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The Return of The Living Dead "Original" audio project. (Released)

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So are there any fans of this movie here that are really, really knowledgeable of this film, I admit I did not know that the theatrical audio has been missing from US versions of our retail released DVD’s, and now I find out that the Blu does not have the theatrical either, I guess the only release of the original audio was from old US VHS releases and the UK Tartan 4:3 fullscreen release DVD(does anyone have this) so I am looking for the theatrical audio and then I want to know what the exact scenes were where this audio was at, my goal is to make up a DD 2.0 track and a DD 5.1 track(I will use the DTS HD master 5.1 audio from the Blu downmixed to DD 5.1) and sync both to the Blu.

I will go out on a limb here and guess that there are not to many fans of this movie here LOL, but I friggin LOVE it.

Let me know if anyone knows any of this or if anyone has the Tartan DVD.

Thanks

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OK I found this at IMDB,

"The TSOL song has been replaced with another song" where is this song played in the movie?

"The Tar Man's voice has been re-recorded." this is easy enough, he doesn't have many lines LOL

"The line "send more cops" has also been re-recorded." this is also easy enough, only 1 line LOL

"The song "Take a walk" has been removed" where is this song played in the movie?

"The song "Burn the flames" has also been shortened." where is this song played in the movie?

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Great idea. I love this cult classic but did never buy it on DVD just for this reason. I'll see if I can find any better info about the audio differences, a LD capture of the original audio track would be great.

We want you to be aware that we have no plans—now or in the future—to restore the earlier versions. 

Sincerely, Lynne Hale publicity@lucasfilm.com

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Is the original audio on an LD, I thought it was only old VHS and the UK Tartan DVD.

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I'm really not sure if it is available on LD, it was just me who took it for granted. It should be.

from dvdcompare:

1.) 'Tarman' zombie has a deep, guttural voice that remains constant throughout the film.
2.) The "send more cops" zombie also had his voice lowered to accurately represent someone whose been dead for 100+ years.
3.) The film's score has also been altered. One song, "Dead Beat Dance," which played near the beginning of the film as we are introduced to the punk kids driving in Suicide's car, has been removed due to legal clearances. Sadly, this is not uncommon in Hollywood. Every time a movie is released on a new format, every song has to be cleared by it's respective copyright owners. The song which has replaced "Dead Beat Dance" is strangely uncredited.
4.) Frank's suicide – In the original, "Burn the Flames" played over the entire scene. The problem here was that the producers felt that Frank's death scream would be too "disturbing" for audiences, and ordered the song to be played loudly throughout. The thing is (as O'Bannon states on the commentary track), that "disturbing" is what he *liked* about that scene, and to drown out Frank's scream robbed it of it's impact. The song is still in that scene but is faded out as Frank gets into the crematorium.
5.) One other song, "Take a Walk" has been changed. This song was probably the biggest offender in terms of making the actor's dialogue very hard to hear (the producers amped up the music through the whole movie, regardless of it's affect on the performances.) Now, the song does not begin until after the punk kids run out of the UNEEDA warehouse.
6.) All of the other songs remain as they were without alteration.
7.) After Burt and the gang cut up the corpse at UNEEDA but before the bonesaw is brought out, listen to the corpse's body flopping on the floor in the background.

I think the burned in text that appears throughout the film also were removed in some releases.

We want you to be aware that we have no plans—now or in the future—to restore the earlier versions. 

Sincerely, Lynne Hale publicity@lucasfilm.com

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msycamore said:

I think the burned in text that appears throughout the film also were removed in some releases.

I am not sure what you mean here, burned in text?

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The subs describing what time it is.

We want you to be aware that we have no plans—now or in the future—to restore the earlier versions. 

Sincerely, Lynne Hale publicity@lucasfilm.com

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 (Edited)

I don't remember ever seeing that when I watched this movie, weird, in any version I had.

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I've heard they removed some of them, are they not even softsubbed on the later releases?

We want you to be aware that we have no plans—now or in the future—to restore the earlier versions. 

Sincerely, Lynne Hale publicity@lucasfilm.com

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OH that LOL, isn't that the only time it is shown?

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No, there are a few more. But if I remember correctly the later DVD releases removed all but this one.

We want you to be aware that we have no plans—now or in the future—to restore the earlier versions. 

Sincerely, Lynne Hale publicity@lucasfilm.com

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Well the audio edit should not be to hard, there are not really that many changes and I think it would be easier just to add the cut parts back into the better audio(the version on the newer DVD's and the Blu-ray), instead of going through and sync'ing the whole thing(theatrical) when most of it was unchanged, especially for the 5.1 version.

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dark_jedi, would you be willing to help out with THX if I can get the old Laserdisc of ROTLD and capture it for you?

As the original audio is mono, a Beta Hi-fi copy might also do in a pinch.

