Blade Runner

Blade Runner is a 1982 science fiction film directed by Ridley Scott, depicting a dystopic Los Angeles in November 2019.

Versions

Six versions of the film exist but only two are widely known and seen:

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• The original 1982 international cut, which included more graphic violence than the U.S. theatrical release, and which was released on VHS and on Criterion Collection Laserdisc.
• The U.S. theatrical version, also called the domestic cut.
• Two workprint versions, shown only as audience test previews and occasionally at film festivals; one of these was distributed in 1991, as a Director's Cut without Scott's approval.
• The Ridley Scott-approved 1992 Director's Cut, prompted by the unauthorized 1991 release, is to date the only version released on DVD.
• The broadcast version, edited for profanity.

The 1982 versions released by the studio included a "happy ending" and voice-overs added by executives in post-production when the workprint wasn't received well by test audiences. Ridley and Ford resisted the changes and Ford has said he intentionally did the voice-overs poorly in the hope they wouldn't be used.

Related Topics:
Voice-over - Post-production

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In the 1992 Director's Cut (which was done by Michael Arick, not Ridley Scott), the ending was dramatically altered, with the overall effect of the changes intended to make Deckard's humanity and his and Rachael's fate, ambiguous. Deckard's explanatory voice-over was removed, and two additional scenes were added. The first depicts Deckard's dream of a unicorn running through a forest while he dozes drunkenly at his piano. The footage, originally thought to have been filmed for Ridley Scott's Legend, was recently confirmed as original 1982 footage removed before the initial theatrical release.

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The second was a small scene added to the ending, in which Deckard finds a small origami unicorn, presumably made by Gaff, on the ground by the elevator as he leaves with Rachael. This edition ends at the moment when the elevator doors in Deckard's building close, deleting a scene with Deckard and Rachael driving into the mountains to safety.

Related Topics:
Origami - Unicorn

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Finally, the background visuals of the end credits (a concave-lens aerial shot of a verdant pine forest rushing by, originally filmed for Stanley Kubrick's The Shining) were replaced by a simple black background. Scott has since complained that time and money constraints kept him from retooling the film in a satisfactory manner, and that he's never felt entirely comfortable with it as his definitive "Director's Cut" of the film.

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Partly as the result of those complaints, Scott was invited back in mid-2000 to help put together a final and definitive version of the film, which was completed in early 2002. During the process, a new digital print of the film was created from the original negatives, special effects were updated and cleaned, and the score was remastered in 5.1 Dolby Digital surround sound. Unlike the rushed 1992 Director's Cut, Scott personally oversaw the new cut. The Special Edition DVD was slated for a Christmas time 2002 release, and is rumored to be a three-disc set including the full international theatrical cut, the 1992 director's cut, and the newly enhanced version, as well as deleted scenes, extensive cast and crew interviews, and the documentary "On the Edge of Blade Runner".

Related Topics:
2002 - Dolby Digital - 1992

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However, Warner Brothers indefinitely delayed the "Special Edition" release after legal disputes began with the film's original bond guarantors (specifically Jerry Perenchio), who were ceded ownership of the film when the shooting ran over budget from $21.5 to $28 million. As of 2005, the legal issues remain unresolved. Warner Bros. remains the film's distributor and is authorized to release the 1992 Director's Cut on video. Warner Bros. also acts as distributor for the original 1982 theatrical version, which remains in circulation on television (albeit edited for the medium).

Related Topics:
Warner Brothers - Bond - Jerry Perenchio - As of 2005

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