Hello, and a question about release versions.

[Strontium Dog]

Hi folks. I've just joined this forum. I've been a big fan of MM since the early 80's.





I have a question, which I'll ask here, as it seems the natural place. Bear with me, it takes a bit of explaining. It concerns 80's video releases of MM.


When I found this excellent site, I looked through the 'missing scenes', and there's one that rings a bell. I'm sure I've seen the scene where The Interceptor cuts out, as he approaches the bikers.


I first saw MM on the original pre-cert release (U.K.). I would have been about 9, and I watched it a few times. If I've seen this scene (assuming I'm not just imagining it), it has to be here. I didn't see it again for a few years, by which time the release had changed.


I did the obvious thing, searched e-bay and have found a few 'pre-cert' copies. Here's the problem. I'm having real problems getting hold of an actual pre-cert copy. There are plenty that claim to be, but don't seem to actually be, and I've got 4 different ones now, all are wrong.


The first 2 I got were identical in every aspect. They have the right design inlay, with a rating stuck on (common, with pre-certs), but the tape inside is definatly not pre-cert. The label is later, with a cert printed as part of it. The box itself is wrong, being slimmer and stiffer than the WB 'big-box'. They also have 'cert 18' printed. This is wrong too, as the original should be an 'X'. These look like a later release, using earlier desing artwork.


The third is closer. WB big box, right label on the tape. But is wrong again. Still says '18', printed on the label.


The 4th is absolutly right. WB big box, right label, 'cert X' printed on it. But, it looks like it's been overdubbed with a later version. The Warner logo is a later, animated one set against a cloud background.





All 4 seem to contain the same version of the film. Later Warner logo, American dubbed, but not 'cut'. I have a 1989 release that's both bubbed and cut, and they all feature the bikers attacking the Chevy uncut, which my cut one edits.





So, my question (there's 2 really). Does anyone know what these releases actually are? They look mid 80's, maybe re-releases to coincide with the sequals.


Does anyone have a real, proper pre-cert copy? It'll say Cert X, and start with the old red and black Warner logo. This idea that I've seen that scene (and maybe others) is bugging me a bit, but after buying 4 different copies and all being wrong, I'm hesitant to buy anymore. I just need to know if these scenes are there or not.





Thanks


P.s. Anyone want a load of (not actually) pre-cert copies?

[rockatansky4073]

Criky, mate - your one of the very rare ( and lucky) guys that have seen this, your not the only one either, atleast 3 times in the past we've had guys coming on here mentioning that famous 'INTERCEPTOR stalling' scene, some have even seen MAX tool up at MFP before going after the TC gang, but noone has ever come forward with any copies of the footage (cept that guy earlier this year who bullshat about having a BETA copy, remember guys?)


Peter actually has offered a reward for this footage last time i looked on the MAD MAX FAQ. try asking him DOG, he may have some info.

[Strontium Dog]

Actually, you mention Beta there. At the time I would have seen this we had a Beta vcr, and it would have been on that. I can't see there'd be a difference though. The key to it seems to be in finding a genuine, original release, and not one of the seemingly many fakes.


The 'tooling up' scene is another I may, or may not have seen. Notably sawing off the shotgun. However, many films have featured scenes of shotguns being sawn off, and it's entierly possible that my memory is mixing films.





I'll try emailing him, to see if any more info has turned up yet.


As a positive side note, my search did lead me to get hold of an original, uncut, release (well, 2 actually) of MM2. They were being sold as sets with the first one

[rockatansky4073]

Can you also remember a scene of MAX stopping by as river to tend to his wound, dude?


this is another that comes up a bit.

[Sick Rick]

Damn, you know what? I have a huge box of beta tapes at my other house. When I travel there next Sunday I will root through them and see if I have it on beta. I spent many a day duping videos in my youth, due to the high price of buying. (was much easier to rent and copy:)IF I do, it will more than likely be a copy of an original, but the chances are REALLY good as it's always been a favorite. I do remember the stall scene and I DO remember the sawed off shottie scene, as it prompted me to wanna saw off the family shottie...which was abruptly stopped due to a father that was a cop. No fake memory tricks guys, they do exist-I was grounded two weeks to prove it:)Sick Rick

[Strontium Dog]

I don't remember the tending wounds scene at all, Rockatansky. I was reading the descriptions of the lost scenes, and the stalling rang a real loud bell. Tooling up is a maybe, the rest don't ring any bells at all. The list mentions the bikers attacking the Halls Of Justice, and I can picture the bikers riding in, viwed from above the gate, with the sign in view. I may just be imagining this though.





Rick, you sound very much like me. I did a few copies back then too, as buying was horrendus. MM and MM2 were the first 2 I ever did, aged about 11. The MM tape got chewed pretty quickly though . Although the MM2 tape lasted for years, and may still exist, buried in a pile at my parents house.

[Sick Rick]

I just hope the tapes are still GOOD as vcr tape life is decently long, but It must be going on 20-25 YEARS now. I've always read that you should wind and rewind them once a week AT LEAST to keep them from deteriorating....IF I DO have it, I will try to see it again, and if it eats the tape at the beginning (I always rewound, thank GOD now) then I can disassemble the vcr and manually pull the tape to the scene and we can all see it that way. (Enough to verify it anyway:)


Uhh, that is what we may have to do anyway, since I dont still even HAVE a beta player...I know a lot of soap's use beta, maybe the TV station? Anybody here from Georgia with a beta machine? Or work in a TV station-know somebody? Guess we'll know Sunday:)

[March Hare]

....I'm sure a Beta player will materialize if one was to happen across the original version with these un-cut scenes.... *I'm thinkin' link the AV line out on a Beta player to a DVD burner?*..

[Strontium Dog]

There's usually a few Beta vcr's kicking around on e-bay. Unfortunatly, they seem to have fallen into the 'nostalgia' thing, so usually fetch a few quid.


Tape degredation has more to do with the conditions it's stored in, than anything else. Humidity and heat have a lot to do with it. I've got a few tapes over 20 years old, they all play fine. They were made better back then too, before they started 'cost cutting' with cheap tapes.


The biggest problem with old tapes, is getting them to play in a modern vcr. Modern machines have auto tracking, and can be a pain with an old tape, it won't lock on. This is another reason old vcr's fetch decent money. Film nerds like me buy 'em, to play old tapes on





My plan, should I ever actually get hold of the right copy, is to capture it to my pc. I can do a spot of filtering that way, clean the image up, and encode to Divx, which is much better than mpeg-2 (DVD) for quality/ filesize. I can share it much easier then. I want to copy it to the MM I got that should be right too (the one that's been overdubbed). But yes, the AV line to a DVD burner should work, Macrovision should'nt be a problem, it wasent invented then.

[March Hare]

....magnetic tape transforms itself into a different substance after 20 years in an attic..we may need a Beta GUM TAPE player......easy on the sticky please...