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Release: Aug 29, 2025 - Author: Muck47 - Translator: Muck47
- external link: IMDB - more from this series
Comparison between the cut series version (2022 4K remastered US Blu-ray from Mill Creek) and the uncut film version (represented here by the UK Blu-ray, reconstructed based on the shorter 4K remastered HD master with inserts for the uncut scenes on the 2025 German Blu-ray from Plaion Pictures)
- 25 cuts A few additional master errors with a duration of < 0.5 sec each were not listed in the report.
In addition to Miami Vice, MacGyver and The A-Team, another crime series is a must when thinking of the glorious 80s: Tom Selleck went on the hunt for criminals as private detective Thomas Magnum in 8 seasons with 162 episodes from 1980-88. The German premiere was on ARD from 1984 to 1991, unfortunately in thoroughly cut form throughout, and some episodes were omitted entirely. In 1996, the series moved to RTL and was re-dubbed in its uncut versions. Only this RTL dub was released on DVD and by streaming providers such as Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video. Curiously, there was even a third dubbing by CIC on video for the start of the sixth season. In addition, there are six two-part episodes that were initially broadcast as slightly longer feature films and were then cut, each about 10 minutes shorter, both in later broadcasts and on some home cinema releases. This affected the pilot episode and the series finale in season 8, among others. In between, there were two crossover episodes with Simon & Simon and Murder, She Wrote, each of which exist in two versions.
Versions and picture details for the Blu-ray set from Plaion PicturesAll in all, there are a few things that an attentive label should consider when releasing a home cinema product – and Plaion Pictures has now remedied this in Germany with a 38-disc Blu-ray set available exclusively from the label shop (purchase link) from 17 July 2025. All different German dubs are available, and for the first time worldwide, all longer film versions are available in HD, and both versions of the crossover episodes are also included. In a few cases, there were even slight cuts in the previous DVDs, which are now no longer objectionable.  The latest US Blu-rays from Mill Creek (2022) already contained the 4K remastered scans now also used by Plaion as a basis, but with very poor compression and, above all, only the shortened syndicated/series versions of all episodes. Incidentally, here's what else we noticed about these US BDs and the originally delivered 4K remastered versions: Some of the season intros were incorrect, so that, for example, 15 episodes from season 2 and several from season 4 had the intro from season 1, or the pilot episode showed the intro that was only used from season 3 onwards, while the old HD masters all still had the correct versions for each respective season. This has also been corrected for the German box set. It was a nice mess, but Plaion Pictures finally gave it a happy ending. At this point, we would like to refer you to a particularly detailed review on the Blu-ray.com forum by our user DVD Schweizer, in which he meticulously examines the problematic release history in Germany and worldwide, sheds light on all possible details of Plaion's implementation, and shares many 1080p image comparisons (here an example from season 1). Equally worth reading is the detailed German review by smeagol in the Synchron-Forum, who supported Plaion in the “planning and design” and explains many exciting details about the audio tracks in particular.
A brief digression on the different soundtracks and crossover episodesRelevant for different versions cirulating but not so much for our international readers: The inclusion of the ARD (major German broadcaster "Das Erste") dubs is a minor coup because these were newly scanned from the ARD archive in a quality that is clearly superior to TV recordings. Since reruns in the early 90s, this had never been heard anywhere. Various VHS recordings by fans have circulated here over the years and have been presented as examples in YouTube comparisons, for example, but the sound has never been as clear as it is here. However, as mentioned above, the ARD versions were all cut heavily and these audio tracks were completed on the Plaion set with the RTL dub (which is of course also available separately in its entirety) wherever possible. Only in the episode Never Again ... Never Again from season 1 is the ARD version is available on Blu-ray as a second, slightly shorter version reconstructed from the HD master – as the original dub differed greatly in content due to the Nazi theme being toned down by ARD and the audio tracks could not be combined here in a meaningful way. On top of that, Plaion communicated shortly before release that the ARD audio of the very last episode suffered from “vinegar syndrome” and that fan assistance was needed to remedy the situation at the last minute.  The original stereo soundtracks of the RTL versions have now been completely reconstructed, whereas the DVD box sets for seasons 1 and 2 only contained mono soundtracks. A few episodes deserve special mention in this context, because the mono downmix of the DVDs also unnecessarily included short English dialogue. There were various reasons for this. In some cases, the scenes in question had not been edited in the past, but were simply not dubbed – even though Tom Selleck's mouth was clearly moving. Plaion has now discreetly “patched up” these scenes using the ARD dubbing. They also did this for an episode in season 8 that was cut by RTL and thus also for the DVD, but the missing bit was present in the ARD version. In other places, RTL had already thought about it at the time when short, unimportant sentences from off-screen by episode-specific minor characters were ignored, and here Plaion has again reconstructed RTL's “more meaningful” German track. In addition, Universal had messed up some moments on the DVDs that were originally present in the RTL dubbing but replaced them with bits of English audio, but here everything is back in German. In short: various sound errors from earlier releases have now been corrected. And yes, as mentioned at the beginning, the VHS third dubbing for episode 6x01 is also included. All in all, a comprehensive package. Also interesting and more relevant for international readers: The crossover episodes are now available in both versions for the first time. While the first broadcast had a kind of open ending that led directly into the corresponding episodes of Murder, She Wrote and Simon & Simon, the reruns had a closed ending. The original version is now available on the bonus disc from Plaion, with the final scene in the original version with subtitles. Last but not least, the episode Murder by Night from season 7 deserves a special mention, because as a tribute to old movie classics, it was originally shot mostly in black and white, which also works as a dream sequence for Magnum. However, all previous re-releases only contained a conventional color version. Plaion has reconstructed the original black-and-white version for the first time.
The cuts in the syndication version of episode 7x01: L.A.The fourth film episode with a shorter two-part syndication version for US reruns was shown at the start of season 7. The UK Blu-ray featured the original film version, while Mill Creek in the US later released the shortened version remastered in 4K. Plaion has now reconstructed the film version with the new 4K remastered image and inserts from the UK Blu-ray master. The cuts were mainly made in the first half. This time, there are also several small trims, some of which do not really seem intentional or may be due to the master. Once again, a few minor characters had to be cut from scenes, but Magnum's little battle with the technology in the modern car is actually quite amusing. Love interest Cynthia, who even almost marries Magnum in this episode, also gets a little less screen time, and towards the end of the second half, a small, more emotional scene between Higgins and TC is missing. As always, the film version is preferable.
Running times are listed according to the following scheme The film version has a short highlight reel at the beginning.
45.1 sec
The black screen immediately after the opening credits is a moment longer in the series version. Episode 1: 05:06 / 05:51-06:16 Magnum and Marti take longer to walk out of the airport and to a taxi stand. 24.6 sec
Episode 1: 05:47 / 06:56-07:00 TC raves about his player with more basefall jargon. 4 sec
Episode 1: 06:54 / 08:07-08:23 Marti's comedy performance is a little longer at the beginning. 16.2 sec
Episode 1: 07:14 / 08:43-09:17 And even more wild descriptions of the film 'Whores in Hell', with which Marti amuses the audience. 33.3 sec
Episode 1: 10:01 / 12:04-12:15 Magnum talks to Marti earlier about the pizza in front of them. 11.6 sec
Insignificantly longer black screen at 13:44 / 15:58. Episode 1: 16:26 / 18:40-18:41 Strange: Only an insignificant moment at the end of a shot is missing here. 1 sec
Episode 1: 20:28 / 22:45-23:42 After a few frames were lost here and there during the previous conversation, the end of the scene is missing, where Magnum is instructed by the on-board computer to fasten his seatbelt and lock the door. He continues his journey, during which he is supposed to check again whether all doors are locked. Magnum is annoyed by a car in front of him and can't find the horn. Instead, the on-board computer refers to the windshield washer fluid. He realizes once again, annoyed, that he is talking to a car, and a soft crossfade follows. 57.2 sec
Episode 1: 23:43 / 26:57-27:25 Here, there is a soft fade to an aerial shot. Magnum can now be seen driving around for a while. At the end, some voice-over commentary begins. 28 sec
Episode 1: 23:46 / 27:28-27:54 Magnum continues in the car. As mentioned, a voice-over commentary began immediately before, only in the film version, and continues here: Magnum is unfamiliar with the city and does not know whom to ask for assistance; the city noise also bothers him. On the positive side, however, he realizes that this means no one could even know that he is interested in the case. 25.4 sec
Insignificant black screen deviation in Episode 1: 24:45 / 28:53 . Episode 1: 25:29 / 29:37-29:40 Inside, Magnum nervously looks at the dogs outside and around him. 3.6 sec
Episode 1: 29:55 / 34:06-34:10 Lieutenant McKee says: “I can understand that you don't value my instructions.” 4.6 sec
Episode 1: 30:03 / 34:18-34:27 McKee asks Magnum for help and says he doesn't want to see him in the morgue again. 8.3 sec
Episode 1: 30:11 / 34:35-34:39 Magnum looks up and McKee hands him the note. 4.2 sec
Episode 1: 32:11 / 36:39-37:25 After the guards have run past the burning car, Magnum can still be seen scurrying through the garden. Suddenly, there is a hot tub in front of him and the blonde woman bathing in it speaks to him. She mistakes Magnum for the “sushi man” in the dark and says with relish that a bath in the rain is good for you. Magnum hurries on and she calls after him, irritated. 46,2 sec
