Blade Runner is a good argument for the release of a Director's cut. This Hollywood ending just killed the rest of the movie and was totally anti-climactic. I was 16 when the movie came out, and I remember me, my brother, and friends who saw it all realizing that Deckard was a replicant; it was so obvious. An ending where the two replicants leave to live whatever time they have left (Years? Days?) together has the romantic element, but it is true to the themes of the film.
wow... I'm glad that Ridley Scott was able to finally show his version of the film, cut his way in 2007 with the Final Cut. This is not in it... thank God. The Final Cut, the only version worth watching.
This ending is terrible, it really shits on the melodramatic dystopia of the film. Thankfully i wasn't alive when the original came out and the first time i saw the film i saw the Directors Cut. So i've not had to get used to a different ending.
what people don't get is how ultra noir THIS ending really is...they leave for nowhere, a dream world, with this lingering sense of doom following them...
If the city looks like it did, no way that nature would look like that, when I saw that back in the days my first thought was - what? why doesn't everyone live there instead?
@MaTchBoOkPoEt Ford did not like having to do these voice overs. It's mentioned in the special features that he never did like the idea of this movie having a happy ending like we see here. Specifically, he said he didn't "buy it."
the reason why this ending isn't as good is because it ruins the noir element of the film....the whole film up to this point has been concerned with hero's with flaws (a bit like an anti-hero) and so to add happiness to the ending makes it too obvious....the shadyness of the real original ending (ie the one that ends outside the elevator) gives a final kick as the momementum is built up to create another plot line that can be constructed by the viewer as soon as the credits start rolling
Anytime I see the term 'Director's Cut', I shudder. Let history stand on its own.
In 1992 I sat in a theatre and I was disgusted by Ridley's attempt to recast 1982 using razor blades and balderdash interviews. No wonder the studio took 'BR' away from him.
This ending was as romantic and perfect as any 'film noir' ending. Try the rural 'The Asphalt Jungle', naysayers, before you pan this. Sterling Hayden on the run into the countryside.
@Buteyboy You are right. It is a cop out. It is like the voice over version of the movie. It was done to make the execs happy. Fortunately we have seen the directors true vision. I wonder how many other movies I have slagged because the director couldn't make his/her vison
dumbass this isn;t the original ending, the ending we see now is the original one, they changed it cuz the audience dont like tragic ending, Ridley Scott would then change it back to the one we see now. so this is the middle version.
Filmic travesty. The ending was fine with the elevator door closing. Actually the first ever screening ended like that so it was the first ever ending. The voice over at the ending was added for the later screenings and scored higher. Then, later, it was the most made fun of and Ford did a lousy voice over because he knew it was stupid to begin with.
I suppose a sequel is out of the question. Both of these actors are still alive. Their kids could also be immortals. Of course, the dog would be also.
Honestly, I like this ending. It seems pretty logical to me. Deckard learns not to take life for granted after his own is spared by Roy, and so cherishes his time with Rachael. What's so wrong with that?
The original movie which was Re-edited by the producers in order to make it more "normal" and sell-able (Voice-over and a happy ending) failed, they lost money and the critics hated it.
Some years later there was a public screening of the movie, and by mistake they put the "wrong" movie version in the projector... It was the "REAL" original one which was edited by the director himself - Ridley Scott...
The audience was overwhelmed by the experience, and the rest is history...
Could be wrong, but isn't this flyover shot from the same stock footage used in The Shining? Thought I read that in some early 80s sci-fi magazine. Anywho, the original ending, shown here was awful, and I even disliked it in '82. Ford's entire voiceover track was poorly written and performed. Where was John Huston when Ridley needed him (the whole movie needed another rewrite, unfortunately!).
Ok. I have seen both endings. This doesn't fit with the darkness of this Noir Classic Thriller, it's too sugary sweet & disbelieving. Deckard & Rachael would have been eventually found on this new Off World Planet tracked down mercilessly. I prefer the lift doors shutting to an uncertain future for both of them. To an Dystopian Society, in a world where humans have abused technology & where Human spiritual Evolution is under the disguise of being Utopian.
The cinematography is great here, but it takes you completely out of the Blade-Runner look...and I also dont think the world would have a lot of wilderness left...they were really pushing colonization to get rid of excess population.
Ridley Scott: if you could just follow the book more closely, you wouldn't need to make over 9000 different versions of this movie. But I guess if you didn't make over 9000 versions of the same movie, you wouldn't be Ridley Scott. Carry on!
Uhm, no. This is not the original ending. This is an ending added at the insistence of the studio, in an attempt to make the film more commercially viable.
@Oeconomist Exactly, the original ending is the scene of the unicorn origami and elevator´s doors closing, this happy ending was a decision of the studio and doesn´t fit with the mood of the rest of the film.
While we're at it, let's note that Deckard's dream of a unicorn was removed from the original theatrical release, so that the implication of that origami unicorn would be lost.
@Oeconomist The studio would have needed to reshoot the film to make it commercially viable. What was Alan Ladd/The Ladd Company thinking?! The original script couldn't have led them to believe that it was going to justify a $ 26 million budget in terms of box office. It's one think for Ladd to back George Lucas, but did he really think 'Blade Runner' was going to earn enough even to break even. What he got was an art film with a bleak mood.
Blade Runner wasn't the first case of investors' taking it on the chin in the making of art. I suppose that it can _sometimes_ be seen as a way of rewarding artists who will produce sufficiently remunerative films on other occasions.
Just came across this when searching for Original trailer to blade runner, this claims to be the original ending [sorry to burst ur lil bubble, this is not the original ending]. This is actually the the third ending with deckards voice-over [second alternate ending]. [FACT]. if you don't believe thi then check out Blade Runner - NEXUS 6 extended alternate cut, it has all the deleted scenes [including the holden/deckard hospital scenes [x2] and the 1st alternate happy ending]. Check it out.
@charlesfrith Good observation...I guess that's why the Tron ending was really the only thing I liked about the whole movie. For me,Tron got it right though..no voice over.
To this day I stall can't believe the amount of people who are surprised that Harrison's commentary was used. He deliberately voiced it with no enthusiasm so it wouldn't be used. He didn't realise that is was the perfect approach for his charachter AND it tied in with the noir/gumshoe feel that the movie was set around. It was a no-brainer that the studio would love it. Personally, I like it. It was after all, the version that made it a cult classic and the reason it succeded on VHS.
