Different music
There's scene in the nightclub where DeSilva meets Wulfgar. I remember watching it on BBC1 seven years ago and the music is totally different to my DVD copy which has a disco beat. I just curious on why.
shareYes, there were two songs that were changed for some video and DVD releases. They were 'Brown Sugar' by The Rolling Stones, and 'I'm A Man' by Keith Emerson. The likely reason for their removal would be song rights. The cost to keep the songs in the film was likely too high for the studio. Thankfully, there are some VHS and DVD releases that contain the original songs.
shareMany thanks for bringing this topic for discussion,because I was furious to find out that my favorite scene of the film has been deformed.The existence of these songs was 98 per cent of the whole atmosphere(like some other scenes,I am scared to death what they brilliant Universal brains might have done to them).
Anyway,could you inform me if you know what's happening with the R2 releases?(German,Dannish,French,etc.).I know for a fact that the OOP Goodtimes release had the original songs,but it was fullscreen and of lower(from what I hear)quality.So the problem is with the later Universal R1 release.The R2 releases have 1:85 aspect ratio,the original cover artwork(similar with Goodtimes' release)and I am curious if the songs are also there.
Not sure whether the R2 release contains the original songs. Both the R2 and R1 DVDs were released about 3 months apart, with the R2 DVD coming out first last February. There was a discussion in one of the previous posts titled 'Is there an uncut version?'. The number of times Stallone shoots Hauer at the end of the film has been cut. Someone then did a comparison of all the current DVD releases to see if any DVD release contained the uncut scene. I suspect that with the exception of the Goodtimes release, all other DVD releases contain the altered songs.
shareVery good observation, however correct me if Im wrong but I beleive they left the Emerson version of IM A MAN in the recut version. Remember Emerson was hired to do the soundtrack and recorded his verion of IM A MAN for the soundtrack. I guess the ROLLING STONES only gave a limited license for the use of the song.
I use to own the soundtrack (before my brother sat on it and broke it) and its a great soundtrack. Its not avaiLable on DVD so good luck on EBAY.
I saw NIGHTHAWKS back in 81' when it was originally released and the actual number of shots Stallone pumps into WULFGAR was a lot more. The edited version most people are familiar with is the one they usually show thats edited for television.
No release of the film on television or video contain the uncut ending where DaSilva shoots Wulfgar more than twice. I am guessing the scene was cut down also for the theatrical release. You are indicating that it was uncut. I have not received complete confirmation that the theatrical release was uncut. The soundtrack was released on CD as a limited edition (1000 copies) in 2002 by Keith Emerson's own record label and is difficult to find. I was lucky to get a copy off EBAY. For those who still own an LP player, you can find copies of the soundtrack on LP many times on EBAY. As for 'I'm A Man', i am aware that Keith Emerson did his own version for the film. That song, along with 'Brown Sugar' was removed from later Universal VHS releases as well as Universal's 2004 DVD release. I have received confirmation that earlier Universal releases of the film on VHS contained the original songs. The 1999 Goodtimes DVD release, out of print but available quite often on EBAY, also contained the original songs. It all boils down to song rights and gaining clearance to use the songs. These were all discussed in the 'Is there an uncut version?', 'Nighthawks music anyone?' and 'nighthawks music' topics on this message board.
shareAs far as I know no R1 or R2 release contains I'm a Man and Brown Sugar. I bought the 1980s UK PAL LaserVision disc on eBay and was thrilled to find out that it did contain the original songs. Also the VHS rental video I saw the film on the 1st time contained these songs (1980's Dutch release).
The full soundtrack is now available on a 3 disc set called "Keith Emerson at the Movies". Available at amazon.com / amazon.co.uk for a very good price.