Deepdiscount 15% Off

[AndyDursin]

Code AUTUMN adds 15% off

I'll try the Via Vision MAJOR DUNDEE from them, ends up about $54 plus tax. Not a huge fan of it, so if it doesn't get here, whatever...but it might be a robust secondary market seller (plus has the original score in the extended version, which Twilight Time for whatever reason didn't include, though the 2005 DVD did)

[Monterey Jack]

I'll try the Via Vision MAJOR DUNDEE from them, ends up about $54 plus tax. Not a huge fan of it, so if it doesn't get here, whatever...but it might be a robust secondary market seller (plus has the original score in the extended version, which Twilight Time for whatever reason didn't include, though the 2005 DVD did)

I too ordered that. After the discount code and $14 in recent digital copy sales, paid about $42 out of pocket. This'll be nice to have in my Peckinpah collection, and it seems like a stacked release (with two isolated scores tracks, no less ).

[Eric Paddon]

I already made my order from the Australian label but given how badly I want the long cut with the original score on Blu-Ray I'll probably do it this way too.

Sad to say, I think the reason why it wasn't included on the TT Blu-Ray was because of Nick Redman's bullheadedness. He was so infatuated with the Caliendo score (it was basically his baby along with Crisp and the others who were responsible for the idea) that they literally rewrote history and tried to peddle the falsehood that the long cut never had the original score tracked on it, and so thus only the theatrical cut was entitled to have it. Glenn Erickson though has proved this is nonsense because the long-cut was actually the original producer-approved preview cut that played internationally with the original score before Columbia hacked it down further for US release.

[AndyDursin]

I should look through my review too but the wasnt the original score included in the extended version when the DVD of this first came out?

[Eric Paddon]

Yes it was included in a release that was just the expanded cut. People in 2005 I think rather properly assumed there was no point including the shorter theatrical cut on the grounds it was now superfluous. But apparently Redman, Crisp and company from the outset had gotten it into their heads that a long cut should not have Amfitheatrof's score period. In their fanboyish zeal to "restore Peckinpah's intentions" they wanted a new score on the long cut entirely and that in their minds the only place the original score belonged was on the final truncated cut.

This was what Nick wrote at HTF back in 2013 when the Blu-Ray came out and I admit I was making some pretty irate posts on the subject as to why the hell the DVD option wasn't being retained.

When the DVD was released in Summer 2005 as a single-disc, it was stressed that as it was not going to include the original theatrical cut as a bonus, it was deemed essential to not ditch Amfitheatrof's score, even though technically it had no place in the "extended version" -- to lose it altogether would have been an historical tragedy, so a seamless-branching option was provided to give viewers a "choice." It was a less-than satisfactory option as two title cards had to be prepared and it created the "neither fish nor fowl" effect of being an awkward hybrid. However, it was the only thing possible at the time........ Back in 2005 it never occurred to us that we would again be involved in a release of the title, least of all on our own fledgling label. Sony has done an incredible job of remastering the "extended version," even going so far to correct some errors in the 2005 dub which had been rushed due to time constraints. Here, reel-by-reel, the dub has been evaluated and subtly improved. The PQ, as is typical for Sony, is outstanding. But here's the rub: the brand-new Blu-ray master only contains the Caliendo score, and there are no awkward seamless--branching options. Instead, for the first time on a digital format the original theatrical cut has been remastered in all its slightly shorter glory, complete with the original score as it should be. And it has been isolated for the enjoyment of those who want to hear it apart from the film. CC's score is isolated on the "extended version." We believe this presentation is true to history, and that most Peckinpah fans will accept this as a fair compromise.