It wasnt a bad ending as i read the second book, The Edge of Human, which leads on from this ending. Worth reading. Read in paper other day that second film in production. Be interesting. Cant take away the fact that Vangelis captured the mood of the film and the actors were great. Please dont let Tom Cruise be in the sequel!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The ending doesn't make sense in terms of the book, 'Do Androids Dream Electric Sheep', where the termination dates were there because the androids broke down quickly. It's been a while since I watched Bladerunner, but didn't they change it to 'for security reasons'?
@liamMaru The dialogue gives conflicting reasons for the four year life span. Bryant tells Deckard it was built in as a 'failsafe device' because they were afraid replicants would develop their own emotional responses after a few years (and, we assume, eventually rebel against their enslavers). BUT, Tyrell makes a comment to Batty towards the end and says "You were made as well as we could make you," which sounds more like the original idea from the book.
@jjobie Great answer, thanks. I couldn't recall the details of the conversation between Roy and Tyrell, but now you mention it, I remember it a bit better. The book and the movie are different in a few ways, even if the central premise is largely the same - both are excellent in their own right.
I actually have small tradition, I watch the directors cut every new years eve. I won't watch it at any other time, and every 12 months, it blows me away.
@jjobie I reckon Tyrell told Batty that to offer some comfort as he was in his last few hours of life. After all, Rachel had no termination date (why would they want her to die when she was working for the Tyrell Corporation?).
harrison sounds like he was told in no uncertain terms that if he didn't record this he would be blacklisted from hollywood, have all of his property, money and ancillary rights seized, and his nuts removed via crocodile. so, still reluctantly, he showed up to the recording studio, smoked a FAT sack of legendarily strong weed, and (barely) got through it in one take. i've only seen the director's cut or whatever, but how could ridley scott want this? he couldn't have, right??
Lol, I know what you mean. Funny thing is this ending wouldn't even be SOOO bad if they'd just nix the voiceover and let the music play while they look at eachother and fly out. Anyway, I still prefer the Final Cut though.
@AnotherSchmoe too right you are. the only thing worse would be a 'pop up video' thing saying "DUHHH the replicant shot that guy 'cause the test was giving him awaaaay! BROUGHT TO YOU BY COKE™ " - imagine revenge of the sith or something doing this! george lucas personally going "see? the baby turns out to be the guy from the other, OLD movies. and there's darth vader! he was once that little boy who raced pods! Fuck you!" (actually, that'll likely be added into a re-released, NEW version)
@bijibadness This was the only thing that Harrison and Ridley agreed on - neither of them wanted the voiceovers. You can download (of get them on the Final Cut DVD's) the audio track of the used (and some unused) voiceovers. Harrison didn't nail them in one take (he keeps asking questions about almost every line - most likely he was running interference casue he was annoyed at having to do it).
@CapedCrusader91 It's not so much that the ending was 'explained' as the fact that it changes the whole tenor of the story. The "tragic" element is diluted somewhat by this ending, as opposed to the original one (where we are left to think that Rachel DOES only have four years to live), not to mention that between this and the removal of the unicorn vision, the irony of Deckard's true nature being that of a replicant (who ALSO only has four years to live) is lost as well.
@jjobie The unicorn scene was'nt filmed for BR, it was unused footage left over from Legend. The origami unicorn was originally intended to represent Rachel (meaning she's the last of her kind - unique). Ridley cut in the Legend unicorn after principal shooting wrapped. Ridley left his options open on Deckard being human or not. If he's a rep, he's not Nexus 6 (strength & agility not up to much) and the nexus 6's didn't know him so he's not the missing one mentioned by Briant. Just my $0.02
@terrythemovie2 I have seen the Dangerous Days documentary BUT I have seen the interview with Ridley himself stating that the unicorn scene was unused footage form Legend. Who would you rather believe?
@terrythemovie2 Just thought I'd save you the trouble of composing a reply, and then I'd have to prove you wrong. Check out this clip youtube.com/watch?v=RqacsxwOFVA and any other clips from Legend (same horse/unicorn, same background, same styling as Legend).
@CapedCrusader91 Couldn't have said it better myself. Too many "I heart Ridley so much I'll go along with anything he says/does" merchants out there. If there were no voiceovers you would never know that Rachel had no termination date, that Deckard COULD understand "cityspeak" and couldn''t be arsed making life easy for Gaff. Only half of the sentences in the voice overs are explainational, the rest help set the mood.
@CapedCrusader91 It's not explained right and it completely ruined the meaning of the movie to me. When did Tyrell told Deckard Rachel is a special replicant? Why did he do it? How is it possible Rachel could have lived, but he couldn't help Roy? And how is it possible Deckard didn't give a shit about the origami unicorn? That ending doesn't make any sense, it was just made for dumb people who expected another Star Wars (no offense, but they're a lot different) and wouldn't understand the movie.
@CapedCrusader91 It's not explained right and it completely ruined the meaning of the movie to me. When did Tyrell told Deckard Rachel is a special replicant? Why did he do it? How is it possible Rachel could have lived, but he couldn't help Roy? And how is it possible Deckard didn't give a shit about the origami unicorn? That ending doesn't make any sense, it was just made for dumb people who expected another Star Wars (no offense, but they're a lot different) and wouldn't understand the movie.
Wouldn't matter Harrison has 4 years to live and he will die like the replicants he killed. The unicorn the lack of a backdrop for him. Its hidden but obvious once you place the clues together
I'm happy I seen the directors cut ending before I seen this one. Harrison Ford driving away through country roads with blue skies completely ruined the whole futuristic/Neo-noir theme that was held throughout the movie. As said by Derp1978 'This is a Disney ending'
all this chatter about the ending now is just nonsense.... I like them both actually..
In fact its like the fans got to have more movie..
its still the same ending in the brain... its not like Pris dies the next day in your imagination is it??? they get to fuck after we left the theater...
This is the first time I've heard the voiceover - I didn't realise Harrison Ford's disapproval at having to do it would come across so clearly in his voice haha
As I was watching the movie at the theater back in '82, it occurred to me that this was the very first scene in the movie where the sun was shining and it wasn't raining!
