quote:

---

I also heard that these negatives are also in bad shape so extensive work must still be done but no one appears to be making an effort to get the work underway.

---

Actually, the work to restore the original 65mm negatives has been underway for quite a while now (it's a major job). The negatives were lacquered which had to be very carefull removed. Around the Wodl in 80 Days may be the only 65mm film in which 65mm seperation masters don't exist. However, many movies have been restored without having to resort to the seperation masters. Those are only used as a last resort.
 

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Posted by Claude S. Ayakawa (Member # 1401) on 04-16-2003, 03:23 AM:
 
Stephen,

What was the sound format on the 35mm print that ran in London recently? Was it mono or four track mag? I doubt there are any Dolby A prints of this movie because it was never re released to theatres after Dolby Stereo was introduced.

-Claude
 

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Posted by Thomas Hauerslev (Member # 566) on 04-16-2003, 03:33 AM:
 
Have a look at this: http://www.in70mm.com/news/2003/80_days/80_days.htm

and this: http://www.in70mm.com/news/2002/80_days/80_days.htm

http://www.in70mm.com/newsletter/2001/64/cinestage/cinestage.htm

http://www.in70mm.com/newsletter/2000/60/premieredates/80_days.htm
 

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Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 04-16-2003, 07:33 AM:
 
Scratch-hiding wet printing was developed by Kodak and others in the late 1950's:

http://www.kodak.com/US/en/motion/support/h1/printingP.shtml#wetgate

Before that time, lacquers were often used to cover scratches picked up during printing. Some lacquers were designed to be removable using an alkaline removal solution, but could harden with age. Other lacquers were permanent:

http://adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-bib_query?1972STIN...7515936M
 

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Posted by Claude S. Ayakawa (Member # 1401) on 04-16-2003, 11:22 AM:
 
Thomas,

Thank you for the very imformative links on "AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS". One link that was of great interest to me was the list of theatres that played the film in 70mm during it's premiere engagements and the Honolulu showings at the Kaiser Dome Theatre was not listed. Either it was not a complete list or the person I talked to at the theatre at the time did not provide me with the correct information when I asked about the format being used at the dome. I was told it was 70mm. Because of my age, I did not know at the time about the change over cue marks when most 70mm prints would have circle marks and 35mm scope having a horizontal mark when the round circle marks was stretched by the anarmorphic projection lens. All I remember was the presentation was very vibrant and sharp on that huge curved screen and the awesome stereo sound at the Kaiser Dome . By the way, when the Kuhio was set up for 70mm for "SOUTH PACIFIC" which was also in Todd AO, Consolidated put in a new Stewart screen which was not curved but flat. It was a also a huge screen but the ratio of the screen was narrower than the Dome's. Could this mean that the Domes presentation was indeed 35mm and not 70mm as I thought I saw all these years? THe film was shown again a few years later at the Kuhio and this time I knew it was was in 70mm because the newspaper ads said it was and believe it or not, I could not tell the difference between the Dome's and the Kuhio's presentation.

-Claude
 

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Posted by Christian Appelt (Member # 1067) on 04-16-2003, 04:51 PM:
 
It is planned to screen a vintage 70mm Todd-AO print of AROUND THE WORLD on May 23 in Frankfurt, Germany. The print`s color has shifted to the brown side (not pink), but the 6-track sound is magnificent and the image is very, very sharp. This is going to be the last run of a local 720 seat roadshow theatre equipped with DP70s and a curved screen.

There is also a 35mm Tech IB Cinestage print with 4 track mag sound, but it has really bad VS and we don`t know whether it will go through the DP70 any more, and the UltraPanatar lens (which can provide the 1.6x squeeze for Cinestage) has to be checked, too.
If someone in Europe is interested, contact me.

Oh, almost forgot it: Both prints are dubbed versions, but the Victor Young score in mag stereo alone will blow you away!
 

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Posted by Per Hauberg (Member # 529) on 04-16-2003, 06:52 PM:
 
I simply do not understand the whole thing:
"Lawrence" has been a huge succes, everytime it has been screened since restore, "Spartacus" did well, "My Fair Lady" and so on. Yet, one film after another is forgotten to fade or chumble away in deep waults. If those great films - read: masterpieces - should not be kept and preserved in respect to the people, who made them - then at least in respect to the allmighty dollar, which Hollywood may understand better than the artistic way.
Now, this forum tells, that one of the first really big ones, "Around the World", will be very difficult to restore, but who has been taking care of all those big ones coming after - which may be just ok now, but big trouble, when they go near their golden aniversary. -Hope, someone will remember the next ones prior to the fifty years, which seems so be just one bit to late.

