Happy Birthday to Me on DVD?!
 

Read this on a website called dvdanswers.com:

Title: Happy Birthday to Me
Starring: Melissa Sue Anderson
Released: 26th October 2004
SRP: $24.96

Further Details
Columbia has announced the first time release of Happy Birthday to Me which stars the likes of Melissa Sue Anderson, Glenn Ford and Lawrence Dane. This 1981 horror film will be available to own for the first time from the 26th October this year, and should set you back around $24.96. The disc itself will include a 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer as well as an English Dolby Surround track. The only DVD extra material will be trailers for other Columbia releases. We've attached our first look at the artwork below:

http://www.dvdanswers.com/images/scr...mer1artpic.jpg

Let's hope they don't stick with that cover art!!! --RickWJ324

Forget about hoping, they are sticking with it. That art has nothing to do with the movie :mad:

It's also incorrect that the audio will be DS.
It's mono, just like the original.

music
 

Syreeta (Stevie Wonder's ex) singing the title song over the end credits was the best part. Anybody know where to get that song?

oh well..hopefully someone will make a custom cover with the original artwork

Yup, I'm almost done mine.

:thumbsup: Excellent! Will it be available for download?

For sure. I'm the former Doombear of DVDCA.

thanks dude..your a life saver..let us know when its done,please..

Read a Rumor that the Happy Birthday to me original cover art will come as a "Collectible insert". Not sure if this is true, but even if it is why would they do that? Is the original artwork too offensive for Walmart/BlockBuster?

:hscratch:

I see the "Generic CGI Girl" cover art is no longer on Amazon or DVDEmpire. It is still up at B&N & DDD..

Closing song is a killer!
 

Soundtrack anyone?

Who says that the video companies don't listen to consumers? I just got this DVD and sure enough, there's a sticker on the front which reads, "Includes Special Insert with Original Theatrical Art!"

That is GOOD ENOUGH for these ears! Thanks! I still want Disc-Flippers version, though for printout. Let us know!

If you just got it, can you confirm if there is indeed collectible art inside?

What are the specs of this DVD?
I've done the front and spine of my custom cover. I only need to know what special features are included, and then I can get it all finished and available for you downloading folks.

Hold on a second...OK...yep, there's shish-kabob boy with the original title font and "Six of the most bizarre murder you'll ever see." underneath. On the back of the insert, it says, "Bonus Collectible Insert with Original Theatrical Art!" Gee, Thanks. The disc itself is black with "Happy Birthday to Me" in silver.

OK, from the back of the DVD case, we have:
No special features listed.
Language: English
Subtitles: English, Spanish, Japanese
1.85:1 Anamorphic Widescreen
Approx. 111 minutes
Color
Dolby Digital
(The Region 1 Logo)
CC
Remastered in High Definition

That's it.

And because I know someone will ask, I popped the disc in and the only extras are trailers for I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER, IDENTITY, and the teaser for RESIDENT EVIL: APOCALYPSE.

Thanks for that info. I'll get my cover done this weekend.

A lot of DVDs offer inserts with alternate art; Dawn of the Dead US Theatrical Cut comes to mind.

Mike, what are the UPC, ISBN and Catalog (spine) numbers?

Oh man, this is like being at work. Hold on a minute, I've got to walk across the room...

UPC: 0-43396-06014-2
ISBN: 1-4049-5980-7
Spine #: 06014

Too bad about the lack of trailers. I remember about 3 different TV spots in 1981 leading up to its original release. Same with When A Stranger Calls.
I dunno - it would be nice to see them again. I could care less about the trailers for the other, lesser films on the disc. As long as we got that insert, though I'm happy. Can't wait for your quick review, hint hint.
One more job: are there credits on the insert. Sorry!!! I must know since I don't have the $$ to buy this until next month.

*** BAD NEWS*** for fans of this flick. Sony-Columbia dropped the ball big time on this DVD release.

The entire film has been rescored. All of the original music is gone and has been replaced with a new score - including different cues and music in places where there never was any music before. Don't know why they did this and there's no mention of "music rescored" anywhere on the packaging. But it's all been changed, folks!

On top of that, it's the same old R-rated version - none of the cut moments have been restored.

I think most of us could live with the same R-rated version we've seen for years, but with all the music changed now, this is not the film we know and love. Considering Sony added the poster art insert after the fan's outcries and letter writing campaign, it's astonishing that Sony thinks they can get away with wiping out the film's original music without anyone noticing. Horror fans are a lot smarter than you think, Sony.

