Friday The 13th SEs/Box Set Info Coming on September 19th!? - Page 5

I never understood why people say Paramount treated these films with no respect. These films were on DVD (with great V/A) long before many other classic films like ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST, HUD and other classics. It was made very clear back in 1999 that the studio would look into SEs if the original releases sold well.

As for unrated editions, I'm really not sure. I'm hoping for the best but in my heart I really don't think there will be that much to release. The clips of part 7 that go around the country is a beat up workprint, which I doubt could be used for anything. Another thing people forget is that Paramount did not produce these films. If I'm not mistaken all eight were negative pickup deals.

I think LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT is a good example. We'll never see a real "uncut" version because the footage isn't out there. The only reason we have deleted scenes is because the director got tired of the footage lying around his place and he passed it off to a friend. New Line's recent LEATHERFACE disc is another to look at. Most of the stuff was cut from the negative and thrown into the trash. What is left is in workprint form and I really don't think they could do much with this except put it on the disc as an extra feature.

Paramount did a great job video/audio wise on the first releases. Now they are going to go back and do what they can to make them Special Editions. I really don't think they can be held up if uncut versions aren't available. There will be plenty of extras from what I've heard and some are already done. They have other studios out looking for cut material but it will be hard to find it.

Michael,

If lesser known movies such as The Burning (came out the same year as F2) can be restored to their uncut form, I see no reason why the Friday footage wouldnt be able to do the same? Thats if they find it... Beat up footage can be restored even if it doesnt look pristine...

The Producer of Part 7 also mentioned that he has a reel and Paramount has a reel as well in their vaults... So, it's not just a workprint tape they have... They have the original reel...

There is a tape that is shown at conventions... But, that is just a plain old tape I believe...

Some of the movies might not be possible to restore as the footage could be lost forever... I fear this is probably the case with Friday 2... One of the ones I would most like to see uncut because so much was cut from it...

As of now, it is known that Part 1, 4, and 7 exist... It's the others that will be hard to find... Part 6 probably still exists... The director may possibly have it because an uncut Part 6 was talked about in Fango at the time of release... But, it never saw the light of day...

I assume Part 2 will be the most difficult to find... Part 3 is iffy... Supposedly they found the other ending, but did they find the cut violence (handstand notibly) as well?

Part 5 and 8 will probably be a pain to find as well...

From the Friday the 13th Forum:

Ryan, we can certainly get lucky and hope they find the uncut footage. I believe the extra dialogue from FRANKENSTEIN (1931) wasn't found until the 1980's. MY BLOODY VALENTINE was found uncut but I think the uncut print was in the hands of the producer and not Paramount.

Another Paramount film, AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN was cut to avoid an X rating and in the commentary track the director says that the footage is lost because after they cut it, they never thought anyone would see it so they threw it away. Most movies in history has had something cut out of it and most of this is just thrown away.

I'm really not sure if Paramount would have any of this footage or not. However, many times director's are given their own prints of films. Hopefully some of the director's do have their own prints and these could be used for the upcoming releases. I'm rather shocked that Steve Minor doesn't want anything to do with the series.

This is just me personally but I really hope they don't find too much. I grew up watching these movies and I really love what I've been watching the past 20 years. I wouldn't mind seeing the gore put back into the movies but I really hope none of the director's try making these into new films by adding footage that was cut for a reason.

With part 4, I've seen the extra dialogue, which is on the TV version. I hope this doesn't go back into the film. I also don't think the mother's death should be put back into the film. The same with part 3. I would hate for them to cut out the current ending and add the alternate one. I'd much rather have these as deleted scenes than thrown back into the film.

Being a fan I'm really split on what I'd like to see them do with this set. I'm very happy with the current releases V/A wise so if a box set never happened I'd be fine with what's out there. I'm going to hold onto these just in case the new versions are "altered" in any way, which isn't for the best. The thought of a director not liking a gore effect and throwing some CGI in just makes me nervous.

