U.K. Publicity Still #… uh…

Posted on 29th March 2023 in "Times Square"
1. Nicky Marotta (ROBIN JOHNSON) is arrested. A scene from "TIMES SQUARE" distributed by COLUMBIA/EMI/WARNER Film Distributors. 1. Nicky Marotta (ROBIN JOHNSON) is arrested. A scene from "TIMES SQUARE" distributed by COLUMBIA/EMI/WARNER Film Distributors. (Number is given as "1" in caption on reverse; there is already a "1" in the series; the number also appears possibly to be a "7" which also is already present in the series.)

1. Nicky Marotta (ROBIN JOHNSON) is arrested.
A scene from “TIMES SQUARE” distributed by COLUMBIA/EMI/WARNER Film Distributors.

The black and white 8 x 10 stills released in England tend to have a lot of things in common, but the attributes are not absolute… Most of them, but not all, are full-bleed, with no borders. Many of them, but not all, have a caption pasted to their backs. Most, but not all, have a tiny number inset near the bottom. In at least one case, two nearly-identical photos with the same number are cropped slightly differently, and the number inset is visibly different and in a different spot, implying that they came from two different print runs.

For this shot of Nicky being hassled by the man, the caption pasted to the back clearly numbers it as 1.
1. Nicky Marotta (ROBIN JOHNSON) is arrested. A scene from "TIMES SQUARE" distributed by COLUMBIA/EMI/WARNER Film Distributors. Reverse of a black and white 8x10 publicity shot from TIMES SQUARE (1980), distributed in the U.K., with pasted slip of paper bearing the photo caption. (Number is given as "1" in caption on reverse; there is already a "1" in the series; the number also appears possibly to be a "7" which also is already present in the series.) The only problem with that is, there’s already a #1, that came in the UK press kit. There’s a number inset on this picture, but I’m damned if I can make head or tail of it. It could be a 1… it could be an upside-down 7 (but there already is a 7)… I’ve decided it’s a screwy-looking 2. (The problem with that is, there was a 2 in the press kit, just not in the copy I have, and its description is not this photo.)

On the other hand, I do have two different photos both very clearly numbered 4. I’ll leave this one as 2 for the time being, and if a different 2 turns up I’ll make it a second 1. But, as the only person I know of trying to keep track of this stuff, I reserve the right to change my mind about this at any moment on a whim.

For what it’s worth, I have 22 numbered photos from this British publicity blitz. The highest number I have is 41. So, hard as it is to believe, there are still at least nearly 20 Times Square publicity stills that apparently no one in this century has seen…
 

 

Would you like to know more?
15 or 16 UK Promo Photos
UK Promo Photos 4, 13, and 21, 1980-81
UK publicity still #22
UK Promo Photos 20 and 26, 1980-81
UK Promo Photo #29
More stills from the UK series
 

[Maybe I just do another roundup post of these… someday…]

 

Times Square ©1980 StudioCanal/Canal+

 

Kinejun No. 814, June 15, 1981

Posted on 19th December 2021 in "Times Square"

Kinejun / Kinema Junpo / Motion Picture Times No. 814, June 1981. Japanese movie magazine featuring article on TIMES SQUARE, and advertisement on back cover.

 

 

 

Kinema Junpo (Kinejun, Motion Picture Times) devoted three pages to a promotional Times Square article in its June 15, 1981 issue, for the film’s Japanese opening on June 21. The text would appear to be the usual brief synopsis, with a list of some of the cast and crew. The small inset on page 203 is, I think, an ad with showtimes, though it might be a brief review. Please, as I’ve said before, I don’t speak or read Japanese, and dammit neither does Google Translate, so if anyone wants to contribute a translation, I’ll be here.

The photos used are all also found in the Japanese souvenir program book.

 

The back cover is a reproduction of the first chirashi, with the announcement of one show on 6/20. I don’t know if that’s a special premiere or if I’ve had the opening date wrong this whole time.

TIMES SQUARE advertisement on back cover of Kinejun / Kinema Junpo / Motion Picture Times No. 814, June 1981.
 

