WNMHGB unaired version quality?

[billsantos]

My understanding is that the unaired version of WNMHGB appears on the season 3 set of Blu Rays. Since I don't yet have season 3, I wonder what the quality is like. How does the quality compare to the aired version of WNM on season 1 BR's?
The only version of the unaired WHN I had was a poorly copied VHS version obviously recorded from a projection screen. I obtained this a number of years ago from a SF convention.

 

[number6]

It's pretty good. They cleaned it up well. It looks as good as any VHS copy of the actual episode.

 

[Ssosmcin]

It's not in the same league as the restored prints, but it is very nice. Much better than the old bootleg we had to tolerate for years. I'd say it's better than VHS and Laser, more along the lines of standard DVD TV show releases from the era. There are still scratches and grain, and only one audio track, there are one or two audio jumps where the film was broken and rejoined, but nothing major. No tweaks otherwise. The first seconds showing the Milky Way give a false impression that it will be lesser quality than it actually is. I like it, and watch this version now rather than the aired. I like the walk-ons of the supporting cast during the red alert, although Mitchell's lusting for Yeoman Smith is over the top. I also enjoy the climactic fight more with the two clipped shots restored. It's a more brutal, and the punches seem louder. It's nice to hear the actual, original sound mix and not something claiming to be that. It'll surprise some people just how many sounds were layered on the DVDs and Blu-Rays.

I wish they had released this on standard DVD so everyone could have it. I have a bunch of friends who would love to own it but have no interest in upgrading to Blu-Ray.

 

[ClayinCA]

I wish they had released this on standard DVD so everyone could have it. I have a bunch of friends who would love to own it but have no interest in upgrading to Blu-Ray.

This.

I'd love to upgrade to Blu-Ray, but finances make this unlikely for the next several years at least. I've wanted to see this alternate version of "Where No Man" since I first read about it in The Star Trek Compendium...guess I'll have to wait a while longer.

 

[billsantos]

It arrived today and I just finished watching it as well as the extended The Cage hosted by GR. The unaired WNM... exceeded my expectations especially when compared with my poor copy. I also liked rewatching this version of The Cage, although I still have the VHS with GR intro as well.

FWIW, I didn't find the cost of upgrading to Blu Ray that prohibitive. The greatest cost was the Sony player at around $130. It will play both the BR and DVDs. This model doesn't have the bells & whistles of the more expensive players, but reviews were quite good for a basic model with the biggest drawback being somewhat slow start up times.

 

[Joanna McCoy-Kirk]

FWIW, I didn't find the cost of upgrading to Blu Ray that prohibitive. The greatest cost was the Sony player at around $130. It will play both the BR and DVDs. This model doesn't have the bells & whistles of the more expensive players, but reviews were quite good for a basic model with the biggest drawback being somewhat slow start up times.

People wishing to upgrade to Blu-ray might consider a factory refurbished player. I bought one for 75% off the price of a new player (with a 90-day warranty), and I have been very satisfied with the player (Panasonic BD30). Oddly enough, it didn't come with batteries for the remote, as a new player would have.

 

[billsantos]

People wishing to upgrade to Blu-ray might consider a factory refurbished player. I bought one for 75% off the price of a new player (with a 90-day warranty), and I have been very satisfied with the player (Panasonic BD30). Oddly enough, it didn't come with batteries for the remote, as a new player would have.

That was the route I nearly took, but had an old gift card from the holidays. By applying that I saved over half off and so far it seems well worth it.

 

[USS Mariner]

It's not in the same league as the restored prints, but it is very nice. Much better than the old bootleg we had to tolerate for years. I'd say it's better than VHS and Laser, more along the lines of standard DVD TV show releases from the era. There are still scratches and grain, and only one audio track, there are one or two audio jumps where the film was broken and rejoined, but nothing major. No tweaks otherwise. The first seconds showing the Milky Way give a false impression that it will be lesser quality than it actually is. I like it, and watch this version now rather than the aired. I like the walk-ons of the supporting cast during the red alert, although Mitchell's lusting for Yeoman Smith is over the top. I also enjoy the climactic fight more with the two clipped shots restored. It's a more brutal, and the punches seem louder. It's nice to hear the actual, original sound mix and not something claiming to be that. It'll surprise some people just how many sounds were layered on the DVDs and Blu-Rays.

I wish they had released this on standard DVD so everyone could have it. I have a bunch of friends who would love to own it but have no interest in upgrading to Blu-Ray.

I wonder if they used the original, surviving film masters or if they used a copy. If the former is the case, why the hell isn't the transfer as good as everything else? Was it preserved poorly?

 

[Jptrekker]

It's not in the same league as the restored prints, but it is very nice. Much better than the old bootleg we had to tolerate for years. I'd say it's better than VHS and Laser, more along the lines of standard DVD TV show releases from the era. There are still scratches and grain, and only one audio track, there are one or two audio jumps where the film was broken and rejoined, but nothing major. No tweaks otherwise. The first seconds showing the Milky Way give a false impression that it will be lesser quality than it actually is. I like it, and watch this version now rather than the aired. I like the walk-ons of the supporting cast during the red alert, although Mitchell's lusting for Yeoman Smith is over the top. I also enjoy the climactic fight more with the two clipped shots restored. It's a more brutal, and the punches seem louder. It's nice to hear the actual, original sound mix and not something claiming to be that. It'll surprise some people just how many sounds were layered on the DVDs and Blu-Rays.

I wish they had released this on standard DVD so everyone could have it. I have a bunch of friends who would love to own it but have no interest in upgrading to Blu-Ray.

I wonder if they used the original, surviving film masters or if they used a copy. If the former is the case, why the hell isn't the transfer as good as everything else? Was it preserved poorly?

As I understand it, the unaired WNMHGB on the blu-ray is from a print that has been in some collector's archive collecting dust (and degrading). Its not from the film master, but from a lesser print.

 

[Hober Mallow]

The quality is fantastic. It's better than any VHS or DVD copy, and it is in HD, but it's a little more dirty, a little more grainy, making it look more like you're watching a film on a projector... which is one reason I like it.

 

[billsantos]

The quality is fantastic. It's better than any VHS or DVD copy, and it is in HD, but it's a little more dirty, a little more grainy, making it look more like you're watching a film on a projector... which is one reason I like it.

I agree, excellent quality overall. Sure glad to see it replacing my old VHS copy of a copy.

 

[Ssosmcin]

I wonder if they used the original, surviving film masters or if they used a copy. If the former is the case, why the hell isn't the transfer as good as everything else? Was it preserved poorly?

This version was in the hands of a collector in Germany, and they did do a clean up of it. I'm actually glad it's not of the same, super bright, popping colors of the rest. It feels more like it would have looked on TV then.