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Anyone in UK have original Briggs intro version?

posted 17 years ago by duke-verity
21 replies | jump to latest

This is a request to anyone based in the UK who might have the original 1982 version of 'The Snowman', with the introduction by Raymond Briggs.

I have the other two versions (with the intros by David Bowie and Mel Smith), but it is Raymond Briggs's original intro that I am looking for. I would very much like a good copy from somebody living in the UK, ie: from an off-air recording transferred onto DVD, or from any good quality source.

If anyone has it, and thinks they might be able to supply me with a good DVD version of their recording, please can you drop me a message at my IMDB personal message box? I would be hugely grateful, and have some animated rarities in my own personal collection which I would be glad to exchange copies of in return. I'm London based, so UK post exchanges would be quite easy to arrange.

Thanks - duke.verity

[–] PurpleTiger 17 years ago

I have an old copy of it but no idea which intro it is - it's not David Bowie anyway but unsure whether it's Raymond Briggs or Mel Smith. It starts off with a guy walking towards some trees on a winter day and the voiceover talks about the night when he was younger that it snowed all night, and the next day he built the snowman... Even if this is the right one though it's on a video and was taped off the TV so probably is of no use to you, also I live in Ireland

[–] duke-verity 17 years ago

Yes, you are describing the original Raymond Briggs intro. Do you by any chance have the equipment to transfer it from tape on to recordable DVD? All you need in order to do this are a videotape player, a DVD recorder and a scart lead to connect them (via the 'Out' on the back of your video player, and the 'In' on the back of your DVD recorder). This is the easy way to transfer any old and rare video recordings on to DVD discs.

[–] PurpleTiger 17 years ago

Um, I'm not sure how to do it if we can... We have a DVD recorder and we're able to download stuff off our skybox onto DVDs with it, but I don't know how to do it with videos... My brother is visiting this weekend though and might be able to show me how to do it! It's not that great a recording anyway, I watched it to death when I was little

[–] wr_geoff4 17 years ago

I have that version on VHS (not taped off tv)

[–] duke-verity 17 years ago

Yes, I had already seen the Youtube download. Thanks anyway, but what I'm really after is a good quality DVD copy that somebody would be willing to send me.

[–] 17 years ago

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[–] duke-verity 17 years ago

I'm a UK resident. Thanks very much for taking the time to reply, but my preference is to find someone in the UK who has it and save a small fortune in postal exchange costs etc.

[–] 17 years ago

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[–] duke-verity 17 years ago

I already have two UK(European) versions on DVD, neither has the original Raymond Briggs intro. It is unavailable in the UK or Europe. Only the two later intros which I described in my first post are available here.

Thanks very much anyway, but please don't trouble yourself on my account. Hopefully I'll find sombody in the UK who recorded it off-air and kept it.

[–] duke-verity 17 years ago

Can anyone confirm (or deny) the report that the American region 1 NTSC DVD of 'The Snowman', distributed by Sony, has the Raymond Briggs intro that I'm looking for?

I would be grateful for first hand info on this. If it has that introduction, then that's a DVD I'll purchase.

[–] Link-Larkin 17 years ago

I bought the DVD of the snowman recently. And I was very disappointed that it was introduced by an animated Santa Clause, which I think is from another Raymond Briggs story. I already have a video where I recorded it from channel 4 years ago, and fortunatly that version has the Raymond Briggs intro. The Snowman is usually on channel 4, around Christmas Eve. Maybe if you wait til then, it might be the one you are searching for?

Young Hillary: Be sure to keep in touch C.C. ok?
Young C.C.: Well sure we're friends aren't we?

[–] duke-verity 17 years ago

The version they'll be showing on Channel 4 this year will be the one with the voice of Mel Smith introducing it as an animated Father Christmas. This is the version they've been screening since 2002, and this is the so-called 'Special Edition' version which is the one you have on DVD.

As far as I can tell, the original Raymond Briggs intro is only available on DVD in America. I'm considering buying it, but I'm looking for someone to confirm that this original intro is on there before I spend the money.

[–] Link-Larkin 17 years ago

I'm not sure about the Raymond Briggs intro on the American DVD. The intro was originally changed from Raymond Briggs to David Bowie for its American release. So I can't see why it would be Raymond on the DVD. It could be true though...

Young Hillary: Be sure to keep in touch C.C. ok?
Young C.C.: Well sure we're friends aren't we?

[–] duke-verity 17 years ago

There are conflicting reports on the American region one DVD from Sony. Apparently, although the blurb on the packaging mentions David Bowie, the version actually supplied has the original Raymond Briggs intro instead.

Ironically, the David Bowie intro is available in the UK on the double bill DVD 'The Snowman/Father Christmas', but not the Raymond Briggs one. The Americans have got our version and we've got theirs!

Anyway, do you have an old recording of the Raymond Briggs intro version on video? If you do, have you transferred it onto recordable DVD? If you have, I would be very grateful if you could supply me with a copy. I have some animated rarities in my collection which I would be happy to send copies of in exchange.

[–] yeti_chic 17 years ago

oh really? the raymond briggs one is on the region 1, US dvd? i can not tell from looking on amazon which one is the one w/ raymond speaking. can you or anyone else help? thanks so much!

p.s. i have the vhs version w/ raymond.

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[–] unknownghost 17 years ago

we have the orginal version of it on video i'm pretty sure, the one we've got on video we've had forever, i could have a look for you and stick it on dvd if so and i live in the uk.

[–] doughtywylie2 17 years ago

I live in Idaho, USA but am English. I picked up a copy of The Snowman video at the local thrift shop. I didn't recognize the narrator (sounded a bit like Alan Rickman to me) and came here to find out who it was. My version is the Raymond Briggs version from what I've read here. How strange that you would have such a hard time getting the original version in the UK. Sorry I can't help out and wish you the best of luck. Beautiful show and music.

[–] Jaffamc 13 years ago

Hi there,

If you are still looking for the original version I can tell you I have this on DVD. After a bit of detective work I managed to find it on a US region 1 DVD. I've had a look on amazon.com and it seems it is still available. It's listed as Raymond Brigg's The Snowman and the cover is the same picture that Imdb currently shows on the main Snowman page.

[–] dlg1-2 17 years ago

I have only today downloaded both versions, one has David Bowie at the start and the other has Raymond Briggs. It's only a very short intro from him and the quality isnt dvd perfect but is watchable :)

Im in the UK

http://public.fotki.com/dlg1/

[–] duke-verity 17 years ago

I'm the original poster who started this thread, and I would like to thank everybody who got back to me with offers to supply me with copies, or advice on how to acquire one.

I now have the original introduction, and I can now confirm (for anyone still looking for it) that the Region 1 NTSC DVD from Sony that was released last year (before Christmas 2006) has Raymond Briggs' original intro. This is not mentioned on Amazon, who advertise it as being the David Bowie intro. However, it is definitely the Raymond Briggs intro on the DVD.

I have heard that Sony are withdrawing this 2006 DVD (as soon as current supplies run out), and replacing it with the David Bowie intro A.S.A.P. So, anyone who wants the rare original should grab it up quickly before it disappears.

Thanks again to everyone who responded to this thread.

[–] 17 years ago

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