 

Kinejun No. 814, June 15 1981, Japan (magazine (periodical) (AAT ID: 300215389))
26 x 18 cm. (work);
1981-06 Kinejun no 814 cover_1080p.jpg
1080 px (H) x 767 px (W), 96 dpi, 398 kb
Kinejun_814_198106_p23_layers_1080p.jpg
1080 px (H) x 725 px (W), 96 dpi, 363 kb
Kinejun_814_198106_p24_1080p.jpg
1080 px (H) x 733 px (W), 96 dpi, 383 kb
Kinejun_814_198106_p25_1080p.jpg
1080 px (H) x 722 px (W), 96 dpi, 354 kb
Kinejun_814_198106_p203_1080p.jpg
1080 px (H) x 731 px (W), 96 dpi, 489 kb
1981-06 Kinejun no 814 back cover_1080p.jpg
800 px (H) x 767 px (W), 96 dpi, 567 kb
(images)
 
©1981 Kinema Junpo Sha Ltd
Times Square ©1980 StudioCanal/Canal+

 

Times Square chirashi, Japan, 1981 (2nd version)

Posted on 10th November 2021 in "Times Square"

A second small 2-sided promotional poster for TIMES SQUARE from Japan, 1981.
Was it the Japanese distributor being one of those who went all-in on promoting Times Square, or was it par for the course in Japan for a movie like Times Square to get not one but two of these 2-sided handbills? Either way, here is a second chirashi. The first one was a replica of the Japanese movie poster; this one’s design seems more based on the program book. A second small 2-sided promotional poster for TIMES SQUARE from Japan, 1981.As before, I have no real idea what the text says, but it seems to be a very detailed synopsis with a bit of production history and a plug for the soundtrack — exactly what you’d expect on something like this.

 

 

Would you like to know more?
Times Square promotional flyer, Japan, 1981
Times Square movie poster, Japan, June 1981
Times Square Program Book, Japan, June 1981 (post 1 of 5)
Times Square Program Book, Japan, June 1981, pages 8-11 (post 2 of 5)
Times Square Program Book, Japan, June 1981, pages 14-19 (post 3 of 5)
Times Square Program Book, Japan, June 1981, pages 20-24 (post 4 of 5)
Times Square Program Book, Japan, June 1981, pages 12-13 (post 5 of 5)

 

Times Square [2nd chirashi]
Japan : handbill : AAT ID: 300027033 : 26.9 x 19 cm. : 1981 (work);
TIMES SQUARE Chirashi variant Japan 1981 front_1080p.jpg
1080 x 767 px, 96 dpi, 533 kb
TIMES SQUARE Chirashi variant Japan 1981 back 1080p.jpg
1080 x 763 px, 96 dpi, 537 kb (images)

 

Times Square ©1980 StudioCanal/Canal+

 

comments: 0 » tags: , , ,

“Damn Dog” 12-inch single

Posted on 19th September 2021 in "Times Square"

"Damn Dog" 12-inch single-sided single, Belgium, 1980, RSO 2812 062. Front cover with record label visible.  Text:  LIMITED EDITION  NOT FOR SALE  RSO 2812 062  FROM THE MOVIE TIMES   SQUARE   RSO  NOT FOR SALE - PROMOTIONAL COPY  (P) 1980  45 RPM  SABAM  2812 062 A  STEREO  The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack  «T!MES SQUARE.. DAMN DOG (B. Mernit/J. Brackman) ROBIN JOHNSON Producer Bill Oakes  (P) 1980 RSO Records, Inc.  ALL RIGHTS OF THE MANUFACTURER AND OF THE OWNER OF THE RECORDED WORK RESERVED UNAUTHORISED PUBLIC PERFORMANCE BROADCASTING AND COPYING OF THIS RECORD PROHIBITED   "DAMN DOG" Robin Johnson  Motion Picture distributed by  Excelsior Films Belgium  From the Original Soundtrack on RSO Records & Tapes  Distributed by  Polygram Records nv/sa  Polydor Division
You too might have had perhaps Robin’s only solo release, if you were a DJ… in 1981… in Belgium.

Back cover of the "Damn Dog" 12-inch single-sided single, Belgium, 1980, RSO 2812 062  Text:  PROMOTIONAL COPY  RSO 2812 062  TIMES SQUARE  A Special D.J. release  PRINTED IN BELGIUM BY DRUCO HALLEThe mind boggles at the series of meetings that must have occurred to result in the decision that this was a good idea. A 12-inch single of “Damn Dog”… but not a remix or extended version… and on the other side, absolutely nothing. In order to promote the movie Times Square and Robin Johnson, a sleeve with no pictures at all. The only single release of a song written and performed just for film, released exclusively to the Belgian market. It seems like overkill while simultaneously being half-assed.


Belgium did get its own version of the European poster, and at least one promotional magazine article. I guess this is just one more inexplicable piece of evidence of the high hopes RSO had for Times Square worldwide, when the decades since have shown that they had no real clue what they were trying to sell, or to whom.

