Dvd and Blu-ray release comparison

[David Brown]

Is there a website or a resource which compares the releases of the original series? I’ve found info scattered throughout the threads, but not seen it collected in one easy to compare place. I understand there are audio mix differences, and I’m very curious about that. What are the sources and which release is closest to how the shows originally appeared and original audio mix?
I understand there are differences in opening credits, a missing sound effect in an episode. It sounds like the Blu-rays are the way to go for best picture and the ability to toggle back and forth between the original and remastered. Which release is the most authentic or most faithful to the originals - 2 episodes per disc release, the seasons in the colored clamshell cases, or some other?
Just curious. Thanks. LLAP.

 

[ZapBrannigan]

The Bluray set is the only place to get everything. It has both versions of the fx, as you noted, all the DVD special features, and also the original, unaired version of "Where No Man has Gone Before," not found on DVD. So you're getting every last bonus feature. The Bluray also corrects a little mistake in "The Paradise Syndrome," where the remastered DVD had a yellow beam come out of the Obelisk, despite dialog referring to it as the blue flame. In the Bluray, it's blue again like the Preservers intended.

In defense of the 2006-edition DVDs, I will say that they were mastered at the highest picture quality DVDs are capable of delivering, and on a 720p TV set I swear they can pass for true HD. That makes them quite a bargain if money is an issue.

 

[A Chimpanzee & 2 Trainees]

In the user review section of Amazon's listing for the TOS Blu-Rays, there's a customer review entitled "Original vs Remastered: a guide on which to buy" I think that's what you're looking for?

I'm still on the 2 episode per-disc release. Thanks to Netflix, I've been able to see the remastered version. I've been debating for quite some time whether to pick up the Blu-Ray set myself for the enhanced live action pictures, but I could really care less about the new effects.

 

[Ssosmcin]

There was never a 100% accurate release of the original series on home video. There was always some form of editing. Just a short list:

VHS: the first season opening theme was standardized so the electric violin theme was only heard in "Where No Man Has Gone Before." Gene Roddenberry's up front "created by" credit for The Man Trap and Charlie X were moved to the end of the episodes (these may have been “first rerun” prints). The sound mix was fiddled with here and there but for the most part, it was pretty faithfully reproduced to my knowledge (City on the Edge of Forever had very objectionable music replacement when they couldn't secure the home video rights to "Good Night Sweetheart"). The Paramount Logo at the end of the 1968 episodes of the second season was replaced by the third season logo (exception being The Omega Glory, which retained it on the Columbia House VHS print only). Depending on whether you got the Colombia House releases of the Paramount HV single episode tapes, some scenes were missing in a small # of episodes.

DVD: the sound mix was brutalized, adding the exterior engine rumble (which was phased out midway through the first season) to the entire series. The Menagerie part 2 had some music cues replaced for whatever reason by rerecordings and cues from The Doomsday Machine (you can still hear this on the stereo track on the blu-rays). Balance of Terror now has a photon torpedo sound effect over the shots of the "proximity blast" phasers, where they were originally silent. The electric violin theme was restored to the opening credits of the first season, but on far too many episodes (including Balance of Terror and The Corbomite Maneuver which always had the cello theme). The end credits of the electric violin themed episodes still retain the cello version from their 80's revisions.

BD: the sound mix was screwed with again. The "original broadcast mono track" still is wrong, with the engine rumble prevalent and sometimes VERY LOUD in a few first season episodes, drowning out the captains log entries. The only accurate post first season episode appears to be Amok Time. New sound effects overlay some scenes (Errand of Mercy and The Paradise Syndrome). The new CGI opening theme is seen in one episode of the first season no matter which version you choose.

So anyway, my hope - as always - is to see the series treated as well on home video as The Twilight Zone, with the sound mix restored, and the episodes brought back to something cloes to original night of broad cast, with the option to include network bumpers and the previews in the right place (and also restored to their original "Next Week" cards for the first two seasons). I shant hold my breath, however,

 

[David Brown]

Thanks for the responses. This is great info. I grew up watching the syndicated episodes on tv in the 80s. I had no idea changes had been made, other than cutting them for time to fit in more commercials.
Add me to that bandwagon, now that I know, I’d love to see/hear them in their original format.

 

[ZapBrannigan]

In the user review section of Amazon's listing for the TOS Blu-Rays, there's a customer review entitled "Original vs Remastered: a guide on which to buy" I think that's what you're looking for?

Did anybody else notice that this review, under "VERY IMPORTANT," claims that TOS-R episodes on disc are full of "cuts and edits" that eliminate whole scenes and thus the mangle narrative? Baloney!

I'm pretty sure he's assuming that the show as syndicated on commercial TV is what you'll get in the box set. The 2006 syndication run was missing about 8 minutes per episode to sell more energy drinks. But this stupid reviewer is hurting DVD and Bluray sales because he's reviewing a product he never saw.

 

[TREK_GOD_1]

I'm pretty sure he's assuming that the show as syndicated on commercial TV is what you'll get in the box set.

