"The Fugitive" (1963): Season 1; Volume 1 Rumored To Be In The Works! - Page 14

AndyMcKinney · 08-14-2007, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harry-N

Upon sampling some of the discs (I've obviously not had time to watch the whole thing yet), I've come to figure out what the deal is with the shortened length of the first (pilot) episode. Somehow a shortened opening sequence got grafted onto it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff#

I remember they shortened that opening to begin with the frog croaking in the pond and Kimble running away from the derailed train. It was actually in the second half of the first season (on or around "Come Watch Me Die"), so I can't understand why they would re-edit some of the first half of the same season for these DVDs to include both....unless a difference of about half a minute would give them more room on each disc (which I doubt).

I suppose it's possible that Paramount used (perhaps, unknowingly) a print from one of the network reruns, rather than the initial broadcast? I know it wasn't unusual for networks to shorten the opening title sequences on their reruns. I once had some off-air CBS recordings of Logan's Run. One or two episodes had a shortened 60-second opening. When all the episodes were re-shown many years later on TNT, all episodes had the original, longer opening, so the shorter opening wasn't on the master films: CBS used it on their own broadcast. Perhaps, then, Paramount got hold of a rerun print, or an old, uncut syndication print (uncut save for the credits, of course).

Gary OS · 08-14-2007, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Scarpa

WOW I could never be committed to a show so much to go to Walmart at 4 in the morning, plus now you have to send back the copy from Amazon. You are dedicated

Oh, I'm going to keep my Amazon.com copy and give it to someone. I have no problem supporting this line by purchasing two copies.

Gary "as my friend Steve always says, 'If you are in a hurry for a release, don't buy from Amazon'" O.

Gary OS · 08-14-2007, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndyMcKinney

I suppose it's possible that Paramount used (perhaps, unknowingly) a print from one of the network reruns, rather than the initial broadcast?

Well, let me say this about "Fear in a Desert City" (the first episode I watched early this morning). The print is very, very nice. But it does have one noticeable flaw that isn't in the other prints on that first disc. It has a line running from top to bottom on the right side for a portion of the beginning and ending of the episode. It's not terribly distracting or anything, but when you combine that with the shortened opening it makes me wonder if they couldn't have gotten a better print for that episode.

I watched just the opening of "The Witch" (second episode) and then jumped through the four acts and the epilogue just to get an idea of the quality. First off, the longer opening is there. Secondly, there are no lines and the print is gorgeous. Not that the print wasn't great with "Fear." I'll do a quick scan of the other episodes when I get home from work and report back.

Also, I do believe we have complete episodes here. No cuts that I could see in "Fear." I bet the disclaimer is just standard fare for CBS/Paramount at this point. I'm not in the least bit worried about losing anything or getting cut episodes. We are fine in that respect with this release.

Gary "can't wait to watch more this afternoon/evening" O.

Harry-N · 08-14-2007, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary OS

Also, I do believe we have complete episodes here. No cuts that I could see in "Fear." I bet the disclaimer is just standard fare for CBS/Paramount at this point. I'm not in the least bit worried about losing anything or getting cut episodes. We are fine in that respect with this release.

Just the fact that "Fear In A Desert City" has a shorter opening than what would have been the original network broadcast would justify the presence of the disclaimer on the box.

I've now watched "Fear...", "The Witch", "The Other Side Of The Mountain", the first half of "Never Wave Goodbye", and to try and lure the wife in, I screened "The Girl From Little Egypt" first, at her request since it sets up the series in flashbacks. In all of those so far, I've noticed nothing in the way of cuts. They're all complete episodes, with the aforementioned shorter opening on the pilot. And all seem to have that inexplicable fade out on the last fanfare of the end credits theme.

The music replacement line still has me scratching my head.

Harry

Gary OS · 08-14-2007, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harry-N

Just the fact that "Fear In A Desert City" has a shorter opening than what would have been the original network broadcast would justify the presence of the disclaimer on the box.

Yeah, I get that. But it sure had all of us up in a tizzy wondering what in the world had been "cut." That was making a mountain out of a molehill, IMHO. The shorter opening doesn't affect the episode in the least. But I guess they have to do that for legal purposes.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harry-N

...And all seem to have that inexplicable fade out on the last fanfare of the end credits theme.

