Amadeus 4K UHD (1984) (40th Anniversary Edition) Feb 25

[sidetracked1]

Originally Posted by OneWayFilms

I hope the rumors are true. If it ends up being ONLY the Director's Cut, I will refuse to buy it. We need the Theatrical edition, PLEASE!!!!!

Well, the Academy is doing a big premiere screening of the 4K restoration Friday night, and that's listed as 160 minutes, which would make it the theatrical cut.

I doubt they would do that AND a separate 4K restoration for the director's cut, so I will be very surprised (and disappointed) if the 4K is not the theatrical cut.

[traths]

I’ve only ever seen the Director’s Cut so I’ll probably buy this one if both cuts are on the 4K disc.

[James Luckard]

Originally Posted by traths

I’ve only ever seen the Director’s Cut so I’ll probably buy this one if both cuts are on the 4K disc.

The theatrical cut will be in 4K, that's what was restored.

They may include the extended/"director's" cut in HD, but there's virtually no chance they restored the extra 20 minutes in that cut too.

[Dr. T]

Originally Posted by James Luckard

They may include the extended/"director's" cut in HD, but there's virtually no chance they restored the extra 20 minutes in that cut too.

Why so certain?

[James Luckard]

Originally Posted by Dr. T

Why so certain?

There's been no mention of the extended cut being restored anywhere. All public announcements have been of the theatrical cut only.

Someone a while back said that Zaentz's nephew, who controls the film now, said they were restoring the theatrical cut specifically.

I can't think of many instances where multiple cuts of a film have been remastered in 4K.

They'll have scanned the negative, which would be conformed to the theatrical cut.

I'd bet money this will be exactly like The Last Emperor - remastered theatrical cut in 4K, old master of the longer cut included for archival purposes. The Last Emperor similarly has a longer cut that was briefly marketed as a "director's cut" when that term was home video gold in the late 90s/early 00s. However, in both cases, there's convincing evidence, including quotes from the directors, that the original cuts were their preferred versions.

[sidetracked1]

Originally Posted by James Luckard

There's been no mention of the extended cut being restored anywhere. All public announcements have been of the theatrical cut only.

Someone a while back said that Zaentz's nephew, who controls the film now, said they were restoring the theatrical cut specifically.

I can't think of many instances where multiple cuts of a film have been remastered in 4K.

They'll have scanned the negative, which would be conformed to the theatrical cut.

I'd bet money this will be exactly like The Last Emperor - remastered theatrical cut in 4K, old master of the longer cut included for archival purposes. The Last Emperor similarly has a longer cut that was briefly marketed as a "director's cut" when that term was home video gold in the late 90s/early 00s. However, in both cases, there's convincing evidence, including quotes from the directors, that the original cuts were their preferred versions.

Indeed, just a page back JohnCarpenterFan provided this link to an interview with Forman, which makes it pretty clear the extended cut was an afterthought, not the cut he originally really wanted to put out.

Link to the Forman interview: https://www.avclub.com/milos-forman-1798208216

Also, Forman was a huge director at the time, and Amadeus was made for a remarkably reasonable budget for an epic period film. So it's hard to imagine he wouldn't have had final cut or something close to it...

[vinvanveen]

It's kind of weird for him to say that "Whatever was not directly connected to the plot, I just cut out"--I think most people would agree that the Salieri/Constanze scene does directly concern the plot.

[bluskiff]

I wish studios would release more of their period films. Dangerous liaison's is one Id love to have.

[Dr. T]

Originally Posted by James Luckard

I can't think of many instances where multiple cuts of a film have been remastered in 4K.

Apocalypse Now, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Star Trek: The Motion Picture, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, The Abyss, Psycho, The Exorcist, RoboCop and True Romance all have multiple cuts on 4K and those are only movies in my collection. Maybe there are more.

In the case of Amadeus, I prefer the theatrical and am happy it's been restored, as it's been withheld for over 20 years. But until something official is announced I don't think anyone can proclaim with any certainty what will and won't be on this set. Ideally they'd issue both cuts in 4K.

[Uncle Bud]

Originally Posted by bluskiff

I wish studios would release more of their period films. Dangerous liaison's is one Id love to have.

Hear hear. Also Pride & Prejudice (2005). If not a 4K, at least a new 2k scan / encode.

[Vertizontal]

Nice news, day one for me!

I haven't watched my BD in years so forgive me but...which cut does Elizabeth Berridge unleash those puppies (asking for a friend)?

[bondfooll]

I can't wait to see what MS Paint creation the geniuses at Warner will use for cover art instead of the iconic theatrical poster.

[Uncle Bud]

Originally Posted by Vertizontal

Nice news, day one for me!

