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» Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE   » Operations   » Film Handlers' Forum   » EX on "The Exorcist" re-release (Page 2)

 
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Author Topic: EX on "The Exorcist" re-release
Bruce McGee
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1776
From: Asheville, NC USA... Nowhere in Particular.
Registered: Aug 1999


 - posted 10-13-2000 12:04 PM      Profile for Bruce McGee   Email Bruce McGee   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
If the Exorcist looks and sounds better than the video release that I got last year, it will be worth the viewing. I was appalled at all the negative dirt, weaving in the gate, and pops and cracks on the soundtrack. I look forward to seeing it again in a theater with a load of people.

Before my time, the studios reissued films like crazy. I have a trailer for Dracula (1931) that was re-issued by Real-Art sometime in the 1940's.

Theaters need some good product to lure the jaded public out of their houses and back into the cinemas. Too many people just wait for the video release and skip the theatrical run entirely.

I, personally, would LOVE to see a re-issue of "To Kill A Mockingbird" (1962) uncut. I'm afraid that certain sectors of society would ban this film due to the unflattering portrayals of certain persons.

I'm not talking about the Redneck Southerners!

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Scott Norwood
Film God

Posts: 8146
From: Boston, MA. USA (1774.21 miles northeast of Dallas)
Registered: Jun 99


 - posted 10-13-2000 12:32 PM      Profile for Scott Norwood   Author's Homepage   Email Scott Norwood   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Bruce--the problem with "Mockingbird" is that it's PD. It hasn't been available in 35mm for regular theatrical booking for quite a while (it's normally only available in 16mm). There have been quite a few bootleg (but legal) video releases of it as well; the "official' Universla release apparently only was done fairly recently.

There _is_ a nice 35mm studio print of TKAMB that is used for special screenings. I've seen it and it is very, very good. Apparently there is some restoration work being done on that title right now (though I have no idea if it will lead to a full-blown reissue or not).

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Mike Blakesley
Film God

Posts: 12767
From: Forsyth, Montana
Registered: Jun 99


 - posted 10-13-2000 05:40 PM      Profile for Mike Blakesley   Author's Homepage   Email Mike Blakesley   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Roger Ebert's "Movie Answer Man" column has a letter from a 17-year-old complaining that when she went to see the re-release of "Exorcist," that her experience was ruined by other teens laughing uproariously at the scary parts. There are several other comments from other people saying the same thing.

(Read it: http://www.suntimes.com/index/answ-man.html )

This behavior from kids has bugged me for years. The more ugly something is, the more the kids laugh at it. Why is this? Don't they realize that Exorcist is a "serious" movie and not some slasher flick? Ooops, I forgot I'm talking about TEENAGERS.

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John Walsh
Film God

Posts: 2490
From: Connecticut, USA, Earth, Milky Way
Registered: Oct 1999


 - posted 10-13-2000 10:09 PM      Profile for John Walsh   Email John Walsh   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Now, now, Mike. You were a teenager once, too.

Sometimes, people laugh when they are nervous. Besides, "The Exorcist" actually has a plot, something teenagers aren't used to. And if you don't care about a plot, you must admit; the film can be slow.

I agree with John W. Prints should be marked "EX" (or whatever) right on the leaders. The distributors are using all kinds of computer-generated labels and bar-coding to stick on reels and cans; you'd think they would get their act together and put on what format the film is in. I'm also tired of looking at a print and trying to guess if it's 1.66, 1.75 or 1.85 based on what country it's from.

Oh, I forgot; we're at the end of the pipe, and shit flows downhill. We have to change our exciter lamps, wait for prints, wait for ELR's, and play; "Guess the sound and ratio."

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John Wilson
Film God

Posts: 5438
From: Sydney, Australia.
Registered: Dec 1999


 - posted 10-14-2000 12:38 AM      Profile for John Wilson   Email John Wilson   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Teenagers have been fed garbage in their horror flicks for years so they are used to laughing at them.

They don't know any other way.


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Bruce McGee
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1776
From: Asheville, NC USA... Nowhere in Particular.
Registered: Aug 1999


 - posted 10-14-2000 09:01 AM      Profile for Bruce McGee   Email Bruce McGee   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I hate to say this but...

I saw this film in early 1974 at a drive-in. I laughed my head off on the first viewing. The gore looked kinda cartooney to me, and I was raised on them.

The guy sitting across the car from me was plagued by nightmares for weeks. He thinks the Roadrunner series is too violent.

Of course, it might have been different if the couple in the pick-up truck in the next space had not been naked and making lots of funny noises...

Later, I saw the film alone. It scared me but good.

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Martin Frandsen
Master Film Handler

Posts: 270
From: Denmark, Europe
Registered: Jun 99


 - posted 10-14-2000 11:06 AM      Profile for Martin Frandsen   Email Martin Frandsen   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Well at least you guys in the US get to see all the re-releases. I was to young to see THE EXORCIST when it first came to the silver screens. Only seen it on Laser-Disc. THE EXORCIST probely WILL NOT get re-released in Denmark, because no one gives a damn about ''old'' films getting re-released. Only concern is to get films that sell tickets = more concession sales.

The GREASE re-release no one wanted overhere, and that goes for REAR WINDOW as well!


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John Walsh
Film God

Posts: 2490
From: Connecticut, USA, Earth, Milky Way
Registered: Oct 1999


 - posted 10-14-2000 01:52 PM      Profile for John Walsh   Email John Walsh   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Let me assure you, Martin, no one wanted the "Grease" re-release over here, either!

