My Three Sons: Season 1, Vol. 1 - Page 7

Re: My Three Sons: Season 1, Vol. 1

Well, after a few days to let things settle down, I feel like I can revisit the topic and make a few more points. Firstly, is there any doubt whatsoever that CBS/P pushed back the original release date specifically to change the music? None whatsoever in my mind. Secondly, is there any doubt at this point that CBS/P couldn't care less about the consumer fan base and their wishes? That they would go forward with more music subs after all the flack they took from THE FUGITIVE still blows me away! Thirdly, is there any doubt that we will see this problem pop up yet again with some future release? Unfortunately, none whatsoever in my mind.

Thanks CBS/Paramount. You've gone from top of the hill to bottom of the dumpster bin in my eyes (and I'd hazard a guess I'm not the only one). Other studios take note of how NOT to treat your vintage material.

Gary "the indies are taking over the top spot in my book" O.

Re: My Three Sons: Season 1, Vol. 1

BTW, I was reminded again today that I need to clarify some points. And again, I'm only speaking for myself.

Firstly, I agree with those people that have said those of us here at HTF (and similar online sites) make up a very small percentage of those that will buy CBS/P dvds like "My Three Sons" or "The Fugitive". Our outrage and disgust is not necessarily indicative of the whole consumer base. I'm sure that most folks that buy these dvds either don't remember the shows well enough to pick up on the music subs or have never seen the show and don't realize there have been changes. That's just the way it is. And because of that, I doubt sales are hurting that much. Now, I do think CBS/P felt some pressure after the release of THE FUGE, but it was undoubtedly because of the press from places like Variety and TVShowsonDVD.com. That helped our cause, but we still have to understand that to a huge company like CBS/P it's really not going to matter all that much that some folks get mad at them. Again, that's just reality.

Secondly, I really don't see an answer for this problem because there's no way we are going to see a large enough, grass roots boycott to do any good. It stinks to say that, but it's the truth. There are just too many folks that will not notice or hear about any problems with these releases. Unless you get some huge news network to start heavily and repeatedly reporting on stuff like this (and why in the world would they?) it's not going to affect CBS/Paramount. So we might as well make our own individual choices about what we are and are not going to do when it comes to our purchases - keep buying all CBS/P dvds, buy only a few when we used to buy a bunch, or not buy anything - and just learn to live with it.

Thirdly, in spite of the cold reality of sales being the bottom line, I do think everyone has a right to believe CBS/P has dropped down in quality when it comes to vintage material. It's all in what you use to gauge success. If money is the barometer, then they are still very successful. But if quality (including music) is your barometer then you have every right to believe, as I do, that CBS/P is no longer king of the hill. Companies like Shout have moved up the list for me. Look what they've done with the upcoming "Father Knows Best" set. They are giving us uncut episodes, even though they probably could have taken the same route that CBS/P has. But they've actually shown they do listen to the fan bases, and do care about more than just the dollar. Sure, that's always going to be first and foremost for a company. And it should be. But they've also shown they are willing to work with their customers to provide a better product because they know we weren't as happy as we could have been with the previous release. That says a lot to me!

Gary "I'm going to Netflix the M3S set just to hear the score and see how bad it really is (and I'm sure it is really horrid)" O.

Re: My Three Sons: Season 1, Vol. 1

I really battled about whether or not to post my thoughts on the set once I heard the music for myself or just let sleeping dogs lie. But I'm going to venture in and just share my thoughts once, and only once, about this issue.

Firstly, I did Netflix the discs and have heard the music subs. When you get a chance to watch the first episode unmolested, and then listen to the wholesale changes in the others, it is a very distinct and startling difference. Unless someone was really oblivious to background scores, you'd be able to discern the difference between the music on that first episode and the rest. One of the neat things about so much background music is that it usually employs different variations on the theme song. Such was the case in that first episode. You could pick up on that well known theme at different points in the background. Not so with the subbed music. So right there you do lose something.

Secondly, I do have to say that more than likely if someone wasn't at all familiar with the show they could probably (note I said "probably", not "definitely") watch the episodes without too much distraction. Heck, I'm sure young uns wouldn't even notice at all. And that's surely what fuels the thinking behind this type of stuff. CBS/P is counting on the fact that the majority of buyers will not be as into this stuff as we are. And unfortunately that's just the cold, hard truth. Note that I'm not justifying what they did. Just stating the way it is.

