Finally: The Fly (1986) and The Fly II (1989) Special Editions are coming in Fall of 2005! - Page 5

I assume this means a new transfer as well?

I'm giddy that this SE is actually going to happen.

The film stands very well on its own, but the deleted scenes have a mystique all their own (and are not the redundant kind, like the other Dead Ringers dream sequence was cut for being). I hope and pray that we'll get them too.

The completeness of said scenes is also an issue.

As I understand it, the monkey-cat and leg amputation scenes are supposed to be one long sequence. Brundle creates and then kills the monkey-cat, then climbs up onto the roof and has pain in his side, causing him to fall onto an awning, where the leg bursts out and is bit off.

Presumably, the rough cut (preview screening) version ended after the monkey-cat's death.

It's also unknown how complete the leg amputation was (how much was cut together). The whole scene may have been scrapped before it was cut together due to the underlit leg amputation shot.

What a wonderful opportunity it would be to see this sequence completed...

Come to think of it, isn't the upcoming Criterion edition of Videodrome going to be an uncut version? And what about the R *and* NC-17 versions of Crash that were included in that film's DVD release?

Doesn't this indicate that Cronenberg has allowed *some* footage not seen in theaters to appear on DVD?

Come to think of it, isn't the upcoming Criterion edition of Videodrome going to be an uncut version? And what about the R *and* NC-17 versions of Crash that were included in that film's DVD release?

Doesn't this indicate that Cronenberg has allowed *some* footage not seen in theaters to appear on DVD?

Ah.

Ah.

Here's a vote against the grain: I'd much rather have a Cronenberg commentary than any special features he's not in to.

Cronenberg consistently creates excellent commentary tracks that are low on silence and high on insight. He's one of the few directors who can actually pull off a track by himself.

His commentaries *are* excellent, but I really think The Fly deserves the whole package in terms of extras, not just a commentary and a photo gallery (like some "special" editions boast).

Add to that the fact that the Fly had major sequences deleted (unlike the more minor cuts in some of his films), and the fans' desire to see those sequences.

There are a number of people who would likely have great stories about the film (hopefully interviews can be snagged)

Jeff Goldblum
Geena Davis
John Getz
Producer Stuart Cornfeld
Screenwriter Charles Pogue (who orignally came up with the idea of remaking The Fly)
Editor Ron Sanders (A Cronenberg regular)
DP Mark Irwin (who is providing commentary with Cronenberg on the upcoming Videodrome DVD)
Production Designer Carol Spier (another Cronenberg regular)
FX master Chris Walas (who was also interviewed for 2000's "The Fly Papers" documentary)
Prosthetic/makeup applier Stephen Dupuis


A breakdown of the film's makeup/creature effects would be very cool. Photos of makeup tests have been floating around for years (most photos you see of Stage 4 Brundle--when he's first seen wall-crawling--appear to be of a prototype version of that makeup, as well as a headshot of Goldblum dressed in his tweed jacket with an early version of the "pizza-face" Stage 2).

And of course, the deleted monkey-cat/insect leg amputation sequence features the only appearance of the intermediate Stage 4-b, which was totally cut from the film. Still, the occasional photo of Stage 4-b shows up, such as on the most recent Fly VHS cover (2000).

If we can get a feature-length documentary (90 minutes should do it), a commentary or two, and all the deleted scenes, I'll be quite content.

Sounds good. And trailers/tv spots, FX photo gallery (with informational text screens), etc.

I'm also wondering about a possible alternate main title sequence that may exist. The film's trailer features green flashes of light moving around at various points (presumably, such flashes would appear between each credit, a la The Fly II, which "borrowed" the flashes for its own title sequence). At the end, one of these flashes move into camera and then pulls back and turns into the main title. In the final film, only the pullback and transformation are shown (and they appear slowed down).

In terms of other deleted scenes, there are various dialogue trims (such as a longer conversation between Veronica and Stathis when she confronts him in his office about the Particle magazine mockup), the post-teleportation Veronica/Brundle interview (a part of which can be seen in The Fly II), and a lengthy shot of Brundle picking up Stathis' severed foot, ejecting a proboscis from his mouth, and sucking up bloody fluid.

There's also the question of the epilogue, in which Veronica dreams about her baby as a human child with butterfly wings. In one version (confirmed), She's in bed alone, and is clearly going to have Brundle's child. In a scripted version (which may or may not have been filmed, although Croneberg once indicated he filmed more than one version of the epilogue in order to keep his options open), Veronica is in bed with Stathis, and is now pregnant with *his* child, having aborted Brundle's (but she still has the stop-motion butterfly baby dream).

I also have to wonder if Howard Shore scored (and recorded) music for scenes that use tracked music from other cues in the final film. Most notably, the last scene, which reuses music from the "plasma pool" and "insect politics" scenes.

one more reason not miss this upcoming dvd as I was not aware that Howard Shore composed the music

I finally found the Rabid SE. The seeds of greatness are there in the film, and of course, the Cronenberg commentary is pure gold (he mentions The Fly several times). Still, not many extras for a "Special" Edition. I do hope The Fly gets really special treatment...

Rabid's commentary really wheted my appetite for The Fly. So it looks like Cronenberg's aboard. Doe this mean a new transfer?

The Fly ("my biggest hit") is really a love story in which the man contracts a terrible disease and asks his lover to kill him, whioch would be a difficult idea to sell as is. But thanks to the interesting sci-fi/horror elements, the film was "shielded" from becoming too depressing. Horror allows Cronenberg to explore disturbing material in disguise.

He also mentions the importance of bathroom scenes in his films, the place where characters examine themselves, and mentions the "important bathroom scenes" in The Fly.

Greg, I'm on the verge of ordering the Rabid SE but certain individuals elsewhere have expressed objections to the image quality. Some positive input on the transfer would be really welcome . Thanks

The transfer is pretty good (of course, this is the first time I've seen the film). I don't think this was a "director approved" transfer or anything.

But from all indications (such as Cronenberg being "on board" for commentary), The Fly will get a new transfer for the SE.

Now that this release is coming together, I can't help but wonder when it'll come out. Fall/winter of this year? First quarter of 2005?

Not that I want a rush-job done just so it can come out sooner, but still, I'm curious about the tentative release date and how much work has been done.

Any recent news on this release?

That's how I've always thought of the film! I'm not a fan of horror films in general..."The Fly" is an exception. I really do consider it more of a tragic love story than "horror" (although there are definitely horrific scenes). It's funny, movies like, well, "Love Story" for instance, fail to move me. But "The Fly" breaks my heart. I guess a lot of credit is due to Jeff Goldblum and Geena Davis, as I really *believed* they were in love (which, uh, they were, in real life, so go figure )

Our good pal Jacob recently informed me of his success with another long-time-coming project of his: the SE of Conan the Destroyer. Bravo!

This reaffirms my faith in The Fly SE. This release should be one the fans participate in to make it really *special*. I'm sure Cronenberg would agree that the prior releases have been less-than-stellar (in a recent quote, he stated that the film was far too bright on video).

I hope Fox and David Prior will take advantage of the wealth of knowledge and love the fans have for the film.

Yeah, it's nice to see dreams come true. And this Fly SE has been a dream of mine for some time now (the deleted scenes in particular...).

By the way, does anyone know if The Fly had a teaser trailer? Or what the tv spots (if any) were like? I've only seen the theatrical trailer (which is on the current double-feature DVD).

There's also the matter of the EPK materials (behind-the-scenes promo and interview soundbites) that appeared on the DVDs for every Region except Region 1.