Was the opening music on Penelope Pitstop changed? (1 Viewer)

[Carlos Garcia]

I recently got the Perils of Penelope Pitstop, and I didn't recognize the opening theme as the same theme I remembered the show using when I saw it as a kid. Was the music replaced for the DVDs, or am I starting to forget my childhood memories already? I'm confused. Anyone?

 

[george kaplan]

I don't have the dvd, but my childhood recollection is a song that goes "Stop that pigeon, stop that pigeon (repeat numerous times) Stop That Pigeon NOW!".

 

[Greg Chenoweth]

"Stop That Pigeon" that was mentioned earlier was for "Dastardly and Muttley and Their Flying Machines."

Penelope Pitstop had her holding her arm up to her head and yelling "Help. Help." and some other music.

I am curious if there are any previews on the box set for upcoming H-B DVD sets.

 

[Paul Miller]

Dastardly & Muttley reviews...

http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/read.php?ID=15640

http://www.dvdtoons.com/reviews/400

Perils of Penelope Pitstop review...

http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/read.php?ID=15730


Paul

 

[Dave Farley]

From the DVD Talk review:

"I read your review of 'The Perils of Penelope Pitstop - The Complete Series' and I wanted to point out a HUGE problem I found with the set which you may want to add to your review. I bought the set first thing this morning, popped it in and was really upset to find that the opening music and various sound effects that were on the TV version were drastically altered and totally different. The upbeat and fantastic theme music (one of my favorite parts of the show) is gone. It had been replaced by a much slower tempo piece that was totally unrecognizable to me. The audience 'yays' and 'boos' which were played over various Ant Hill Mob and Hooded Claw shots were gone. Just to make sure, I compared (the DVD) to my old VHS copy of the show and the opening theme/sound effects were indeed totally different. I was very upset by this and although this seems nitpicky, the show just isn't the same without that original music. I even want to return the set as a result. If you find out anything regarding this change I'd appreciate knowing more. I also think you need to warn people about this before purchasing. Thanks for reviewing it!"

 

[ChrisPearson]

Thanks, everyone. I've just cancelled my order with DVDSoon.

 

[Carlos Garcia]

Wow! What an outrage this is! To add insult to injury, that great original opening theme that was not used on the DVD IS used for the closing theme! In other words, this can NOT be about a rights clearance issue. This sounds to me like some brilliant executive at Warners decided this new (lame) music would be better for the open. To let those of you who have never seen the show understand what the original music was like, it sounded like the music that you'd hear playing on the piano in the theater during an old silent movie cliffhanger. Since "The Perils of Penelope Pitstop" was basically a takeoff on "The Perils of Pauline", the original music was a perfect fit, making the show sound like an adventurous silent movie serial. This new music on the DVD sounds more like it belongs in a circus during the clown show! I mean, it DOES NOT belong in the show! Why would they do something like this to the DVD? I can't believe how many classic DVDs are being released this way, with so much tampering as to blur our childhood memories. I suppose the only way to complain is just to not buy the set. However, this angers me, because the DVD companies are still getting away with it, and many people who buy this set not knowing about the music issue will probably keep the set (for nostalgic reasons), and will probably be angered by this musical substitution, but won't say anything about it to Warners. This is really pathetic. Let's see what other classic shows get ruined by this new wave of studio tampering.

 

[Randall Cyrenne]

I wish I hadn't just sold my VHS copy on eBay, since I can't check this myself now, but...

On my DVD set, the opening music seems right. It has a speedy "player piano" opening, and the music stays up-tempo, while being joined by the Gary Owens intro. Any other comments on this?

Too bad the Penelope theme isn't on CD, either. I checked the "H-B Pic-a-Nic Basket" 4-CD set, and it has "Stop That Pigeon" from D&M, but not the Penelope music.

 

[Carlos Garcia]

Only that this is not the original opening music. If you want to hear the original opening music, listen to the closing credits music, and imagine the Gary Owens intro complete with sound effects playing to that music...that's how it's supposed to open.

 

[Paul Miller]

Are we absolutely sure though this opening wasn't the original opening before they went back and changed it like they did with other HB Titles when they wound up in syndication?


Paul

 

[Carlos Garcia]

I saw the cartoon on its initial run. I'm positive the opening theme now on the DVD was not how the show opened originally.

 

[Randall Cyrenne]

That's exactly what I was wondering. The opening theme on the DVD is very much in the spirit of the closing theme; it's not jarring at all. If WHV truly did change it, it makes no sense since the closing theme is still present.

I did look for the Penelope opening theme, and found some samples on the Internet. Carlos is right--- it's the DVD's closing theme with the exact same Gary Owens narration. However, these folks likely would have recorded it from syndicated episodes, which may have had their music changed already. This show aired in 1969, so it's hard to believe anyone could actually remember the theme exactly.

Carlos may in fact be right, but right now it's not making sense.

 

[Carlos Garcia]

I've just been to the amazon.com site, and the first feedback on the "Perils of Penelope Pitstop" page sums it up. It seems the DVD does indeed contain the syndicated version of the show. Apparently the opening music found on the DVD was used only for the syndicated version. Sadly, it's just another example of a classic TV show that the studios are releasing without either doing their homework to find the original version, or just not bothering to. Anyway, here's the link to the review.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...v=glance&s=dvd