 

 

Robin Johnson, “Damn Dog,” single-sided 12-inch 45-rpm phonograph record (AAT ID: 300028643), Belgium, 1981; 12 in. x 12 in.; RSO 2812 062 (P) 1980 RSO Records, Inc. (work)
1981_Damn_Dog_12-inch_single,_Belgium_cover_1080p.jpg, 1082 px (H) x 1080 px (W), 96 dpi, 420 kb;
1981_Damn_Dog_12-inch_single,_Belgium_cover_back_1080p.jpg, 1084 px (H) x 1080 px (W), 96 dpi, 194 kb;
1981_Damn_Dog_12-inch_single,_Belgium_side_1_1080P.jpg, 1081 px (H) x 1080 px (W), 96 dpi, 842 kb;
1981_Damn_Dog_12-inch_single,_Belgium_side_2_1080p.jpg, 1080 px (H) x 1080 px (W), 96 dpi, 553 kb (images)

 
Times Square ©1980 StudioCanal/Canal+

 

Jackie No. 884, 13 December 1980

Posted on 25th March 2021 in "Times Square"


 

Join the Professionals…

 

The December 13, 1980 Jackie led off their “Hot Gossip” section on page 36 with a promotional piece for the Times Square soundtrack album, attached at the layout to a promo piece for the debut album by The Professionals, providing the extremely tenuous and only known link between Times Square and Ladies and Gentlemen, The Fabulous Stains.

 

Jackie No. 884, December 13, 1980, p. 26 reviews of the TIMES SQUARE soundtrack and the first Professionals album.  Text:  HOT Gossip More hot news about your pop TV and film favourites.  AHEAD OF OF TIMES  “Times Square" is a double album that will add a bit of everything to any record collection.  The album is the sound track of the movie of the same name, and if the track listing is anything to go by then the film must be dynamite too.  To list all the bands contributing to the album would probably take up the whole Hot Gossip page, but to give you a taste of what’s in store, here’s just some of the top names included: the Pretenders, Roxy Music, Gary Numan, Joe Jackson, XTC, Suzi Quatro and a host of others.  Whetted your appetite? Then get hold of a copy now — it’s on the. RSO label.  [photo caption] Nicky, one of the main characters from the movie.

 

HOT Gossip
More hot news about your pop TV and film favourites.

AHEAD OF OF TIMES

“Times Square” is a double album that will add a bit of everything to any record collection.

The album is the sound track of the movie of the same name, and if the track listing is anything to go by then the film must be dynamite too.

To list all the bands contributing to the album would probably take up the whole Hot Gossip page, but to give you a taste of what’s in store, here’s just some of the top names included: the Pretenders, Roxy Music, Gary Numan, Joe Jackson, XTC, Suzi Quatro and a host of others.

Whetted your appetite? Then get hold of a copy now — it’s on the. RSO label.

[photo caption:] Nicky, one of the main characters from the movie.

There’s nothing here we haven’t seen before. The picture is an edited version of #34 from the UK series of publicity stills.

 

Would you like to know more?
“34”

 

 

Ahead of of times (article (AAT ID: 300048715));
Jackie no. 889, December 13, 1980, p. 26; England (magazine (periodical) (AAT ID: 300215389))
34.5 cm (H) x 26 cm (W) (work);
Jackie 884 December 13 1980 cover_1080p.jpg
1080 px (H) x 812 px (W), 96 dpi, 636 kb
Jackie 884 December 13 1980_p26_detail._1080p.jpg
1080 px (H) x 1356 px (W), 96 dpi, 816 kb
(images)
 

 

©1980 D. C. Thomas & Co., Ltd.
Times Square ©1980 StudioCanal/Canal+

 

UK publicity still #22

Posted on 27th February 2021 in "Times Square"

Robin Johnson as Nicky Marotta perming "Damn Dog" under the name Aggie Doone in TIMES SQUARE (1980)

 

Just what it says on the tin. This is the same basic image as would later be published in the Thai magazine Filmstar Vol. 1 No. 3 in August 1981, and used as a publicity still in Germany in 1982. The German version has a tiny number 22 inserted at the bottom like the UK series of photos, which is what led me to suspect that it was derived from a UK still; however, this still, although it’s of overall better quality than the German one, has no number on the front. Instead, it has “22” handwritten on the back in blue ink, and is stamped “MASTER” across the front. Perhaps it was the last copy in the file, used as a reminder of what went in there when more were printed? I have no idea. I do know that it shows less of Robin’s left hand than the Thai version, and less at the bottom than the German one. In fact, the number 22 would disappear if the German one was cropped like this one. It also shows less at the top than the German version, but more of Trini’s knee and hand at the left.