Thirdly, and this is just one man's opinion, I don't think the subbed music is very good. At points it was really tough for me, and I don't think it's only because I knew some of the original music and was just anticipating it. I think it's because the music just comes off as very juvenile. I kinda felt like I was in one of those Saturday kiddie matinées I used to frequent while in grade school. The music just doesn't have any sophistication, and this show wasn't a "Gilligan's Island" type of comedy. No offense to GI fans intended. Anyhow, I didn't think the music fit the mood. It wasn't as bad as the FUGITIVE, but that's only because with the FUGITIVE the music was even more crucial at setting the mood, IMHO. But it was still pretty poor when compared with the original.

Finally, I'm guessing that CBS/P has clammed up on this issue since we've not heard a peep from them since the release. And there's not much you can report on if the studio won't say anything. Now, I might be wrong and maybe we will get some info later today or in the next few days. I hope we do. But right now it's pretty quiet so I have to assume they aren't talking. And I'll postulate that the reason for that is probably (again note the word "probably", not "definitely") because we are looking at a very similar situation as the one we had with THE FUGITIVE. If this music sub was about an individual or an estate holding CBS/P hostage by asking for some exorbitant amount of money for the rights I would think the studio would say so. That way they are not seen as the "bad guys." But the silence is fairly deafening right now so I'm going to assume that's not the case. Kinda wish I was wrong on that one, and would welcome news to the contrary.

Gary "hopefully I don't get roasted for expressing my opinions" O.

Re: My Three Sons: Season 1, Vol. 1

No, I don't believe that's a problem here. In fact I believe that's one area where CBS/P pretty much always does an outstanding job - using uncut prints. I think once in a great while something might be cut for one reason or another on a selective few of their dvds, but I believe that they overwhelming give us uncut prints.

Gary "I'm not an expert on M3S though, so I can't give a 100% guarantee as to your question" O.

Re: My Three Sons: Season 1, Vol. 1

In my opinion - they don't.



In my opinion - yes. Not terribly so, but yes.



For me - absolutely. And that was my biggest gripe with the score. It just didn't have a late 50's/early 60's feel to it. But again, those type of things are very subjective and I'm only one person.


Gary "the way you worded the questions got to the heart of the issue for me" O.

Re: My Three Sons: Season 1, Vol. 1

I wouldn't assume that, John. Although I can't speak for anyone, I will say that I'm personally very confident that some of our friends on the "inside" have tried to get answers for us. My best bet is a simple one: CBS/Paramount isn't answering. I'm sure people are asking, they just aren't getting responses. If I'm wrong, I hope someone will correct the record on that point. But until I hear otherwise, I'm going to believe the problem is with CBS/P clamming up.

If that is the case, then my next point is (and I've maintained this since day one) that this was another example of CBS/P refusing to go the extra mile for the fans by searching for and securing the rights to music they aren't sure about. Probably something that could have been accomplished if they had been willing, but music replacement was just easier for them so they went that route. I'm sticking to that theory (which I believe was verified beyond a shadow of a doubt with THE FUGITIVE debacle) until someone presents cold, hard facts to the contrary. Like I've said, if my theory is wrong then CBS/P are fools for taking all these hits to their reputation by not correcting the stories that are out there. If they are not to blame, then tell us! If this is because a person or estate has held you hostage by asking for too much money, CBS/P, then simply tell us that and allow us to be mad at the greedy goons that are behind this. But I'm betting that has nothing to do with this problem, so they (CBS/P) aren't talking.

Gary "just my two cents" O.

Re: My Three Sons: Season 1, Vol. 1

I'm not sure. Did RAWHIDE or PERRY MASON make use of some of the Capitol cues?

Your comments seem like a reasonable assumption to me. A real shame if it works out that way, but very reasonable to assume. We probably should prepare for even more subs on subsequent releases. I'm not sure what shows this would apply to though.

Also, maybe your first post about no one caring is true. I thought we'd get at least an acknowledgment by now from someone seeing as how a good bit of time has passed by without a word. But maybe in the final analysis this show just doesn't merit any advocacy, in some people's minds, because it wasn't/isn't popular enough to demand that sort of time and energy. I hope that's not the case. Don't know. But the silence certainly is deafening.

Gary "still very much bummed out about the horrible music subs in this show" O.