MovieChat Forums > Bitka na Neretvi (1969) Discussion > So, the Herrmann ST was only commissione...

So, the Herrmann ST was only commissioned for the English lang. release?

posted 9 years ago by Sandoz
3 replies | jump to latest

From the research I've done of this film, there's been a few mentions that a lot of releases of it have a score by a Yugoslavian composer, and the FULL score by Bernard Herrmann is not present. There's also been some mentions in reviews that the English language dub of this film--which runs under 2 hours--supposedly has his entire score, not just meager bits and pieces of it.

Is this correct? If so, is there a DVD release of the English version with Bernard Herrmann's entire score? I think I'd rather have a shorter version of the film with the complete Herrmann score than a longer version without it. I can't seem to locate a DVD of this that's an English dub...are VHS tapes of it all that's available?

"Sie sagan diese katze Shaft ist ein schlect Mutterficker!"

[–] The_Khazi 9 years ago

I`ve got an old UK TV broadcast from the late 80`s with a pretty terrible English dub although it does have that superb Hermann score and runs 120m.Another dubbed version is an official Spanish r2 dvd " La Batalla Del Rio Neretva" 113m distributed by RSR Multimedia again with the Hermann score-may still be available but if not try ebay.UK tv broadcast has extra footage not on Spanish dvd.The only UK dvd available is a subtitled version,158 mins without Hermann score.All English dubbed versions have the Hermann score although I`ve never seen a print longer than 2 hours so if you want more of his music have a look at the LP/CD soundtrack.

[–] Sandoz 9 years ago

Thanks for the reply. Yeah, that's what I was afraid of if I go for the Herrmann score...I'll have to put up with a shorter, dubbed, poorer image quality. A friend of mine has a copy of the UK Arrow release (I'm not really sure because it's just the film on the disc, no menus) and it runs 167m, but I think it's been converted to NTSC so that's probably why it's a bit longer than 158m.

Sigh, it's too bad somebody like Criterion doesn't take the plunge on this film and release a proper edition, full length and with Herrmann's score.

I used to have the ST album for this film a looong time ago (when something called "records" were the only game in town)...wish I hadn't sold it.

"Sie sagan diese katze Shaft ist ein schlect Mutterficker!"

[–] The_Khazi 9 years ago

Yes PAL and NTSC do run at different speeds so that would explain the difference.The film was butchered and hacked to bits on it`s release so it`s no wonder there are so many versions with different footage!There is a German Blu-ray but apparently the picture is poor video quality and there`s no English audio track.