Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Film Restoration

This is topic Film Restoration in forum Film Handlers' Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Martin Frandsen (Member # 74) on 01-30-2000, 08:51 AM:

It has been along time since a BIG or large format film has been restored and released in theaters. I am thinking of LOA, MFL, Spartacus and Vertigo. Are there any large format films being restored at the moment? Any plans for the future?

What about 'The Sound of music' it has not been restored yet i beleave, how are the film elements of this film today?

Finally, what are the restoration team of Mr. Harris up to right now, are they working/restoring film(s) at the moment?

Posted by John Walsh (Member # 168) on 01-30-2000, 10:00 AM:

The only other restoration I know of is "Rear Window," but I don't think it was filmed in a large format.

Because of the expense, I wouldn't be surprised if H&K were staying away from large format restorations, at least for a little while. I'm sure there are plenty of regular 35mm films that could use it.

Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 01-30-2000, 10:32 AM:

I'd be interested in knowing the status of the Sound of Music elements as well. I haven't heard anything about them recently; I would assume that separations exist, but who knows if they're any good? Apparently SofM was reprinted in 70mm in the early '90s; I hear that all of those prints have since been trashed by theatres and that the film is only bookable in 35mm now (and probably 16mm for colleges/film socities, too).

RW was shot in 35mm and the restoration prints are in the "new" IB Tech process. It's a relatively limited release, so expect to wait a while to see it if you're not in a major city.

At least one of H&K's current projects is a large-format short; details haven't been announced yet, though.

Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 01-30-2000, 01:46 PM:

Fox decided to junk te canadian 70mm library including SOM
there is a fairly good 4 track mag print of SOM in the depot in Toronto also there is a private 70mm of SOM in toronto but it is red
I don't think any seperations were made of SOM since it originated on 65mm neg and only eastman 70 and 35mm prints were struck

Posted by Ian Price (Member # 14) on 01-30-2000, 02:33 PM:

Rear Window has been restored by the same team that did Lawrence of Arabia. We have Rear Window booked for February.

Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 01-31-2000, 10:01 AM:

I recall that a 70mm print of "The Sound of Music" was shown at the recent 70mm festival at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood. AFAIK, the reports were that the print was excellent, with good 6-track mag sound and no fading. Any print made after the early 80's should have pretty good color.

The concern with many of the 65mm/70mm productions is with simple wear and tear of the negative --- many times a few dozen 70mm prints were made from the original 65mm spliced negative, without bothering to make a 65mm protection master positive and duplicate negatives for the release printing. Printing a spliced negative multiple times risks scratches and dirt, and catastrophic failure of a cement splice during printing.

------------------
John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services, Professional Motion Imaging
Eastman Kodak Company
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7419
Rochester, New York, 14650-1922 USA
Tel: 716-477-5325 Fax: 716-722-7243
E-Mail: john.pytlak@kodak.com

Posted by Martin Frandsen (Member # 74) on 02-02-2000, 05:44 PM:

Anyone seen the NEW restored 'Rear Window'? I think it had premier January 21 in the US.

Hopefully the next project for Mr.Harris and team will be the restoration of 'The Sound of music' as i will like to see this film again also in the future.

Posted by Tim Reed (Member # 137) on 02-03-2000, 09:03 PM:

It's about time for "The Sound of Music". Last print I saw was 35mm mag. Faded and shrunken so bad, the focus shifted by the second.

I'd love to see it in a restored version, it deserves it.

Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 02-04-2000, 07:27 AM:

Unfortunately, triacetate prints with magnetic striping appear to be most prone to "vinegar syndrome" because iron can serve as a catalyst for the degradation reaction, and the oxide binders can also degrade and form acid.

Proper storage conditions (cool and DRY) are very important factors in preventing "vinegar syndrome". It is also important to either vent or adsorb the acidic byproducts that accelerate the reaction. Molecular Sieves can be used to adsorb acid vapors and excess moisture if the film is stored in sealed containers.

Posted by Tim Reed (Member # 137) on 02-04-2000, 08:38 AM:

Come to think of it, in a repertory house I used to work, nearly every older print that was magnetic, was badly faded!

Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 02-04-2000, 06:02 PM:

Due to Fox junking all there 70's in Canada we ran the 4 track mag 35mm print this christmas and the colour though starting to fade was still there and the sound was excellent
Panned voices across the screen and excllent dynamics
modern mixers should have to watch and listen to that film

Posted by David Kilderry (Member # 142) on 02-05-2000, 08:38 PM:

John Pytlak is spot on with his observations. My spools of Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World in 70mm, are now unrunable due to vinegar syndrome. If only I had known about molecular seives earlier!

My spools of "Star" and "Khartoum" in 70mm are OK but the latter is damaged in other ways. I would love to see the two TODD-AO shorts restored and released in 70mm.

These epics (70mm) must be restored in the near future or time will catch up with the remaning usuable prints and negs.

Posted by Martin Frandsen (Member # 74) on 02-06-2000, 01:07 PM:

Yes, when time is finally running out for 'The Sound of music' all prints turned red and so, the studio finally wants to make a restoration, and who will they call for the IB-tech prints for the color timing? FILM-COLLECTORS