Forum Moderator

Where were you in '77?

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There is a DVD on the torrent site Cinemageddon:

Somewhat over a year ago i received a fan edited dvd of "Return of The Living Dead" It contained the fullscreen cut of the film as well as 5 different versions of the soundtrack,

The un altered Theatrical version missing from the 2002 DVD,
A unofficial mix,
1991 2.0 Stereo HBO version,
The Butchered 2002 version
Directors Commentary

I myself re cut this fan edit got rid of the full screen version and replaced it with the Widescreen transfer as well as throwing in the Spanish soundtrack . Everything is synced up perfectly

I previously uploaded the entire official DVD release collection of the Return of The Living Dead series. Minus the fan edits of course

The description 'fan edit' is misleading.  As far as I can tell, it is just a reauthoring with 5 audio tracks.

From the comments there, it looks like you may already know this.  Is there a reason this source would be unacceptable for the audio?

Dr. M

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I do have that DVD DrM, but the audio is really low and soft, I was going to use that as a last resort if I could not find the Tartan DVD and rip it myself.

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OK I have all the scenes I need where the audio is different and I cleaned it up and boosted the volume and gave them life, then I used DrM's new 5.1 upmix guide and upmixed Tarman's part(and ALL other parts) and edited it back into the 5.1 Blu-ray mix, which was DTS HD Master audio 5.1 downmixed to DD 5.1 @ 448 and it sounds like it is supoosed to be there, damn I can't wait to finish this, this will be the first time ever to have the original mix in 5.1!, granted I run into no problems LOL.

well that is where I am at if anyone is following this.

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All that is left on the 5.1 audio is editing the "Take a Walk" song and then it is ready for testing, I have to make sure I matched up the volume between the 2.

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Hey, dark_jedi if you're fond of the sequel, the same kind of alterations has been made to that films audiotrack as well if you didn't know about that already.

And about SilverWooks' THX 1138 capture, are you still willing to help out with that? maybe you guys have spoken about it already... it would be great. 

We want you to be aware that we have no plans—now or in the future—to restore the earlier versions. 

Sincerely, Lynne Hale publicity@lucasfilm.com

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I say leave the 5.1 DTS-HD as it is, but yes, do include the REAL original mono track and possibly add the TV Spots from the R1 2002 release. P.S. Love the movie too! ^_^

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ThiefCobbler4ever said:

I say leave the 5.1 DTS-HD as it is, but yes, do include the REAL original mono track and possibly add the TV Spots from the R1 2002 release. P.S. Love the movie too! ^_^

I am not going to leave the 5.1 DTS-HD on it because it is not the right audio, besides that is already on the Blu-ray, and the TV spots won't be on there because all I am wanting to do is preserve the original audio in 2.0 & 5.1 with the best video we have, the Blu-ray.

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msycamore said:

Hey, dark_jedi if you're fond of the sequel, the same kind of alterations has been made to that films audiotrack as well if you didn't know about that already.

And about SilverWooks' THX 1138 capture, are you still willing to help out with that? maybe you guys have spoken about it already... it would be great. 

Yes I am familiar with the audio in part 2 as well and already have the original audio, maybe I might do something with this, not sure.

and as far as THX 1138, I am still thinking about it.

OH and when this is done, I am probably going to keep the video 1080p and make a BD9 out of this, I will be using BD-RB(latest build) and if any of you are familiar with this software, you would know that jdobbs knows his shit, this program makes BEAUTIFUL copies, so can everyone here play BD9's?

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Is anyone still following this or not? if so would anyone be willing to help me test the 5.1 audio? I will tell you where the edit points are and I need you to listen for anything distracting, more sets of ears are always better.

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If this new DTS audio works out I am ditching the 2.0 and DD 5.1, there will be no need for these versions.

I am going to also do up the Return of The Living Dead II "original" audio as well, and going to edit back in the uncut scenes from the PAL uncut version of Return of The Living Dead III.

The ROTLD 2 & 3 projects will not get started until I finish the GOUT V3 and the 97 SE V2 though, but I am going to finish the ROTLD DTS audio since it is close to finished already, plus I needed a break from SW BAD!

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I'm all for this and I am a huge fan of ROTLD. I haven't bought the US Blu-Ray yet (My Blu-Ray Drive died) but I have seen it and own almost every available version available. I'd say go with the 5.1 MA mix - but make sure you reinstate the original voice of the Tar-Man (Can be found on the The Dead Have Risen Documentary in clearer form).

Any other help you need???

 

 

 

Brummie Sith Lord - Darth Bostin'
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mitz77 said:

(Can be found on the The Dead Have Risen Documentary in clearer form).

Any other help you need???

 

 

 

Thanks for that heads up, I actually have not even watched any of the extras yet, been working on the audio, and I will let you know if I need any more help, you can count on that.