So, although this is the best version of this shot yet to turn up, none of them yet contain the full image from the negative. For whatever that’s worth forty years later.

 

 
Would you like to know more?
15 or 16 UK Promo Photos
More stills from the UK series
 

 

 

[TIMES SQUARE UK publicity still #22]
black-and-white photograph, AAT ID: 300128347
UK, 1981 ; 8 x 10 in. (work)
TIMES SQUARE UK publicity still 22_1080p.jpg
1080 px (H) x 863 px (W), 96 dpi, 332 kb (image)

 

Times Square ©1980 StudioCanal/Canal+

 

Times Square premiere ticket, 14 October 1980

Posted on 5th February 2021 in "Times Square"

TIMES SQUARE premiere ticket  Text   Robert Stigwood presents TIMES SQUARE Ziegfeld Theater, 54th St. & Avenue of the Americas Tuesday, October 14th -- 7:30 p.m. a special premiere to benefit the Police Athletic League  Orchestra Row M Seat 16The Ziegfeld Theater was a Brutalist concrete cube in the middle of 54th Street. Inside, it was New York City’s last great movie palace. Times Square played there for two weeks starting October 17, 1980. The Tuesday before that, the movie had its world premiere there, followed by a gala party at Tavern on the Green.
 

Row M was about halfway back. Seat 16 was the second-to-last, all the way on the right. There were no bad seats at the Ziegfeld, but this was far from the best. This post contains no Robin content, except for the historical fact that she was there that night.

 

 

[Times Square premiere ticket]
admission ticket, AAT ID: 300133073
USA ; 10.3 x 23 cm. (work)
TIMES SQUARE premiere ticket 1080pw.jpg
490 px (H) x 1080 px (W), 96 dpi, 267 kb (image)

 

Times Square ©1980 StudioCanal/Canal+

 

Fotogramas No. 1650, March 25, 1981

Posted on 14th January 2021 in "Times Square"

Cover of Fotogramas no. 1650; March 25, 1981; Periodical; 30.2 x 21.5 cm; a Spanish film magazine containing an article on TIMES SQUARE (1980)

 

 

Two months before Times Square opened in Spain, the film magazine Fotogramas ran the same kind of promotional article we’ve seen in Mexico, Thailand, and Germany. The article contains nothing new, but four of the six stills from the film never appeared anywhere else as far as I know, including an almost unrecognizable close-up of Robin. It’s a shame they weren’t printed better.

TIMES SQUARE

EL MUSICAL DE LAS “TEEN-AGERS”

«Times Square» es el corazón de Manhattan, la isla donde se asienta parte de la fantástica urbe neoyorkina. También es el nombre del último musical producido por Robert Stigwood, en cuyo currículum profesional hay títulos teatrales como «Hair», «Jesús Christ Superstar», «Pippin», «Oh! Calcuttal», «Evita» y «Sweeney Todd», y cinematográficos como «Jesús Christ Superstar», «Tommy», «Fiebre del sábado noche», «Grease» y «Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band». Toda una garantía a la hora de presentar este último musical «Times Square».

La historia de la película puede reducirse a unas líneas: Nicky Marotta (Robín Johnson) y Pamela Pearl (Trini Alvarado) son dos adolescentes rebeldes, la primera un producto de la calle y la segunda de una familia influyente. Juntas escapan de sus habitaciones en un hospital psiquiátrico, se hacen con una ambulancia y comienzan una serie de aventuras salvajes en el corazón de Nueva York. Estas tienen su eco en la información que a través de toda una noche va dando el disc jockey Johnny Laguardia (Tim Curry), quien a través de las ondas las va animando convirtiéndolas en pequeñas celebridades de la noche a la mañana. Su escapada tiene una conclusión dramática en la fachada de un cine de Times Square, mientras desde la calle cientos de sus seguidores les rinden, identificados, su tributo.

En estos tiempos en que los «soundtracks» de películas se encuentran entre los discos más populares del mercado, el doble álbum de «Times Square» destaca como una antología de canciones interpretadas por algunos de los mejores artistas del «rock» de nuestros días: Suzi Quatro, The Pretenders, Roxy Music, Gary Numan, The Talkin Heads, Joe Jackson, Patti Smith, Lou Reed, The Ramones, Robín Gibb, etcétera.

