- Sat May 25, 2024 8:41 pm
#154028
In run up to this, thought I’d post some summing up notes about the fan edit:
- So the preview cut was around 118min (9mins longer) with the introduction of Snake taking place during a bank robbery that goes south. Preview audiences were not so keen on seeing Snake showing compassion, so Carpenter decided to pull it entirely from the cut. Both JC and Kurt Russell agree on the 2007 scene commentary that it was the right decision.
- While putting together the 2007 dvd, a vhs workprint of this cut was provided to the project by Alan Howarth. It had no sfx or music since it was cut out before the final sound mix etc, so sound fx were added and Carpenter scored some new music (ignoring the original ‘Bank Robbery’ cue which has appeared on expanded editions of the OST) so that the full scene could be presented as a dvd extra.
- A later bluray extra is an interview with Joe Unger, who portrayed Snake’s ill fated partner in the robbery sequence. Intercut with the interview are high definition transfers of takes / alt takes of shots from the robbery shoot.
- In re-integrating the prologue back into the film I used the best quality source I could find of the vhs workprint, from the bluray. Then wherever possible I replaced the HD shots/alt takes into the sequence. I took some slight liberties here with the edit, to make it play more smoothly. Also, the raw footage is in true 2.35:1 anamorphic but strangely the vhs workprint is ‘squashed’ and cropped 1.85:1, so I also had to reformat it to 2.35:1 to be able to blend the different elements seemlessly. Lastly I colour graded the workprint, and attempted to match it to the raw takes, once again to create a smoother flow/overall look.
- I decided to reintegrate the original ‘Bank Robbery’ cue somehow. Since the only version of the sequence with sound has new JC cues in some places which i could not remove, and with nothing to cue me into how the original Bank Robbery track was meant to go, I simply found a place for it in the sequence. I personally think it really works, but obviously I’ve taken quite a liberty. However this was never going to be exactly the ‘Preview Version’ since the materials I have to work with already have new sound fx and music, which makes me feel like my own ‘additions’ are ok and in the spirit of really moving the scene along.
- Lastly, I made one other big alteration: according to the workprint, the robbery scene was after the opening titles and introductory narration/graphics. I really felt that it plays better as a true prologue, before the titles, and have cut it into the main film that way.
So there you go. The ‘not quite’ original Preview Version, but in my opinion, a good approximation with what we have.
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