What Is the Definitive Version of TMP?

[Firebird]

I've always assumed that the "Director's Edition" was the definitive version, as it was supervised and officially approved of by Bob Wise. I've always figured, the guy who's hired to sit in the big chair, and make the decisions about how his movie is supposed to look, sound, and feel, is solely the one who's allowed to call the film "definitive."

For instance, you don't hear people calling the version of Lawrence of Arabia that was on general release in early 1963 as being definitive. Everyone (David Lean included) pointed to the 1989 restoration as the final version of the movie.

It's really the director's opinion on what the "definitive" version of their movie is, since they make the final creative decisions (unless we're talking about the productions of Selznick or Bronston). All other opinions are merely fan preference.

 

[Therin of Andor]

In this youtube video, I'd point to the cut-away shots at 1:00, 1:10, 2:57, 3:04, 3:20, 3:53, and 4:10 as fat the sequence doesn't need.

And then you'd have to truncate the majestic music that accompanies the sequence so perfectly.

 

[Maurice]

In this youtube video, I'd point to the cut-away shots at 1:00, 1:10, 2:57, 3:04, 3:20, 3:53, and 4:10 as fat the sequence doesn't need.

And then you'd have to truncate the majestic music that accompanies the sequence so perfectly.

But Goldsmith said he wrote the music for many of those sequences with deliberate loops so that the music could easily edited down to fit whatever length the final sequences were.

 

[Harvey]

In this youtube video, I'd point to the cut-away shots at 1:00, 1:10, 2:57, 3:04, 3:20, 3:53, and 4:10 as fat the sequence doesn't need.

And then you'd have to truncate the majestic music that accompanies the sequence so perfectly.

On one hand, DS9Sega is right that the music was designed by Goldsmith with loops that could easily be edited down. On the other hand, I love the track, and you're absolutely right that it's hard to lose any of it.

I terms of the theatrical release being the "definitive" version of the movie, because it was the one finished on film, and the one finished first, I don't know. Most people at this point have probably experienced the film on home video, in the variety of versions available. That said, it is almost certain that the studio will continue to muck about with the film in the future.

 

[Devon]

To me, this is sort of like the same question as to which version of "Let It Be" should be considered the definitive. On one hand, the Phil Spector version with the orchestras was there first and has been for over 40 years. But the "Let It Be... Naked" version is more like what the band wanted and true to the songs original intentions. I guess it's whatever your preference is.

 

[HaventGotALife]

Is it the Director’s Edition (DVD) or the theatrical version (BD)? The brilliant Trek novel Ex Machina was based on the Director’s Edition, but with the advent of Blu-ray and the release of the theatrical edition in that format, which version is now considered the "true" version? [I own both.]

Thanks,

JL

I enjoy my 1980 VHS tape with 14 extra minutes. I have been told that the Director's Cut on DVD is much better in terms of pacing. I think it's much more hacked up. TMP has always been a slow-paced movie in my memory.

 

[Therin of Andor]

I enjoy my 1980 VHS tape with 14 extra minutes.

I think your date is wrong. TMP first came out on commercial and rental Beta and VHS as the theatrical version in Oct 1980. Then, later, there was a release of the ABC-TV premiere edition, as the "Special Longer Version", on US VHS. That version was released in mid to late 1983. It had aired on TV in Feb 1983.

 

[HaventGotALife]

I enjoy my 1980 VHS tape with 14 extra minutes.

I think your date is wrong. TMP first came out on commercial and rental Beta and VHS as the theatrical version. Then, later, there was a release of the ABC-TV premiere edition, as the "Special Longer Version", on US VHS. That version was released in 1983.

The copyright on my tape is 1980, that's all I know. I got it from a Flea Market in 1995 and have kept it ever since. I don't know the history.

 

[Joanna McCoy-Kirk]

According to Wikipedia, the longer version was released on videotape and telecast on ABC in 1983. My VHS tape of the longer version has several copyright dates (1980, 1991, 1993), so it must be a reissue (I bought it on eBay a couple of years ago).

 

[HaventGotALife]

I enjoy my 1980 VHS tape with 14 extra minutes.

I think your date is wrong. TMP first came out on commercial and rental Beta and VHS as the theatrical version. Then, later, there was a release of the ABC-TV premiere edition, as the "Special Longer Version", on US VHS. That version was released in 1983.

The copyright on my tape is 1980, that's all I know. I got it from a Flea Market in 1995 and have kept it ever since. I don't know the history.

I take that back, it does say Copyright 1980, 1983.