Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: The Godfather - "The Complete Epic" and "Trilogy"

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Topic: The Godfather - "The Complete Epic" and "Trilogy"

Michael Schaffer
"Where is the
Boardwalk Hotel?"

Posts: 4143
From: Boston, MA
Registered: Apr 2002

posted 02-13-2005 09:17 PM

I just read a book about the making of The Godfather. It says in the book that there was a "Complete Epic" edited for TV in chronological order in 1977 (parts I and II only, obviously) which also contained several scenes cut from the original movies. Although the chronological editing wouldn't appear to me too be any improvement over the original form - the switching back and forth between the stories works so well in part II -, I would like to see these scenes and wonder if they are restored or included as bonus materials on the recent DVD edition. According to the book, the first video release of the complete trilogy also had the chronological editing and deleted scenes (probably simply the "Epic" cut plus the new movie), with a few small cuts made because of violence and nudity for the TV "Epic" also restored.
In other words, does the DVD edition contain all the material, whether in chronological form or in bonus scenes?

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Mike Heenan
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1896
From: Scottsdale, AZ, USA
Registered: Mar 2000

posted 02-13-2005 09:45 PM

The DVD edition contains the 3 movies as theatrically released with a bonus disc of the deleted/TV movie scenes. I believe I read that not ALL scenes were included on this disc though, but I'm not positive.

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Steve Guttag
We forgot the crackers Gromit!!!

Posts: 12814
From: Annapolis, MD
Registered: Dec 1999

posted 02-15-2005 08:37 AM

There was, and I have, the Godfather Trilogy on Laserdisc and it was in chronological order. At first this seems like a desriable thing but the edits were clearly for how they were released....the chronological editing actually looks more disjointed than the theatrical editing.

Steve

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Bobby Henderson
"Ask me about Trajan."

Posts: 10973
From: Lawton, OK, USA
Registered: Apr 2001

posted 02-15-2005 01:50 PM

I agree with Steve. My parents still have the old VHS release of the trilogy shown in chronological order. You definitely lose something in the dramatics, particularly with Part II, when everything is rearranged in chronological order.

I definitely prefer the DVD box set. I've been meaning to sit down and watch Godfather's I and II again sometime (especially after paying around $50 for the set).

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Will Kutler
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1506
From: Tucson, AZ, USA
Registered: Feb 2001

posted 10-02-2005 01:52 AM

The chronological version aired on cable this week, I think it was either "Spike" or "TNT"

The chronological version has many excellent scenes that are true to the book, and help better explain various things.

Cheers

K.

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System Notices
Forum Watchdog / Soup Nazi

Posts: 215

Registered: Apr 2004

posted 06-03-2007 02:01 AM

It has been 609 days since the last post.

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Will Kutler
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1506
From: Tucson, AZ, USA
Registered: Feb 2001

posted 06-03-2007 02:01 AM

The chronological/tv version aired on cables BRAVO Channel this weekend. I never saw this version before. It includes the deleted scenes and is quite extensive, following the book.

K

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Michael Schaffer
"Where is the
Boardwalk Hotel?"

Posts: 4143
From: Boston, MA
Registered: Apr 2002

posted 06-03-2007 12:45 PM

Thanks for letting us know *after* it aired!

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Jeff Taylor
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 601
From: Chatham, NJ/East Hampton, NY
Registered: Apr 2000

posted 08-21-2007 11:04 AM

Bravo and AMC have both been FLOGGING all three picture for the past two months over and over and over...

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Bobby Henderson
"Ask me about Trajan."

Posts: 10973
From: Lawton, OK, USA
Registered: Apr 2001

posted 06-30-2008 09:19 AM

Bump.

Paramount officially announced The Godfather: the Coppola Restoration Collection for release on September 23, 2008. The box sets will be in the form of a 4-disc Blu-ray package and a 5-disc DVD package. The three movies will also be sold individually, but those individual discs may lack a lot of the newly produced extras. The BD version will feature those extras in high definition.

The first two Godfather films were subject of an intensive frame by frame restoration supervised by Robert A. Harris with input from Francis Coppola and cinematographer Gordon Willis. The project, using a 4K digital intermediate, took a year to complete. Bill Hunt at The Digital Bits website was treated to a screening of the finished product and says the results are "breathtaking." Apparently the restoration puts the previously released DVD box set to shame.

The MSRP of the BD and DVD box sets is $119.99 and $72.99.

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Joe Tommassello
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 547
From: Coatesville, PA, USA
Registered: Jan 2008

posted 10-31-2008 04:43 PM

The Godfather Trilogy is beautiful on Blu-ray and it's on sale at Amazon for only $61.95. Highly recommended.

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