THX 1138 "preservations" + the 'THX 1138 Italian Cut' project (Released) — Page 51

I have now seen what thxita sent me, and it's the same dub on at least the intro, which is what the clip is:

This version starts with the American Zoetrope logo and have exactly the same editing we are all used to from the original. It is the regular american cut for at least the first few minutes.

But here's what's interesting; the narration and car chase that opened the other Italian cut, is present. But only in audio obviously over the titles. The same prologue narration, it just continue over all the extra footage montages that was cut from the previous Italian version and ends at the same time perfectly with THX. There's an 80's home video logo at the start - the blue and white one. This is most likely the version that's on the tape I bought, sorry haven't been able to check what's on it yet but hopes to do that sometime next week.

I'm about to upload this clip for you Leo and Silver as I type so you can see and hear it for yourself.

For anyone else interested in the clip, give me a PM.

Hmm, is it an audible edit I hear in the narration when we go from titles to the opening shot of the film?

Thanks for the file. Interesting it has the English titles.

Why is it shot off a tv screen?

I know as little about it as you guys, I'm sure thxita will chime in and tell us the full story soon. Seems weird with that audible edit, if I heard it correctly that is. Don't know how usual it is with original English titles in Italy. I hope it is a different cut and not just a custom edit done with audio taken from the original dub synced to the English version.

msycamore said:

Hmm, is it an audible edit I hear in the narration when we go from titles to the opening shot of the film?

I don't hear it. Could you provide a timecode for it?

I have no access to the file at the moment so I cannot give you any timecode but I recall hearing a edit exactly when we go from opening titles to the opening shot of the digits. Maybe just my imagination.

Mmmm, no, I went over that with headphones at max volume, and I didn't hear it. There was one in the old version though, and it ate up a chunk of the audio, if I recall correctly.

Good to hear it was my imagination. :)

Didn't think about it the first time I watched that clip of the Italian video, but the opening titles are white just like the 90's video master...

I noticed that too, but thought maybe it was a side effect of shooting off a monitor. Any info on where it's from yet?

SilverWook said:

I noticed that too, but thought maybe it was a side effect of shooting off a monitor. Any info on where it's from yet?

The clip is apparently from someone he is in contact with who owns the Italian home video version, I recently got another mail from him where he said the extended SEN scenes are present in this cut as well.

Not to derail things too much, but as we were also talking about American Graffiti when this thread started...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Two-Rare-Original-16mm-Reels-of-the-movie-American-Graffiti-/350623008295?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item51a2c28627

Looks scratchy as heck, but the colors don't seem to have turned. Pity it costs a bundle. This appears to be an "adapted scope" print, which is essentially letterbox format on film.

Impressive that they haven't turned red after all these years! If only a scope print of THX would appear...

This rekindles my hope a little one might exist.

Now you tell us? ;)

How does it compare to that one on Ebay?

Any idea if it's the original 1973 theatrical cut?

O___________O

If it's 16mm, mb talk to Puggo?

ww12345, that's awesome you own a scope print and that Puggo are willing to make a transfer! A 2k or 4k scan would be fantastic, hope you are able to fulfill those plans. You should perhaps start a thread for this, there are maybe people around here that is able to help you out with this. Guess it could be the original theatrical cut if it was struck in '76, the re-release version came out in '78, exciting!

Found this clip of the opening titles in the '83 home video release: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYVe6Jzr0VA

I think it's interesting that they actually bothered to create new titles for the pan & scan format instead of letterbox or squeeze it...

Theatrical vs home video titles:

See how red faded and drab the LD-transfer is, but what happened to the Mels drive-in neon sign. Could perhaps be the result of the red fading.

Some studios went to great lengths to avoid squeezing or letterboxing title sequences back then. I used to wonder how they could have the textless scenes lying around long after a film was made, but it probably made sense to keep such footage for foreign versions.

As I mentioned in the Bond thread, Maurice Binder started creating an "HBO version" of his later Moore title sequences after seeing his earlier work mangled on tv.

ww12345, you might want to mention your other print in the SOTS thread if you haven't already.

SilverWook: Is the Japan LD of THX 1138 better than the US LD? Is it a different transfer?