Well, I figure even if the cut footage isn't entirely found, there will probably at least be some Special Features on the discs this time around.

Where did you get this information? Is it from John Carl Buechler?

There's a website with footage of an old Siskel and Ebert review of The Final Chapter, and it's funny as hell, maybe that something that could be considered in this situation.

I personally want the footage put back in. I already have 1-8 as theatrical versions. I don't want to re-purchase for some extra features...

That I agree with... Their uncut forms should be available as thats the way they were meant to be seen to begin with...

But, Alternate endings and Deleted Scenes (like the Part 4 ones that were left out of the movie intentionally by the director) should be placed in the extras section, not inserted back into the movie...

I agree. The only thing I really want to see re-edited back into the film is the gore and more violent shots. The rest of the scenes that were cut by the director should be shown seperately.

It's from a 2002 interview I read here.


So although JCB or Kane Hodder may have a VHS workprint copy, which they show at conventions, uncut 35mm element's or trims are not in the director's possession like some fan's think. Mr. Buechler assumes Paramount has held on to the cut footage, which may ot be the case. That's why I said it's good not to get one's hopes up.

First of all, Part One is uncut on DVD in Region 3, so we know they could release that. All they had to say was something to the effect of, "If we can find uncut versions, we are committed to releasing them uncut."

Jeff

Ah, ha. This was just posted to DVDFile.

Rounding out today's news is the latest news from Camp Blood, er, the happy home of Jason Voorhees. At a special screening of the original Friday the 13th at Maniafest this past Friday, Paramount Home Entertainment representatives were on hand to officially announce an upcoming box set of the first eight Friday flicks. Details remain sketchy, but fans asking for uncut versions of the flicks may be in luck - Paramount is hard at work trying to locate the missing footage needed to reconstitute new cuts of the films. The set is currently due for release in the fourth quarter of next year.

I agree, deleted scenes/alternate endings should not be back in the films, but as extra features.

I hope that Paramount/Martin Blythe can set up some kind of e-mail for submissions for extra material and/or ideas for their possible inclusion in the set.

I have tapes of Tom Savini on Letterman showcasing a lot of his FX from the 1980's including the Jason head from Friday 4 with machette gag which Dave loved. I would hope they could get that licensed from NBC.

I have an original radio commercial from Friday 1 on tape. I'm sure we can pool together a lot of cool stuff.

BTW, I would also only like to see the exised gore reinstated that the MPAA censored. Other scenes should be extras only.

Personally I see there being a problem with 'fans' submitting items for the inclusion on the set.

If Paramount will cite 'music clearance' issues for not including trailers on DVD releases, how are they going to clear mutiple source material which in many cases I am sure, we wouldn't even be able to find out who the owner was for the rights.

Someone else said they have already begun in getting this project underway. Meaning, if they have eight movies in which they are going to re-up transfers and such, PLUS locate missing material, they are already doing it. (If they can find footage from an early 80's Cheech and Chong flck, then they can do so for this series as well. PLUS...it is like what I have suggested before, and though I can't speak for everyone...Anchor Bay is a prime example of horror restoration. Many of their films are unrated and come from different source material and some are even lacking the Engligh audio tracks. The fans have totally loved the fact of being able to see the films in their true uncut state regardless of the quality of the footage. Simply stating that the footage might not be in best shape is a cop out...I would rather see the footage the way the director intended, inserted back into the film regardless of quality...OR...they could even have the regular standard version of the film and as an extra the film with the footage inserted in as a special feature. Movie companies sure in the world don't have a lot of imagination or problem solving technics do you?)

Their announcement sounds more of a pandering to me than what it does an earnest statement. In many ways, their statement could be simply taken as this: after all the shit, hell and grief that the fans (like me) have put this company through in getting these films restored or with the additional material, it would be very easy for them to want to play out like they are the heroes. Then when they release the films as Special Edition, then they can simply play it for emotion and say "You know, you all have been so against us and look at what we did for you!"