As for business: When "Around the World" went to Warner Brothers about 20 (?) years ago, when Miss Taylor sold out from her late husbands stuff, i know that a new 35mm print (cut down to about 2 hours) was shown to major first-run theatres in Denmark, turning it down with the message, that the time had been hard on that one - not even a butcher cut-down could keep it in speed for modern audience. Leslie Halliwel seemed to agree, when sometime in the seventies writing, that "today" is was so old-fashioned, that the only way to get a kick out of "Around the World" was seeing it the real way: in Todd-AO !

No distributor would have to ask me twice

Hmm - Frankfurt isn't that far away - allthough german dub's are not my favourites. Would someone keep my booth running on may 23rd. ??

p.
 

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Posted by Paul Linfesty (Member # 214) on 04-16-2003, 11:28 PM:
 

quote:

---

it was never re released to theatres after Dolby Stereo was introduced.

---

quote:

---

This is going to be the last run of a local 720 seat roadshow theatre equipped with DP70s and a curved screen.

---

Last run of 70mm, or last run by DP 70, or is The Royal about to close forever ? All three possibilities are bad, but The Royal is as far as i know, the last "real single-screen big one" in town. They call it development, i'm afraid

p.
 

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Posted by Christian Appelt (Member # 1067) on 04-17-2003, 05:56 PM:
 
The Royal (former MGM theatre opened in 1957) already closed two weeks ago. Later, this theatre belonged to the UFA theatre chain that went bankrupt last year. It was rented from a UFA real estate sub-company to the Jaeger theatres, a local mini-chain. They tried to revive business for the last two years, but although the theatre is right in the city center, mainstream kid`s movies will not fill the Royal any more.

I hope that someone will take over the lease contract that runs out in July, but it isn`t likely.

The last show was that poor DAREDEVIL movie, and a number of local film people asked Mrs. Jaeger to make a big goodbye show. When the ocean liner has to sink, let it go down with full lights and music. All money will go to a children hospital, and we are working on a program with 1957 newsreels, Tom & Jerry cartoons and that Todd-AO print of AROUND THE WORLD IN EIGHTY DAYS.

For those who are located close enough, I`ll post the data when everything is worked out, May 23 is most likely to be the day.

Unless somebody wants to run his own movie palace with DP70s!
 

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Posted by Jeff Joseph (Member # 511) on 04-20-2003, 02:16 AM:
 
Quite a bit of misinformation here. This film has been a pet project for some time now. Some facts:

1. There absolutely are (were) seps on this film, 65mm, both 24fps and 30fps. I held them in my hands in the late 1980s at Warners. Now, it's possible they no longer exist. I can not speak to that. But they positively DID exist and WERE made. Think about it: Do you think Mike Todd's insurance company would have allowed printing from the original negative if some sort of protection element wasn't made first?

2. We have had 2 public screenings of "80 Days" in the last 12 years or so.

A. At the Los Angeles County Musuem of Art (LACMA) when Ron Haver was still around, we ran a 35mm dye-transfer 4-track mag long version (from 1956) print at 24 fps. This of course was printed from the 24 fps 65mm negative. This print was absolutely glorious. The print is still in existence in the U.S. and belongs to a private film collector. I have seen it recently and it still looks and sounds terrific.

B. A couple of years later, at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science's Theater, we ran a 70mm 30 fps print, 1968 edit, very slightly faded. This print has since gone vinegar. I do know of a second print in this format, however, in the U.S. which was run privately a few years ago at TODD-AO in Hollywood. This print is in excellent shape.

Jeff Joseph
SabuCat Productions
 

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Posted by Paul Linfesty (Member # 214) on 04-20-2003, 02:56 AM:
 
I saw the WB 140 minute cut version at the Bing Theatre in the summer of 1992. It was definitely a 70mm print projected (this was part of a "70mm 6-track" festival (print from Swank). it was to celebrate the "re-birth" of 70mm (with the summer release of FAR AND AWAY) AND to utilize the revamped equipment at the Bing.

I dont think anyone meant to say that seperates were NEVER made, just that they think they may no longer exist. And I do admit that I'm going from other people's statements, and those could be wrong.
 

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Posted by Stephen Furley (Member # 1277) on 04-20-2003, 11:22 AM:
 
Claude wrote:

quote:

---

What was the sound format on the 35mm print that ran in London recently? Was it mono or four track mag? I doubt there are any Dolby A prints of this movie because it was never re released to theatres after Dolby Stereo was introduced.

---

Claude, I know this is going to sound silly, but I can't remember what sound format that print had.

If I remember correctly, it was shown as part of a festival of Technicolor prints at the NFT. I saw several films within a few days, some were stereo, some mono, but I can't remember which this was.

I do remember that I hadn't intended to go, but, at the last minute, I was able to get away from work early, and so, was able to see it. at the Box Office I was advised that the print they would be screening was a few minutes shorter than the version they hoped to obtain, but I don't know what was cut, I've only seen the film once before, on television, several decades ago.
 

