The Fugitive, Season Two Volume 1 - Reviews - Page 16

Charles Thaxton · 06-18-2008, 08:30 AM

I doubt very much that the original score tracks were "lost" in any way. The new composer(s) had to have timings to reference in their re-recordings. As pointed out previously...it's amazing that they could even do this at all because of the age of the source material and one might think the audio mix was a permanent fixture of the masters. This shows the music was on a separate element or section of the master film (usually with sound efx too....did they re-foley everything?)
John Elizalde is still with us in L.A. I wonder what he thinks about this mess.

Doug Wallen · 06-18-2008, 08:36 AM

Well, it now seems that I will wait for each new Paramount release to street and be reviewed before I make the decision to purchase. I will need to determine if there have been wholesale changes to shows I enjoy. This does not seem the proper way to treat "classic" television properties.

Doug

John DeAngelis · 06-18-2008, 10:30 AM

The official statement/explanation from CBS/Paramount doesn't ring true to me. And even worse, they've chosen to ignore the fact that although they think they did the right thing, many consumers do not. I think they're still hoping this whole situation is gonna blow over, but they're gonna have to do something if they expect anyone to continue to buy "The Fugitive".

Harry-N · 06-18-2008, 10:37 AM

I'm happy that CBS/Paramount at least responded, though rather dismayed at the answer, which really is no answer at all.

We here had the "reason" nailed down a week ago, but it still doesn't explain specifically what snags they encountered that would cause such a wholesale change in the entire score track.

We're still left with the questions of whether or not CBS will have a change of heart and re-do these; whether future volumes will be affected; or even whether future volumes will be issued. It seems that the "pedestal" on which CBS/Paramount has placed THE FUGITIVE is the one next to the garbage can out back.

On another matter, while beginning the process of archiving the old VHS tapes of THE FUGITIVE, I've discovered another case of editing - a minor one, to be sure, and if this were the only thing edited, it would barely be worthy of a mention. Still, fans of classic TV who like stuff in its original form might care:

In the premiere episode of the second season, "Man In A Chariot", the second season open had not yet reached its final format. For most of the second season (and all of the third), the show's opening used a teaser culled from the upcoming episode. The transition going from that teaser to the episode credits is where this difference occurs.

In the final version of this opening, the final frame of the teaser picture "brick-wall pixelates" from top left to bottom right to reveal the famed "Kimble running down the alley" shot taken from his dream sequence in "Nightmare At Northoak", as William Conrad's standard narration intones, "The Fugitive - a QM Production." And this is what we witness on the new DVD in "Man In A Chariot."

However, in the NuVentures Video taped version, which I assume is how it originally aired (since it still has the ABC bumpers in place), the final frame of the teaser (Kimble looking in reaction to a G. Stanley Lazer comment) fades to black and the title sequence begins with the blackness of the "T" of the word "Fugitive" which then moves forward on the screen to reveal the title logo, all of which is on the background of Kimble in the railroad yard (like the end credits screen).

I've not yet moved on to the second episode in the tapes ("World's End")to see just when the "pixellated brickwall" officially begins, but it looks like it didn't start with "Man In A Chariot" originally. I'll check that later or tomorrow.

Harry

buford2 · 06-18-2008, 10:51 AM

So how many think they will fix and re-issue S2V1?

Leave S2V1 as is and issue the rest of the seasons intact?

Leave S2V1 as is and destroy the rest of the seasons?

Drop the series altogether?

Corey3rd · 06-18-2008, 10:58 AM

Warners is having this same issue with the H-B cartoons since they've busted up the needle drop package that was used on Quickdraw and Wally Gator. This is a case where a studio realizes that they can't allow themselves at the mercy of various music publishers. You might be able to strike deals for 95% of the notes, but what happens with the guy who wants as much as the other 95% for his 5%?

There was a article the other day about how Madison Avenue coughs up $100,000 a pop to use songs in advertising. So of course when Paramount/CBS calls up a music publisher, they are in no mood to cut them a deal in order to give the fans of the show every original note. They are cut throat and bottom line since they no longer have fat royalty checks coming in from CD sales.

While it sounds harsh, if a studio can streamline the books by replacing the soundtrack with a work for hire score, they're going to be tempted to take that step instead of waste thousands of dollars on legal bills trying to get the deals. And they'll have to go back to the music publishers for another round for the next distribution version.

It stinks that there just isn't a set royalty rate like what gets charged to radio stations.

MattPeriolat · 06-18-2008, 10:59 AM

Gut instinct at this point?

Fugitive is a goner. They don't want to worry about music rights, so they're going to use this "issue" and "low sales" to justify pulling the plug.

I'd LOVE it if we could get Paramount/CBS to change their minds and fix the problems, but I am not optimistic.

Carabimero · 06-18-2008, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Fugitive is a goner.

______

For a few days, at least, so am I. Gonna mail my letters (I urge you guys to do the same), take a few days away, get some perspective, and watch my home-made videos. After all, enjoying the show is what it's all about.

I'll be over in The Invaders thread periodically as I finish that set up; hope to see some of you there. I know DVP and Harry-N and the rest of you will keep this thread floating high till I get back.

It's been a surreal week for this Fugitive fan, but made much better by being able to share my disappointment with the friends I've met here.

buford2 · 06-18-2008, 12:05 PM

Does anybody know anything about this site:

Link deleted by moderator; please see announcement at the top of this forum regarding bootleg sites.

Are these legit? Is it DVDs made from somebody's VHS collection?

Is it a scam?

Dave Scarpa · 06-18-2008, 12:07 PM

Bottom line for me.. the music changes have not made me enjoy this fine series any less, I have never seen the Fugitive and if I was'nt informed about this I would'nt have really noticed anything more than the style of Music is different. I agree the first season's Music cues lend a more atmospheric prescence to those stories, but the new music has'nt made me appreciate the fine storytelling any less. I could almost say the same thing about the B&W vs switching to Color for the final season, this series benefits from being in B&W, but I'm sure those color stories are good as well.

If the alternative is not being able to watch this series I have to sie with Paramount on this one, thou I agree the disclaimer should have been something to the effect that the shows been rescored.

buford2 · 06-18-2008, 12:23 PM

I have just sent an email off to the above address, asking if the episodes are VHS copies, are they in english, do they have the original cues and have they been edited in any way. Not holding my breath.

buford2 · 06-18-2008, 12:35 PM

Never mind