On the other hand, them stating that they want the fans help now, how many of us that weren't associated with the makings of these films and or the cast of them going to have access to this type of information that they are asking for. It could all simply backfire and Paramount can say "Well, we asked you all for help in getting this project completed, but no one rose to the occasion. I quess that you aren't as loyal to it as you thought...screw you."

I mean...just the other night, I was invited over to Steve Miner's house for dinner and we sat and watched all the scenes that were cut from both parts two and three. I asked him for the reel and told him of Paramount's wishes, but he said no...I would rather have my work be the edited versions...:b (yes, I am joking...)

Come on Paramount...what kind of connections to you think that the fans have?

Paramount...you also need to explain if you and your parent company has changed your policies in regard to Unrated releases. If there hasn't been a change in the company about them, how about are you looking into 'unrated releases' and staying within the company quidelines?

Will you guys have some faith in Paramount? For the last few years everyone has been pissing and moaning for the F13 series to be released as uncut Se's, Paramount makes it known that it will be released and you still bitch and clown Paramount.

Does it ever occur to you that the footage may be lost forever? Remember, some films werent treated with much respect up till a while back. Yes some films may be the exception where alot of footage and archived material has been found but alot of material had been thrown out for others.

Also if my film history is correct Paramount didnt even produce F13, it was a pickup/distrubution deal. They may not even have the lost footage. Mind you I may be wrong but take this into consideration.

Have some faith and dont be upset if we dont get what we want it may not be their fault. I can tell you guys and Martin that they will get my money regardless.

I will close my rant and say Thank You Paramount for whatever they may or can do for us.

Remember, they didn't say they will release the unrated cuts yet...they only said it was a possibility.

If footage is lost, than I understand. I'm not going to get pissed at Paramount for something that is (relatively) out of their control. But by the same token, I'm not going to praise them for something they haven't done yet.

Matt,
I understand your point; however the only thing Im trying to say is give them a chance. It seems that some of HTF and the F13 boards are ready to cut Paramounts head off. (Joke intended)

I tip my hat off to Paramount for at least releasing all the F13 movies on DVD but I too am a little distressed by them asking the fans for extras.

From Fangoria:

Any fans who wouldnt want to own them all?

Sure, me...

But, I will be buying the full box set out of pure curiosity value anyways... I could always resell the movies I dont want after watching them...

They should make the box set a limited edition... That way it gives some specialness into owning the whole box set...

I wonder how much this thing is going to cost? Scary thought... Knowing Paramount I should probably start saving immediately...

From Savini.com




Sounds good!

That's awesome. Tom Savini is the man. Seeing as how there wouldn't have been a franchise if he hadn't suggested Jason popping out of the water to Sean Cunningham, it'd have been a huge mistake not to include Tom in the SEs. I hope that Tom addresses the fact that it's said that the only reason he came back for The Final Chapter was that he could kill Jason.

Yeah, Tom should have gotten that one in writing... :wink:

Actually, killing off Jason during Part 4 (which they actually did) wouldnt have been such a bad idea... He wouldnt have turned into the parody that the later movies created...

Out of Freddy, Jason, and Michael, Jason has gotten the biggest shove... People dont seem to mind Freddy because the whole parody thing is a part of him now... He was at his biggest peak financially when he was in the high time joker phase. Michael has always had a serious tone to his movie, even the crappers, at least up until H20. Now, H8 did sort of ruin his popularity a bit. Too many people really hated the movie. As for Jason, after Part 4 they just sent him in way too many different and cornball directions... Sending him on a cruise, turning him into a zombie, having him fight psychics, turning him into a demon baby, and shiping him to space is way too much for any horror icon to endure...

I think that Paramount should get Joe Bob in the process too. Weren't the first eight all on Monstervision at one time or another? If some directors decline to do commentaries or docs, why not get Joe Bob?

Hey, thanks for the link! That Scream Greats LD is a real gem, though I too would love to see it as an extra, or even as its own DVD release. And while they're at it, do a new documentary on Savini. The Scream Greats one (done in 1986) is rather dated.