CAPRICORN ONE Longer Japanese Cut Coming to Blu-Ray

[AndyDursin]

Interesting discovery turning up in Japan -- undoubtedly the only place where this will get released. Pricey as Japanese discs always can be, but I may have to get it regardless for the obscurity of it.

Here's the Amazon JP rough translation:

[About the Japanese version]
This work was theatrically released in Japan on December 10, 1977 ahead of the whole world, and the main part at that time was a version of about 129 minutes.
After that, the version released worldwide in 1978 except for the UK was the main part of about 123 minutes, and since then
it has been released on various media such as laser discs, VHS, DVD, Blu-ray, etc. It has been said that it is impossible to see the 129 minute version.
Under such circumstances, the material of the main part of the 129-minute edition was miraculously discovered in Japan, making it possible to create and release HD masters from negatives.
However, as the stance of the original rights holders overseas, the final version of “Capricon 1” is 123 minutes, and now there is no 129 minute version, so this release license is unusual. Yes, probably the first and last commercialization.
The main differences between the 129-minute version and the 123-minute version are whether the spacecraft docks on Mars landing, whether there is a date telop, and other parts that are finely cut.

[Eric Paddon]

I always knew there was a "docking" scene cut from the film since Goldsmith's cue for it is on the soundtrack and the album. Amazing this turned up.

[AndyDursin]

Good point Eric!

I'm going to preorder it anyway...my birthday is coming up this week so why not.

[AndyDursin]

I managed to make this one of my Christmas presents.

I'm about midway through the Japanese cut, and there seems to be about a total of 6 minutes difference between this and the standard version. Most of it is the "docking sequence" which is intercut with the doomed NASA analyst starting to look at the numbers on his monitor. I think the sequence -- at least his growing suspicions -- are more effectively conveyed here, even if on the surface, it's a bit that could have been trimmed.

The other main difference is the lack of "March 20th", "June 20th," etc. title cards. The NASA "mission controller"'s voice over was obviously intended to provide a context for when everything was happening and the passage of time, but it must not have been enough for test audiences so those dates were added when the movie was spruced-up in edits. They're not here -- and really they're not missed either.

There are 2 more minutes unaccounted for (I'm about an hour in) so I'll relay any changes when I run into them!

It's an archival print so it has some scratches and nicks -- but it adds to the overall presentation. Otherwise it's in good shape and the subtitles can be removed.

The rest of the set isn't nearly as good as the terrific German Blu-Ray from Koch -- which has the best transfer, highest bit-rate, and most extras of any release -- but it's worth it to have this very, very rare edit if you're a fan.

[Eric Paddon]

I guess you have to create a separate Amazon account with Japan in order to buy it and the regular Amazon account isn't good?

[AndyDursin]

Same account worked for me but I can't recall years back if I had to set it up differently.

If you have to set up another account, make sure you click on the language selector to the right of the top search bar (next to the magnifying glass) -- helps to navigate a little (even if you have Chrome or whatever browser auto-translating)

Worked out to about $60 shipped. Good news is Amazon Japan gets it to you in literally a matter of days...you'll have it inside a week, DHL takes it once it hits the US (though this time they sent it Priority Mail from their Boston hub -- guess they didn't want to drive down here!!).

[Eric Paddon]

I did have to set up a separate account but I went ahead and did it. Of all the 70s "government conspiracy" films that got made this one is the best and it'll be interesting to see the additional scene (I take it nothing else significantly new to account for the extra minute).

[AndyDursin]

Didn't look like it. I finished it last night -- there may be some minor (and brief) thing I missed but it mostly appears to be that one sequence, plus the removal of the date title cards.

The sound on this Japanese cut is a little rough too, and mono, so it's not nearly as polished as the stereo sound on the regular version -- some of that may have to do with the condition of the surviving print they have.

Also, on the Extended Cut, I think you need to select the non-subtitled version from the main menu. It's in Japanese but it's on the right hand side and the second menu bar is in English and lets you toggle off the subtitles. What it's actually doing is making you select the non-subtitled version -- for whatever reason the disc has 2 files, one with subs, the other without, which makes little sense but it's what they did. (They could've just put 1 version that enables you to toggle subs on/off and had a higher bit-rate).

But what a discovery -- we don't see many releases like this in 2019, where most content is controlled by mega corporations and this kind of release isn't possible. It's well worth importing!

