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PHE Press Release: Star Trek TOS: Season 3 (Blu-ray)

post #1 of 99
11/6/09 at 11:39am
Thread Starter 

*Just Announced*

 

NEVER BEFORE RELEASED ALTERNATE VERSION OF
STAR TREK PILOT TO DEBUT ON BLU-RAY



Unearthed After 40 Years, The Episode Anchors Bonus Features Of
STAR TREK®: THE ORIGINAL SERIES SEASON THREE Blu-Ray Release
On Sale December 15

 

HOLLYWOOD, Calif. (November 6, 2009) - An unaired alternative version of the original STAR TREK pilot, found after 40 years, will be available to the public for sale for the first time ever as part of the STAR TREK®: THE ORIGINAL SERIES SEASON THREE Blu-ray disc collection. 
 

The newly discovered version of the original pilot, "Where No Man Has Gone Before," includes an alternative monologue by William Shatner, as well as different theme music and closing credits. It is presented in three parts with 1970s-style act breaks and was obtained from Magic Picture Home Entertainment GmbH.  The Blu-ray set will be released on December 15 from CBS Home Entertainment and Paramount Home Entertainment. 
 

Featuring all 24 episodes of the legendary third season, the six-disc set is presented in pristine 7.1 DTS-HD Master audio and superior picture quality offering the best possible home viewing experience. The BD-Live enabled discs also offer seamless branching allowing fans to toggle between watching these classic episodes as they were originally broadcast, or the newly remastered versions with enhanced special effects and sound for the best of both worlds. Also, every disc is Mobile BluTM enabled.  Once downloaded, Mobile BluTM allows fans to turn their iPhones and iPod Touchs into Blu-ray player remote controls and download content for on-the-go entertainment. 
 

In addition to the alternate version of the show's original pilot and interaction via BD-Live, the set includes new featurettes from Star Trek-themed panels at ComicCon International 2009 including "The Anthropology of Star Trek" and "The World of Rod Roddenberry," plus a 20-minute piece hosted by David Gerrold, the writer behind the classic episode "The Trouble With Tribbles."      
 

Premiering in 1966, STAR TREK®: THE ORIGINAL SERIES aired for three seasons and launched a worldwide phenomenon for numerous television series and feature films that continues today.  The series starred one of the most pivotal casts in television history including William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, George Takei, James Doohan, Nichelle Nichols and Walter Koenig. 
 

STAR TREK®: THE ORIGINAL SERIES SEASON THREE BLU-RAY will be available for the suggested retail price of $118.99 US and $136.99 CAN. The set is presented in the original 4:3 aspect ratio with English 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, English Original 2.0 Mono, Spanish 2.0 Mono and French 2.0 Mono sound.  The DVD is not rated in the U.S. and rated G in Canada.  The total running time is 22 Hrs., 31 Min.  The breakdown is as follows:
 

Disc One:                                   

Spock's Brain
The Enterprise Incident
The Paradise Syndrome
And the Children Shall Lead
Is There In Truth No Beauty?
Special Features:
Preview trailers for each episode
BD Live enabled, Mobile-Blu™ enabled
 
Disc Two:           

Spectre of the Gun
Day of the Dove
For the World is Hollow and I Have Touched the Sky
The Tholian Web
Plato's Stepchildren
Special Features:
Preview trailers for each episode
BD Live enabled, Mobile-Blu™ enabled
 
Disc Three:                                   

Wink of an Eye
The Empath
Elaan of Troyius
Whom Gods Destroy
Let That Be Your Last Battlefield
Special Features:
Preview trailers for each episode
BD Live enabled, Mobile-Blu™ enabled
 
Disc Four:           

The Mark of Gideon
That Which Survives
The Lights of Zetar
Requiem for Methuselah
The Way to Eden
Special Features:
Preview trailers for each episode
BD Live enabled, Mobile-Blu™ enabled
 
Disc Five:

The Cloud Minders
The Savage Curtain
All Our Yesterdays
Turnabout Intruder
Special Features:
Preview trailers for each episode
Life Beyond Trek: Walter Koenig
Chief Engineer's Log
Memoir From Mr. Sulu
Captain's Log: Bob Justman
BD Live enabled, Mobile-Blu™ enabled
 
Disc Six:           

The Cage
The Cage (Extended Version)
Special Features:
Where No Man Has Gone Before (The Unaired Alternate Version of the Pilot)
David Gerrold Hosts "2009 Convention Coverage"
"The Anthropology of Star Trek" Comic-Con Panel 2009
"The World of Rod Roddenberry" Comic-Con 2009
Billy Blackburn's Treasure Chest: Rare Home Movies and Special Memories
Part 3
"To Boldly Go..." Season Three
Collectible Trek
Star Trek's Impact
BD Live enabled, Mobile-Blu™ enabled
 