I felt at the time that the movie was making some sort of a political-ecological statement, but damn if I knew what it was at the time.
@tgrigsby7 I disagree. I think the voice-over was too much. There were a few spots where it was helpful but for the majority of the movie it was more interesting to figure things out without having someone constantly telling me what was happening.
Absolutely horrifying. Thankfully, however, Ridley Scott graced us all with the FINAL CUT of this fine film, which contains the ending he originally intended. But given that this story is a Sci-Fi flick that is told in a Noire(ish) style; the voice-over does play into that style of film-making: go rent THE BIG SLEEP or DOUBLE INDEMNITY to verify this. Nonetheless, with that said, this doesn't excuse it (entirely) for being a bit off-the-cuff.
Ridley Scott said that in the panoramic shots of the idyllic landscape, if they hadn't cut at the point they did, Jack's Yellow VW Beetle would have been in the shot on its ominous journey to the Overlook Hotel.
I think this is the best Sci-Fi movie ever, either version. This is the ending I saw when it was screened in theaters (or something very similar). I loved the music, the great sets, the lighting, pacing, editing, screenplay, all of it. I do agree that the ending allowed the audience to leave the theater in a hopeful mood, rather than a "god, the future is bleak" mood. But I remember that my friend hated the ending.
I came to watch this after viewing some scenes from AI.
That's the lame ass ending the producers put in the theatrical cut, not the original one. The original version can be seen on the workprint version and on the two director's cut versions (from 1992 and 2007).
What's your definition of "original"? To me it's the first one that was released. Blade Runner became a cult hit based on the theatrical version - NOT the director's cut
@xenglandx True. My definition of "original" is, however, what the director and the screenplay writers (Hampton Fancher and David Peoples) originally had in mind. Also, the theatrical version was the first one released, but the workprint version (which does not feature this ending) was the first one screened in front of a public.
Anyway, the film is a classic, as you said, and that's what's important in this case.
The real question wasnt rachel's termination date, but Deckard's, you know, he's a replicant too. And that is the conclusion you get when you see the director's cut. And of course they have real feelings, and deep thoughts, as far as Im concerned the replicants are human beings after all...the whole point is to make you consider, what makes you human?. Best Sci-fi movie ever.
@Hematemesis But the Director's Cut and the original are two different movies with two different stories and conclusions. I don't doubt that the Director's Cut was the way that Scott intended it to end but that's NOT how the originally released version did end - and it was the originally released version that was the hit and made Blade Runner a cult movie. I hate it that Scott then released the Director's Cut which changed the whole story - the original is back tho on Blu-Ray
@xenglandx Not quite, Ive seen the original (I have it on VHS) dozen of times Ive got the first DVD, the directors cut and the final cut, and its just a few changes a couple of scenes, the narration, and the ending, they arent really different movies, they just show things a little bit different to make you get another conclusion, however sometimes is boring to being exploited as a fan with so many editions.
I thought it kinda sad (25+ years ago) - only later (& more cynical) did I twig the upbeat bit..unwritten future & all that..= free will, etc..Mr Scott musta been told to tweak it this way by THE MAN (studio execs) who must have been thinking, "hmm, Alien meets Casablanca" (hence voice-over=make more money, etc) BUT bugging Mr Scott musta made a better movie (think Mr Stone & Alexander, or Mr Lucas & Phantom Menace)
please discuss (P.S. Vangelis/sax/drumbeat Made this film) - please discuss
I'm glad I found the film through the Director's Cut. This would have pissed me off after the "tears in rain" scene, and Deckard finding the unicorn outside his door. Way to interrupt the deeper meanings of the film with a shitty and insincere 'happy' ending. Boo!
I liked the ending at the time - because you'd been in bleak darkness for 2 hours and then suddenly out in the sunshine, in a very healthy looking wilderness with trees and mountains - so we didn't trash our planet after all!
It's horsecrap.
The VO sucks as well - Ford claims the studio imposed it, so he deliberately made it as sucky as possible.
deckards voiceovers are annoying as hell throughout the theatrical edition, final/directors cut are so much better. leaves a little room for thought, not having everything told to you. by the way, this i
I know artistically this ending may not be as good as the directors cut..but it is the ending that I grew up remembering. I'm glad you put this up. It is nearly impossible to find this one anymore.
The 'directors cut' really messed up a lot of good movies. The Blues Brothers was one of them too. Even cutting this ending of this movie made me think it was a mistake. Why do it? I bought the DVD to see the movie I saw in the theatre. At least make it a DVD special feature option.
This is what happens when the studio decides to tamper too much with what the director wants.
Ridley Scott more or less was forced to shoot this happy ending, in addition to adding Harrison's voice all over the movie.
But this is nothing new, Alfred Hitchcock was forced to add "happy endings" to his movies or parts in which somebody explained what had happened (like the psychiatrist at the end of Psycho).
Terry Gilliams' "Brazil" had a happy ending for the American release too. Geez.
In all there are 7 versions of Blade Runner ,Original workprint version ,San Diego Sneak Preview with 3 extra scenes,U.S. theatrical original version, The Criterion Edition with more violent action scenes, all released in 82 U.S. broadcast version 86 ,Director's Cut 91,and The Final Cut 2007. That's a long time to complete one movie that's a bit overrated IMO. And there may be an 8th version ,Bud Yorkin, the producer of Blade Runner, is now developing a sequel/prequel to the film.
I guess he says: "Gaff (the origami guy) had been there and let her live. Four years he figured, he was wrong. Tyrell had told me Rachel was special, no termination day. I didn't know how long we'd have together ... who does.". Thanks to Hoodimann's correction, it makes sense now. I have to say too, that this ending is a bit squishy. It definitely left me with a good feeling upon my soul, but it really punched the whole movie industrial atmosphere in the face.
God, the voiceover makes it feel like Fletch.
graemeoliver84 2 days ago
THATS THE ENDING I FIRST SAW....
