This isn't about the various different cuts; I more or less see the unrated theatrical cut as definitive, the R-rated cut as a weird curiosity (the hypnotism subplot is very odd but explains some things better than they ended up being explained in the film), and the integral cut as an overlong mess.

No, what I'm confused by is the soundtrack.

The UK releases from Second Sight only have a "stereo" mix as LPCM and a 5.1 mix. The Arrow release that I only just discovered the existence of (because it wasn't released here due to Second Sight having the rights) also has a mono track. My assumption would be that the mono is the original audio and the other two are remixes. IMDb seems to disagree, claiming it was originally Ultra Stereo, and 4-track stereo "Bionic Sound" in Japan:



So uh... what gives? Where's this mono track coming from? Is IMDb just wrong? Where the heck might they have got the info from, if so?

I saw a 35 mm print of the unrated cut years ago but it was so long ago that I wasn't really paying enough attention to work out whether the soundtrack was stereophonic or not. It wouldn't surprise me either way, tbh. EDIT: The more I think about it, the more I'm convinced the print I saw (which I believe was a US print but might be wrong) was monophonic. The opening theme was noticeaby absent of stereo separation at the very least and I feel like if you're going to make a stereo mix that's one thing you'd make an effort to stereo-ise.

I don't have any real knowledge on this but I do see a lot of the 80s and 90s LDs are listed on LDDB as having mono soundtracks (even a PCM pressing from the early 90s). A stereo edition was released in the mid-90s. My guess is the original mix was mono and it was remixed to stereo when it developed a wider cult following.

(2021-02-02, 03:31 AM)spaceboy710 Wrote: I don't have any real knowledge on this but I do see a lot of the 80s and 90s LDs are listed on LDDB as having mono soundtracks (even a PCM pressing from the early 90s). A stereo edition was released in the mid-90s. My guess is the original mix was mono and it was remixed to stereo when it developed a wider cult following.

Aye I mean that would have been my guess too but IMDb says Ultra Stereo which confuses me because that's 35 mm tech rather than home video. It would make sense for this particular film to be mono for the exact same reason as HALLOWEEN, EVIL DEAD II, THE TERMINATOR etc.: ploughing all the budget into how it looked and considering mono "good enough" and Dolby/Ultra Stereo being unnecessary expenses. Gordon wanted high production value so makes sense.

I have the LD, wonder if that's the first appearance of the stereo mix...

I definitely agree that I'd sooner suspect that this movie got a stereo remix somewhere down the line (whether it'd be some 35mm print re-release or home media or something) than at the start, especially given its low-budget exploitative nature.

I have an open-matte LD rip somewhere though I can't find it for the life of me atm. If I recall right, that LD was dual-mono though (I vaguely recall the right ear was much cracklier than the left).

(2021-02-02, 04:29 AM)LucasGodzilla Wrote: I have an open-matte LD rip somewhere though I can't find it for the life of me atm. If I recall right, that LD was dual-mono though (I vaguely recall the right ear was much cracklier than the left).

Mine is the anniversary edition which is allegedly stereo but I've not verified by actually testing it yet. It isn't open matte like previous LDs.

I think I know what happened: the sequel was Ultra Stereo and somebody got their films mixed up on IMDb.

No mention of Ultra Stereo anywhere in credits. Mono definitely original imo.

It most likely got a 'Chace" remix in the '90s. Elite were big on stereo remixes even in the LD years.
The sequel was defo Ultra Stereo as was Society which Yuzna also directed, I think it was something to do with the distribution company.
My 1988 The Blob is Ultra Stereo, the LD sleeve just refers to it as surround sound I think. My local fleapit was only Ultra Stereo for years and years before going DTS, a glorious time indeed

(2021-02-02, 06:12 AM)zoidberg Wrote: It most likely got a 'Chace" remix in the '90s. Elite were big on stereo remixes even in the LD years.

Aye actually that wouldn't surprise me!

(2021-02-02, 06:12 AM)zoidberg Wrote: The sequel was defo Ultra Stereo as was Society which Yuzna also directed, I think it was something to do with the distribution company.
My 1988 The Blob is Ultra Stereo, the LD sleeve just refers to it as surround sound I think. My local fleapit was only Ultra Stereo for years and years before going DTS, a glorious time indeed

Plus, Ultra Stereo is cheaper innit. Makes sense! I can't remember where I first saw it but it is at least stated on Wikipedia (annoyingly, without a source):

Wikipedia Wrote:Unlike the Dolby process, however, using the Ultra Stereo process did not require licensing fees, reducing costs for filmmakers and studios.

The elite dvd says 2.0 original mono

Reading the blurb on the back of the letterboxed LD it does say mono so I guess the lddb listing is incorrect.
I'm always curious when a low-contrast print is used as opposed to an IP, as there's no colour mask to deal with the colours may be more accurate. Am I right in thinking the first Elite DVD is a port of the LD?