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Comparison between the Dutch DVD from StudioCanal and the American Blu-ray from Fun City Editions
19 differences
Paradise, a Canadian production from 1982, was the film debut of 19-year-old Phoebe Cates, who that same year made an unforgettable appearance in a red bikini in Fast Times at Ridgemont High. In Paradise, you can actually see some full frontal nudity of her, and on top of that, a few additional close-ups of a double were added shortly before release. The erotic adventure film rode on the wave of success of The Blue Lagoon and besides Ms. Cates it also offers some pretty shots of Israel. In November 2024, the Blu-ray premiere was released in the US and, surprisingly, a longer version of the film was included. There were two* different versions before that: The German VHS ran for 88 minutes at PAL speed and was thus generally cut, including a few violent scenes. It was slightly shorter than the version released by StudioCanal / Universal in the Netherlands on DVD (91 minutes in PAL) and in Japan on LaserDisc (96 minutes in NTSC). This Dutch/Japanese version was cut on its own and also offered exclusive material and a few re-ordered scenes in the course of the film compared to both the German version and now the US Blu-ray. It is noteworthy at this point that the NL and Japan releases have an R-Rating card at the end. So that was probably the US theatrical version at the time, while other countries like Germany probably got the original version from Canada – but then made some individual trims on it. The new Blu-ray is now 102 minutes long and a label representative explained (from timestamp 16:01 min) that this material was included in the scanned original negative or OCN of the film. The only things that are longer are a few plot scenes, e.g. more attempts at shooting with David's bow or a somewhat annoying argument between him and Sarah (Cates) - during which you can see his bare bottom after all. However, there are no more such nude scenes of Cates. At least you can find something in the bonus material (hidden as an Easter Egg in the audio selection menu), because her bathing scene is available here again individually in open matte and, above all, much brighter and probably in the original form of the shot done during the day without night color filters. In combination with newly produced bonus material (and in the sold-out first edition also a booklet with essays and a slipcase), it's a really well-rounded package that can be clearly recommended to anyone interested.
Running times are arranged as follows: arranged
* Strictly speaking, there were actually four versions before the Blu-ray: the German DVD was based on a worn copy that runs a little shorter than the German VHS. The Japanese laserdisc, on the other hand, is particularly darkened in parts during nude scenes, and shots of exposed intimate areas have been blurred/fogged. We will discuss this censorship in a separate report. The US Blu-ray has two additional introductory notes and a different logo.
Blu-ray 16.7 sec longer
Here are also a few comparison images from the movie. Of course, open matte offers a clear advantage for the old SD version, but in most cases the 1.85:1 image section also looks absolutely harmonious and you don't miss anything essential. The colors in HD are now also a bit more natural.
The laserdisc version from Japan, which was included as a bonus with the Fun City release, is basically the same cut of the movie as on the StudioCanal DVD und also in open matte – but unfortunately it is extremely dark and often almost in black and white. It is of much poorer quality than the StudioCanal counterpart, and it also has burned-in subtitles and blur effects on Sarah's intimate area (and David's when they dive). The German DVD, by the way, is a completely different image master (and at least closer to the Blu-ray version), and the quality is even worse.
The penultimate full frontal nudity scene with Cates on the beach (in the main Blu-ray version from 61:35) is included as a bonus on the Blu-ray, again individually in the presumably original take from the shoot without the night filter added in all known versions. The excerpt stops before the underwater shots, which are already sufficiently bright in the known versions of the film.
Re-ordered scene 01:48-01:55 / 02:09-02:32 or 05:50-05:58 The Blu-ray offers additional shots of the bazaar and you can see Sarah walking around for the first time. Her companion Sir Geoffrey points out a fire-breather to her. Note: The scene is also included in its entirety in the German version with the corresponding original dubbing, as are a few of the missing parts from the StudioCanal DVD.
The StudioCanal DVD, on the other hand, shows the shot in which David comes around a corner, which actually doesn't come until about 4 minutes later. The Blu-ray is a little longer here at 05:57 at the end. The version only starts a little later with the shot of the fire-breather.