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Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 04-20-2003, 01:36 PM:
 
In the early 80's it played at the University theatre in toronto in 70mm and it was format 41 on the CP100
It was during its 2 month run that the theatre converted to Vic8 from the Bauer U2's
 

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Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 04-20-2003, 04:53 PM:
 
"I simply do not understand the whole thing:
"Lawrence" has been a huge succes, everytime it has been screened since restore, "Spartacus" did well, "My Fair Lady" and so on. Yet, one film after another is forgotten to fade or chumble away in deep waults. If those great films - read: masterpieces - should not be kept and preserved in respect to the people, who made them - then at least in respect to the allmighty dollar, which Hollywood may understand better than the artistic way."
_________________________________________________________________

If a new 70mm print of "Sound Of Music" played in Salt Lake City its run would probably last at least 6 months and net millions.

For some reason all movie execs seem really blind to all of this possibility....The profits would certainly make a nice bonus for some exec at years end....
Mark
 

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Posted by Claude S. Ayakawa (Member # 1401) on 04-20-2003, 11:35 PM:
 
It is very encouraging to hear that the 24 fps and 30 fps original 65mm negatives of "AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS" can be restored and someday soon, the picture might emerge again to entertain a new generation. I have always owned the badly cropped laserdisc of the movie but it is very paiful to watch because of the badly cropped image. I cannot believe it was cut because some had felt it was too old fashioned for today's modern taste. If this is true, why was "GONE WITH THE WIND" re released with it's original 219 minute running time a few years ago? Like "GONE WITH THE WIND", "AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS is also a cherished classic and should be seen in it's original running tome. When I first saw the movie at the Kaiser Dome theatre during it's premiere road show engagement, I felt it was too short.

-Claude
 

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Posted by Jeff Joseph (Member # 511) on 04-21-2003, 12:43 AM:
 
Phil:

Ah yes, the Swank print. Our screening at the Bing was in the late 80's; you're referring to a different screening...

Yeah, that print is/was 24fps 70mm and the very cut version. Also, 1 or 2 reels are a blow up from 35mm neg. Don't recall the reason... That print still exists as well (in private hands).

Jeff

[ 04-21-2003, 12:31 PM: Message edited by: Jeff Joseph ]
 

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Posted by Per Hauberg (Member # 529) on 04-21-2003, 04:32 AM:
 
Claude:

I think, the cut version of Around the World was a panic move from distributors, believing that the film only would have chances with very young audiences - who definitely would find it boring after seeing actionfilms, edited as vere they music-videos.
CRUEL !!
I too look foreward to the day, we see a completely restored film, prefereably in 70mm, but danish distributors hate that format. -Understandable, as only 3 or 4 theaters all still equipped for running. -And our good collegue Orla Nielsen of Aalborg is the only one, really to do something about it. I'm afraid it's hopeless to dream on. - But OK - a really class one Scope print with a set of dts discs would be nice too, and as it for sure never will be a 3.000+ prints release, it might just be something worth looking at, which is more than You can say about most film prints today. Second and third generation duplicates are not the prescription to hold onto audiences, if You ask me. Going on with this print quality, will only be another excuse for ordinary movie-goers to convert for dvd.

GWTW on the contrary, must still have an audience in most markets, without even the most commercially framed distributor being in doubt as to cut or not to cut... But please - never more a 70mm blow-up from that one. Love the film, but in the original 1,37 version please - no grain - no fake masking - no fake sound - and not 13 reels of push-up job twice a day !

You say somewhere, you don't understand someone are still drawling about the dying away 70mm -Don't You take out the Hasselblad now and then to special jobs, because You just love it - even if the digital stuff is fine ? We have seen some of Your great work in these forums, but i'm not the one to estimate, whether those pretty ladies or the impressing outdoors would have been better or not in digital versus the Hasselblad version. -Does it really get up there, when printing in large format ? - I sure am curious. I am still running around with a 20 year old Canon T-70, which fully covers my everyday needs, but somewhere in a closet sits a much older two-eyed middle-format Yashica 124-G - in a pro's eyes very much a plaything, i guess. I take it out once in a while and get really fine slides, -that is, if mother nature is with me, with bright sun and so...

This summer, it is four years since i had the last pair of worn 70mm prints running (Out of Africa and Baraka), -before those two it was the reissue of Spartacus ten years ago or so, but the DP's are ready, and so am i - still not to give up the hope !

Per
 

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Posted by Steve Kraus (Member # 476) on 04-21-2003, 07:01 PM:
 
If only you meant DP's as in Directors of Photography (i.e. cinematographers), not DP's as in DP70 projectors.
 