What a terrific movie too -- has to be Hyams' best film, with the right mix of suspense and humor, capped by a dynamic Jerry score. Entertaining, briskly paced, compellingly done with lots of good actors pretty well cast. Gould was perfect for that role, and I love Savalas' pop up at the end. PERVERTS!

[John Johnson]

Same account worked for me but I can't recall years back if I had to set it up differently.

If you have to set up another account, make sure you click on the language selector to the right of the top search bar (next to the magnifying glass) -- helps to navigate a little (even if you have Chrome or whatever browser auto-translating)

Worked out to about $60 shipped. Good news is Amazon Japan gets it to you in literally a matter of days...you'll have it inside a week, DHL takes it once it hits the US (though this time they sent it Priority Mail from their Boston hub -- guess they didn't want to drive down here!!).

Amazon Japan has to be one of the better Amazons I have used. Speedy service. In most cases, I get my packages within a week. Sadly, one of the worst tends to be Amazon UK, for a variety of reasons.

Mainly, the amount of time it takes to get from the UK to US. I tend to wait on average, around three weeks. That might be their norm, but when you looks at other companies such as Simply Entertainment, Second Sight and Zavvi UK, they constantly drop the ball. Even Yes Asia have a quicker service, although I think at the moment, their packaging might want to be flame retardant.

My other complaint with Amazon UK is their packaging. Usually, when I receive an order, the packages are not secured properly, allowing the items to fall out. Luckily, I haven't had that happen yet. My recent purchase of four Fox titles, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, Fantastic Voyage, The Day the Earth Stood Still and Forbidden Planet all arrived. These were all going cheap, and of course they were region free, which was an added bonus.

[AndyDursin]

It's a case of you get what you pay for. Amazon Japan has only offered that one premium shipping service -- and it's amazing, literally 3-4 days after placing an order you've got it.

The shipping from Amazon UK and Amazon Germany, the latter especially, is way longer and less reliable but it's also so insanely cheap. I just placed a large order of 5 Blu-Rays, 1 Mediabook, and a CD box set from Amazon.de -- for a grand total of 3 Euros! You could choose the expedited Global Priority and it'd probably get to you in the same manner as Amazon Japan, but I'm OK with waiting when paying so much less.

There are times Amazon UK's "Global Standard" shipping is nearly the same as their "Standard Shipping", and I choose that (when applicable) because the items seem to come a little quicker and get delivered by UPS instead of the post office.

My other complaint with Amazon UK is their packaging. Usually, when I receive an order, the packages are not secured properly, allowing the items to fall out.

I've had that happen with one of my Amazon UK orders -- the items were literally falling out of the box when I got it. And one of the CDs I ordered wasn't in the box at all! They had no problem refunding me, but they could stand to use more tape around the boxes, that's for sure.

[Paul MacLean]

As an aside -- I tried to order something from Amazon.jp last night, and it did not recognize my password.

Are our Amazon.com accounts no longer automatically linked though to foreign Amazon sites?

[Eric Paddon]

Apparently not. I had to create a new one for Japan to order this. Tracking shows it will be here by the end of the day meaning I'm getting this faster than I've gotten any Screen Archives or LaLaLand shipment!

[AndyDursin]

As an aside -- I tried to order something from Amazon.jp last night, and it did not recognize my password.

Are our Amazon.com accounts no longer automatically linked though to foreign Amazon sites?

Amazon Japan is the only Amazon site that requires its own specific account registration.

I couldn't remember myself (since it's been years since I started an account there and I used the same email address), but I just looked on other sites and it has indeed always required a unique account.

[Eric Paddon]

It just arrived! I now plan to sit back and watch. The nice thing is I can put the second disc with the long cut in the Blu-Ray case for the Timeless/US release since that was a Blu-Ray/DVD combo by swapping out the DVD version!

[Eric Paddon]

I'm a third of the way in and have seen the critical docking scene addition which does give us the first indicator of Robert Walden's suspicions. But there's something else important from a bigger narrative standpoint that additional footage reveals and that's the presence of the Army General who accompanied David Huddleston to the launch (and who is later seen in an office when Huddleston takes a phone call from the VP) at the desert base standing behind James Sikking of "Hill Street Blues" who is controlling things from there. This makes it clear that he and by extension Huddleston were in on the whole plot which is never made clear in the main cut of the film (though Holbrook hints at bigger forces that are now controlling things we never learn who they were)