Blu-ray 15.5 sec longer Alternative 02:19-02:40 / 02:58-03:18 Strange: an alternative take of the flag-bearers going around the corner and how the sheikh then approaches Sarah. Only on Blu-ray is there another cut to Geoffrey, who angrily says that Sarah's father had these people whipped. DVD 1.4 sec longer
02:58 / 03:36-03:39 Sarah's amulet is seen again in close-up. 3.1 sec
As a last quick comment on differences in the older SD releases: About a minute later, there is another longer dialogue cut in the German version, which was completely included in the StudioCanal DVD. 04:50 / 05:36-05:38 Sarah can be seen briefly between shots of the market crier. 2.1 sec
04:55 / 05:43-05:58 After another shot of Sarah, which is now also included in the DVD version, the carny is seen again. As mentioned above, the shot of David follows. 14.8 sec
13:01 / 14:24-15:17 While all the old versions fade out to black and then fade back in the next morning, the Blu-ray shows a conversation between David and his parents (which, by the way, is also missing from the German version). The father says that they want to send him to a monastery. David is not pleased and his mother tries to calm him down briefly. The father then marvels at a formation of the stars and there is a soft fade to the scene in which they wake up the next morning, which is also included in the DVD version. 52.8 sec
20:20 / 22:54-23:32 Inside the cave, David leads Sarah and Geoffrey through a first room, briefly commenting on how amazing it all is. 37,3 sec
23:17 / 26:36-26:51 Another additional shot of David walking through the cave. 14,4 sec
38:31 / 42:42-43:19 David draws his bow earlier and fires a first shot unsuccessfully. He remembers Robin Hood and says that he now knows what he is doing wrong. His next attempt can also be seen in the shorter version. 36.7 sec
38:47 / 43:36-44:12 Dr. Peter arrives and returns the arrows to David, who thanks him and tries again. Dr. Peter moves out of the way and the next shot misses the target completely again. 36.5 sec
42:52 / 48:28-50:52 Sarah looks at the book for a while, grins a little and there's a soft fade-out. She has climbed a tree and throws coconuts down from there. David watches her and complains that she is getting food when it is actually his job. Sarah defends herself a little and he runs away screaming. Dr. Peter shakes his head. With a soft transition, it then continues with David taking a shower and continuing to be annoyed by the situation. Sarah notices this and is amused for a moment. 144.6 sec (= 2:25 min)
Alternative / Additional material on the StudioCanal DVD 46:40-47:14 / 54:50-54:53 After David has left Sarah standing there, you can see from a distance on the StudioCanal DVD how the sheikh and his entourage approach.
The Blu-ray, on the other hand, has an additional shot of Dr. Peter at the start of David's next archery attempt.
DVD 32.4 sec longer Alternative 63:02-63:05 / 71:21-71:24 While the Blu-ray shows the shot of the dromedary from behind is significantly longer, the DVD has a soft fade and the subsequent shot therefore begins significantly earlier. No time difference
Shortly afterwards, at 64:20 / 72:42, for example, there is this pattern again that only the DVD softly fades between two shots of Sarah, but here it is a little shorter. Additional material on StudioCanal DVDs 75:34-76:00 / 84:24 Before you see David playing the flute on a stone by the water, the DVD has another shot of the sheikh and his entourage approaching. + 26.6 sec
82:31 / 91:12-91:17 David wants Sarah to promise not to leave. She manages a not-quite-convincing “yes.” 5.2 sec
84:19 / 93:10-93:20 Of course David's first shot with the bow misses completely. He takes aim again. 10,8 sec
84:32 / 93:33-93:35 The sheikh is hit from the side in an additional shot and his face is seen again briefly in close-up. 1.5 sec
87:31 / 96:41-96:55 Sarah is still worried about the baby monkeys. David says he didn't think they would make it this far either. 14 sec
88:15 / 97:41-97:49 She says an emotional goodbye and David reassures her: It's better this way, after all, the apes belong in paradise. 7.9 sec
The credits run at a slightly different speed and, strangely enough, the Blu-ray version lacks the reference to the title song sung by Phoebe Cates herself between “Engineer” and “Titles & Optical Effects”. However, they have placed this here on a black background and the song continues to play for over a minute over a black screen. Not included in the change quantity/duration given above. Blu-ray 75.7 sec (= 1:16 min) longer
After the final MPAA R-Rating card (which appears in both versions), the Blu-ray has one more note.
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