to notice.

Now, this all is more speculatory. The public screening of this workprint cut out during the final battle, right as Spock gets up to go to engineering. The rest of the film included:

A scene showing McCoy working on Chekov’s ear during the final space fight. David is shown to be anxious to get to the bridge.
Chekov later wakes up and demands to be taken to the bridge, David takes the opportunity to follow.
A scene of Khan’s baby in the transporter room next to the detonating Genesis device.
Khan’s final reaction shot before the Reliant’ destruction was cut.
The original funeral scene was slightly longer.
The scene between David and Kirk had different dialogue initially, redubbed at the studio’s consent. “I should be on the bridge” “Are you running away from me?” "I suppose I was."
There was brief scene cut out between Saavik and David on the bridge, paving the way for a later romance.
The original ending lacked all scenes taking place on the Genesis planet, making it seem as if Spock really was dead. Meyer reshot it after studio pressure and a bad test screening. The original edit is referenced on the expanded soundtrack release.

I’m just here because I’m driving tonight.

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I do not have a copy of the ABC version to directly compare to, but my understanding is that it was extended to fit 3 hour time block and it included the extra scenes as in the Director’s cut DVD, and nothing was missing. I did see it several times at conventions and at one point I had a copy of it.

I have not done a scene by scene comparison, but just looking at it quickly. the original B&W/Color version of The Cage and the restored full color show very little differences. The DVD release has the original in 29.790 fps and the restored version in 23.976 fps. In places the hybrid runs faster and in others the restored runs faster. There are also noticeable frame drops in the hybrid during the B&W sequences.

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yotsuya said:

I do not have a copy of the ABC version to directly compare to, but my understanding is that it was extended to fit 3 hour time block and it included the extra scenes as in the Director’s cut DVD, and nothing was missing. I did see it several times at conventions and at one point I had a copy of it.

I have not done a scene by scene comparison, but just looking at it quickly. the original B&W/Color version of The Cage and the restored full color show very little differences. The DVD release has the original in 29.790 fps and the restored version in 23.976 fps. In places the hybrid runs faster and in others the restored runs faster. There are also noticeable frame drops in the hybrid during the B&W sequences.

There are some small bits of dialogue missing, which survive in some recordings of the full 16mm print from Roddenberry. It’s all in sections where edits were made in the Menagerie, which makes it understandable why they were excluded in that initial hybrid cut and never restored. I think the rest of it concerns soundtrack changes; music from ‘The Man Trap’ is looped into many sections, again casualties of The Menagerie.

I’m just here because I’m driving tonight.

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Regarding “Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home”:
The European version has a summary-sequence of the previous movie, narrated by William Shatner. Unfortunately, it has not been released on any of the Blu-ray releases as far as I know.
(However, since all needed footage obviously exists on the Blu-ray of Star Trek III, I don’t think it would be impossible to rebuild that sequence using the audio track from the DVD-release)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1N69bmZjnI

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pittrek said:

  • I heard rumours about a different theatrical version (maybe 70mm?) without the “II”, called simply Star Trek - The Wrath of Khan - any more info?

Yes, that was the 70mm - presumably a similar case to ESB, where the 35mm prints had a little more refinement than the first-run 70mm.

(not my pic)

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yotsuya said:

I have not done a scene by scene comparison, but just looking at it quickly. the original B&W/Color version of The Cage and the restored full color show very little differences. The DVD release has the original in 29.790 fps and the restored version in 23.976 fps. In places the hybrid runs faster and in others the restored runs faster. There are also noticeable frame drops in the hybrid during the B&W sequences.

I am actually working on a “re-creation” of the full length Cage and there are many short omissions. The first step was to merge the Blu-ray version (the shortest of the official releases) with the hybrid version (the longest of the official releases), so now I have my own “hybrid” B&W/color version, which is actually longer than the 1986 version. The second step was to correct the speed of my 16mm audio, and try to sync it with the video, that’s when I noticed that even my “hybrid” version is too short, there are many segments were there is no dialogue just music and/or sound effects, and there is no footage for those parts available right now. Bits of dialogue are missing too, “you were like a wild little animal” is included in the 1986 and 1988 versions but dropped later, but lines like “probing you, searching for weaknesses” or “you wanna gamble we won’t” (hope I got it correctly) are in no officially releases versions. The dramatic reaction turn of Pike reacting to “soon we can start with the experiment” is missing the music which was included in The Menagerie and all home video releases, when Vina and Keylar (or whatever the spelling is) are fighting on the top of the stairs The Menagerie (and all subsequent home video releases of The Cage) include more screams by Vina, which were not in the 16mm version, there are a few places were music was added or removed…

And one of the strangest things is that The Menagerie includes 3 shots of Vina dancing which I can’t find in any official release and I can’t find the place where it should belong 😃

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Jonno said:

pittrek said:

  • I heard rumours about a different theatrical version (maybe 70mm?) without the “II”, called simply Star Trek - The Wrath of Khan - any more info?