A couple things about this "explanation." As I mentioned, Nick's claim that Amfitheatrof's score "had no place in the extended version" was absolutely false as Erickson's documentation of the history of the film shows. Indeed, the commentary that Nick and company did to the extended version was with the original score in place and before the Caliendo score was commissioned. But you can see here in this 2013 explanation a determination to set up the straw-man argument that the 2005 DVD option was a bad idea that shouldn't have happened at all to begin with and that thus, with Blu-Ray they were being "win-win" by putting out the truncated theatrical cut with the original score, and never mind the fact that was forcing people who prefer the original score to watch the inferior cut of the film narrative wise. He states that Sony had no HD master of the long cut with the original score for Blu-Ray but what he then left out and which I had pressed him on at the time and never got an answer to, was the fact that TT *delayed* its release of Dundee on Blu-Ray by over eight months for the sole purpose of getting an HD master of the *theatrical* cut done as their "win-win" scenario when the sane thing would have been to get Sony to do an HD master of the preview cut with the original score set for a separate disc if that's what had to be done. But anytime this was pointed out there was a doubling down of intransigence. I even got accused of spreading "willfull misinformation". The only explanation for why this happened, I think was because Nick, Crisp and company had such a total fanboyish obsession with wanting to "recreate the true Peckinpah vision" that they wanted to push a false version of history regarding this film's preview cut to justify the lack of the original score on it by taking the line that the original score was *never* on a long cut and thus, the 2005 DVD was the "mistake" but the TT result was the "proper" solution.

I don't agree with all of Glenn Erickson's interpretations about the film, but I am grateful his determination to rescue the truth regarding the history of this film finally prevailed. I'm sorry to have to paint Nick in this kind of unflattering light, especially now that he's gone, because his accomplishments in film and film music preservation were outstanding. But with this title, I think he developed an unfortunate blind spot that didn't lead to the best possible result.

[Monterey Jack]

I too ordered that. After the discount code and $14 in recent digital copy sales, paid about $42 out of pocket.

My copy shipped today. Looks like a nice release, and since DD has the forthcoming Aussie release of Dead Again up for pre-order, I'll probably get that from them as well.

[AndyDursin]

I ordered a couple of Aussie titles from DDD last month too. Definitely would go that direction for those since shipping from overseas is a mess right now, especially Down Under, where it's always a crapshoot.

[Monterey Jack]

I ordered a couple of Aussie titles from DDD last month too. Definitely would go that direction for those since shipping from overseas is a mess right now, especially Down Under, where it's always a crapshoot.

Plus, the expense of these titles can be driven down with coupons and if I happen to have funds in my Paypal account due to digital copy sales. Just a shame my pre-order of the 4K Dawn Of The Dead set was cancelled.

[Eric Paddon]

I got my ship notice today. Will be looking forward to it.

[Monterey Jack]

Received Major Dundee today...with the "teeth" in both keepcases inside the outer box broken off, leaving the discs rattling around loose. The discs weren't damaged from what I could see, but since this set uses those "thick" cases favored by Aussie and UK releases, getting replacements is gonna be difficult and/or expensive.

[Eric Paddon]

Mine is out for delivery. If that happens with my case, I'm just going to use my three disc case that houses the TT copy I am anxious to get rid of (the third disc has the old 2005 DVD release with the proper long cut/original score).

[Monterey Jack]

Mine is out for delivery. If that happens with my case, I'm just going to use my three disc case that houses the TT copy I am anxious to get rid of (the third disc has the old 2005 DVD release with the proper long cut/original score).

The insert won't fit a standard-sized U.S. case...it'll get all bunched-up.

[AndyDursin]

Yeah I have a different UK banged up case and looked into replacing it. There aren't any cheap solutions there.

I would consider returning it MJ and just placing another order, they probably can't do an exchange.

[Monterey Jack]

I would consider returning it MJ and just placing another order, they probably can't do an exchange.

Screw that. I'll just get some PS3 cases that have the same basic dimensions.

[Eric Paddon]

Well my cases weren't banged up!

It's too bad I have to see Caliendo's name burned in on the credits even when hearing the correct score but otherwise this looks great. One of the biggest Blu-Ray mistakes fixed at last!