Why is it that the key of movie music scores has a semitone difference in key in different versions?

Question

I've noticed that in different versions of the same film, there is a semitone difference in key. For example, the score might be in the key of C major but, in a different version, it might be in C# major. It usually seems to be the case that the original score has the lower key. For example the Little Women theme (by Thomas Newman) appears to be in the key of G major but I own a DVD of the movie where the theme is in G# major. Why is this?

Answer 1

It could be that the movie has been sped up. There is a technology that keeps the pitch from going up, but that to me seems the most likely scenario.

Bear in mind, though, that published music is often in a different key than the original.

(BTW, there is no such key as "G# major". Well, in theory there is, but in reality it would be A-flat.)

Answer 2

As the previous poster said, the cause is almost certainly that the films are playing at different speeds.

In particular NTSC (North America) and PAL (Europe) video play at different speeds, so if you switched from watching a Region 1 to watching a Region 2, say, you'd find the running time was a bit shorter. The higher frequency would set the key up a notch.

On the other hand, I've noticed sometimes with DVDs that have more than one track (eg the regular audio track and a commentary track), there is a semitone or so difference between the music on the two tracks. Now, why that would be, I have no idea!

Answer 3

The Union consistently(White Stripes) & Citizen Kane nicely there is often the Misty Mountain Hop & LOTR. yet another in demand is "Soma" by the Strokes, stimulated by courageous New international. i assume Im kinda dishonest with the final 2 because of the fact they have been stimulated by the unconventional & no longer the action picture. BQ: Scott Pilgrim vs. the international BQ2: Kill invoice Vol. 2 BQ3: "female, you would be a woman quickly"- in Pulp Fiction suited earlier Uma Thurman overdosed. BQ4: Jack White in chilly Mountain