 
Star Trek: The Original Series Season 3 Blu-Ray
Street Date: December 15, 2009
Pricing: $118.99 US/ $136.99 CAN
Catalog #: 074354
Runtime: 22 Hrs., 31 Min.
U.S. Rating: NR
Canadian Rating: G

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post #2 of 99
11/6/09 at 11:50am
Where No Man Has Gone Before is NOT the original Star Trek pilot.  The original pilot is The Cage.  Where No Man Has Gone Before is the second pilot, made after NBC had originally rejected The Cage.
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post #3 of 99
11/6/09 at 5:17pm
I think the press release means the original version of Where No Man Has Gone Before. This version on this disc has an alternate beginning with Shatner doing a voice over monologue. He uses some arcane descriptions, such as rockets instead of warp drive. And the guest stars and stars billing is different. It's a really huge deal that we can finally have an official version of this pilot on a home video product! And a really nice surprise!
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post #4 of 99
11/6/09 at 6:35pm
this being the last set of the original anyone have any idea of paramounts plans for Next Gen, DS9 and Voy on bluray?
Have these done enough to convince them to redo the effects to high def standard ?
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post #5 of 99
11/7/09 at 12:42am
By the way, the preorder price has dropped again at Amazon as it is now $52.99

I don't know how long this price will stick or whether Amazon will adjust the price for those that preorder it.  They should according to their policy, but who's to say if this price increases today and they do nothing.





Crawdaddy
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post #6 of 99
11/7/09 at 4:19am
I just checked my preorder and it's adjusted down to $52.99
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post #7 of 99
11/7/09 at 7:03am


Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim_K View Post

I just checked my preorder and it's adjusted down to $52.99
 

Same here.

- Mark
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post #8 of 99
11/7/09 at 3:46pm
 Let's see when Best Buy matches the price!
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post #9 of 99
11/10/09 at 5:42pm
 Ordered from Amazon. Great price. 

I noticed that The Cage is extended. Is this a different version than was previously released on DVD? Before the Remastered version.. 

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0059753/alternateversions

Just some trims added back then?? 

I'm working on season 2. Really enjoying Season 2. Looking forward to season 3. I'm very glad they are including the alternate version of Where No Man Has Gone Before!!! 
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post #10 of 99
11/11/09 at 12:08am
My sense is that the "extended" Cage is just the fully color version, and the other the color/B&W version. Why this version with B&W sections from Gene Roddenberry's personal copy continue to be released is beyond me since the full color version is fine. It is NOT colorized as many people think, it is the original color footage from the NBC print spliced into sections of the original footage that were used in the 2 part Menagerie.
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post #11 of 99
11/11/09 at 12:53am
The extended version of "The Cage" is exactly what you're thinking, Daniel.  It's the full color version.

I've seen the footage from the alternate version of the second pilot, but it will be nice to see a high definition copy.

It's a shame that more episodes did not receive the "Starfleet Access" attention.  Even in the diminished third season, there were still some episodes of note, including "Enterprise Incident", "Tholian Web", and a personal favorite of mine, "That Which Survives".   These episodes don't hold up nearly as well as the early 2nd season and 1st season ones do, and the drop in budget and quality becomes clearer with time, but there is still a charm to the original series that wins me over.
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post #12 of 99
11/11/09 at 5:09am
So, it includes two versions of The Cage and an alternate version of Where No Man...?

These Trek BDs have been top-notch. Looking forward to season 3, which contains some great episodes, like The Enterprise Incident, All Our Yesterdays, Day of the Dove, and Let This Be Your Last Battlefield.
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post #13 of 99
11/11/09 at 7:20am


Quote:
Originally Posted by Kevin EK View Post

I've seen the footage from the alternate version of the second pilot, but it will be nice to see a high definition copy.

 

The press release doesn't clearly state that the alternate version will be in HD.  I'm thinking we'll probably get an upconvert like we did w/ the DS9 episode on the Season 2 set.  I hope I'm wrong.

Doug
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post #14 of 99
11/11/09 at 2:08pm
Doug, you're probably right about that.  I'll hope for it until we see the actual release.  To be honest, an upconvert would be just as well for me, since the other footage is likely in a lot worse condition than what we're used to seeing.
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post #15 of 99
11/11/09 at 9:58pm
I bought a copy of the alternate WNMHGB on VHS at a convention ~20 years ago. It didn't look like it was transferred in the mid '60's to me. I wonder why they say they just recently found it?
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post #16 of 99
11/12/09 at 8:35am

Quote:
The newly discovered version of the original pilot...... was obtained from Magic Picture Home Entertainment GmbH.

