USHE Announcement: American Graffiti (Blu-ray) (1 Viewer)

Promotion: American Graffiti Special Edition Headline Date: TBA
Release Date: 5/31/2011 AMERICAN GRAFFITI Product Source: Theatrical
Theatrical Studio: Universal
Theatrical Release: 8/11/1973 Synopsis: From director George Lucas (Star Wars) and producer Francis Ford Coppola (The Godfather), American Graffiti is a classic coming-of-age story set against the 1960s backdrop of hot rods, drive-ins and rock n’ roll. Starring Ron Howard, Richard Dreyfuss, Harrison Ford, Cindy Williams, Mackenzie Phillips and Suzanne Somers in their breakout roles, this nostalgic look back follows a group of teenagers as they cruise the streets on their last summer night before college. Nominated for five Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director, American Graffiti features the howling sounds of Wolfman Jack and an unforgettable soundtrack with songs by Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, The Beach Boys and Bill Haley & His Comets. Blu-ray Widescreen Special Edition(61115348) : Disc 1 (Side A): Rated Version
Format: Blu-ray UPC: 0-2159-20737-0-0 Unit Type: Standard Number of Media: 1 Street Date: 5/31/2011 PreOrder Date: Run Time (HH:MM): 1 Hour 53 Minutes Language: English Disc Type: BD-50 (Single Sided) Packaging: Snap Case Layers: Single Audio: English DTS HD 2.0 Audio
French DTS 2.0 Mono
Subtitles: English SDH
French
Spanish
Edition: Special Edition Picture: Widescreen Version: - Color/B&W COLOR Rating: PG CARA Rating: - Bonus Features: • U-Control: Video Commentary with Director George Lucas
• U-Control: The Music of American Graffiti
• The Making of American Graffiti
• Screen Tests
• Theatrical Trailer
• My Scenes
• BD-Live
• Pocket BLU App
DVD Widescreen Collector's Edition(61020272) : Disc 1 (Side A)
Format: DVD UPC: 0-2519-20272-2-2 Unit Type: Standard Number of Media: - Street Date: 5/31/2005 PreOrder Date: 4/26/2005 Run Time (HH:MM): 1 Hour 52 Minutes Language: English Disc Type: DVD-9 (Single Sided) Packaging: Snap Case Layers: Single Audio: English Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
French Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
Subtitles: English SDH
Spanish
Edition: Collector's Edition Picture: Anamorphic Widescreen Version: - Color/B&W COLOR Rating: PG CARA Rating: - Bonus Features: • The Making of American Graffiti
• Cast and Filmmakers
• Production Notes
• Theatrical Trailer
DVD Widescreen Special Edition(61106007) : Disc 1 (Side A): Rated Version
Format: DVD UPC: 0-2519-50510-2-6 Unit Type: Standard Number of Media: 1 Street Date: 5/31/2011 PreOrder Date: Run Time (HH:MM): 1 Hour 53 Minutes Language: English Disc Type: DVD-9 (Single Sided) Packaging: Snap Case Layers: Single Audio: English Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
French Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
Subtitles: English SDH
French
Spanish
Edition: Special Edition Picture: Anamorphic Widescreen Version: - Color/B&W COLOR Rating: PG CARA Rating: - Bonus Features: • Feature Commentary with Director George Lucas
• The Making of American Graffiti
• Theatrical Trailer

Is the name of the film American Graffiti or Special Edition? LOL.

Originally Posted by eric scott richard

Is the name of the film American Graffiti or Special Edition? LOL.

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It's "American Graffiti: Special Edition!" For this new version, George Lucas has digitally replaced all of the vintage cars with bitchin' pod-racers! Said Lucas, "I originally wanted to include Pod-Racers in American Graffiti but didn't have the budget or the digital technology to do it at the time." A 3-D converted American Graffiti will premiere theatrically sometime in 2012.

Don't give him any ideas.

Originally Posted by eric scott richard

Is the name of the film American Graffiti or Special Edition? LOL.

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I know, right? We finally have a studio that uses original poster artwork on a BD cover, and they STILL manage to screw it up. The big problem is the film title text is all wrong. Why couldn't they use the original neon-looking text? It looks like they used the closest match they could find in Photoshop's standard list of fonts. And then the big blue "Special Edition" (in a completely non-complimentary font) just adds to the amateur-hour look of the cover.


Epic Fail, Universal.

I think Universal has frequently used pictures in press releases that don't exactly match the final product so maybe the 'Special Edition' will be somewhat smaller on the actual cover.

Wonder why there are 2 different DVD versions being released and only 1 BD? A "special edition" DVD @ 1 hr. 53 minutes; and a "collector's edition" DVD @ 1 hr. 52 minutes.


What happens in the deleted 1 minute that makes it collectible rather than special?

Lucas is giving us the original sound mix for a change? I might just faint!

Originally Posted by SilverWook

Lucas is giving us the original sound mix for a change? I might just faint!

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No, the mono isn't on here. This is the 1978 Dolby Stereo mix and the re-cut, which runs a few minutes longer than the original 1973 release. And don't forget the CG sunset at the start of the film which debuted with the first DVD release.

Originally Posted by Neil S. Bulk
And don't forget the CG sunset at the start of the film which debuted with the first DVD release.

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I like that one change. Made me realize that subtle changes like that are acceptable (IMO, of course), and can really enhance a film. That first appeared in 1998, for the movie's 25th anniversary, just after the outcry over the changes to the Star Wars films.

Pretty subtle for Lucas anyway.


Has the 1973 version ever been on home video?

Originally Posted by SilverWook


Has the 1973 version ever been on home video?

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Only the 1978 re-issue version saw home video. Universal has pretty much agreed that the 1973 version does not exist after the success of the 1978 re-issue. Lucas did not want to make the cuts that Universal asked for in the initial release, so when it was to be re-released he was able to get the cuts put back in. That was a great selling point for the film and created a lot of press on what was added and why. IMO it did not really move the story along nor add to the characters, but it was not un-pleasant either.