Help me understand what's going on with Apocalypse Now

[iluv2viddyfilms]

It's one of my top 10 favorite films and I saw it years ago when I was in high school on an old VHS tape I borrowed from a coworker. I then bought a copy on VHS and a few years later Redux came out and I bought it on DVD which is what I have now. The VHS must've got lost over the years and a couple years ago when I wanted to buy the non Redux blu ray I see only Redux is available as the theatrical version I'd have to pay near $50 which is crazy in this day and age. Also to buy a digital streaming copy on Amazon, only Redux is available and on Criterion where it is streaming, it's not the theatrical version, but Redux. Did I miss something? Did the theatrical version get banned, replaced, removed, etc? For any huge fans of the film... and yes the theatrical version is the true version of the film, what is going on?

[Holden Pike]

101786

You can rent the original cut via Amazon to stream for a few bucks. In the marketplace, even Redux is starting to be supplanted by the so-called Final Cut. The original is still around on DVD formats, but usually in sets that include one or more of the subsequent cuts and/or Hearts of Darkness.

If anyone is especially attached to any title or version of a title but has still not yet learned that if you want to be sure you have it you need to keep a physical copy of your own...well, you're a slow learner.

[iluv2viddyfilms]

If anyone is especially attached to any title or version of a title but has still not yet learned that if you want to be sure you have it you need to keep a physical copy of your own...well, you're a slow learner.

Yeah, that's actually one of the reasons a few years ago I decided to buy Gone With the Wind and My Fair Lady on blu ray even though I had a DVD of GWTW and my wife had a copy of MFL. I know both those titles were brought up as being "problematic" back in 2020 and HBO had even removed or threatened to remove GWTW from streaming.

Do you know why the original of Apocalypse Now is phased out or out of print?

[Holden Pike]

Marketing?

[iluv2viddyfilms]

Marketing?

I wonder if it has more to do with licensing rights of the theatrical version vs the Redux or "Final Cut."

[I_Wear_Pants]

I had the Declassified DVD, I believe it was called, some time ago that came with the original cut and the Redux. It was like $20. This was in 2008 or 2009 so that makes a difference. I wonder if the Redux was selling better than the original cut so it phased out? Or it was a ploy to get their new version to sell more? It happens quite often.