Presumably, this means a FILM print was obtained. The bootleg of this episode has been around for years, yes, but a FILM print would really be a find. ...and from Germany, no less!

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post #17 of 99
11/12/09 at 3:51pm
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post #18 of 99
11/12/09 at 4:14pm
This version of "Where No Man Has Gone Before" is sounding a lot more interesting now.

I could even put up with eps like "The Way to Eden" and "And The Children Shall Lead" in order to see it.

Because, well, I reach.
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post #19 of 99
11/12/09 at 9:44pm
Here's someone's reconstruction of the alternate bits in the pilot

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORBGSaBZynw

The cut around the five minute mark shows up in The Man Trap (up until Gary Mitchell enters) as part of a collage of the crew reacting to Kirk declaring an alert.
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post #20 of 99
11/12/09 at 9:56pm
 The discovery of this 35mm print is a pretty astonishing find and quite a gift.
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post #21 of 99
11/12/09 at 11:52pm
1970's style act breaks? Whoever wrote the press release must have been unaware the Quinn Martin shows were already doing it in the '60's.

And a film collector actually approached CBS/Paramount without any fear of legal action?
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post #22 of 99
12/1/09 at 8:07am
trekmovie.com has a new preview image from Where No Man Has Gone Before, the original Star Trek pilot that was never aired with the alternate opening. This is included in the Season 3 BD set. Plus trekmovie also shows the same disc contents breakdowns as listed in Ron's first post above.

I don't think this image is a revelation, since it's a screen cap. But it is exciting to see this set is coming in 2 weeks!


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post #23 of 99
12/3/09 at 10:32am
There's a fair amount to not-like about season 3, but there's some great episodes in there too, IMO. 

"Spectre of the Gun" has always been a favorite of mine.  Loved that episode's style and story.

I've had this preordered for awhile now and am looking forward to completing my Star Trek TOS bluray collection!
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post #24 of 99
12/6/09 at 10:02am
I found a review for the Third Season BD set on trekweb today. Not a site I go to too often. The review is not a very technical review like you're used to on the HTF. It's more of a general review for Trek fans and consumers. Here's the link to it:

http://trekweb.com/articles/2009/12/01/BluRay-Review-Star-Trek-The-Original-Series-Season-3.shtml

What is interesting is his description of the Where No Man Has Gone Before un-aired pilot that was recently found. I'll cut and paste his comments here:

Quote:
 
Perhaps the most important extra on, and the centerpiece of, this set is the unaired alternate version of "Where No Man Has Gone Before", complete with lost footage and music, different main and end title credits, and a MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE-style act arrangement, and presented for the first time in an official capacity on Disc 6 with a text introduction about the pilot‘s history. As with the other episodes, this version of "Where No Man" is presented in full-frame shadow-box format and Dolby 2.0 sound, but the quality is quite clear. This is a find indeed! Thanks to a German film collector who acquired a 35mm print of the pilot, CBS/Paramount Home Entertainment oversaw the transfer of the print to HD video by Magic Picture Home Entertainment GmbH before it was transported overseas to the United States this past September for color correction and frame-by-frame dirt removal (there are some age-related scratches, however). I first read about this alternate version in Allan Asherman's "The STAR TREK Compendium", and for a long time this alternate cut of "Where No Man" was in the Smithsonian Institution. Twenty years ago I came across this pilot film on an underground VHS tape at a comics store, and the quality was pretty decent, but nothing like this - and this was years before the advent of eBay and YouTube! Now this lost gem has been given to us in an official capacity - and all I can say is thank you, CBS and Paramount! And an equally huge thank you to that German film collector, wherever you are!

What does he mean by "Full Frame Shadow Box?" His way of saying Pillar box? I'll have to see what he's talking about. Given the age of the film elements, sounds like a pretty good restoration, but not like the series film elements.

And then later, he laments about the missed opportunity it was for other rarities. He's gone on to repeat an oft said thing about The Cage by another reviewer at Trekweb, whose name sounds like he was once a member here, that there was a restored verison that was only out in 1988 or 89 on VHS and has never made it to DVD. I thought I knew all the versions, but I keep reading about this mysterious 3rd version.

Quote:
 

STILL missing in action are the 1988-89 restored version of "The Cage" that was issued only on VHS (which was a pretty decent remaster until the 2001 restoration effort). In any event, hold onto those discs and the VHS in order to have all of the various releases (check out my article in the TrekWeb archives on the various versions of "The Cage"). Also still missing in action are the two direct-to-video documentaries, "William Shatner's STAR TREK Memories" and "Inside STAR TREK: The Real Story", which have never seen a DVD or Blu-ray release to begin with. Nor are the legendary blooper reels or vintage 1960's promos for the series (there's at least seven or eight of them out there that I know of).