A destacar también la presencia en el reparto del film de Trini Alvarado y Tim Curry. La primera, uno de los talentos juveniles a tener en cuenta del cine americano, debutó en «Rich Kids», un film producido por Robert Altman que dirigió Robert M. Young, el autor de «Short Eyes» y «Alambrista». Desgraciadamente y pese a lo interesante de su trabajo, nadie se ha acordado aún de distribuir este largo-metraje de Young en nuestro país. Volviendo a Trini, la chica es de origen portorriqueño, aunque de padre español. Profesionalmente se inició junto a sus padres, él guitarrista y ella bailarina, en una troupe flamenca antes de rebelarse como actriz en la obra «Runaways».

Tim Curry es más conocido entre nosotros. De su breve filmografía nos ha llegado al menos «The Rocky Horror Picture Show», donde interpretaba al protagonista, el loco y travestido «doctor».

Robín Johnson, 16 años, la coprotagonista femenina junto a Trini Alvarado, es una cara totalmente nueva que debuta en este film de Alan Moyle. Fue descubierta por un cazatalentos de la productora de Stigwood en las escalinatas de la Brooklyn Technological High School. Hasta entonces nunca había pasado por su cabeza la idea de dedicarse al cine.

TIMES SQUARE

THE MUSICAL OF THE “TEENAGERS”

“Times Square” is the heart of Manhattan, the island where part of the fantastic New York City sits. It is also the name of the latest musical produced by Robert Stigwood, in whose professional curriculum are theatrical titles such as “Hair”, “Jesus Christ Superstar”, “Pippin”, “Oh! Calcutta!”, “Evita” and “Sweeney Todd”, and movies such as “Jesus Christ Superstar”, “Tommy”, “Saturday Night Fever”, “Grease” and “Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band”. A guarantee when presenting this latest musical “Times Square”.

The story of the film can be reduced to a few lines: Nicky Marotta (Robín Johnson) and Pamela Pearl (Trini Alvarado) are two rebellious teenagers, the first a product of the street and the second from an influential family. Together they escape from their rooms in a psychiatric hospital, steal an ambulance and begin a series of wild adventures in the heart of New York. These are echoed in the information that through the entire night is given by the disc jockey Johnny Laguardia (Tim Curry), who through the airwaves is cheering them on, turning them into little celebrities overnight. Their escape has a dramatic conclusion on the marquee of a cinema in Times Square, while from the street hundreds of their followers pay them, now identified, their tribute.

In these times when the “soundtracks” of movies are among the most popular albums on the market, the double album of “Times Square” stands out as an anthology of songs interpreted by some of the best artists of current rock: Suzi Quatro, The Pretenders, Roxy Music, Gary Numan, The Talking Heads, Joe Jackson, Patti Smith, Lou Reed, The Ramones, Robin Gibb, and so on.

The cast also includes Trini Alvarado and Tim Curry. The first, one of the young talents to take into account of American cinema, debuted in “Rich Kids, a film produced by Robert Altman, directed by Robert M. Young, the author of “Short Eyes” and “Alambrista”. Unfortunately and despite the interest of his work, no one has yet agreed to distribute this full-length film of youth in our country. Returning to Trini, the girl is of Puerto Rican origin, although with a Spanish father. Professionally she started with her parents, he a guitarist and she a dancer, in a flamenco troupe before breaking out as an actress in the play “Runaways”.

Tim Curry is better known to us. From his brief filmography we have at least “The Rocky Horror Picture Show”, where he played the protagonist, the crazy transvestite “doctor”.

Robín Johnson, 16, the female co-star with Trini Alvarado, is a totally new face who debuts in this film by Alan Moyle. She was discovered by a scout from the Stigwood production company on the steps of Brooklyn Technological High School. Until then, the idea of working in films had never crossed her mind.