ISPANOS2001 4 days ago
Tyrell trængte VIRKELIG til at en ludermor slikkede den af på ham.
dukieboy007 6 days ago
Blade Runner is a good argument for the release of a Director's cut. This Hollywood ending just killed the rest of the movie and was totally anti-climactic. I was 16 when the movie came out, and I remember me, my brother, and friends who saw it all realizing that Deckard was a replicant; it was so obvious. An ending where the two replicants leave to live whatever time they have left (Years? Days?) together has the romantic element, but it is true to the themes of the film.
anatanagara 1 week ago
of course this ending sucks, they'r going to the hotel of the shining!
zaphodlucs 1 week ago
Ford sounds drunk off his ass.
aliasnut4life 1 week ago
Yeah, because 80s aggro-synth beat really mixes with an ariel shot of the Californian Sierras.
nipponese 2 weeks ago
wow... I'm glad that Ridley Scott was able to finally show his version of the film, cut his way in 2007 with the Final Cut. This is not in it... thank God. The Final Cut, the only version worth watching.
SCADaperez24 2 weeks ago
the aerial shots are unused sequences from Stanley Kubrick's "The Shining"
demap007 3 weeks ago
As an android, isn't she supposed to die?
aerogun18 4 weeks ago
@aerogun18 She isn't the kind of super strength android. Her light shines less bright, but also longer at the same time.
seriouskano2 3 weeks ago
@aerogun18 "She doesn't know."
nipponese 2 weeks ago
@aerogun18 They mention in the film that Rachel had no termination date. Unlike the others who only had four years.
MultiBazilbrush 2 weeks ago
Quick question. Does this version have the origami unicorn still in it?
N330AA 1 month ago
This ending is terrible, it really shits on the melodramatic dystopia of the film. Thankfully i wasn't alive when the original came out and the first time i saw the film i saw the Directors Cut. So i've not had to get used to a different ending.
N330AA 1 month ago
It just doesn't fit with the acid rain soaked dystopia of the rest of the movie. Liked the Final Cut much better.
sebulia1 1 month ago
what people don't get is how ultra noir THIS ending really is...they leave for nowhere, a dream world, with this lingering sense of doom following them...
jcfbell3001 1 month ago
hell i liked it.
OBVMC 1 month ago
If the city looks like it did, no way that nature would look like that, when I saw that back in the days my first thought was - what? why doesn't everyone live there instead?
nofreedomofspeech 1 month ago
I wanna burn this clip...
FullMetal423 1 month ago
the audio of the voice recording could have been a lot better and a few more takes.. harrisons voice acting was off imo
anyways in that version of the future i doubt there would be any trees left lol
MaTchBoOkPoEt 1 month ago
@MaTchBoOkPoEt Ford did not like having to do these voice overs. It's mentioned in the special features that he never did like the idea of this movie having a happy ending like we see here. Specifically, he said he didn't "buy it."
revokdaryl1 1 month ago
shit, this ending is just fucking terrible
bangslamwham88 1 month ago
It's too bad she won't live.
Cucumber sandwich?
BillyJimOMFG 1 month ago
the reason why this ending isn't as good is because it ruins the noir element of the film....the whole film up to this point has been concerned with hero's with flaws (a bit like an anti-hero) and so to add happiness to the ending makes it too obvious....the shadyness of the real original ending (ie the one that ends outside the elevator) gives a final kick as the momementum is built up to create another plot line that can be constructed by the viewer as soon as the credits start rolling
Buteyboy 1 month ago 11
@Buteyboy
Anytime I see the term 'Director's Cut', I shudder. Let history stand on its own.
In 1992 I sat in a theatre and I was disgusted by Ridley's attempt to recast 1982 using razor blades and balderdash interviews. No wonder the studio took 'BR' away from him.
This ending was as romantic and perfect as any 'film noir' ending. Try the rural 'The Asphalt Jungle', naysayers, before you pan this. Sterling Hayden on the run into the countryside.
'Amadeus' got ruined too, 20 years on.
MadHighway 3 weeks ago
@Buteyboy You are right. It is a cop out. It is like the voice over version of the movie. It was done to make the execs happy. Fortunately we have seen the directors true vision. I wonder how many other movies I have slagged because the director couldn't make his/her vison
sagman68 2 weeks ago
Glad they got rid of the narration, it was too cheesy.
pspboy7 1 month ago
@pspboy7
You never really watched a 1940s detective film, didya?
MadHighway 3 weeks ago
wow, that narration really is shit
Themoredeluded 1 month ago
amo Blade runner......
lizeth00s 1 month ago
glad i've never seen this ending or i blocked it out :)
truetoon 1 month ago 4
dumbass this isn;t the original ending, the ending we see now is the original one, they changed it cuz the audience dont like tragic ending, Ridley Scott would then change it back to the one we see now. so this is the middle version.
GetThePun 1 month ago
@GetThePun
... It was the original in the sense that it was in the original theatrical version of this movie.
Mrster 1 month ago
@Mrster i feel so bad for roy and pris.... why'd they have to die...
GetThePun 1 month ago
@GetThePun Well, Pris couldn't keep her hands off strange men's boiled eggs and Roy... Well, after a speech like that, really--what's left?
gpgaal 1 month ago
Like a song in the movie states
"Until tomorrow (we are in 1981, in 4 decades from now we will bring you to this state of corporatocracy) , goodbye"
from the song "one more kiss dear"
mcamoran 2 months ago
terrible
MPG350 2 months ago
Sooo bad...
MmetalworksS 2 months ago
Filmic travesty. The ending was fine with the elevator door closing. Actually the first ever screening ended like that so it was the first ever ending. The voice over at the ending was added for the later screenings and scored higher. Then, later, it was the most made fun of and Ford did a lousy voice over because he knew it was stupid to begin with.
Alienself 2 months ago
@Alienself i no right... that's what i thought...Mrster says otherwise...
GetThePun 1 month ago
WHO DOES
woodros 2 months ago
I suppose a sequel is out of the question. Both of these actors are still alive. Their kids could also be immortals. Of course, the dog would be also.
aleon1018 2 months ago
@aleon1018 Hey what about a prequel, to see if Deckhard really is a skin-job
manormaid 2 months ago
i really love this song, marta
paduaprs 2 months ago in playlist Liked
Beautiful ending. A lot better than the one outside the elevator.
clevelandphil 2 months ago
Honestly, I like this ending. It seems pretty logical to me. Deckard learns not to take life for granted after his own is spared by Roy, and so cherishes his time with Rachael. What's so wrong with that?
AntiReviews 2 months ago
The original movie which was Re-edited by the producers in order to make it more "normal" and sell-able (Voice-over and a happy ending) failed, they lost money and the critics hated it.
