THE KEEP 1983 Michael Mann - Page 3

The Reaper Man@Cult Labs · #21 18th May 2009, 07:27 PM

VHS version was more than sufficient.A cult classic in every respect.

The Limey · #22 7th November 2010, 08:21 AM

One of the great mysteries of Home Video is why the above title has yet to receive a DVD release from Paramount, let alone a release on BD.
Despite being directed by an all time great Hollywood director, The Keep was a flop on its theatrical release in 1983 and received largely damning reviews. However, a closer look at what actually happened to this production gives the answer to that. Mann overran his budget significantly and ended up getting fired by Paramount who promptly cut Mann's film down to 93 mins for a rushed release.

Just how much was cut out has never quite been established but given the differences between the various UK VHS releases, the TV versions, and 10 minutes of an entirely different ending up for viewing on Youtube, there is no doubt that considerable footage was removed. Mann himself commented that a lot had been cut for Paramount's own release and the word is that the cut footage could be anything from 30 mins to over an hour plus.

Given that Paramount have released some of their films on licence to smaller outfits for release in the past what a coup this would be if Arrow could pick up The Keep for a UK release on BD and DVD and try and restore some or all of the missing segments. The 93 min version still has great standalone scenes (despite being severely truncated) but to put out a restored (or partially restored) version would be a major coup. Given that the film now has a huge cult following, the chance to see this maybe restored in 1080p, and that pulsating Tangerine Dream soundtrack in DTS-HD Master, I think interest would be massive and Arrow would have a potential sell out on their hands.

An approach to Paramount may well yield fruit - over to you, Arrow?

The Reaper Man@Cult Labs · #23 7th November 2010, 09:37 AM

Fantastic film.

The Reaper Man@Cult Labs · #24 7th November 2010, 09:39 AM

Threads merged.

Hopefully we can get some momentum going here with this Limey.

The Limey · #25 7th November 2010, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reaper@Cult Labs

Threads merged.

Hopefully we can get some momentum going here with this Limey.

Sorry I completely missed this thread but YES I am a massive fan of both the film and the book. People who slate the film often do not realise that they are watching the shortened version of something that was considerably longer.
Given that Paramount's Blu-ray releases are few and far between at present, a title like The Keep has got to be good for release via licence at some point and in a territory like the UK, a chance remains that Paramount may well sanction this.

In the meantime check out this piece of missing footage that while described as an ending, if reports about other missing scenes turn out to be correct, is actually anything but: