Paramount - Are some Star Trek TOS DVD's edited differently? (1 Viewer)

[Joel Fontenot]

A member of the TrekBBS forum started a thread about one of the recent Trek TOS DVD releases - the one with "The Tholian Web" on it. In it he states:

Right after McCoy tells Uhura that Captain Kirk really is alive, he takes the restraints off of her, then gets a page. In the DVD, right after McCoy gets the page, it cuts to Scotty talking to Spock. Well, on the VHS version, the scene shows McCoy getting paged, then answering it and being told that the antidote has been found. The cut on the DVD is pretty abrupt, and distractingly obvious (at least to me). Pretty crappy, huh?
It's kind of frustrating, because the DVDs are the definitive versions of TOS. Of course, in "Patterns of Force" the sound effect when Kirk slaps Gil, and when the guards are pounding on the door is also missing. Not to mention an absent musical cue in "The Doomsday Machine" and a botched musical note in "The Menagerie" (when Spocks grabs the whistling leaves).
I wish Paramount would do a better job with these DVDs. After all, they should know how picky us fans are.

I noticed this abrupt edit too, even though I never had an earlier video release of this episode.
Is there something that can be done about this?
I'm really wondering if Mr. Blythe could look into this and at least find out what happened here. If that's at all possible.
Thanks,
Joel

 

[Daron]

I tried to post this reply to the Trek BBS, where the thread started... but it isn't accepting new members. So I'll post here.
I don't believe this episode was cut for the DVD as described. As I recall, in the original version, the first time we discover McCoy found the antitote is when Spock and Scotty gather in Kirk's? cabin. McCoy enters with the antitote, and Spock says, "You found the antitote, Doctor."
However, there have been many changes to the audio in most of the episodes. Most of the time, they were enhancements, and I think they added quite a bit to the episode, instead of distracted... especially when they corrected mistakes. I also think The Menagerie DVD contains a musical cue taken from an early-80's re-recording of Trek music, released on album and CD. I like the way they used it.

 

[Joel Fontenot]

Daron,
Here is the response to your response

quote:
To "Daron" from the Home Theater Forum:
I saw your reply to the HTF thread on this subject. Ironically, just as you couldn't post your reply here since no new members are currently being accepted, I couldn't post this reply to HTF for the same reason! So I hope you're reading this.
I can assure you that the "Tholian Web" DVD is cut, since I pulled out my old unedited Columbia House tape of the ep for comparison. After the intercom whistles (where the DVD is cut), McCoy goes to answer it, and Chapel's voice says that they have completed the latest test results (or something to that effect). McCoy says he'll be right there and leaves sickbay. Overall, I'm guessing about 15-20 seconds of action and dialogue is missing from the DVD.
The end of the world? Not really. But it is disappointing, and I'd at least like to know why it happened. Maybe you (or JDF)(that's me) can post this reply to the HTF thread, so it won't appear to Mr. Blythe or anyone else that the question is inaccurate or a non-issue. Thanks.
[/quote]
I personally don't mind some changes in the audio - it's a new mix after all. Fixing missing sound effects is one thing. But, changing some of the cues to alter (or mess up) the original intent is something else. Re-reversing shots that where reversed originally is one thing, but cutting out footage altogether is, again, something else - especially since these are suppose to be "uncut".
Joel
[Edited last by Joel Fontenot on September 25, 2001 at 01:47 PM]

 

[Martin Blythe]

I'm trying to get an answer.

 

[Joel Fontenot]

Thanks Martin,
And...uh...good luck
Joel

 

[Daron]

Joel,
It's been awhile since I've seen the Tholian Web on VHS, and I gave my copy away. But now that you mention it, the cut scene you described sounds familiar.
I agree with you that this is unacceptable. Hopefully, Paramount will reinsert the cut scene, and reissue the DVD. Someone mentioned awhile back that Paramount was planning to do that with some of the first season episode DVDs that included the wrong main title music.
--Daron

 

[Daron]

Just an addition to my last post, since I think I sounded too grumpy in it...
I am very pleased with the TOS DVDs on the whole! I watched Elaan of Troyus last night. The quality is unbelievable, especially considering the episode's age. I'm sure it takes hundreds of hours to do these right, and I appreciate the hard work.

 

[Joel Fontenot]

I definitely agree with that statement. Overall, Paramount has done a great job with this series. Regardless of all the Paramount bashing that has been going on (and still going on by people who seemed to have just discovered TOS on DVD) about the release format (you know, the ol' "2 eps per disk", no "special edition" stuff, etc...) - it was a big deal for them to do this show at all the way they did.
And, I'd like to say that I'm looking forward to ST:TMP's release. Also, congratulations on having TMP-TDE DVD nominated for several Video Premieres Academy awards (how about that - another awards ceremony)
Joel

 

[Joel Fontenot]

Shameless bump here.
But, I want to keep this issue alive at least until we find out what happened. Getting "corrected" issues might be to much to ask for but it'd be nice.
BTW, great work on TMP, looking forward to ST-II
Joel

 

[Joseph Burns]

Just thought I'd add that of all the demographics you don't want to try and slide things by, it's got to be the Trek nerds! LOL! I may not be the fan I once was, but I'm sure glad my DVD of Errand of Mercy/City On The Edge of Forever had no such issues.. I would have gone through the roof!
Now is a good time to root these issues out, not only because, as one poster said, the DVD's will become the definitive editions, but also because Para is gearing up for the March release of Star Trek:TNG! Probably less risk of those being bungled, but I for one would certainly like all the kinks worked out of the process before all 178 episodes of TNG are cranked through!
Also thanks for STiMPE, that was a real treat! Hope to see plenty more special editions of the Trek features.

 

[Martin Blythe]

OK, I don't have the answer yet on Tholian Web but I do have some news on two other episodes. With The Doomsday Machine and The Menagerie, it was a software thing when we have some drop-outs - i.e. the cue was there on the stems but never made it into the final pass but we don't know why or how this mistake occurred. I don't have details on where this occurs in Doomsday Machine (hopefully someone will know it) but in Menagerie, it's the singing flowers. We have fixed the flowers for the same footage that appears in The Cage - now the flowers stop singing when touched as intended.

 

[Joel Fontenot]

Thanks for the info Martin.
Please keep us posted if anything else comes up.
Joel