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May 1996, Week 4

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Subject:
From:
Glenn LeDoux & Liz Fries <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Film and TV Studies Discussion List <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Thu, 23 May 1996 21:36:48 -0400
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Paul Ryersbach wrote:
>In my opinion the answer is clear in the director's cut: Deckard is a
>replicant. (...) I do not think this was in the originally released
>version and in my view was one of the factors that made the director's cut
>a much more complex and interesting film.
 
I agree. Perhaps a more interesting route for this discussion would be to
discuss the actual differences in the two cuts. I do want to say, however,
that Scott's "cut" of Blade Runner was released many years later and it
should be taken into consideration. With this particular film in mind, it
should be noted that director's cuts for artistic purposes (like Scott's, I
think; in keeping with Dick's story) and director's cuts for production
effects (like many laser disc released versions of four hour epics by James
Cameron -- yuk!) should be differentiated and kept [far] apart as well. Has
anyone ever seen the studio's cut of "Brazil"? Their version was a
completely different narrative...with a happy ending, of course!
 
In Scott's version, I recollect only 3 changes: 1) the deletion of the
narration; 2) an added, but brief, shot of a unicorn while Deckard is...at
the piano???; 3) and, the omission of the god awful (and only daytime) shot
at the very end of the film of Rachel and Deckard "escaping" into the
sunshine. It's been quite a long time since I've seen both versions, so
anyone please jump in if I'm wrong. Anyhow, these are pretty small changes
-- and James Cameron should take note for future projects -- yet, they
signficantly alter, and edify, the previous omission of Deckard as replicant
(with the exception of the last shot, of which was just a really stupid idea).
 
Now, I don't recollect the meaning behind the "unicorn" shot from the book.
Any thoughts? I think my initial reading of that shot when I first saw
Scott's version was...the search for immortality, the perplexities of
mortality and death, objects of beauty, beings of perfection...you get the
picture. I do believe there is something more than that...Any ideas?
 
Liz Fries
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