Insignificant black screen deviation in Episode 1: 32:50-32:51 / 38:04 . Episode 1: 34:14 / 39:27-40:33 Cynthia says that Magnum should try it on to see if it fits. Magnum unpacks the shirt and comments on the sleeves. Then a report comes on TV in which the blonde from the hot tub talks about her encounter with the “frightening man” in a much more creepy way than it actually was. Magnum smiles and when Cynthia looks at him critically, he stammers that nothing happened and that she can trust him. 65.4 sec (= 1:05 min)
Alternative Episode 1: 34:33-34:36 / 40:52-42:28 In the film version, Magnum is still standing and calls Higgins, explaining somewhat rudely to Cynthia that there is only one person who knows about the papers and he wants to make sure he doesn't reveal anything. At Higgins' house, TC and Rick are busy discussing things in the background, so we only hear brief moments of this conversation and Higgins' phone call with Magnum. The phrase “dirty drug business” then startles TC and Rick. Higgins finally advises Magnum not to play the hero.
In the series version, there is instead an additional frontal shot of Magnum at the end of the scene.
Film version 92.6 sec (= 1:33 min) Episode 1: 35:39 / 43:31-43:34 The boy on the ground is visible for a little longer. 3 sec
Once again, there is a different black screen in Episode 1: 39:10 / 47:05-47:06 or, more precisely, the film version has an additional soft cross-fade here.
Episode 1: 39:54 / 47:50-47:53 The shot inside the car starts a little earlier. 3.1 sec
Episode 1: 40:59 / 48:58-49:01 Cynthia can be seen a little earlier. 2.8 sec
Episode 1: 41:10 / 49:12-49:15 Magnum also appears a little earlier afterwards. 2.7 sec
Episode 1: 43:33-44:12 / 51:38-51:40 The series version freezes the image at Magnum's “All right,” while the shot actually runs a moment longer. This is followed by “To be continued” and the credits for episode 1. Not included in the above overlap/difference. Series version 36.8 sec longer
Episode 2: 00:00-03:00 / 51:40 Episode 2 naturally begins again with the opening credits and a flashback. Not included in the overlap/difference listed above. Series version 180.2 sec (= 3:00 min) longer Immediately after that, the scene only has credits in the series version.
Episode 2: 07:35 / 56:15-56:16 A shot of Eddy begins slightly earlier. 0.7 sec
In Episode 2: 12:30-12:31 / 61:10, there is another insignificant black screen deviation. Episode 2: 19:15 / 67:56-68:23 After the minor collision, the girl actually gets out of the car and excitedly babbles on about all sorts of things. However, she has obviously not suffered any real damage, and after Magnum realizes this, he leaves her alone and continues the pursuit. The girl, still irritated, wonders if they need to exchange any information. 27.7 sec
Episode 2: 20:41 / 69:49-71:07 TC first calls the mother of the boy from his team. As he sits there dejected, Higgins arrives and says that sometimes no news is worse than bad news. He offers his further assistance and says goodbye. 78.4 sec (= 1:18 min)
Episode 2: 26:48 / 77:15-78:29 It starts earlier in Burt Reynolds' van. Cynthia talks about her former career aspirations, while Magnum is more interested in Burt's cookies. She talks about a former love affair, and Magnum says that it was mainly bad timing, because boys and girls have very different priorities at such a young age. 74.6 sec (= 1:15 min)
In episode 2: 30:35-30:37 / 82:16, there is another insignificant black screen deviation. Episode 2: 39:47-39:49 / 91:26-91:37 Magnum and Cynthia kiss a little longer, while the series version fades to black here. This is followed by an exterior view of the airport, and inside, things also start a little earlier. Original version 8.3 sec longer
Another insignificant black screen mini-difference before the credits. |