Some years later there was a public screening of the movie, and by mistake they put the "wrong" movie version in the projector... It was the "REAL" original one which was edited by the director himself - Ridley Scott...
The audience was overwhelmed by the experience, and the rest is history...
3bonavista 2 months ago
this flyover shot IS from the stock footage used in The Shining
3bonavista 2 months ago
I hated Blade Runner.
callumisgreat 2 months ago
Could be wrong, but isn't this flyover shot from the same stock footage used in The Shining? Thought I read that in some early 80s sci-fi magazine. Anywho, the original ending, shown here was awful, and I even disliked it in '82. Ford's entire voiceover track was poorly written and performed. Where was John Huston when Ridley needed him (the whole movie needed another rewrite, unfortunately!).
pauldavidclub 2 months ago
Daniel Craig whould be a awsome Deckard !
prodf 2 months ago
@prodf no way man gregory peck would a good deckard. but ford was the best fot that roal
MegaLandogriffin 2 months ago
Ford sounds drunk
Galapagos102 2 months ago
Ok. I have seen both endings. This doesn't fit with the darkness of this Noir Classic Thriller, it's too sugary sweet & disbelieving. Deckard & Rachael would have been eventually found on this new Off World Planet tracked down mercilessly. I prefer the lift doors shutting to an uncertain future for both of them. To an Dystopian Society, in a world where humans have abused technology & where Human spiritual Evolution is under the disguise of being Utopian.
Oucluscupitumamo1 3 months ago
That is not what it was like in the book.
StarAdder92 3 months ago
I prefer this ending over the really depressive ending from the Director's Cut.
igotnoideawhattoput 3 months ago
The cinematography is great here, but it takes you completely out of the Blade-Runner look...and I also dont think the world would have a lot of wilderness left...they were really pushing colonization to get rid of excess population.
And the voiceover SUCKS
LordXehenniar 3 months ago
Ridley Scott: if you could just follow the book more closely, you wouldn't need to make over 9000 different versions of this movie. But I guess if you didn't make over 9000 versions of the same movie, you wouldn't be Ridley Scott. Carry on!
thadreazie 3 months ago
This was the first version I saw and I didn't think there was anything wrong with it. I still don't.
mzhivago925 3 months ago
Uhm, no. This is not the original ending. This is an ending added at the insistence of the studio, in an attempt to make the film more commercially viable.
Oeconomist 3 months ago
@Oeconomist Exactly, the original ending is the scene of the unicorn origami and elevator´s doors closing, this happy ending was a decision of the studio and doesn´t fit with the mood of the rest of the film.
WORMRIDERfedaykin 3 months ago
@WORMRIDERfedaykin—
While we're at it, let's note that Deckard's dream of a unicorn was removed from the original theatrical release, so that the implication of that origami unicorn would be lost.
Oeconomist 3 months ago
@Oeconomist The studio would have needed to reshoot the film to make it commercially viable. What was Alan Ladd/The Ladd Company thinking?! The original script couldn't have led them to believe that it was going to justify a $ 26 million budget in terms of box office. It's one think for Ladd to back George Lucas, but did he really think 'Blade Runner' was going to earn enough even to break even. What he got was an art film with a bleak mood.
Numinous20111 3 months ago
@Numinous20111—
Blade Runner wasn't the first case of investors' taking it on the chin in the making of art. I suppose that it can _sometimes_ be seen as a way of rewarding artists who will produce sufficiently remunerative films on other occasions.
Oeconomist 3 months ago
glad this is not in the directors cut.
spacecoke 3 months ago
@spacecoke me too
MrPopeye232323 3 months ago
I can't Thank You enough for posting this!!!! I have looked for this everywhere!!!!
You are a....God Ivan! :)
ginodiavonti 3 months ago
@ginodiavonti—
It is trivial to find sets that include the initial theatrical release.
Oeconomist 3 months ago
I love the way the sun shines on Sean Young's face!
789tundra 4 months ago
Just came across this when searching for Original trailer to blade runner, this claims to be the original ending [sorry to burst ur lil bubble, this is not the original ending]. This is actually the the third ending with deckards voice-over [second alternate ending]. [FACT]. if you don't believe thi then check out Blade Runner - NEXUS 6 extended alternate cut, it has all the deleted scenes [including the holden/deckard hospital scenes [x2] and the 1st alternate happy ending]. Check it out.
Luk0z4d3 4 months ago
This is the recent Tron Legacy ending. It works for me.
charlesfrith 4 months ago
@charlesfrith I'm glad someone else caught that! I thought it was a great reference on Tron's part.
AntiReviews 2 months ago
@charlesfrith Good observation...I guess that's why the Tron ending was really the only thing I liked about the whole movie. For me,Tron got it right though..no voice over.
gandy74 3 weeks ago
i luvd it!it wuz a great endng.
jgtdaw 4 months ago
To this day I stall can't believe the amount of people who are surprised that Harrison's commentary was used. He deliberately voiced it with no enthusiasm so it wouldn't be used. He didn't realise that is was the perfect approach for his charachter AND it tied in with the noir/gumshoe feel that the movie was set around. It was a no-brainer that the studio would love it. Personally, I like it. It was after all, the version that made it a cult classic and the reason it succeded on VHS.
aido72 4 months ago
Harrison's lack of enthusiasm for this ending couldn't be any more obvious. Hard to believe the studio stil used it anyway.
r3yalp 4 months ago
What a big shit of ending. Don't know why they even changed it.
