THE FUGITIVE - Season 2 Volume 2

Re: THE FUGITIVE - Season 2 Volume 2

I suspect that it's with the Mark Heyes music, otherwise the announcement would have specifically noted that the original scores are back.

It is what it is. Still, I hope I'm wrong, even if I did just finish transferring all my VHS tapes, with the original scores, to DVD.

Re: THE FUGITIVE - Season 2 Volume 2

I bet it was worth it, though. I've been working my way through the second season, and having the original music intact is fabulous.

I think this show could become one of my ten all-time favorites, once I have seen it all and can eventually digest the excellent piece of work that it is.

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I saw the announcement much earlier but just didn't have the heart to start a thread on it. I figured someone eventually would. I really don't believe that this volume will be any different than the previous one.

Gary "hoping beyond hope I'm wrong - but there's nothing to indicate otherwise" O.

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I'm surprised there's going to be another release at all. I thought they'd abandon it. But then again, you can never predict with the folks at CBS/Paramount.

I hope good sense has prevailed and the episodes will have their original scores. But then again, real world speaking, I doubt it. They're probably just trying to recoup some of the money spent digitally transferring and rescoring the entire second season, and hoping it's been long enough that the fans have cooled off.

Re: THE FUGITIVE - Season 2 Volume 2

Given the (misleading) nature of the music disclaimer ("restored" audio) it is a certainty that this will the same scenario as Vol 1. As previously posted, had this issue been resolved it would be prominently noted.

I'm surprised this got released. Perhaps CBS/P had already paid for the transfers and the new score and figured they'd try to recoup some of their investment. There's a segment of the buying population that was unaware of the controversy over this release and they will buy this. Sad to say, I won't be.

Re: THE FUGITIVE - Season 2 Volume 2

I agree with John and Steve that this is simply CBS/Paramount trying to recoup any expenses since they likely had the entire season prepared even before the S2, V1 fiasco hit the fan. They simply waited for the storm to pass and are finally deciding to release V2 at this point so they can get something out Season 2. I highly doubt we will see a third season release any time soon - if ever.

Gary "again, hope I'm wrong but the evidence is overwhelming" O.

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No way was I going to start the thread on this one I agree with what others have said...if the original music was there, we'd have heard about it loud and clear.

No way am I preordering this or even buying it until word comes down.

Re: THE FUGITIVE - Season 2 Volume 2

I'm going to try and not get emotionally involved with this release...I've got to move on and accept I will probably never have factory releases of these episodes unaltered in my lifetime..

Re: THE FUGITIVE - Season 2 Volume 2

Sadly Steve, that's not the music disclaimer. The audio is indeed restored, but that is not the music...it's the voice track.

To preempt any outrage over this release, the music disclaimer (at the bottom of the Specification boxes) now reads "Music has been changed for this home entertainment version." The word "Some" (music) has been removed from the S2V1 disclaimer.

This is simply the rest of the re-scored episodes from Season Two. Sobeit.

Re: THE FUGITIVE - Season 2 Volume 2

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Re: THE FUGITIVE - Season 2 Volume 2

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Re: THE FUGITIVE - Season 2 Volume 2

Like many others, I'll gladly buy this if the music is intact. I guess they don't want all the kids to think it's in black and white. Of course that doesn't take into account that they were never going to buy it anyway.

Re: THE FUGITIVE - Season 2 Volume 2

Is there ever any doubt about this? Of course the studios put color pictures on the front of their B-&-W shows to try and give the impression the show is in color because they fear younger viewers won't even consider a show that's not. I think that's painfully obvious, and unfortunately doesn't speak well to our culture as a whole and how we view vintage material. Ok, lest I really get up on the soapbox I'll stop right here.

Gary "come on, does anyone here really think there's even a remote chance that the underscore will be intact on this upcoming release?" O.

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I'm sure that you're most likely right but that approach makes no sense because who is going to buy a show that they've never seen before anyway? Sure, people on message boards like this may take a chance after hearing a bunch of good stuff about a show but I don't think having a color cover on a black and white show helps increase sales of a title with the average consumer- they're either going to buy it or they're not and a color cover isn't going to make someone decide to spend $35.

Re: THE FUGITIVE - Season 2 Volume 2

I still haven't opened S2V1, but that doesn't mean I won't entertain thoughts of buying this. There no doubt will be confirmation closer to the release date on the status of the music, however it would be a good bet that this is just about clearing out what they've already prepared and recooping part of their expenses.
I'm just thinking that, with the current economic crapfest currently falling around us, the flow of 'classic releases' will trickle to a drop for the foreseeable future. Completing this release could merely be housekeeping.

Re: THE FUGITIVE - Season 2 Volume 2

I doubt this (or any) corporation would let conscience get the better part of any possibility of profit and I imagine this was the plan ever since the backlash -
wait a reasonable amount of time until the furor died down and quietly release the next set with as little risk to sales as possible. Even if this next set is as marred as the last, nothing will ever match the initial reaction to the last set. Those who are already aware of the problem will remain disgusted while those who don't know probably don't care regardless.

Re: THE FUGITIVE - Season 2 Volume 2

David, the eternal optimist! I like that.

The "new" Wanted poster has more shelf-appeal, IMHO.
CBS may have been going to use that art for a cover of a later season (in color) DVD release, but moved it up for this one...maybe because there won't be any later releases.

Re: THE FUGITIVE - Season 2 Volume 2

With two TV DVD's already on my to-get list for March, joining The Nanny and Room 222, this certainly would make a very neat #3.