I haven't watched my BD in years so forgive me but...which cut does Elizabeth Berridge unleash those puppies (asking for a friend)?

Director's Cut.

[James Luckard]

Originally Posted by Dr. T

Apocalypse Now, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Star Trek: The Motion Picture, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, The Abyss, Psycho, The Exorcist, RoboCop and True Romance all have multiple cuts on 4K and those are only movies in my collection. Maybe there are more.

In the case of Amadeus, I prefer the theatrical and am happy it's been restored, as it's been withheld for over 20 years. But until something official is announced I don't think anyone can proclaim with any certainty what will and won't be on this set. Ideally they'd issue both cuts in 4K.

Fair enough, there are a few examples, although half of them seem to be Star Trek movies.

I still don't think they restored the extended cut for this film, however.

If I'm wrong when they announce it, that'll be good news for any fans of that cut.

[vinvanveen]

Originally Posted by Dr. T

Apocalypse Now, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Star Trek: The Motion Picture, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, The Abyss, Psycho, The Exorcist, RoboCop and True Romance all have multiple cuts on 4K and those are only movies in my collection. Maybe there are more.

In the case of Amadeus, I prefer the theatrical and am happy it's been restored, as it's been withheld for over 20 years. But until something official is announced I don't think anyone can proclaim with any certainty what will and won't be on this set. Ideally they'd issue both cuts in 4K.

There's a neat thread on that:
https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=335979

[James Luckard]

Just got back from the premiere of the restoration.

It's the theatrical cut, of course.

It's exactly as it originally looked in 1984, Orion logo at the start and everything.

It looks STUNNING.

The head of the Academy Archive, Michael Pogorzelski, spoke first.

He explained a bit about the restoration.

He said Saul Zaentz donated his entire collection to the archives in the 90s. Soon after Pogorzelski started working with the Academy Archive, around 2000, Zaentz contacted them, asking for the original negative of Amadeus, in order to create the expanded edition. He said Zaentz told him their plan was to take the OCN and recut it and re-conform it to the longer version. Pogorzelski said he tried to convince Zaentz not to do this, but to use some other method to create the longer version. However, Zaentz could not be convinced, and did indeed recut the original negative in 2002.

Pogorzelski said this restoration of the theatrical cut was done because Paul Zaentz, Saul's nephew, who now runs the family business, pushed for it and made it happen.

Pogorzelski said they scanned the negative and then re-created the individual frames at the in and out of each cut that were lost when the negative was altered in 2002, so this new digital restoration matches the original exactly, not a frame is missing.

He didn't say if the longer version was also restored at 4K, but since that's what the negative is conformed to, there's a MUCH greater chance of that than I had assumed.

Paul Zaentz spoke after him, and related some tales of filming in Communist Czechoslovakia.

There was no mention of when it might hit home video, there were no questions taken.

The film looks exquisite, totally film-like and authentic to the original color timing and everything.

Seeing it again like this, I'm more convinced than ever that it's one of the greatest films ever made.

[reanimator]

I was there too -- maybe we crossed paths, James. Hard to tell, because the theater was packed.

I can back-up everything James reported, this restoration is great. I'm not sure what audio format we were listening in, but it sounded extremely impressive.

The picture quality is basically perfect, as long as expectations are realistic. This movie was shot with anamorphic lenses in the early 80s, so the image is not razor sharp. It is, however, gorgeous. Highlights and shadows all retain nice detail. A fine layer of grain is present, but never intrudes. In short, this looked like a perfectly preserved 35mm print from 1984. I just took a quick look at the caps from the 2009 bluray, and this presentation is in another galaxy of picture quality.

If this is what awaits us on 4K disc, get ready for a home run.

[Vic Arpeggio]

I was there as well and it was really something else. I hadn't seen it in years (I don't think I've ever seen the director's cut, despite owning it) and it's much richer and darker than I remember. My wife hadn't seen it before and was blown away. The new sound mix is INCREDIBLE.

[Chad Rouch]

Originally Posted by James Luckard

He said Zaentz told him their plan was to take the OCN and recut it and re-conform it to the longer version. Pogorzelski said he tried to convince Zaentz not to do this, but to use some other method to create the longer version. However, Zaentz could not be convinced, and did indeed recut the original negative in 2002.

Good Lord, that's like a real life horror movie right there. Thank God they were able to properly fix it back.

[Egons Ghost]

Originally Posted by Chad Rouch

Good Lord, that's like a real life horror movie right there. Thank God they were able to properly fix it back.

That was painful to read. What the hell was he thinking. Thank goodness for Paul Zaentz's efforts, otherwise the original cut might have been gone. I don't think we knew this until now?