pum

..with Eng. subtitle will be appreciate.

UK? Aus? or... Is it exist?

Jay G.

The theatrical version is available on the two DVDs in the UK:
http://www.dvdcompare.net/comparisons/film.php?fid=975

It's available by itself in a 4:3 version with English subtitles for the hard of hearing:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00004W4H4/

If you want it in Widescreen with standard English subtitles, you'll have to buy "The Coen Brothers Collection," which includes THE BIG LEBOWSKI, THE HUDSUCKER PROXY, and BARTON FINK as well:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0002W19S8/

pum

Wow! Thank you very much. It's too good to be true. Do you happen to know that all the films in the box is anamorphic? The Amazon UK has very little information.

Jay G.

I could only find reviews for two of the films, both of which are anamorphic. The reviews are below, with screencaps:

Blood Simple:
http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/content.php?contentid=55434
Barton Fink:
http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/content.php?contentid=55433

However, some bad news. It looks like, contrary to DVDcompare, that the version in this set is not the theatrical cut, but the newer director's cut.

Reviews on Amazon UK's site mention this:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0002W19S8/

Also, that the DVD contains the mock commentary on the US disc would indicate it's the same cut as well.

So sadly, it looks like the only version of the theatrical cut is the older 4:3 DVD. So you were right, it was too good to be true.

pum

Quite right. Not only that, DVDcompare (from your link, thank you) reported even the UK "original theatrical cut" there's a sequence missing. A sequence where a bartender asked his customer in front of the jukebox "What night is it?". A scene I remembered perfectly.

Reservoir

You'd be better off not giving DVDCompare any weight of knowlege.

The 1st UK DVD is the only original version I know of. It is a bad DVD but it's a better film.

Amazon still sell it

pum

So you mean that scene is still intact? At this point I don't care it's fullscreen or widescreen, I just want to see the cut.

Jay G.

I think DVD compare may be incorrect in the 4:3 DVD missing that scene, there's no mention of cuts in any of the reviews on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/c...ws/B00004W4H4/

pum

That's encouraging. and UK Raising Arisona is anamorphic (from Amazon.uk) that is really encouraging.

Butch Coolidge

I own this one. Image is very bad, worth than one of a tape. Lots of bug in the compression. Aspect ratio is 4:3

Anyway this one is the original cut so it includes the cut scenes obviously. You see for instance the owner of the bar inserting a quater in a video game and he starts to play.
There are other scenes cut AFAIK but all in all it's not worth the bother

pum

You mean this version has scenes cut?

moviemaker

No, I think he means it includes the scenes that were cut from the Director's Cut.

But if you want the BEST copy of the Original Widescreen Theatrical Version of Blood Simple you'll have to:

1.) Get the Original Blood Simple Laserdisc from eBay (plenty for sale very cheap)

2.) Take it to a place that will transfer the Laserdisc to DVD (you can also ship the Laserdisc to some places that will do this if a place isn't close by)

and...viola!

Obviously only for the die-hard fan/collector but it will look beautiful!

moviemaker

BTW,

There is a Version of Blood Simple on Yesasia.com for 43.00! Now I can't tell if it's the original or the director's cut but it is a widescreen version here:

http://us.yesasia.com/en/PrdDept.asp...id-1002803751/

I think transferring from Laserdisc to DVD would be cheaper and you can resell the Laserdisc on eBay--passing it on to the next Coen fan...

pum

Hi,

$43.00 is out of question. There'll be new version of Blood Simple coming out next month according to Amazon.com page here
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001B1UO7G?...89&camp=211189
However, it's still Director's Cut as usual.

Josh Z

I realize this is an old post, but I needed to clarify that the only laserdisc edition of Blood Simple is 4:3 and a rather old transfer (most likely the UK DVD recycles the same transfer). There was no letterboxed edition of the movie on LD.

pum

And DVD AFAIK. Sad isn't it?

AndrewWickliffe

The UK single disc edition is open matte.

The film displays nicely at 16:9

Jay G.

I assume you mean that it displays nicely zoomed in to 16:9, not stretched to 16:9.

Dane

No. I mean 1.85:1 Anamorphic Widescreen

pum

Jay G.

I'm with pum:

If it is Anamorphic Widescreen, then it can't be open-matte.