Blade Runner’s American release date was June 25, 1982. It's now 41 years since I went to the advance screening of Blade Runner in Shaftsbury Avenue, London, organised by Alan McKenzie, editor of Marvel UK’s Starburst magazine, which coincidentally I ended up working on just one year later. There was a voucher printed inside the magazine that month and all that was required was to cut it out and take it along on the day; a Sunday if I remember correctly. Unfortunately and unexpectedly, hundreds of readers did exactly the same thing, and the queues went right around the block. Word had got around and people were travelling down from Scotland and from all over the country. There was concern that some of us weren't going to get in, but to save disappointment they opened up two of the screens and as they reached the end of the first reel in Screen 1, it was transferred to Screen 2 where the other half of the audience could watch it. The director, Ridley Scott was there to oversee this himself.
I was at Marvel that year on work experience and saw the second showing. It all went without a hitch. Amazing day, incredible film and it still stands up. Set in 2019 too – as you once said, we're living in the future!
Brilliant! I didn't know that story of the near-disastrous first showing of Blade Runner. I bet Alan was having kittens. Love the photos of Manko. Everything about them is perfect. Looking at that Youtube clip is a reminder of just how fabulous the visuals were on the movie, even though it was made over 40 years ago. It proves that genuinely innovative and beautiful art, whatever the medium, is about talent and imagination, not flashy tech.
Thanks, Dave! Yes, that film continues to inspire. So glad I got into that screening. Standing in that insanely long line was pretty traumatic, not knowing if we’d get in after driving all the way up to London.
Rian and i went to that advance screening back in 1982 at the Shaftsbury Odeon. A truly religious experience, we were in screen 1. I can still remember the hairs on my arms rising as the Alan Ladd logo appeared line by line and then the fireball reflected in the eye ball. Who'd have thought that 23 years later I'd be editing the Blade Runner comics.
I didn’t know that, David! I don’t think Rian ever mentioned it. Amazing! So we were all there at the very same time :) Great to hear that you’re editing the comics too!
I really enjoyed reading this, Blade runner and the Vangelis Soundtrack are still outstanding. Amusing expression on Vangelis' face! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks, Tim! x
I was at Marvel that year on work experience and saw the second showing. It all went without a hitch. Amazing day, incredible film and it still stands up. Set in 2019 too – as you once said, we're living in the future!
Thanks, John! I missed this comment. I didn’t realize you’d seen it around the same time, but of course you were already at Marvel UK.
Brilliant! I didn't know that story of the near-disastrous first showing of Blade Runner. I bet Alan was having kittens. Love the photos of Manko. Everything about them is perfect. Looking at that Youtube clip is a reminder of just how fabulous the visuals were on the movie, even though it was made over 40 years ago. It proves that genuinely innovative and beautiful art, whatever the medium, is about talent and imagination, not flashy tech.
Thanks, Dave! Yes, that film continues to inspire. So glad I got into that screening. Standing in that insanely long line was pretty traumatic, not knowing if we’d get in after driving all the way up to London.
Brilliant work and memories Steve! Tx
Rian and i went to that advance screening back in 1982 at the Shaftsbury Odeon. A truly religious experience, we were in screen 1. I can still remember the hairs on my arms rising as the Alan Ladd logo appeared line by line and then the fireball reflected in the eye ball. Who'd have thought that 23 years later I'd be editing the Blade Runner comics.
I didn’t know that, David! I don’t think Rian ever mentioned it. Amazing! So we were all there at the very same time :) Great to hear that you’re editing the comics too!
I really enjoyed reading this, Blade runner and the Vangelis Soundtrack are still outstanding. Amusing expression on Vangelis' face! Thanks for sharing.