Ramiprops 4 months ago
It wasnt a bad ending as i read the second book, The Edge of Human, which leads on from this ending. Worth reading. Read in paper other day that second film in production. Be interesting. Cant take away the fact that Vangelis captured the mood of the film and the actors were great. Please dont let Tom Cruise be in the sequel!!!!!!!!!!!!!
dawnl66 4 months ago
Sean Young..we've always LOVED YOU.AlWAYS
Lonewolfmichigan 5 months ago 12
@Lonewolfmichigan Let her know at youtube.com/user/msyPARIAH
andmaketherain 2 months ago
when did tyrell tell Deck she had no termination date
TheDEATHSTARIII 5 months ago
The ending doesn't make sense in terms of the book, 'Do Androids Dream Electric Sheep', where the termination dates were there because the androids broke down quickly. It's been a while since I watched Bladerunner, but didn't they change it to 'for security reasons'?
liamMaru 5 months ago
@liamMaru The dialogue gives conflicting reasons for the four year life span. Bryant tells Deckard it was built in as a 'failsafe device' because they were afraid replicants would develop their own emotional responses after a few years (and, we assume, eventually rebel against their enslavers). BUT, Tyrell makes a comment to Batty towards the end and says "You were made as well as we could make you," which sounds more like the original idea from the book.
jjobie 5 months ago
@jjobie Great answer, thanks. I couldn't recall the details of the conversation between Roy and Tyrell, but now you mention it, I remember it a bit better. The book and the movie are different in a few ways, even if the central premise is largely the same - both are excellent in their own right.
I actually have small tradition, I watch the directors cut every new years eve. I won't watch it at any other time, and every 12 months, it blows me away.
liamMaru 5 months ago
@jjobie I reckon Tyrell told Batty that to offer some comfort as he was in his last few hours of life. After all, Rachel had no termination date (why would they want her to die when she was working for the Tyrell Corporation?).
aido72 4 months ago
harrison sounds like he was told in no uncertain terms that if he didn't record this he would be blacklisted from hollywood, have all of his property, money and ancillary rights seized, and his nuts removed via crocodile. so, still reluctantly, he showed up to the recording studio, smoked a FAT sack of legendarily strong weed, and (barely) got through it in one take. i've only seen the director's cut or whatever, but how could ridley scott want this? he couldn't have, right??
bijibadness 5 months ago 4
@bijibadness
Lol, I know what you mean. Funny thing is this ending wouldn't even be SOOO bad if they'd just nix the voiceover and let the music play while they look at eachother and fly out. Anyway, I still prefer the Final Cut though.
AnotherSchmoe 5 months ago
@AnotherSchmoe too right you are. the only thing worse would be a 'pop up video' thing saying "DUHHH the replicant shot that guy 'cause the test was giving him awaaaay! BROUGHT TO YOU BY COKE™ " - imagine revenge of the sith or something doing this! george lucas personally going "see? the baby turns out to be the guy from the other, OLD movies. and there's darth vader! he was once that little boy who raced pods! Fuck you!" (actually, that'll likely be added into a re-released, NEW version)
bijibadness 4 months ago
@bijibadness This was the only thing that Harrison and Ridley agreed on - neither of them wanted the voiceovers. You can download (of get them on the Final Cut DVD's) the audio track of the used (and some unused) voiceovers. Harrison didn't nail them in one take (he keeps asking questions about almost every line - most likely he was running interference casue he was annoyed at having to do it).
aido72 4 months ago
Funfact:The shots of the landscape was actually unused footage from the movie The Shinning.
Baird9214 5 months ago
@Baird9214 That fact wasnt fun. So your a liar.
ProperMuzik 5 months ago
@ProperMuzik I know...
Baird9214 5 months ago
I like both endings. This one is just fine!!!
God, why do some people hate it so much when things ARE explained?
"No no!! Don't answer questions! Leave everything unanswered! I want to THINK!!"
A movie that has everything wrapped up and all questions answered is still capable of provoking thought. Stop being pretentious.
CapedCrusader91 5 months ago
@CapedCrusader91 It's not so much that the ending was 'explained' as the fact that it changes the whole tenor of the story. The "tragic" element is diluted somewhat by this ending, as opposed to the original one (where we are left to think that Rachel DOES only have four years to live), not to mention that between this and the removal of the unicorn vision, the irony of Deckard's true nature being that of a replicant (who ALSO only has four years to live) is lost as well.
jjobie 5 months ago
@jjobie The unicorn scene was'nt filmed for BR, it was unused footage left over from Legend. The origami unicorn was originally intended to represent Rachel (meaning she's the last of her kind - unique). Ridley cut in the Legend unicorn after principal shooting wrapped. Ridley left his options open on Deckard being human or not. If he's a rep, he's not Nexus 6 (strength & agility not up to much) and the nexus 6's didn't know him so he's not the missing one mentioned by Briant. Just my $0.02
aido72 4 months ago
@aido72 Actually it was filmed specifically for Blade Runner. Watch the Dangerous Days documentary
terrythemovie2 4 months ago
@terrythemovie2 I have seen the Dangerous Days documentary BUT I have seen the interview with Ridley himself stating that the unicorn scene was unused footage form Legend. Who would you rather believe?
aido72 4 months ago
@terrythemovie2 Just thought I'd save you the trouble of composing a reply, and then I'd have to prove you wrong. Check out this clip youtube.com/watch?v=RqacsxwOFVA and any other clips from Legend (same horse/unicorn, same background, same styling as Legend).
aido72 4 months ago
@CapedCrusader91 Couldn't have said it better myself. Too many "I heart Ridley so much I'll go along with anything he says/does" merchants out there. If there were no voiceovers you would never know that Rachel had no termination date, that Deckard COULD understand "cityspeak" and couldn''t be arsed making life easy for Gaff. Only half of the sentences in the voice overs are explainational, the rest help set the mood.
aido72 4 months ago
@CapedCrusader91 It's not explained right and it completely ruined the meaning of the movie to me. When did Tyrell told Deckard Rachel is a special replicant? Why did he do it? How is it possible Rachel could have lived, but he couldn't help Roy? And how is it possible Deckard didn't give a shit about the origami unicorn? That ending doesn't make any sense, it was just made for dumb people who expected another Star Wars (no offense, but they're a lot different) and wouldn't understand the movie.
matman000000 3 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@CapedCrusader91 It's not explained right and it completely ruined the meaning of the movie to me. When did Tyrell told Deckard Rachel is a special replicant? Why did he do it? How is it possible Rachel could have lived, but he couldn't help Roy? And how is it possible Deckard didn't give a shit about the origami unicorn? That ending doesn't make any sense, it was just made for dumb people who expected another Star Wars (no offense, but they're a lot different) and wouldn't understand the movie.
matman000000 3 months ago
Wouldn't matter Harrison has 4 years to live and he will die like the replicants he killed. The unicorn the lack of a backdrop for him. Its hidden but obvious once you place the clues together
Zipito06 5 months ago
I'm happy I seen the directors cut ending before I seen this one. Harrison Ford driving away through country roads with blue skies completely ruined the whole futuristic/Neo-noir theme that was held throughout the movie. As said by Derp1978 'This is a Disney ending'
garywoodgrw 5 months ago 2
And Harrison sounds ubr depressed in the voiceover
Mrwilljones16 5 months ago 35
@Mrwilljones16
he did it on purpose so the studio wouldnt use it but well you know how that turned out
fzerox64 4 months ago
@Mrwilljones16 Should listen to the outakes. Harrison really hated doing the voice over.
rathraven1313 2 months ago
@Mrwilljones16 From what I've heard, Ford really didn't want to do the voice overs.
evilemperordude 1 month ago
This ending sucks majorly
Mrwilljones16 5 months ago 2
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO THEY ARE DOING A REBOOT NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
CharlieALabtech 5 months ago
all this chatter about the ending now is just nonsense.... I like them both actually..