Yet I shall withhold making purchase plans until it is confirmed how well the music turns out.

To Be Continued...

Re: THE FUGITIVE - Season 2 Volume 2

CBS is counting on everyone who purchased S2V1 to buy this release too. That is, everyone who didn't return S2V1 when they learned about the missing Rugolo music.
If you have S2V1, there's no point in not buying S2V2.

Re: THE FUGITIVE - Season 2 Volume 2

Oz, I will respectfully diasgree with this one since I am in the category of owning S2V1 and won't buy S2V2 if the music is the same "Heyes" score. The reason is that I bought the S2V1 set at a family member's request and Mom doesn't want to view any more of the show without the original score. We had initially thought that we would be able to handle watching the show with the studio picture and replaced score but that idea has gone south after a couple of episodes into S2V1. Mom, who is a music teacher with a degree, said "no more"


I agree, VP's looking at the bright side. Oz, I hope you're right


Sure....and we'll see Batman ('66) coming next month

I agree, Gary. I'd almost sell my soul for an original studio series release of this show.


Agree on both counts, Scott. As someone who is seeing this show for the 1st time on DVD, it's in my top 3 shows, probably #2. I remember when this Bd lit up when the news broke about the 1st release. I wondered what all of the excitement was about back then. Gary was telling me that this one was one of the best dramas on American TV. "When you're right, you're right", Gary


Says it for me, Steve. I also think that this is why they finished releasing S2. There are #'s out there that are buying the releases but we all wonder here how the sales figures compared "pre vs post" music change.

Re: THE FUGITIVE - Season 2 Volume 2

At least they are being honest about it finally.

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I picked up S2V1 the day it streeted, but since I have such a backlog and not having finished S1V2, I found out about the music before I had the chance to open it. I agonized over it until my safe return period was almost up but ultimately ended up taking it back unopened. Very disappointing as I've been waiting to see the show again since '90 or '91 when A&E was running it.
Well, just two weeks back I decided before I canceled my Netflix subscription to check out a disc and see how the eps played with the replaced score. To be honest, had I not known about the controversy I would probably chalked up the new score -and specifically the missing theme at the begining of each act- simply to a sophomore season production decision. I realize for fans who have seen these far more often than I have the change is immediately discordant, but for fans like myself (and Paul Mavis) the substitution does not overwhelm the abundant positives of the show. While I would prefer and enthusiastically support further releases with the original score intact-if I ever run across a godd deal on both S2 volumes, I'll pick them up.
While I think Heyes did an admirable job mimicking the 'feel' of 60's era score on what was likely a very limited budget and severe deadline, I'm suprised they didn't rescore using contemporaneous library material that they had clear rights to...of which I'm assuming there's quit a bit. I don't think this would have placated the people upset now at all since the bottom line is the show is no longer the genuine article with any substitution going on.I do hope they resolve this more satisfactorily for S3 & 4.

Re: THE FUGITIVE - Season 2 Volume 2

My take is, I never saw THE FUGITIVE until I bought S1V1 - and I enjoyed it, so I bought S1V2, which I also enjoyed .

Then I WANTED to buy S2V1, but when I learned about the music changes, even though I'm new to this series I didn't want to buy it. So right there Paramount lost a happy "new" customer for this show.

BUT - if it turns out that S2V2 is properly done and retains the original score after all, I will buy it and then return to purchase S2V1 and just deal with it as some kind of fluke for one half a season.

Re: THE FUGITIVE - Season 2 Volume 2

I'm inclined to agree with you especially as the CBS Paramount Syndication Bible indicates that only the first two seasons have been transferred to HD (though the page for "The Fugitive" hasn't been updated since March of last year). But the money has apparently been spent on the remastering and rescoring for these remaining episodes and it certainly looks, to me, that CBS/Paramount is attempting to recoup its investment. Unless there is some further indication down the line of additional episodes being transferred to HD, then this is probably it for "The Fugitive."

Re: THE FUGITIVE - Season 2 Volume 2

Joe, that's the same for me. The DVD's are the first view for me for this show.

Paul's post brings in a very good point here but I've found, along with Mom, that as 1st-time viewers, the Heyes score was a large drop-off from the original soundtrack. At the same time I can understand how other 1st-time viewers wouldn't have an issue with the new score.

No surprise that this thread already has 25 posts

Re: THE FUGITIVE - Season 2 Volume 2

Jeff, like you I was quite the neophyte where "The Fugitive" was concerned and purchased S1V1 on the series' reputation and the fact that it was made in B&W, of early sixties vintage, replete with all the great character actors of that era. I was hooked from the moment I finished watching "Fear in a Desert City" and the show now has become a firm favorite, somewhere in my top three, right next to "The Outer Limits". Since my initial purchase I bought and devoured two books on the series and have marveled at how consistently great the series is from one episode to the next.

I probably wouldn't have as great an issue with the music substitution as the seasoned "Fugitive" fans here, but I'm not willing to make the plunge for S2 until, like Paul Scott mentioned, I come across a great deal for both volumes. I know I'm going to cave eventually, but did want to do my part to send a message to Paramount about how dissatisfied I was with their course of action.

Re: THE FUGITIVE - Season 2 Volume 2

Oy.

Re: THE FUGITIVE - Season 2 Volume 2

The local independent station started showing The Fugitive at 7 pm weekdays and the season 2 episodes have the Heyes "music". So you better save your tapes and bootleg copies, that is the only way you will ever see the original show again. Paramount is so arrogant they probably threw away the original soundtrack after they "upgraded" it.