Another botched horror title. And they want $24.95 for it!

You mean even the song in the credits is changed? If so that is OUTRAGEOUS!!!!!!!! I loved that song,it made the ending. PLEASE tell me that song is at least there.

Has anyone been able to confirm the rumor about the altered score or at least post a link to the source of that information above?

OK, I just finished watching the DVD. It was my first time seeing the film (I'm not sure how I missed it in the 80s), so I can't confirm any changes in the score. I can confirm that I was very underwhelmed by the movie itself.

On the DVD, the song over the end title credits is a haunting song by a female vocalist which includes the lyrics "Happy Birthday to Me". Is this the song that you're talking about?

Crucial Closing Song
 

In the original movie, Syreeta (one time Stevie Wonder wife) sang a very haunting HARD_TO_GET song called "Happy Birthday to Me" - That is the one we are asking and looking for ....

YES!!!!!!!! Then at least they left in that song. THANK YOU. So the entire film wasn't totally rescored at least. As long as that song is there I'm cool.

Check the cover section for my latest: http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthr...hreadid=388823

hold on me'bucko
 

I hope so too. Since I haven't seen/heard this DVD, I dunno. All's I am asking is, DOES THE FREAKIN' DVD HAVE THIS SONG ON IT! (since the version I saw long ago on TV did, I was wonderin'...)

Re: hold on me'bucko
 

I'm not sure I understand your question. I confirmed earlier that the song by Syreeta is over the end credits. As for the rest of the film, once again, it was my first time seeing it, but it certainly sounded like an early 80s slasher film score. There are no new credits on the film or DVD to indicate new music.

This is my favorite quote from the HTF forum thread: "The reviewer at DVDTalk confirmed that the end song (over the end credits) is still there. It's not clear if the guy making this claim has the disc or just heard from someone. " Um, didn't I say earlier in this thread that I have the disc?

Thanks for clarifying that. Any word on if the soundtrack will be released separately?

Just printed it out and it looks GREAT! MAny thanks DF :thumbsup:

That HTF thread mentions DVDTalk as the source. Are they talking about the new member post in this thread? I couldn't find anything on the main page. If thats the source they're talking about, they should have said it was info posted in the DVDTalk forums.

Maybe Jeff McKay can tell us if thats something he read elsewhere or discovered for himself while watching the DVD.

I'd like to see a more authoritative review of this before grabbing the pitchforks and torches to storm Sony/Columbia, though the pricetag and coverart might be worth a few rock throws.

In my opinion, it's quite clear that they're referring to the post in this thread, and like everyone else, I haven't seen that info anywhere else on the web. I'm trying to track down a VHS copy of the movie in order to compare the music.

The rumors are true.

My review for DVDDrive-In.com is forthcoming.

EDIT: Reserving my opinion until I find more info.

I'll still buy it -- because I love the movie. But it's a sad thing they changed the sad lonely piano music of the original. Hopefully the same amount of suspense is retained with the new score. I don't think refusing to buy it will change Columbia Tristar's mind about releasing another version.

Okay, here's an example...

The original low-key, piano and strings piece during the opening credits has been replaced.

In its place: a fast-paced disco song.

If this wasn't an all-time favorite of mine I'd probably pass on it, but it is, so I'm still be buying it. :rolleyes:

The more I examine the disc, the more I'm convinced that what has happened here is that Columbia has taken a pre-release print of this film with a temp or alternate track and used it for the DVD.

I have e-mailed Columbia for their side of the story, but this is my theory.

The music fits too closely with the action in some parts. Also, editing in music takes time AND a good deal of money. There's no reason for Columbia to have gone to this trouble. "Rights issues" doesn't seem right either, considering the film's original composers are still credited on the disc. One of which, wrote the end title song. So, if there were rights issues with any of it, I would think they'd have replaced all the music and not left the end song intact.

If my suspicions are correct, this was clearly an accident, and I'm not even sure if Columbia is aware of the foul-up. Hopefully my e-mail to them will lead to some answers.

I'll keep you guys updated.

Dang. First I hear they changed Living Dead Pt 2, now this. :mad:

Thanks for clearing that up Wes. I agree it sounds kind of strange to be intentional. Song rights I've heard of but the film's score too? Hopefully it was mistake they'll straighten out.

Kind of a bummer :(