After reading the other reviews about the songs being replaced, I wasn't too keen about playing the copy I have. I don't remember if it's on VHS or DVD now, but I bought it off ebay some time ago and never got around to watching it. I saw this movie on TV back in the 70s - on our old family black & white. I've always been a fan of David Janssen, although this movie is probably the first time I really saw him. I probably watched Harry-O a few times, and later I saw Janssen in Jaqueline Susann's Once Is Not Enough, a guilty pleasure piece of trash I remember fondly due to the presence of Deborah Raffin and Mr. David Janssen.
Anyway, after reading the reviews - I clicked on this after one of my usual deviations searching for something else on IMDB, and saw the mention of the music being replaced. Even though it's just a short part of the intro, it's very important in establishing that Janssen's character lives in the past. I know that feeling well - my own father was like that, although not a WWII veteran, his brothers fought in the war. He was too old and too nearsighted at the time Pearl Harbor happened.
Anyway I'm pleased to report that as of this writing, Birds of Prey is available on Amazon Prime streaming for "free", as in no rental charge if you are already a member of Prime. And the opening scenes with the music are there. The picture quality is fairly soft - this appears to be an old print from syndication. But if any "remastered" or "cleaned up" versions are out there, they probably have replaced the music. Toby Halicki's widow utterly ruined the re-release of the original Gone In 60 Seconds - starring Halicki and most of his friends and family - by replacing ALL of the music and car engine sounds with false crap. The opening theme song is even gone, Halicki's friend Phil Katchaturian provided a country-blues style sound track that apparently Denise Halicki didn't want to pay for - she was a bit strapped after paying Nick Cage's salary for the ridiculous sequel. Anyway, this is a review of Birds of Prey.
Janssen's pursuit of bank robbers - in a helicopter with a hostage - is perhaps his best role, although I haven't seen them all. Helicopter stunts like this were not topped until the incredible, insane chase in Capricorn One. Janssen's character is likable and sympathetic - at least for those of us that grew up in a neighborhood of Boomer kids with Greatest Generation parents. I'm going to watch the rest of it now - I hit pause after confirming the music was there.
And they swam and they swam all over the dam!
Anyway, after reading the reviews - I clicked on this after one of my usual deviations searching for something else on IMDB, and saw the mention of the music being replaced. Even though it's just a short part of the intro, it's very important in establishing that Janssen's character lives in the past. I know that feeling well - my own father was like that, although not a WWII veteran, his brothers fought in the war. He was too old and too nearsighted at the time Pearl Harbor happened.
Anyway I'm pleased to report that as of this writing, Birds of Prey is available on Amazon Prime streaming for "free", as in no rental charge if you are already a member of Prime. And the opening scenes with the music are there. The picture quality is fairly soft - this appears to be an old print from syndication. But if any "remastered" or "cleaned up" versions are out there, they probably have replaced the music. Toby Halicki's widow utterly ruined the re-release of the original Gone In 60 Seconds - starring Halicki and most of his friends and family - by replacing ALL of the music and car engine sounds with false crap. The opening theme song is even gone, Halicki's friend Phil Katchaturian provided a country-blues style sound track that apparently Denise Halicki didn't want to pay for - she was a bit strapped after paying Nick Cage's salary for the ridiculous sequel. Anyway, this is a review of Birds of Prey.
Janssen's pursuit of bank robbers - in a helicopter with a hostage - is perhaps his best role, although I haven't seen them all. Helicopter stunts like this were not topped until the incredible, insane chase in Capricorn One. Janssen's character is likable and sympathetic - at least for those of us that grew up in a neighborhood of Boomer kids with Greatest Generation parents. I'm going to watch the rest of it now - I hit pause after confirming the music was there.
And they swam and they swam all over the dam!