Criterion Press Release: 8 1/2 (Blu-ray)

maybe this time they will pay for the Music Rights,and not have to not included the song on their laser,I was told
this was a problem on the dvd,because the song is missing ,What song this is,or why or if it should be included
I have no Idea,Just that my friend wasn't happy with the DVD

This is info I found on www.imdb.com

"In the American theatrical release version, Rodgers & Hart's "Blue Moon" can be heard twice: the first time, when it's played by strolling strings near the shopping plaza where Guido meets up with his wife, Luisa; the second time, when Guido goes out for a drive with the "real" Claudia. However, in the original Italian release, the song played in both scenes is "Sheik of Araby." The Criterion laserdisc features "Blue Moon," but it's "Sheik of Araby" on the DVD, possibly due to the use of different source materials."


** I would guess it is because of which print is used. I would guess the way Criterion finally released it on their DVD version was the way it was intended for the Italian print. I would guess most US releases prior may have only featured the US soundtrack version.