 

 

Times Square : el musical de las “teen-agers” (article (AAT ID: 300048715));
Fotogramas No. 1650, March 25, 1981, Spain (monthly (publication) (AAT ID: 300311879))
30 x 21.5 cm; 64 p. (work);
Fotogramas no 1650 1981-03-25 cover 1080px.jpg
1080 px (H) x 770 px (W), 96 dpi, 569 kb
Fotogramas no 1650 1981-03-25 p56-57_1080px.jpg
1080 px (H) x 1531 px (W), 96 dpi, 1.1 MB
Fotogramas no 1650 1981-03-25 p58_1080px.jpg
1080 px (H) x 760 px (W), 96 dpi, 521 kb
Fotogramas no 1650 1981-03-25 p56_photo_1_of_6_800px.jpg
610 px (H) x 800 px (W), 96 dpi, 411 kb
Fotogramas no 1650 1981-03-25 p56_photo_2_of_6_800px.jpg
800 px (H) x 499 px (W), 96 dpi, 332 kb
Fotogramas no 1650 1981-03-25 p56_photo_3_of_6_800px.jpg
800 px (H) x 504 px (W), 96 dpi, 328 kb
Fotogramas no 1650 1981-03-25 p56_photo_4_of_6_800px.jpg
414 px (H) x 800 px (W), 96 dpi, 302 kb
Fotogramas no 1650 1981-03-25 p56_photo_5_of_6_800px.jpg
661 px (H) x 800 px (W), 96 dpi, 483 kb
Fotogramas no 1650 1981-03-25 p56-57_800px.jpg
528 px (H) x 800 px (W), 96 dpi, 310 kb
(images)
 

 

©1981 FOTOGRAMAS
Times Square ©1980 StudioCanal/Canal+

 

comments: 0 » tags: , , ,

Times Square promotional t-shirt, c. October 1980

Posted on 5th December 2020 in "Times Square"

TIMES SQUARE promotional t-shirtTIMES SQUARE promotional t-shirt, back

 

 

 

Never sold at retail, as far as I can determine, this t-shirt would have been distributed to radio stations and theater owners to be given away as prizes along with free tickets and passes like the buttons were, or perhaps just as gifts for the DJs to make them a bit more inclined to play songs from the soundtrack and maybe mention there was a movie involved, like the mirror had been.

 

 

 

Either way, this was the extent of the Times Square clothing line. I used to have two more of these, both size “small” (and thus impossible for me to even consider wearing), one without the “I’m a damn dog!” on the back. One I gave to a friend, I think, and the other just disappeared over the years. Another friend once told me that she’d found a sweatshirt with these same decorations, but I never saw it for myself.

 

This one is a “large”, and I don’t know if it’s shrunk over the years, or if t-shirt sizes are just more generous than they used to be, but I generally wear a “medium” nowadays and this “large” shirt fits me like a spandex superhero costume. Not completely unflattering, as long as I don’t breathe in or sit down, but bloody difficult to take off without stretching it out of shape.

 

The eagle-eyed among you may have noticed there’s no Robin content in this post. I am 100% certain she never owned one of these, and would never have been caught dead wearing one.

 

 

[TIMES SQUARE promotional t-shirt] (T-shirt AAT ID: 300209903)
black ; cotton ; size Large ; 65 cm long x 42 cm wide
text on front: TIMES SQUARE™ | AFD | ©1980 Associated Film Distribution
text on back: “I’M A DAMN DOg!”
934 px (W) x 1080 px (H), 96 dpi, 235 KB (image of front)
960 px (W) x 1080 px (H), 96 dpi, 268 KB (image of back)

 

Times Square ©1980 StudioCanal/Canal+

 

comments: 0 » tags: , ,

Times Square trailer, U.S. version

Posted on 17th October 2020 in "Times Square"
“Words cannot express the sheer unbelievability of this …”

 

I’m nowhere near ready to post this. I wanted to have the best possible picture, and a post that had something a little more weighty to say about it… but it’s the 40th anniversary of Times Square’s general release today, and the 4K Blu-ray we were told was coming hasn’t appeared… so, happy anniversary.

As far as I know, with the exception of a select few people (myself not among them), this hasn’t been seen since Times Square’s initial run on cable TV. Starting about a minute in, it’s a very different edit from the later UK trailer that appeared on the Anchor Bay DVD in 2000. The most important difference is, this one contains the only surviving bit of the legendary lost footage, a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it second of Nicky and Pammy splashing in the Hudson River on the Jersey side, with the George Washington Bridge in the background. I vividly remember watching every showing of Times Square on HBO, wondering how I kept missing that scene… it took years to figure out.

This also doesn’t quite match up to my memory of the trailer as I saw it on HBO, so it’s possible there was a special cable edit too… but it’s more likely that my memory of 39 years ago isn’t entirely trustworthy, especially since I’ve established that Times Square wasn’t shown on HBO in 1981. It was on The Movie Channel.

I may upload an improved version of this at some point, with some actual discussion about it. But for now, I give you the American trailer for Times Square:

 

 

Times Square ©1980 StudioCanal/Canal+

 

comments: 1 » tags: , , ,