The quick and definitive history of Blade Runner

Early in the 21st Century, THE TYRELL CORPORATION advanced Robot evolution into the NEXUS phase -- a being virtually identical to a human -- known as a replicant। The NEXUS 6 Replicants were superior in strength and agility, and at least equal in intelligence, to the genetic engineers who created them. Replicants were used Off-world as slave labor, in the hazardous exploration and colonization of other planets. After a bloody mutiny by a NEXUS 6 combat team in an Off-world colony, Replicants were declared illegal on earth -- under penalty of death. Special police squads -- BLADE RUNNER UNITS -- had orders to shoot to kill, upon detection, any trespassing Replicants.

This was not called execution. It was called retirement.

LOS ANGELES
NOVEMBER, 2019
OK!! the other day I got into a discussion with a friend, lets call him Alex about the new release of Blade Runner he was under the impression that a version had just been released. We have had a running discussion about BR over the last 4 years. I'm a big fan and he doesn't understand what more there is to see, say or know about BR. I should mention that Alex actually owns a copy of "Future Noir: The Making of Blade Runner" by Paul M. Sammon as well as has a recorded from TV version of "On the Edge of 'Blade Runner' ". Both of which he loaned to me awhile back. Alex doth protest too much, methinks.

Anyhoo!! I thought I'd create the definitive list of the visual & soundtrack versions of the film that exists. I have steered clear of the content of Blade Runner for now. Allthough the following timeline is in chronological order I have indented the timeline where it was reto fitted.

1927 - German expressionist Fritz Lang creates Metropolis which feeds Ridley Scotts vision
1942 - Edward Hopper paints Nighthawks again this feeds Scotts bleek vision. Building on the dark atmosphere created by the death of Scott's just before the making of Blade Runner
1968 - Philip K. Dick writes "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?". This forms the backbone of Blade Runner. Martin Scorsese and Jay Cocks were both interested but they don't option it.
1973 - Herb Jaffe options
1973 - Robert Jaffe does a screenplay
1975 or 76 - Dan O'Bannon and Moebius give us the conceptual visual stylings from their "The Long Tomorrow" graphic novel.
1975-77 - Hampton Fancher gets involved. Failing to option William Burroughs’ Naked Lunch. Brian Kelly & Hampton Fancher finalise a deal.
1979 - Alan E. Nourse gives us the title Blade Runner from one of his books about smugglers of medical supplies.
1979 - William S. Burroughs writes "Blade Runner, a movie" loosely based on Nourse's story. Only the title was kept for the film.
1979 - Hampton Fancher completes his screenplay for Blade Runner called "Android" later changed to "Dangerous Days".
1980 - David Peoples rewrites it
March 9, 1981 - Photography starts
June 25, 1982 - Blade Runner is released

Thank you http://scribble.com for the following detail of each print.

1982 - US Denver/Dallas Sneak Preview/Workprint
1982 - US San Diego Sneak Preview
1982 - US Theatrical Release
1982 - European Theatrical and Laserdisc Release
1992 - Blade Runner The Director's Cut
2006 - Restored and remastered DVD version of the 1992 Director’s Cut
2007 - Blade Runner: The Final Cut
Cable TV Version
Video Version

US Denver/Dallas Sneak Preview/Workprint--70mm (113 min):
- Webster's 2012 definition of a replicant used in lieu of opening crawl
- voiceovers deleted except at Batty's death
- Bryant says TWO replicants were fried running through an electric field
- conversation between snake-maker and Deckard is different and matches their lips
- includes shot of nearly nude dancers in hockey masks outside Taffey's bar
- Batty says, "I want more life, father."
- Pris lifts Deckard up by his nostrils when she beats him up
- different voiceover used after Batty's death
- ends with the elevator doors closing
- shorter than other versions

This version was shown at the Fairfax Theater in 1990 and UCLA's Los Angeles Perspectives multimedia festival in 1991. This was also the print shown at a London sneak preview in March of 1982. A 35mm reduction of this version was later shown at the Nuart and Castro Theaters in 1991. There were rumours that THIS version was the original director's cut, but the official 1992 Director's Cut is not the same.

US San Diego Sneak Preview (115 min):
- shows Batty making a telephone call to see if Chew is there
- shows Deckard reloading his weapon after firing at Batty
- Deckard and Rachael ride into the sunset

[Source: Video Watchdog no. 20, November-December 1993.]

European Theatrical Release/Criterion Laserdisc/Videocassette (117 min):
- Batty sticks his thumbs in Tyrell's eyes, which bleed copiously.
- Pris lifts Deckard up by his nostrils when she beats him up.
- Deckard shoots Pris a third time.
- more of Pris kicking and screaming when she is shot by Deckard.
- shows Roy actually pushing the nail through his hand
- Deckard and Rachael ride into the sunset

The added violence makes this version about 15 seconds longer than the US theatrical release. The 10th Anniversary video edition is the same as this release.

The Director's Cut (BRDC) (117 min):
- voice-overs completely eliminated
- added dialog from blimp to cover missing voice-over while Deckard waits for a seat at the noodle bar.
- 12-second unicorn scene added when Deckard plays the piano
- happy ending deleted (movie ends with elevator doors closing)
- extra violence seen on videocassette deleted
- digital soundtrack was remixed for BRDC.

Cable TV [? min]:
When BR first appeared on American cable TV, there was an additional line of dialog when Bryant gives Deckard the description, names, and addresses of Tyrell and Sebastian over the radio. In the cable TV version, Bryant adds "...and check 'em out" after he says "I want you to go down there."

VIDEOTAPE (117 min):
All video tapes before January 1993 are the "Not Rated" version and contain the extra violence in the Euro-release that's not seen in the 117 minute American theatrical release.

Restored and remastered DVD version of the 1992 Director’s Cut:
Restored and remastered DVD version of the 1992 Director’s Cutwill debut in September in the U.S. and October in the UK for a special four-month limited release, after which it will be placed on moratorium by WHV.

Blade Runner: The Final Cut:
Later in 2007, to celebrate the film’s 25th anniversary, the studio will unveil Blade Runner: The Final Cut, Scott’s definitive new version of his science-fiction masterpiece. The film will be released theatrically in select major U.S. cities, followed by a multi-disc Special Edition DVD release which will also contain three alternate versions of Blade Runner: the Original U.S. Theatrical Cut, the Expanded International Theatrical Cut and the 1992 Director’s Cut. Ample, ground-breaking bonus features will also be included.