In fact its like the fans got to have more movie..
its still the same ending in the brain... its not like Pris dies the next day in your imagination is it??? they get to fuck after we left the theater...
xpez 5 months ago
This is the first time I've heard the voiceover - I didn't realise Harrison Ford's disapproval at having to do it would come across so clearly in his voice haha
IodineSky17 5 months ago
As I was watching the movie at the theater back in '82, it occurred to me that this was the very first scene in the movie where the sun was shining and it wasn't raining!
I felt at the time that the movie was making some sort of a political-ecological statement, but damn if I knew what it was at the time.
mnpd007 5 months ago
The version with the voice-overs was the best. The director's cut sucked.
tgrigsby7 5 months ago
@tgrigsby7 I disagree. I think the voice-over was too much. There were a few spots where it was helpful but for the majority of the movie it was more interesting to figure things out without having someone constantly telling me what was happening.
jjobie 5 months ago
One thing,..if they could live there,why were they all living in that city? I thought the world was disintegrating,...
ChimeraAZ 5 months ago
the voice overs ruined the film. ford and scott both had this opinion.
dogcat223 5 months ago
Great ending better than the directors cut I like the voice overs they improved the film.
rohanmarkjay 5 months ago
i like the voice overs. it's the original the way i saw it at the theatre. leave it in.
pinboyjorf 5 months ago
Oh wow. They made the right choice to pick the other ending, hahah.
SmokingSpoon 5 months ago
Rachels style in the film is very 1940s Joan Crawford. I love to dress like Rachel and i have a willy.
MrRjmac 5 months ago
She is the most beautiful girl in the world
taggett666 5 months ago 2
remove that bloody voice over, and this ending wouldnt be as bad. still prefer the final cut where they cut it out all together.
JKreviews 5 months ago
Absolutely horrifying. Thankfully, however, Ridley Scott graced us all with the FINAL CUT of this fine film, which contains the ending he originally intended. But given that this story is a Sci-Fi flick that is told in a Noire(ish) style; the voice-over does play into that style of film-making: go rent THE BIG SLEEP or DOUBLE INDEMNITY to verify this. Nonetheless, with that said, this doesn't excuse it (entirely) for being a bit off-the-cuff.
0mniP0t3nt 5 months ago
you can hear the disappointment in his voice
GFDshorts 5 months ago
I've seen things you people wouldn't believe...
A happy Hollywood ending off the shoulder of Harrison Ford.
I watched landscapes transition over the screen at the movie theatre.
All those moments... Will be lost... in time.
Like tears... in the sewer.
Kitchibi 5 months ago 82
@Kitchibi
Haha hahaaahaaaahaa ah shit i can't breathe as i'm typing this ahahaha
WSWarthog 5 months ago
Ridley Scott said that in the panoramic shots of the idyllic landscape, if they hadn't cut at the point they did, Jack's Yellow VW Beetle would have been in the shot on its ominous journey to the Overlook Hotel.
TemplePhantom 6 months ago
this is on jurassic park VhS tape ..........
poaeypark 6 months ago
ridley took some of the outtakes from the shining for this scene!
jorgepeterbarton 6 months ago
amazing how badly studio executives can manage to fuck up genuine pieces of art. they did this, and they did that to "kingdom of heaven" in 2005.
cocksuckers...
IsaacH1273 6 months ago
this ending has gotta be the worst ending in movie history. original version of the film sucks dick
dageezerboi 6 months ago
oh my god, thank god i saw the final cut.
watching this actually made me cringe.
ri394 6 months ago
I have seen the three versions, and I loved them all. This is a rare example of a movie where everything is in the right place.
MrRoulf 6 months ago
I think this is the best Sci-Fi movie ever, either version. This is the ending I saw when it was screened in theaters (or something very similar). I loved the music, the great sets, the lighting, pacing, editing, screenplay, all of it. I do agree that the ending allowed the audience to leave the theater in a hopeful mood, rather than a "god, the future is bleak" mood. But I remember that my friend hated the ending.
I came to watch this after viewing some scenes from AI.
wolfeel54 6 months ago
That's the lame ass ending the producers put in the theatrical cut, not the original one. The original version can be seen on the workprint version and on the two director's cut versions (from 1992 and 2007).
Kemendil 6 months ago
What's your definition of "original"? To me it's the first one that was released. Blade Runner became a cult hit based on the theatrical version - NOT the director's cut
xenglandx 6 months ago
@xenglandx True. My definition of "original" is, however, what the director and the screenplay writers (Hampton Fancher and David Peoples) originally had in mind. Also, the theatrical version was the first one released, but the workprint version (which does not feature this ending) was the first one screened in front of a public.
Anyway, the film is a classic, as you said, and that's what's important in this case.
Kemendil 6 months ago
@Kemendil This is the ending I saw. I watched this movie in late 81 on HBO and this was the ending HBO ran.
dlfswi 6 months ago
@dlfswi 82 sorry
dlfswi 6 months ago
I saw on the news today of a 250,000 flying car. They should use Harrison Ford and Sean Young to sell it in commercials.
spaceman1979 6 months ago
I love how Harrison Ford mumbles through out the whole movie
chevypillow247 6 months ago
So glad the first time I saw the directors cut. Up to that point I'd always just turned off the VCR as soon as the elevator doors shut.
alriooreo 6 months ago
This scene is the definition of "facepalm."
