1982 advert in London's newspaper

An advert in a London newspaper for the film Blade Runner, for its London premiere on 9 September 1982. The film was shown in 70-mm and 6-track magnetic stereophonic sound presentation at the ABC Shaftesbury Avenue and the Warner West End cinemas at Leicester Square, as well as at the ABC Fulham Road cinema. The film was also shown in a reduced 35-mm film format at the ABC Bayswater and the ABC Edgware Road cinemas, with many cinemas in the UK opening from 12 September.

Unlike its UK lukewarm reception, Ridley Scott’s film connected with London’s filmgoers.

London's top 10 films, 1982

Blade Runner opened in London in September 1982 and it reached the top position at the box office in its first week. The film retained a strong showing and remained in London’s top-10 film list well into January 1983.

Sadly, the music from Blade Runner arrived when synthesiser-made music was not always welcomed. In the early 1980s, the powerful Musicians Union wanted to ban the use of the synthesiser instrument, for both live performances and their use on records.

This was particularly evident with regard to electronic music for films, where Vangelis’ name was centre stage during campaigns to demonstrate how a soundtrack like ‘Chariots of Fire’ - created by a one-man-orchestra - could deprive orchestras from potential film work.

The Musicians Union’s campaign aside, the Blade Runner score was not ignored by the British Film Institute. It received a nomination for a BAFTA alongside a BAFTA nomination for Vangelis’ score to Costas Gavras’ film Missing. He composed both film scores within the same year, as well as a third one entitled Pablo Picasso Painter - a documentary film about the great painter, directed by Frederic Rossif, which was aired on BBC 2 in October 1981.

ABC Holloway Road cinema, London. It’s seen here showing Blade Runner during its second-run and for the last time on June 22nd 1983, on the evening this historic Art Deco cinema closed its doors for good.

For Your Consideration

Even though the film was promoted in the media before its US release on June 25th 1982, the film was considered a commercial failure in the US.

It was quickly withdrawn from US cinema theatres after its first opening week.

Right: An advert for Vangelis in the United States printed in a film industry trade magazine. It read: Another Imaginative Score by Vangelis.

Blade Runner music record not available

The press release from Vangelis’ record company in 1982 stating no record will be made available. It explained most of Vangelis’ musical projects didn't become record releases:

The composer has from the start of his professional career, consistently diversified the nature of his work, undertaking numerous projects which have not automatically bacome record releases. In fact, actual discs represent only a small portion of his entire work.

Explaining his decision not to release an album Vangelis said in an interview conducted at his London studio for the press release:

The reason I chose to compose for films is because, just as with TV and the stage, it opens another form of expression for my music. I found Blade Runner a fascinating film and was excited to have the opportunity to interpret it musically. I realise it is natural for those who work in the marketing and selling side of the record business to assume that there should be an LP of the Blade Runner soundtrack as a follow-up to the success of Chariots Of Fire. Ideally, however, I believe that the onus of deciding whether a compostion translates to record must lie with the composer himself.

Vangelis' Themes - 1989

Film and music fans who wanted to hear the Blade Runner soundtrack had to watch the film at cinemas that showed Blade Runner on special screening evenings. It was not until October 1983 that the film was released (on videotape) to rent.

Things remained that way until 1989, when Vangelis created a compilation album which contained highlights of his previous compositions from film projects. The album was entitled ‘Themes’ and it featured three compositions from Blade Runner, two of them had been previously unreleased.

The first track was the music from the end titles of Blade Runner, and was at that time one of the most sought after pieces of music.

The second composition was the love theme featured in Deckard’s apartment. Its main melody was performed on a sax by Dick Morrissey, with Vangelis’ providing the musical backdrop on his synthesisers.

Themes attained chart success both in the UK and worldwide. It gave Blade Runner fans a unique opportunity to hear some of the original music from the phenomenal soundtrack.

Blade Runner, re-discovered

By 1993 Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner was gaining renewed interest, and soon there were plans for a worldwide re-release of the film. For the first time in 11 years the film was acknowledged by the media and film critics. The film’s story, performances, and artistic qualities were all re-examined, and this time the film was embraced by audiences around the world.

With renewed interest in Blade Runner and a brand new worldwide release underway, the public’s unrelenting fascination for the music score persisted. So in 1994 Vangelis responded by making the time to revisit his original score.

Vangelis remarked that in Blade Runner’s soundtrack it contained several short passages of music, which he considered inconceivable to separate from the visuals they supported. So instead he created an album which brought life to the poignant moments of the iconic film, and provided a seamless musical journey. Vangelis viewed this release as a personal album, and had approached it in a similar way to his solo albums. The album was entitled Blade Runner and was released in 1994.

BR redefined, 2007

Through the years the soundtrack from Blade Runner had gained a life of its own and acquired millions of admirers and loyal fans.

Thirteen years after the 1994 album release of Blade Runner the music was given an update in December 2007. Vangelis had found some additional material in his vaults which could be put on a second album. This new music was wholeheartedly welcomed by fans worldwide. The new set was called Blade Runner Trilogy, which also contained a third disc with a brand new album of music celebrating the film. This release coincided with the film being released in its final cut to commemorate its 25th anniversary.

Left: UK advert for high-definition discs of Blade Runner - The Final Cut, digitally remastered in 2007 including its 6 audio tracks. Although at the time of the film’s original release in 1982 it was poorly received worldwide, today Blade Runner is recognised and cherished as one of the most celebrated and iconic films of all time.

In 2008 Vangelis' soundtrack Blade Runner was performed live by The Heritage Orchestra at the Royal Festival Hall. Vangelis sent video material for the concert showing him at work at his Nemo Studios during the making of the music. Director Ridley Scott contributed the following text for the concert's programme: