I'm just kinda following along with this conversation, and I can't help but thinking of the TV cut of the first Halloween. It was originally pan and scan 4x3, which is what the old Criterion LD used IIRC. But Anchor Bay was later able to release a 16x9 reconstruction on DVD. Could they do the same thing for the cut of II if they had the footage?

Yes, they could do that. But getting the actual film footage from the Universal vault and then transferring it, is probably much more expensive than just making a dvd master of the tv version.

I don't have the current Universal disc, but someone said the tv footage is included as deleted scenes. How is the quality? Is it in HD? If so, I guess they could just incorporate that footage and call it a day.

Warner did a similar thing with Superman III, they just took the deleted/extended scenes used in the Tv version and included them in 4x3 SD res instead of finding the original film and making a new scan.

The AnchorBay release of the first film wasn't the 't.v. version' since it just edited the extra footage into the theatrical version of the film. The true t.v. print removed footage for content and other reasons, and the new material was then added to pad the time. It would be interesting if they would re-release the first film with both the widescreen extended cut, and the original 4x3 edited for t.v. version, since I'm curious exactly what edits(and or alternate takes/footage) were made to the film to make it suitable for t.v.

Also the only reason the extra footage in part 1 was released in widescreen on the A.B. release and not the Criterion laserdisc is because the original negative for the scenes weren't discovered until years later and it was discovered they were filmed in scope instead of 4x3. Most 'made for t.v.' scenes were shot in 4x3 regardless of what the original aspect ratio of the film was, and that was the assumption about the extra Halloween scenes until the negative was discovered.

While I'm sure the extra t.v. scenes in Halloween 2 were filmed in widescreen. It would take a lot of work and money to reconstruct a new version of the film from scratch, and they couldn't advertise it as the 't.v. version' since it wouldn't be that version anymore. Since the t.v. version has the order of scenes re-arranged, and extensive content edits as well including the laughable still frame inserts added to a few scenes to cover up 'explicit' content. The still frames are taken from scenes later in the film and don't match the scene they're inserted into, and it's really amusing in my opinion. One death scene is also re-edited to make it 'intense' for t.v. and is badly edited using footage from later in the film. And if they were to re-edit a widescreen print into an exact replica of the t.v. version with all the content edits and mismatched audio/score. It's kind of pointless and a waste of money in that case, when they can just use a transfer that already exists. So it's really a no win situation I guess depending on what you want. But I think their release is the best way to release the t.v. version intact.

Who is to say the deleted footage even exists on film?

A lot of material was lost during Universal's fire in 2008. Some things had duplicates made and were stored elsewhere around the globe. Other things weren't as fortunate. If a 16mm, 35mm, or possibly video or HD source of it existed, it might be gone forever.

Thanks Julie, wasn't sure of all the differences in the projects.

Reverse art for Halloween II and III:




Is anyone else pre-ordering the swag editions from Shout/Scream?

Not for those prices.

Fuck, those covers are fantastic. I wish other studios would take note and use the original art or reversible covers.

I wasn't really keen on double dipping for part 2, but I may have to for the new features and great artwork. And apparently a new transfer. I don't really care about Terror In The Aisles anyways. They'll both be mine on release day.

Shout just posted on their FB page that TERROR TRAIN and THE FUNHOUSE are tentatively due on 10/16.

Now to see what kind of extras are included with Funhouse - I'm not sure if I'll double-dip or not.

I know they'll be different from Arrow's extras at least.

I wanted the poster for Halloween III, so I ordered that one from them. Don't need a nurse's hat, so I'll see where else I can grab II (although I fully plan to snag a copy).

True; they did state that they want to do all new extras for these films, so it's won't just regurgitate Arrow's stuff. I'll have to see what they choose as extras before I make up my mind (although knowing how I am, I'll probably grab it just to support the Scream Factory line)...

On one of the Funhouse commentaries, they mentioned a potential commentary with the film's DP that had to be abandoned due to time constraints, so I suppose that's a possibility.

Terror Train will be a combo pack:

I like the art for The Funhouse as well...

Love the new cover art on all of those.

I hope they keep these up. I will definitely be buying.

Thank you Shout! Such a blessing, never did I ever dream these would come out on blu.

Along with MST3K, Shout is now my favorite company ever.

Loving all the cover art.

Can't wait to get these!

Has there been any word on if the Piper/Carpenter commentary from the R2 DVD will be on the They Live disc? I have always wanted to hear that! I have heard it is up there with the Russell/Carpenter tracks.

Cliff from Shout said that all extras will be new, so no Piper/Carpenter commentary. You can download it in mp3 form from Teh Paradox though.

This is such a fun thread.

I miss getting excited about releases.

Is there a release date for They Live yet? It's my most anticipated Scream Factory release.

No, still 'coming soon', as the trade ad I posted above notes.