GlumPhoenix 6 months ago 2
The real question wasnt rachel's termination date, but Deckard's, you know, he's a replicant too. And that is the conclusion you get when you see the director's cut. And of course they have real feelings, and deep thoughts, as far as Im concerned the replicants are human beings after all...the whole point is to make you consider, what makes you human?. Best Sci-fi movie ever.
Hematemesis 6 months ago
@Hematemesis But the Director's Cut and the original are two different movies with two different stories and conclusions. I don't doubt that the Director's Cut was the way that Scott intended it to end but that's NOT how the originally released version did end - and it was the originally released version that was the hit and made Blade Runner a cult movie. I hate it that Scott then released the Director's Cut which changed the whole story - the original is back tho on Blu-Ray
xenglandx 6 months ago
@xenglandx Not quite, Ive seen the original (I have it on VHS) dozen of times Ive got the first DVD, the directors cut and the final cut, and its just a few changes a couple of scenes, the narration, and the ending, they arent really different movies, they just show things a little bit different to make you get another conclusion, however sometimes is boring to being exploited as a fan with so many editions.
Hematemesis 6 months ago
I thought it kinda sad (25+ years ago) - only later (& more cynical) did I twig the upbeat bit..unwritten future & all that..= free will, etc..Mr Scott musta been told to tweak it this way by THE MAN (studio execs) who must have been thinking, "hmm, Alien meets Casablanca" (hence voice-over=make more money, etc) BUT bugging Mr Scott musta made a better movie (think Mr Stone & Alexander, or Mr Lucas & Phantom Menace)
please discuss (P.S. Vangelis/sax/drumbeat Made this film) - please discuss
graemeirvine1 6 months ago
I'm glad I found the film through the Director's Cut. This would have pissed me off after the "tears in rain" scene, and Deckard finding the unicorn outside his door. Way to interrupt the deeper meanings of the film with a shitty and insincere 'happy' ending. Boo!
ScienceWinsEveryTime 6 months ago
i prefer the final cut
ostattack 7 months ago
MAN... Sean Young was hot !!!!
Hunsruck 7 months ago
i prefer the directors cut.
PatrickTheScienceGuy 7 months ago
I liked the ending at the time - because you'd been in bleak darkness for 2 hours and then suddenly out in the sunshine, in a very healthy looking wilderness with trees and mountains - so we didn't trash our planet after all!
It's horsecrap.
The VO sucks as well - Ford claims the studio imposed it, so he deliberately made it as sucky as possible.
jazzx251 7 months ago
this is horrible it completely diverges from the themes and the bleak neo-noir style of the film. truly terrible
mushroomzagain 7 months ago
this was so 80s ending it wouldn't worked now
crazybiscut 7 months ago
@crazybiscut
It would. You can take the man out of the 80s but you can't take the 80s out of man :)
steelwizard 7 months ago
deckards voiceovers are annoying as hell throughout the theatrical edition, final/directors cut are so much better. leaves a little room for thought, not having everything told to you. by the way, this i
soundtrack is sinply amazing
MrNalfgar 7 months ago
Where is the Overlook hotel, please? i think we took the wrong road again ...
throughtime 7 months ago
"No termination date."
Only because Gaff didn't know when Jack Torrence would have fully melted. It looks like Summer there however, so sucks to be Rachel lol
miniroll32 7 months ago 2
I know artistically this ending may not be as good as the directors cut..but it is the ending that I grew up remembering. I'm glad you put this up. It is nearly impossible to find this one anymore.
gwoyang 7 months ago
This ending is awful. AWFUL. This doesnt fit with the rest of the movie AT ALL.
leptonsoup337 8 months ago
and wow the beginning of this clip is so relaxing.
solve809 8 months ago
i think this ending is great. they just need to make a few changes towards the very end.
solve809 8 months ago
I liked this happy ending much better than that one on director's cut.
Cunhambebe 8 months ago
Terrible ending..
pgouy 8 months ago
Anyone know who made the music to this. I'm fairly sure it wasn't Vangelis for the first part.
GenesisKnights 8 months ago
@GenesisKnights No It's Vangelis all the way.
Hellercor 8 months ago
@GenesisKnights the entire soundtrack was vangelis.
solve809 8 months ago
Off they went, into What Lies Beneath...
MrAluminumJacket 8 months ago
this ending does suck balls... but I did enjoy watching it for the whole one minute of it...
djmana 8 months ago
The 'directors cut' really messed up a lot of good movies. The Blues Brothers was one of them too. Even cutting this ending of this movie made me think it was a mistake. Why do it? I bought the DVD to see the movie I saw in the theatre. At least make it a DVD special feature option.
rickrolltide 8 months ago
This is what happens when the studio decides to tamper too much with what the director wants.
Ridley Scott more or less was forced to shoot this happy ending, in addition to adding Harrison's voice all over the movie.
But this is nothing new, Alfred Hitchcock was forced to add "happy endings" to his movies or parts in which somebody explained what had happened (like the psychiatrist at the end of Psycho).
Terry Gilliams' "Brazil" had a happy ending for the American release too. Geez.
McLarenMercedes 8 months ago
In all there are 7 versions of Blade Runner ,Original workprint version ,San Diego Sneak Preview with 3 extra scenes,U.S. theatrical original version, The Criterion Edition with more violent action scenes, all released in 82 U.S. broadcast version 86 ,Director's Cut 91,and The Final Cut 2007. That's a long time to complete one movie that's a bit overrated IMO. And there may be an 8th version ,Bud Yorkin, the producer of Blade Runner, is now developing a sequel/prequel to the film.
s0undch4ser 8 months ago
Thank christ for the Final and Directors cut endings..this is horrible
reniisgod 8 months ago
so glad they left out ford's narration and this ending...the later version is far darker and disturbing and therefore so special!!!
TheFlik92 8 months ago
I guess he says: "Gaff (the origami guy) had been there and let her live. Four years he figured, he was wrong. Tyrell had told me Rachel was special, no termination day. I didn't know how long we'd have together ... who does.". Thanks to Hoodimann's correction, it makes sense now. I have to say too, that this ending is a bit squishy. It definitely left me with a good feeling upon my soul, but it really punched the whole movie industrial atmosphere in the face.
dzuxo 8 months ago
@datal624 lines are blurred
tehjizz 8 months ago