PHE Press Release: Paramount Presents! The Golden Child (1986) (Blu-ray) (1 Viewer)

[Ronald Epstein]

• Newly remastered from a 4K film transfer under the supervision of director Michael Ritchie, this hit action-comedy comes to Blu-ray for the first time as part of the Paramount Presents line. The limited-edition Paramount Presents Blu-ray Disc is presented in collectible packaging that includes a foldout image of the film’s theatrical poster and an interior spread with key movie moments. The film will also be available on 4K Ultra HD Digital.
• The Paramount Presents Blu-ray includes a new featurette on the Making of The Golden Child, as well as access to a Digital copy of the film and the theatrical trailer.

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[deepscan]

As I said an another forum, this looks like a no-sale for me.

Many things wrong with this new release...how can a director supervise a new 4K transfer when he died nearly 20 years ago? Also, with a release such as this, you may have thought Paramount would have had the good sense to include a separate audio track incorporating John Barry‘s original unused score. They didn’t, apparently. It may be a case of either the separate audio stems (music, dialogue, and effects tracks) went missing or tossed from Paramount’s archives, leaving no possibility of Barry’s score restored, or the studio could not work things out with the late composer Barry’s estate.

Universal had enough faith in restoring Jerry Goldsmith’s score for LEGEND, but Paramount sure doesn’t for GOLDEN CHILD.

Ironically, in GOLDEN CHILD’s dream sequence there is a passing reference to LEGEND as Chandler walks by the studio where he meets Sardo.

 

[dpippel]

The Golden Child? Really???

 

[DVBRD]

Many things wrong with this new release...how can a director supervise a new 4K transfer when he died nearly 20 years ago?

I guess Michael Ritchie is a zombie now...

 

[Angelo Colombus]

The Golden Child? Really???

I agree...saw it once and that was enough.

 

[DVBRD]

Also, with a release such as this, you may have thought Paramount would have had the good sense to include a separate audio track incorporating John Barry‘s original unused score. They didn’t, apparently. It may be a case of either the separate audio stems (music, dialogue, and effects tracks) went missing or tossed from Paramount’s archives, leaving no possibility of Barry’s score restored, or the studio could not work things out with the late composer Barry’s estate.

Universal had enough faith in restoring Jerry Goldsmith’s score for LEGEND, but Paramount sure doesn’t for GOLDEN CHILD.

Judging by the rather flat response to THE GOLDEN CHILD getting a BD release, I can tell why...

 

[Stephen_J_H]

As I said an another forum, this looks like a no-sale for me.

Many things wrong with this new release...how can a director supervise a new 4K transfer when he died nearly 20 years ago? Also, with a release such as this, you may have thought Paramount would have had the good sense to include a separate audio track incorporating John Barry‘s original unused score. They didn’t, apparently. It may be a case of either the separate audio stems (music, dialogue, and effects tracks) went missing or tossed from Paramount’s archives, leaving no possibility of Barry’s score restored, or the studio could not work things out with the late composer Barry’s estate.

Universal had enough faith in restoring Jerry Goldsmith’s score for LEGEND, but Paramount sure doesn’t for GOLDEN CHILD.

Ironically, in GOLDEN CHILD’s dream sequence there is a passing reference to LEGEND as Chandler walks by the studio where he meets Sardo.

Few things to note: It's possible that the PR hack got it wrong and meant to to say "transfer supervised by director of photography." I checked, and DOP Donald E. Thorin passed in 2016, so it's plausible that he could have supervised a "new" transfer, even in 4K. Also, the John Barry score went completely unused, which is distinguishable from the Jerry Goldsmith score for Legend, which was used on the European cut of the film and therefore readily available. In the case of Legend, both cuts were released on home media, and therefore both scores. Not a question of faith.

 

[Neil S. Bulk]

Also, the John Barry score went completely unused...

"The Best Man In The World" is a Barry song and his recording of "Puttin' on the Ritz" is in the film.

 

[Stephen_J_H]

"The Best Man In The World" is a Barry song and his recording of "Puttin' on the Ritz" is in the film.

But not written for the film, correct?

 

[Neil S. Bulk]

"The Best Man In The World" was written for the film. It was the basis for the score. Only the song made it into the film.

"Puttin' on the Ritz" was adapted by Barry and recorded at the sessions conducted by Barry.

 

[Stephen_J_H]

"The Best Man In The World" was written for the film. It was the basis for the score. Only the song made it into the film.

"Puttin' on the Ritz" was adapted by Barry and recorded at the sessions conducted by Barry.

So then the incidental music or "underscore" and themes are what went unused, right? Just trying to understand your point, Neil.

 

[Worth]

I seem to remember reading that Barry's music was for a completely different cut of the film, so it might be impossible to include it as an alternate score.

 

[Neil S. Bulk]

So then the incidental music or "underscore" and themes are what went unused, right? Just trying to understand your point, Neil.

Barry's contributions to the film were not completely jettisoned.

 

[Stephen_J_H]

Barry's contributions to the film were not completely jettisoned.

Which does nothing to change my original point, which was that Goldsmith's score was used in an international cut of Legend while Barry's score was not in the same situation and that the comparison of the situation with Legend and that of The Golden Child is completely off.

 

[Neil S. Bulk]

I admit there's no mix of the film with Barry's full score, that's correct. "Tin Can Man" (the cue with Barry's arrangement of "Puttin' on the Ritz") is in the film though as is the cue "The Wisdom of the Ages" (9m2R) so his score isn't "completely unused." And then there's the song "The Best Man In The World" by Barry which is based on his theme for Chandler.

This is all detailed in the soundtrack album from La-La Land Records. I was a producer on it.

 

[Stephen_J_H]

I admit there's no mix of the film with Barry's full score, that's correct. "Tin Can Man" (the cue with Barry's arrangement of "Puttin' on the Ritz") is in the film though as is the cue "The Wisdom of the Ages" (9m2R) so his score isn't "completely unused." And then there's the song "The Best Man In The World" by Barry which is based on his theme for Chandler.

This is all detailed in the soundtrack album from La-La Land Records. I was a producer on it.

Fair enough. how late in the game did they bring in Michel Colombier?

 

[Ronald Epstein]

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[Neil S. Bulk]

Late enough to be missing from the back of the novelization.

The Barry score was recorded in September 1986 while the Colombier score was recorded in November 1986. The movie was released in December of that year.

 

[cadavra]

You have to understand there's no one left at Paramount (like Barry Allen or me) with any understanding of what's valuable in the library. They see "Eddie Murphy" and automatically assume it'll be a must-have title. Will they be in for a shock!

 

[Colin Jacobson]

You have to understand there's no one left at Paramount (like Barry Allen or me) with any understanding of what's valuable in the library. They see "Eddie Murphy" and automatically assume it'll be a must-have title. Will they be in for a shock!

Perhaps, though there's probably some demand for "Golden Child" if just because a) Murphy maintains marquee value and b) it's never been out on BD.

If this was an update on an already-available BD, it'd be more questionable...