Who would be stupid enough to base a home media review on aired syndication edits?

 

[ZapBrannigan]

Who would be stupid enough to base a home media review on aired syndication edits?

A reviewer called Firebrand. You can see for yourself.

https://www.amazon.com/Star-Trek-Original-Complete-Blu-ray/dp/B01CJW334Q/

 

[johnnybear]

As long as they don't release Trek DVDs based on the BBC transmissions you'll be okay I'm sure!
JB

 

[f14peter]

Who would be stupid enough to base a home media review on aired syndication edits?

The same type of morons on Amazon that respond to a question about a product with "I just ordered mine and haven't received it yet, sorry I can't help you."

As in:

Q: "Will my 13" whazzcallit fit in this?"

A: "I just ordered mine and haven't received it yet, sorry I can't help you."

Seriously, I've seen responses in the Q&A section just like that.

 

[A Chimpanzee & 2 Trainees]

Did anybody else notice that this review, under "VERY IMPORTANT," claims that TOS-R episodes on disc are full of "cuts and edits" that eliminate whole scenes and thus the mangle narrative? Baloney!

I'm pretty sure he's assuming that the show as syndicated on commercial TV is what you'll get in the box set. The 2006 syndication run was missing about 8 minutes per episode to sell more energy drinks. But this stupid reviewer is hurting DVD and Bluray sales because he's reviewing a product he never saw.

Looks like I certainly stepped in it. Apologies for pointing toward errant information.

Q: "Will my 13" whazzcallit fit in this?"

A: "I just ordered mine and haven't received it yet, sorry I can't help you."

Seriously, I've seen responses in the Q&A section just like that.

Now that's funny. ... and I still haven't received my whazzcallit yet!

 

[Noname Given]

A reviewer called Firebrand. You can see for yourself.

https://www.amazon.com/Star-Trek-Original-Complete-Blu-ray/dp/B01CJW334Q/

Maybe he received a Chinese bootleg set (burned from a syndicated run)?

 

[David Brown]

Another question - Does the current Blu-ray box set (a blue case with the ship swooping by with the uniform colors trailing it like a rainbow) contain the same set as the 2009 blu-ray release? I'm guessing it's the same material, just repackaged, but just checking.

I'm also curious about the old laserdiscs. Did they have original sound mixes, or were they tinkered with as other home releases have been?

I'll be excited to give the series a re-watch with a new eye toward all the differences pointed out in this thread and others. Star Trek fans are indeed very knowledgeable and detail oriented. Live long and prosper.

 

[Ssosmcin]

Another question - Does the current Blu-ray box set (a blue case with the ship swooping by with the uniform colors trailing it like a rainbow) contain the same set as the 2009 blu-ray release? I'm guessing it's the same material, just repackaged, but just checking.

I'm also curious about the old laserdiscs. Did they have original sound mixes, or were they tinkered with as other home releases have been?

I'll be excited to give the series a re-watch with a new eye toward all the differences pointed out in this thread and others. Star Trek fans are indeed very knowledgeable and detail oriented. Live long and prosper.

All of the blu ray releases are identical in content. The laserdiscs are the same prints as the individual Paramount VHS tapes.

 

[Commishsleer]

I've asked this question before but In want to know if anybody knows for sure whether the box set of DVDs or bluray contains what was seen on television in Star Treks initial run in the 60s with no censorship or commercial cuts.

I'm thinking there's some differences on the 2-episode DVDs. I think there's a couple of missing lines in one episode with Chapel in sickbay.

Maybe this question has been answered before.

 

[Ssosmcin]

I’m pretty sure you’re thinking about The Tholian Web, which was missing a bit of a scene in sickbay when McCoy releases Uhura.

This was restored for the dvd season box sets. The episodes are all complete on the dvd and BD sets

 

[johnnybear]

I had a Space 1999 video back in the nineties that missed the opening scene of the episode and it just starts half way through a conversation! I just think that that is pretty lazy work! To miss out a scene or a few words of a show that has a big following is asking for trouble!
JB

 

[Ssosmcin]

I remember the episode “Ring Around the Moon” cut off Dr Bergman right in the middle of a sentence and went to black on the laserdisc. The scene was restored for the DVD releases. On TV in the states (at least in NY), 1999 was butchered worse than Star Trek.

 

[mb22]

I remember the episode “Ring Around the Moon” cut off Dr Bergman right in the middle of a sentence and went to black on the laserdisc. The scene was restored for the DVD releases. On TV in the states (at least in NY), 1999 was butchered worse than Star Trek.

Must have been pretty bad,considering what WPIX did with Trek...

 

[Noname Given]

Must have been pretty bad,considering what WPIX did with Trek...

Well for syndication in the 1990ies - early 2000 - they were cutting episodes with an original 50-52 minute run time down to fit a 42 minute run time slot; so yeah, it dialog heavy situations that were essential to the story, it very was noticeable.