Paramount has been doing that with many of their dvd releases over the last year. They cut the last millisecond of the ending in order to throw up their little "Paramount" screen. It's aggravating, but not unique to this particular dvd set.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harry-N

The music replacement line still has me scratching my head.

Definitely. Very weird.

Gary "all in all this is a fabulous release - keep them coming Paramount" O.

Ivan G · 08-14-2007, 12:04 PM

Columbia House has the Fugitive discs for $25.77, and since I've socked away a little "Fun Cash" I was able to get the kit and kaboodle for $15.77. Even with CH's exhorbitant s&h (6.99) the grand total came out to $22.76.

I'm really looking forward to this and subsequent sets, by the way.

michael_ks · 08-14-2007, 01:38 PM

Boy, I come back from a short visit to the Dentist's office and I'm behind a page on this thread already. I actually scheduled my appointment many weeks ago to coincide with the release of "The Fugitive" in order to pick it up at Best Buy on the return trip to work. Now how "fanatic" is that. Only problem is that I forgot my portable DVD player this morning.

My usual practice when I purchase a set is to check the packaging and discs first and I'm glad I did as disc 3 was rather scruffy looking. So I quickly exchanged this set and the replacement was definitely superior looking. By the way, Best Buy has a yellow tag sale of $27.99 for the set.

A minor pet peeve for me is still how generic and simple this release is with the amray case, uncreative, grey disc face, no extras and split season. Then I see the "Land of the Giants" lavishly produced set and just roll my eyes. But, looking on the bright side, great transfer quality here and no "flippers"!

Enormously looking forward to sitting down with this set sometime this evening. I've been "selling" this show to my wife, who's never seen it and has a Master's in Criminal Justice, for weeks now.

Oh yes...nice signature line, Ivan. Like it.

Dan McW · 08-14-2007, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harry-N

And all seem to have that inexplicable fade out on the last fanfare of the end credits theme.

That fade-out comes at the spot where the announcer says something like, "The Fugitive was brought to you by," at which point the screen cuts to the plugs for 2-3 sponsors. The un-time-compressed NuVentures tapes would have the announcer's voice at this point but would cut the episode off as soon as he said "brought to you by" (more details on this in my post on p.1 of this thread).

I had a $30 debit card from a rebate that I planned to use on groceries or other unimportant stuff but instead found myself at a Super Wally World at 1 this morning, having the sales clerk rummage in the back for the latest TV sets (they had put out new-release movies but no TV stuff). After a 5-minute wait, fate moved its huge hand, and the set was mine.

Regarding music replacement, I checked my Republic tape of "Fear in a Desert City." The scene change from Kimble's finger on the classified ad to the bar scene is exactly the same as the DVD, and the music seems note for note the same (so it's original or was changed on both prints). It does have the longer opening credits but runs only 49 minutes. I timed a portion of the credits during the cast announcements, and it was exactly the same on VHS and DVD. Maybe the body of the episode was time-compressed or cut on the Republic tape.

The next thing I had to check on disc one was R.G. Armstrong's classic line about the dogs' tracking skills, in "The Other Side of the Mountain." It's one of my favorite lines of the series.

Harry-N · 08-14-2007, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan McW

That fade-out comes at the spot where the announcer says something like, "The Fugitive was brought to you by," at which point the screen cuts to the plugs for 2-3 sponsors. The un-time-compressed NuVentures tapes would have the announcer's voice at this point but would cut the episode off as soon as he said "brought to you by" (more details on this in my post on p.1 of this thread).

I'll want to double-check my NuVentures tapes too - in fact, I did, but only the two-parter, "Landscapes With Running Figures" since I had transferred that to a DVD a while ago. On that episode, sure enough, the announcer DOES appear - but after the music had finished. Now, that's a season 3 episode, so perhaps it only affects the earlier season(s). I'll dig out my tapes and fast forward them to the end credits - not something I 'm looking forward to - but in the interest of accuracy, and because enquiring minds want to know...

Harry

Gary OS · 08-14-2007, 03:25 PM

Oh, by the way fellows. I think we also lose a few seconds on the closing theme in "Fear." It's a very quick closing, as compared to the other ending themes I've watched thus far. So between that and the shorter opening, we may end up losing 45 seconds or more. That might account for the shorter running time. In fact, I'll almost guarantee that accounts for it.

Gary "I hope no one passes on this set simply because of the disclaimer - it's not an issue for this set and no one should worry about getting cut up episodes" O.