High Plains Drifter (1973)

[JamesK]

I will never understand marketers who repackage things like books and DVDs to make them look worse than they did originally.  Case in point: High Plains Drifter.

Since the movie's been out on DVD, the box art has simply been a replica of the original one-sheet.  It's an instantly recognizable image -- stark, evocative and intriguing -- that has now been replaced with an extremely generic-looking screen capture.  What were they thinking?

[Leone Admirer]

I had a look at this when I was in my favourite place (1,2,3 its New York!) thinking it might be a new anamorphic transfer. Sadly it isn't, those who want it anamorphic will have to purchase the R2.

[JamesK]

I had a look at this when I was in my favourite place (1,2,3 its New York!) thinking it might be a new anamorphic transfer. Sadly it isn't, those who want it anamorphic will have to purchase the R2.

Since we're talking about packaging here: is the Region 2 DVD still boasting the original one-sheet artwork, or has it been mangled, too?

[Leone Admirer]

its still the one sheet.

[JamesK]

its still the one sheet.

That's good, at least.  While I see that the film has been included in some kind of "line" remarketing, I still don't understand why the one-sheet art was jettisoned.

[Leone Admirer]

Universal released and re-released a whole lot of Western films under The Universal Western banner, I've got quite a few I've picked up and I suppose they are doing it to most if not all their western catologue.

[JamesK]

Universal released and re-released a whole lot of Western films under The Universal Western banner, I've got quite a few I've picked up and I suppose they are doing it to most if not all their western catologue.

I understand that, hence my saying, "While I see that the film has been included in some kind of "line" remarketing, I still don't understand why the one-sheet art was jettisoned."

[Leone Admirer]

Apologies, misread the post. 

[Beebs]

My guess is to appeal to different audiences. The first one looks more like the Arnold the Governator movie while the second is more of a cheesy good old fashioned western(though I don't like the so called cheese western, I'm a Spaghetti Western guy.i'd take some spaghetti hold the cheese.)

[Banjo]

What i find attractive about buying  DVD's i already have on video tape is the extra footage or lost scenes that you sometimes get.Unfortunately it seems that all the brilliant westerns that Eastwood directed and starred in are absent of any additional footage which leads me to believe he included every single scene he filmed and nothing was left on the cutting room floor!
Oh what i'd give for High Plains Drifter(Pale Rider and Josey Wales) to have an extra 15 minutes like GBU!

[Leone Admirer]

Some directors don't like to let people see their deleted scenes (see Spielberg) but I hear Eastwood tries not to let any footage go to waste.

[Banjo]

I suppose that figures with Eastwood with him having complete artistic control as director and leading actor.Also with a dependence on the same stable of cast,especially in the 1970's,i guess Clint had a pretty good idea of what would or wouldn't work,therefore not resulting in any wastage of film reel.
Its annoying though isn't it!

[Leone Admirer]

Yes, but then again it depends what footage was being put back in. For instance, I love Apocalypse Now and the new Redux version but there is some footage I wish Francis Coppola had not put back in (mainly the Playboy Bunnies scene).

[Banjo]

Didn't know that Coppola slipped in a bit of totty into Apocalypse Now!!
Oh well i'll take your word for it that it was to the detriment of the movie!

[Leone Admirer]

it's more then a little. The French Colony scene is the best addition (its excellent)