Idea & Info: Blue Velvet (1986) - Theatrical/Pre-MGM version

Releases of Blue Velvet prior to the MGM restorations contain a slight editing difference during the opening sequence:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzT3v-E6xtc

The old edit is present on the '87 Karl-Lorimar VHS and LD, the '90 Warner VHS, and presumably, in widescreen (2:1, not 2.35:1) on the '91 and '93 Warner LDs.

There are also some slight differences across various releases as to how the flashback shots of Frank/the “Well-Dressed Man” are handled:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7NCVDjl51k

I feel these differences are worth cataloging and preserving, and all three domestic LDs are going for dirt cheap on eBay, but alas, I do not own a player and my captures would be lousy in comparison to other individuals’ efforts anyway. There is also a UK DVD of an older master that I have yet to investigate.

Gotta wonder which is more theatrically accurate

Cause it’s possible the print used for the initial VHS was altered

SpacemanDoug said:

Gotta wonder which is more theatrically accurate

Cause it’s possible the print used for the initial VHS was altered

The audio is conformed to the older edit.

I since noticed that

Strange alterations

Further observations: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=512YgC0Iimw

I firmly believe the older edit is the theatrical one because of its presence in the Shochiku Home Video LD, a release known to be made with a theatrical element with stuff like cue marks and the MPAA card.

Space Hunter M said:

Further observations: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=512YgC0Iimw

I firmly believe the older edit is the theatrical one because of its presence in the Shochiku Home Video LD, a release known to be made with a theatrical element with stuff like cue marks and the MPAA card.

Wow this wouldn’t be the first time MGM had editing errors in a master of theirs

Just thinking of the missing frames and shots on the 1998 DVD of GBU