Yes, that was the 70mm - presumably a similar case to ESB, where the 35mm prints had a little more refinement than the first-run 70mm.

(not my pic)
This is the first time I see an actual piece of evidence, thanks

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The thing about the presentation of this episode that has always bothered me was that even thought they had it in 16mm form, they never restored the original keeper’s voice, except where the shot didn’t exist in The Menagerie. They have obviously been able to clean up the audio for the missing sections, but that has never been fixed.

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pittrek said:

Star Trek IV - The Voyage Home

  • USA theatrical version - released on Blu-ray
  • UK theatrical version called “The Voyage Home : Star Trek” - apparently released on VHS?
  • PAL DVD version - DVD - features a new beginning containing a montage of scenes from Star Trek II and III
  • are there any more versions?

The “story so far” montage seen on the PAL DVD release was not new. It was present in the UK theatrical version in 1986 (I saw it) and it was also present on the version of ST IV included in the UK VHS TOS era widescreen collection.

pittrek said:

Star Trek VI - The Undiscovered Country

  • theatrical version - released on Blu-ray
  • VHS/Laserdisc version - released on LD/VHS
  • DVD version - released on DVD
    Are there any more versions? 3 different cuts doesn’t seem like enough, since Nick Meyer is a bit of a George Lucas and he tries to re-do his films constantly. I also heard that the REAL theatrical version had different closing credits, but I never managed to find any evidence of its existence.

There are two DVD releases of ST VI. The original, which is the same cut as the VHS/LD release and then a special edition, with a different aspect ratio (1.78:1) and the faces of the conspirators are shown during Valeris’ mind meld interrogation.

“Logic is the battlefield of adulthood.”

  • Howard Berk
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I’m still sitting on a really cruddy VHS transfer of III’s ABC cut, if anyone’s interested. It doesn’t open up on the Grissom, instead on the Klingon Freighter scene, then proceeds generally the same way as the theatrical cut, but with some major trimming.

What, a man builds a giant mound of dirt in his house and you aren’t entertained?

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SwissArmyTin said:

I’m still sitting on a really cruddy VHS transfer of III’s ABC cut, if anyone’s interested. It doesn’t open up on the Grissom, instead on the Klingon Freighter scene, then proceeds generally the same way as the theatrical cut, but with some major trimming.

I don’t know like the others but at least “I” am interested. Even if the quality sucks, if it’s complete (meaning it doesn’t feature any “new” scenes) it can serve as a “template” and a new better quality version can be re-created using the 35mm scan and/or the Blu-ray

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 (Edited)

INFORMATION DUMP BELOW:
Theatrical Cuts for The Motion Picture, II: The Wrath of Khan, III: The Search for Spock, and IV: The Voyage Home received new 4K remasters. Those remasters were released on 4K+BD physical release formats last year, 2021, and are vastly superior to the discs released in 2009. (I’ve already sold the 2009 BDs of TMP, TWOK, TSS, and TVH. Kept the 2016 BD of TWOK.)
STAR TREK II: The Wrath of Khan - Director’s Cut was also part of the 4K remaster re-releases, but unsure if the audio is different from the 2016 BD regarding the dialogue. The 2016 BD uses 24-bit audio for its main track, whilst the 2021 4K+BD remastered release utilizes 16-bit audio. Personally, I haven’t done an A/B comparison regarding both discs. ABC Cut is still its own thing and still hasn’t been officially released.
STAR TREK: The Motion Picture - The Director’s Edition has a brand new iteration for this year in 4K. Will be released physically on 4K+BD in Septermber with legacy and all new bonus features. So yes, this 2022 TDE is different compared to the 2001 TDE. The same exact team who worked on the older iteration of the 2001 TDE, made for and released on DVD in that resolution, also worked on the 2022 (released) TDE which was made with 4K in mind. Just MAYBE, the SLV scenes, and all deleted scenes which were included on the 2-Disc TDE DVD, will be remastered and presented in 1080p quality. Theatrical Cut received a 4K remaster and released 4K+BD in 2021, which is vastly superior to the 2009 BD. (Repeating information for specific film.)
So, all that’s being waited on for STAR TREK VI: The Undiscovered Country to receive a full 4K remaster, i.e. TMP-TVH which includes a physical 4K+BD release, and have all main cuts. Most assuredly the Theatrical will be presented in 2.35:1~2.40:1 aspect ratio, while the original DVD and 2-Disc DVD iteration of the Longer aka Home Video cut, would be presented in 2.00:1 or whichever aspect ratio it was. Since the Theatrical Cut is in a different aspect ratio compared to the LD/DVD Longer Cut, two separate discs would need to be used when taking into account for the 4K remaster. Since the LD/DVD cuts are the same aspect ratio, the disc can have seamless branching. Again, when this remaster is released physically, the 2009 BD will be obsolete.