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here's how I look at it. I always want to have the original version of something. With Star Wars, the original version was the movie as made and released back in 1977. With 1776, the original version was not the movie as made in 1972, but was the original Broadway Musical. So I don't have a big problem changing the movie to make it closer to the Broadway version. Also, unlike Lucas with Star Wars, I have little reason to doubt that the director's cut is how he wanted the picture released in 1972. I do not believe it is a case of the director changing his mind and then altering his movie and giving us an excuse(as Lucas did). Another thing to keep in mind, the "new" scenes weren't really new. They were filmed back in 1972, no cgi was added. I don't believe any editing of them as was done to them other than what was done back in 1972. With the exception of the deleted scoring, no other changes were made other than adding new scenes. You can fast forward past the added scenes and you'll practically be watching the exact same movie as released in 1972(with the exception of the deleted scoring). You can't do that with the SE. For those reasons, I don't have as big a problem with the alteration of 1776 as I do with the alteration of the Star Wars Trilogy. I do agree, however, that both versions should be released and I hope they do so when it comes to blu-ray. I guess I another reason the director's cut didn't upset me so much was the fact that I was just happy the be able to finally watch it in widescreen instead of pan and scam. I can't really say the Vhs version the original theatrical version, the original theatrical version was not in pan in scam.
Still the Vhs tape was alot better than the version of the movie I had when I first started watching 1776 every 4th of July. I started watching way before the prerecorde Vhs tapes were a fad. The only thing I had was a tape of it my father had recorded of it off of channel 29. It commercials and scenes were cut and language was censored. When the Vhs tape was released, my parents it was too expensive and couldn't get. This was back when precorded Vhs tapes were expensive. I believe back then 1776 cost over $50.00. We really didn't have alot of money, and we all knew the price was bound to come down at some point, so I really couldn't blame my parents for not wanting to spend that kind money for 1 movie. I can remember year after year of looking at new movies unlimited catalogs to see of the price had finally dropped. Eventually, I rented it and we dubbed it. Picture and audio quality weren't that great but at least it was complete and uncensored and without commercials. One weird thing about the vhs tape that I rented was that on the back of it's box, it had a picture of some of the founding fathers dancing in front of Independence Hall. In the version of the movie I had watched at time, there was no scene of the founding fathers dancing in front of Independence Hall. Because I had the CD of the music for the original Broadway show, I knew of the missing "Cool Consider Men" number. But, at that time, I had no idea it was filmed or why it was cut. When I saw the picture on the back of the box, I wondered if it was from "Cool Considerate Men". Had they actually made the scene and cut it? Was the scene actually in the Vhs version I had rented? Unfortunately, it was. Why they put a scene on the back of the Vhs box that wasn't on the tape, I'll never understand. But, it kept me wondering for years, where that picture of the founding fathering dancing came from. Finally the price came down and I was able to get the tape. But of course, the tape did not contain "Cool Considerate Men" and the mystery remained. It was not until July 4th, 2004. That the answer came. That was when I got, as an early birthday present(my birthday is on July 10th), the DVD version of the movie. Until that point, I had no idea "Cool Considerate Men" was back in or that it even existed. I course, watched the movie that night and, to my surprise, "Cool Considerate Men" was there and my mystery was solved. The picture on the back of the old VHS tape was indeed from "Cool Considerate Men". It may seem strange to you, but finally having that scene to me was like finding the holy grail.
I only wish they could do the same kind of thing for my Dad's favorite musical, Guys and Dolls. Hollywood really butchered that musical. Five songs are cut from the movie. "A Bushel And A Peck", "I've Never Been In Love Before", "My Time Of Night", "More I Can Not Wish You", and worst of all because contains very important plot points "Marry The Man Today". I have to believe that some of those numbers were filmed. I like to get of a hold of the people that made that movie and strangle them for what they did to "Guys And Dolls". Hollywood should be arrested for the travesties they've committed to Broadway Musicals.
sorry for the giant run-on post.