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Michael Cunningham
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 186
From: Anchorage, AK
Registered: Nov 1999


 - posted 10-14-2000 06:35 PM      Profile for Michael Cunningham   Email Michael Cunningham   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
As to figuring out the aspect ratio from the leaders of films, you can with major studio, "standard" American releases. The info printing on the leader (PICTURE HEAD, SOUND START, countdown numbers, etc.) will be printed in the appropriate aspect ratio. In oter words, a Scope print will have tall, skinny lettering while a Flat print's will appear normal. As for foreign and independent releases that may use ratios other than 1:1.85 and 1:2.39, you're kinda on your own.

-Mike

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Steve Scott
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1300
From: Minneapolis, MN
Registered: Sep 2000


 - posted 10-14-2000 06:40 PM      Profile for Steve Scott   Email Steve Scott   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I have a terrible time getting the other projectionists to play a lot of the films mentioned above in EX. It's usually me who has the good sense to either look on the internet, or just look at the teaser posters in the lobby!!!

I would like to just grab these other guys by the neck & shout WHAT DO YOU THINK WE GOT THIS THING FOR? TO ADD COLOR TO THE RACK?!!!

------------------
"Trying is the first step towards failure!"
-Homer Simpson

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Aaron Sisemore
Flaming Ribs beat Reeses Peanut Butter Cups any day!

Posts: 3061
From: Rockwall TX USA
Registered: Sep 1999


 - posted 10-15-2000 12:57 AM      Profile for Aaron Sisemore   Email Aaron Sisemore   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
>>The info printing on the leader (PICTURE HEAD, SOUND START, countdown numbers, etc.) will be printed in the appropriate aspect ratio. In oter (sic) words, a Scope print will have tall, skinny lettering while a Flat print's will appear normal.<<

The above will only apply for a Scope print made from a Super 35 or a 65mm negative as the leaders get 'squeezed' during the printing process. A film shot anamorphically will have leaders that appear normal and unsqueezed.

Aaron

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John Wilson
Film God

Posts: 5438
From: Sydney, Australia.
Registered: Dec 1999


 - posted 10-15-2000 01:17 AM      Profile for John Wilson   Email John Wilson   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Aaron, you beat me to that one...

I don't think anyone here needs info on the leaders to simply tell if a film is flat or scope (at least, I hope not ). I was referring to the many other flat ratios.

As for re-releases, they need to be done properly. Grease was nothing short of an embarrassment and as such Paramount should have been ashamed to put it out in the marketplace. It deserved all (or how little) it got. The image was pretty darn poor considering it was only 20 years old and the 'Digital' mix was hopeless with the musical numbers being so clear against the dialogue that it sounded rediculous as well as being a terrible mix.

It sounds like Warners have learnt from Paramount's lesson with The Exorcist and deservedly it is playing its ass off.

One more thing with the Grease thing. We took it day one of release here. It was to play for a minimum of five weeks, but it did so poorly that Paramount renegged and agreed to lose it at three weeks. This must have been hard for them as it totally ruined the 20th anniversary video release which ended up taking place in what would have been our week six.(!)

and they wonder why...


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Gracia L. Babbidge
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 709
From: Bowdoin, Maine
Registered: Aug 2000


 - posted 10-15-2000 01:43 AM      Profile for Gracia L. Babbidge   Author's Homepage   Email Gracia L. Babbidge   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
:::shudders:::

Ugh. I remember that re-release of the wretched film. (Grease)
I'm not sure how many weeks we kept it, but I do remember that on the opening night for it, we had to run it in interlock for two shows. It was a bonafide madhouse.
The TV commercials had something to do with that - in combination with a lot of people being stupid. For at least a week before we got the print, the phone was ringing off the hook. People kept calling us, all in a panic because they were under the impression that theaters were going to be running the re-release for only one day.
I wish.
Second night that we had the film, we half expected that an interlock would be necessary...
Wrong answer. Only a small handful of people showed up for each showtime. Go figure.

(Just my opinion here) ...I think that Grease is a lousy musical, and one of the worst films in existence. I just do not understand the cult following it has.

~The Purple-Tressed Booth B*tch

------------------
In some cultures, what I do is considered normal.

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Martin Frandsen
Master Film Handler

Posts: 270
From: Denmark, Europe
Registered: Jun 99


 - posted 10-15-2000 05:05 AM      Profile for Martin Frandsen   Email Martin Frandsen   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Ok ok.. i admit i like GREASE!

So what's so bad about that?

As a matter of fact i'll have a drink to that. LONG LIVE GREASE!



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John Walsh
Film God

Posts: 2490
From: Connecticut, USA, Earth, Milky Way
Registered: Oct 1999


 - posted 10-15-2000 07:39 AM      Profile for John Walsh   Email John Walsh   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Oh, I'm not a saying "Grease" is a bad movie. I mean, it's nowhere near one of my favorites, but I don't actually dislike it. I just mean the re-release was poorly done, from the promotion campaign, to the poor quality "restoration" job (a word which the ad people use a little too loosely.) And it was filmed in real 'scope, so there was a decent size image to start with.

Identifing film from the USA is not a problem. Try telling what ratio a film is when the leaders are something you've never seen before (some don't even have frame lines), and it's released by a French production company, but the name of the film is in Italian.

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