The Fugitive, Season Two Volume 1 - Reviews - Page 31  

Re: The Fugitive, Season Two Volume 1 - Reviews

Don't forget - several episodes were released on laserdisc as well!

Re: The Fugitive, Season Two Volume 1 - Reviews

Well ... That article certainly answers some questions!

But there are others that remain unanswered:

1. After making the incredible decision to rescore each and every episode, why did the new composer not at least use *some* of the Rugolo themes written specifically for the show? Would doing so have required an additional payment to the Rugolo estate? And would that payment have been exorbitant?

2. Why was the public not forewarned of the extreme music replacement? After setting the standard with the First Season releases, all Fuge fans were looking forward to -- and expecting -- the same quality releases for Season Two. After making this incredible decision Paramount needed to do much more than state in tiny print that "Music has been changed for this home entertainment version".

3. Since the decision had been made to replace all the music -- requiring Paramount to go back to the original audio stems -- why not at least re-mix the new music and the soundtrack in DD 5.1? Call it "The Fugitive - Remastered" or something. At least the public would have known from the name change that something was different about the release.

Here's the bottom line: I'm just a casual "Fuge" fan. If the Rugolo themes had been retained in the rescoring; if the public had been forewarned regarding the extreme music replacement; and if value had been added in the form of a stereo or better audio track; I'd probably purchase the Second season and beyond and be a "happy camper". But even as just a casual fan I still associate the mournful Rugolo variations on the Fugitive main theme as an essential part of the entertainment provided by this show. I can't even begin to fathom how any rational person at CBS/Paramount could have thought otherwise.

Re: The Fugitive, Season Two Volume 1 - Reviews

Two volumes of season 1 has been released this year in Sweden (and other countries, I presume). But I bet they are replicas of the U.S. ones.

Still nothing about Season 2 Vol. 1 though.

Re: The Fugitive, Season Two Volume 1 - Reviews

Nothing to see here.

Re: The Fugitive, Season Two Volume 1 - Reviews

Glad to have the answers. Thanks to Dave and Gord for linking to the article. I am just disheartened that Paramount would not be upfront about the changes. Their reputation has been tarnished so that I will always wait for a review of all upcoming Paramount releases.

Doug

Re: The Fugitive, Season Two Volume 1 - Reviews

David, it's unfortunate that a new member's post was doubted, but I think you can understand our skepticism. Anyone can say anything on the Internet, and until it's corroborated, healthy skepticism is recommended.

Your initial post did indeed lay out all of the problems with the set, completely accurate. I and TravisR were the two who initially were skeptical of the new poster with this totally incredible story. Nothing like this had ever happened in the DVD world before (or since), so like they say in Missouri, "show me."

Your initial post was at 5:15 AM on the morning of release, indicating that you somehow received your set early (prior to release day). That also raised just a tiny red flag (early receipt is certainly not the most uncommon situation), and with your post at Amazon and the one at Yahoo which parroted your claims, I speculated early on that perhaps this was some effort to deceive the buying public. As a moderator at another board, I've seen all kinds of posts like that from first-time posters, and tend to trust my own eyes and ears more.

But you'll find, if you look on page one of this thread, that I was the first to corroborate your wild tale of music replacement (Post #17), having gone out at lunch to purchase the set to see for myself. And never again did I doubt you.

So, I hope you'll forgive my skepticism and understand where I was coming from at the time. The tragedy that is THE FUGITIVE, SEASON TWO VOLUME 1 remains, and it looks like the tragedy will continue.

Harry

Re: The Fugitive, Season Two Volume 1 - Reviews

edit.

Re: The Fugitive, Season Two Volume 1 - Reviews

Doug, IMO, that's the main "stickler" about this whole thing. There was no "coming clean" about the S2V1 release from CBS/P at all. Small generic disclaimer print may stand up in a courtroom (Perry Mason vs Hamilton Burger" ), but it doesn't cut the mustard for the buying public. Perhaps it's just me, but had they properly disclosed the soundtrack sub from the outset and been more forthright about the reasons before the street date of S2V1, it would have made a world of difference with me as to how CBS/P is perceived at the present time.

See Post 902 from Joe B. Excellent point #2 and overall post, imo.


I still think I did the right thing by letting Gary enjoy his vac without calling about this news. I sure thought about it enough back then.

Re: The Fugitive, Season Two Volume 1 - Reviews

when are they going to have harrison ford on?

Re: The Fugitive, Season Two Volume 1 - Reviews

Re: The Fugitive, Season Two Volume 1 - Reviews

In all fairness, you had never posted here and what you were saying sounded unbelievable. On the internet, that usually equals a troll.

Re: The Fugitive, Season Two Volume 1 - Reviews

You definitely did the right thing, Jeff!!! Make no mistake about that. The news would have ruined my vacation so I'm grateful that you didn't call me.

Gary "btw - go U.S.A. (watching some Olympics right now)" O.

Re: The Fugitive, Season Two Volume 1 - Reviews

The Burlingame article states that it probably cost them around $100,000 to do what they did to the Fugitive. For a fraction of that cost, they could have found an expert who could have helped them identify the Capital cues. They definitely didn't take the line of least resistance financially. Hopefully they have and will continue to take a huge financial loss with this.

On the flip side though, with so much money invested, I see it hard for them to just throw it all away and start over. The money's been spent; no getting it back. I think we will at least see Fugitive Season 2, Volume 2, if not in Decemeber than sometime next year.

Re: The Fugitive, Season Two Volume 1 - Reviews

(read below but insert Gary for carab)

Re: The Fugitive, Season Two Volume 1 - Reviews

The studios have always mistrusted fan participation, but Jon Burlingame is a professional, and as he says, there were other professionals who could have sorted out the mess with the cues.

As several people have noted above, I will never trust CBS/Paramount again. And Perry Mason is one of my very favorite shows. I will never buy anything of theirs without coming here or to Gord's site to verify the release is unaltered.

I have been screaming about squished/tiny/illegible end credits for years, but this blatant removal of Rugolo's name in the end credits seems more "illegal" than using the Capitol cues.

Re: The Fugitive, Season Two Volume 1 - Reviews

Can you back this statement up with fact? Any particular studio?

Re: The Fugitive, Season Two Volume 1 - Reviews

Several. I've done 7 audio commentaries and over 125 sets of DVD liner notes for Fox. I have tried to get similar work on DVDs of old TV (my specialty) with Warner Bros. and Paramount, and despite my experience, they had no interest in using me--rebuffing me in a "we don't need fan participation" way. Sony never replied at all to my application. Otherwise, if you have to apply, they really don't want you.

Re: The Fugitive, Season Two Volume 1 - Reviews

Reading through this thread has been interesting - I went back to page one and read all of it, and yes, some of us were being lambasted and having our hands slapped for saying things that turned out to be true - and then there was that guy Douglas Monce - hilarious - and he disappeared without so much as saying he was wrong the entire time. At least the truth is now known.

Re: The Fugitive, Season Two Volume 1 - Reviews

After reading what happened, all I can say is: "And they wonder how bootleggers stay in business. It's almost like they WANT to drive their customers to illegal sites!"

Re: The Fugitive, Season Two Volume 1 - Reviews

Ah, intereresting.

Re: The Fugitive, Season Two Volume 1 - Reviews

I have yet to see ANY indication that there will be a Season 2 Volume 2, much less a Season 3 or Season 4. Not even a rumor of future FUGITIVE releases.

Re: The Fugitive, Season Two Volume 1 - Reviews

Sylvia,

I've always enjoyed your attention to detail in your Fox Film Noir liner notes and hope you do many more in the future.

I would hazard to guess that most experts on a subject are "fans" of that same subject.

Re: The Fugitive, Season Two Volume 1 - Reviews

I just wish Season 2 could have made it out unharmed before this mess spilled out. I'd be disappointed but still content with ending the series at S3. It's been so many years since I've followed The Fugitive but from memory, the first two seasons and early episodes of the show were among he best produced and my personal favorites. It's a shame I can't own them on DVD as a result of this stupidity and negligence. With all that's happened and the consumer response from this release, I don't understand why they don't just hand the materials over to a legal team and have them sort out the rights to all the cues and make amends by offering a reissue. Surely the financial cost of rescoring future seasons that the studio would have budgeted on upcoming releases would easily cover the costs and end up saving the studio dollars in the long run.

Re: The Fugitive, Season Two Volume 1 - Reviews

I've watched about three or four episodes and did not enjoy any of them. Just for my own sake, I tried to forget about the music and just watch the program unfold. The stories, as always, are riveting, and there are moments when the music isn't a part of the show, and it almost seems like things are OK.

Then the Heyes mess swells up once again reminding me why I'm not enjoying this show. I could *almost* accept it if they'd kept the Act lead-in, lead out cues intact. That's where it REALLY hurts.

Watching these is like torture to this long-time fan.

Harry