 

For that matter, there's vintage outtake footage from "The Cage" that was shown a number of years back on a documentary special about Jeffrey Hunter, along with equally vintage outtakes and series commercials that are on YouTube if you know where to look - that would have been nice to see in an official capacity. Finally, while having the original 1960's preview trailers are a nice touch, I would have liked to see the trailers to the recent remastered versions as well. And with a lot of extras out there, they could have seen fit to take advantage of the storage capabilities Blu-ray has and expanded this set to a seventh disc like its previous two releases this year.


The link to the full review is at the top of the post. If anyone has more info on this 3rd version of The Cage, I'd like to hear about it. I may or may not have that VHS of The Cage, the official Paramount one, not a bootleg. I'll have to look for it!

Post Script: Well, I'm surprised to say I found that I do own the VHS of The Cage. I shouldn't be so surprised after all! It looks like the exact same artwork on the laserdisc of The Cage, the All Color Version. I have that too. So I can't understand why the reviewer is saying there is another version. He says the version on the tape and LD is not on the DVD or BD, but I guess I'll have to do more study here to figure out the difference. I always thought the version on the LD and tape is the same on the DVD, no additional 2 or 3 seconds of footage that are claimed to be missing on the DVD and soon to be released BD.


Edited by Nelson Au - 12/6/09 at 10:24am
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post #25 of 99
12/6/09 at 11:02am
 Is he talking about the Roddenberry bumpers, that explain why some of the footage is black and white? It was shot on the Trek movie sets as i recall. 
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post #26 of 99
12/6/09 at 11:02am


Quote:
Originally Posted by Nelson Au View Post

The link to the full review is at the top of the post. If anyone has more info on this 3rd version of The Cage, I'd like to hear about it. I may or may not have that VHS of The Cage, the official Paramount one, not a bootleg. I'll have to look for it!
 

Nelson, here's a link to the referenced story on TrekWeb about the different versions of "The Cage":
     http://trekweb.com/stories.php?aid=491ad7dcb7e57


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post #27 of 99
12/6/09 at 11:51am
 The version of The Cage that was first released on tape and LD does have the Roddenberry bumpers where he explains this is a version with the Black and White and Color portions integrated.

Thanks Scott(Ensign Eddie). That was the trekweb article I had read a few years ago. I had forgotten the exact details for the differences. I'll re-read that more clearly and I may find time to play the LD all color version that he's talking about that has the rough edges still and audio slow downs to help bridge the footage and the original Alexander Courage musical cue during the fight that Pike has on Rigel with the Kaylar. I think this must be the 3rd version he's talking about that we ought to have on DVD and BD. I can see his point, it's got the original soundtrack and the original versions of the Keeper's voice. I thought I remembered having that version!

But I can understand Paramount's desire to put out a more polished and finished version on the DVD. Could it have had Roddenberry's stamp of approval? I guess not as he passed away before the DVD sets ever came out.

It's funny, I pulled out every version of The Cage I have. The VHS, the LD of the B&W/Color verison, the LD of the all color Collector Version(Same as the VHS), the 40th Volume set version, the box set from 2004 and the remastered box set. I'm not showing off, am I nuts? That's a lot of collecting! And soon to be 2009 BD set too!
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post #28 of 99
12/6/09 at 1:33pm
 http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Star-Trek-The-Original-Series-Season-3-Blu-ray-Review/7192/

The above review lists 3 versions of The Cage on the new set... 

"The Cage," found on disc six, is available in three versions: a special extended cut with black and white footage intermixed with color elements, the full-color episode with original special effects, and the full-color version with newly enhanced visual effects.

I just finished Season 2 yesterday. I'm ready to get started on Season 3!!

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post #29 of 99
12/6/09 at 1:51pm


Quote:
Originally Posted by Simon Massey View Post

this being the last set of the original anyone have any idea of paramounts plans for Next Gen, DS9 and Voy on bluray?
Have these done enough to convince them to redo the effects to high def standard ?

I have my doubts about that. Its not just the effects that would have to be re-done. Every show would have to be rescanned and reedited from scratch. In addition the tribble episode of DS9 on the ST season 2 set that has supposedly been upscalled to HD doesn't look any better than my SD version on the original DS9 set.

Doug

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post #30 of 99
12/6/09 at 2:15pm

Quote:
Originally Posted by Douglas Monce View Post

I have my doubts about that. Its not just the effects that would have to be re-done. Every show would have to be rescanned and reedited from scratch. In addition the tribble episode of DS9 on the ST season 2 set that has supposedly been upscalled to HD doesn't look any better than my SD version on the original DS9 set.
 

Probably because it's been just that--upscaled from the SD source, not recreated from the original elements.
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