tgd@clyde.UUCP (Thomas G. Dennehy) (10/03/83)
A recent submission states with authority: >'Apparently the voice over was added because...too subtle >for the average viewer' or words to that effect. CITE A SOURCE!! If you presume to second-guess the artistic decisions of a film- maker, at least back it up with some facts (I was having lunch with Ridley Scott the other day, and for whatever madcap reason we got to talking about the narration of Blade Runner, and he told me...) I heard that when Florence Henderson was replaced by Skitch Henderson it was decided that the musical numbers were dragging the film out to unprecedented lengths. Preview audiences were being put up in hotels for weeks on end just to get through it. The numbers were cut, and replaced with voiceovers from Heart of Darkness. Skitch bolted and was replaced with Harrison Ford, who found the narration was bringing back painful memories of Vietnam so he rewrote in the hardboiled style of 40s film noir. Unfortunately, the rest of the film didn't suit the narration, so it was reshot in English.... Sheesh. A serious question now. Has anyone seen the film "White Dog" on cable? The movie concerns the training of dogs to kill blacks only, and stars Kristy McNichol and Burl Ives (SERIOUSLY). It previewed in Seattle and Detroit, and was greeted with either indifference or outrage. Since it was now considered unreleaseable, the producers sold it to cable, but now even they're having second thoughts about showing such an uncomfor- table film. HAS IT BEEN ON?? (source - Film Comment, June, 1983) ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Tom Dennehy AT&T BL Whippany, NJ {clyde!tgd}
leei@princeton.UUCP (10/04/83)
Well, I wasn't having lunch with Ridley Scott the other day, but... I do have some very good friends who work inside the film industry in various positions and locations. I've known them for a few years now and have NEVER been mislead by any of them about the kind of things that go on "inside the business", since I've now been able to see some of it in action. Of course it's not the kind of stuff that Time magazine is going to print, but there were considerable rumours flying around in the business before Bladerunner was ever released that Scott was having troubles with the Distribution company. When the movie came out and the soundtrack jarred so obviously with the film... When it comes down to it, I believe my friends who do have some touch with the inside of the business. These guys are mostly techs and cameramen that work in and around the NY area, but there has been more than once where they've mentioned something and two weeks later I'll read about it somewhere. I don't need any other sources. -Lee Iverson ..!princeton!leei