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Posted by Paul Vollmers (Member # 927) on 04-21-2003, 07:28 PM:
 
Two years ago I saw 2001 in 70mm at the Seattle Cinerama Theater.....I was blown away.
Now, only to see Around The World In 80 Days again in 70mm.....would be another wonderful experance!

We need to fire up more of those Norelco DP70's

Paul--
 

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Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 04-21-2003, 08:17 PM:
 
Paul,
We just got in 23 DP-70's and are in the process of rebuilding 8 of them for a local all DP-70 8 plex I just finished stripping down serial number 900 before I came home for the day.
We basically got the entire Florida dealers stock of them and all of his parts inventory as well. We intend to be able to keep them running for a long, long time....hopefully they will see some 70mm in the years to come
Mark
 

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Posted by Bill Gabel (Member # 1105) on 04-21-2003, 08:29 PM:
 
Mark

Don't forget Thomas over at in70MM.com with the serial numbers from the DP70's.

Bill
 

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Posted by Per Hauberg (Member # 529) on 04-22-2003, 03:28 AM:
 
Mark -

Another 23 ? What have those ignorants bought instead ?
Noone completely sain sells his Rolls, just because a new model is presented...

8 screens with each one DP70 - Busy projectionist, if not commercials + trailers + extras + main is same picture format all the way... But still some upgrade !

p.
 

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Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 04-22-2003, 05:42 AM:
 
Per,
Many of these 23 are from Europe, many from the States closed down theatres. Over here, and in Europe I assume, it is possible to get trailers and commercials in what ever format you need to match with the main feature. If they can't get the same format for what ever reason changing lenses on the DP is very, very easy...but you know that.....This batch of 8 machines will utilize the penthouse space to mount the DTS time code reader and we will upgrade the analog reproducers to todays specs.
BTW: They actually employ preojectionists at this theatre chain if there is over 6 creens at a site.
Mark @ CLACO
 

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Posted by Paul Vollmers (Member # 927) on 04-22-2003, 07:11 AM:
 
"We just got in 23 DP70's"..............help !......someone give me oxygen.......! Holy smokes..!!!..........Wow..!
Okay.....so I'm a big Norelco fan.........23......Geeeeezzz.
There are a few of us running these babys.......ok.....big heavy babys.
Sure would be nice to see Around The World In 80 Days running on a Norelco again........maybe some day.
Lucky you Mark.

Paul--
 

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Posted by Per Hauberg (Member # 529) on 04-22-2003, 07:12 PM:
 
Yeah, Mark - as some very wise man said in one of these forums once: everything is easy on a DP70, except moving the bastard !
Have been luckily married to those two of mine for allmost 29 years - sure know it !
Commercials in Denmark - always 1:66 Most trailers 1:85 no matter the format of the film they announce. Scope trailers are as good as gone - and special scope trailer for flat film has only happened 2-3 times, i guess. But however easy - it means stop and change

My last trip Around the World is so long ago, that it was 35mm mono on Bauer B5 - 2000 feet c/o and 28 amp L/I carbons.
Still remember the chok when changing for last reel and credits began at once - Not even Mr Spielberg has longer end credits !

Would it take a new post to ask whether anyone has heard if Oklahoma will make a 50 years aniversary run ?

Per
 

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Posted by Claude S. Ayakawa (Member # 1401) on 04-24-2003, 12:23 AM:
 
The digital Bits site has posted a transcript of an interview with executives from Warner Brothers Home Video and "AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS" has been mentioned as coming very soon on DVD featuring the uncut film with the overture, entr'acte and exit music intact. Here is a direct link to the homepage to the site. When you get there, just click on the Warner Home Video interview to read the text.

http://www.thedigitalbits.com

-Claude
 

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Posted by David Kilderry (Member # 142) on 04-29-2003, 05:16 AM:
 
I have some footage in 70mm of Around The World In 80 Days and it exhibits the worst fading I've seen of a 70mm print that has not turned vinegar. Other 70mm film I have that has turned vinegar at least is still pink, the ATWIED footage is almost clear. I expect it had been subject to flourescent light at some time in its life. Shame all the good 70 is fading fast.

Does anyone remember if "Star!" was made with a slight sepia look in keeping with the period of the film?..........or is this print fading too.

David Kilderry
 

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Posted by Thomas Hauerslev (Member # 566) on 04-29-2003, 05:49 AM:
 
See this image I took in Oslo in 1995

http://web.meganet.net/dickwhitney/80days.jpg
 

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Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 04-29-2003, 05:51 AM:
 
"Star" was released in the late 1960's, well before Kodak's low fade color print was developed, so it's likely the prints have turned red unless they were stored at reduced temperature. Based on the recent new prints of "Patton" and "Hello Dolly", it's likely very good looking new prints could be made from the original negative.

I enjoyed this under-appreciated film starring Julie Andrews.
 

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Posted by Per Hauberg (Member # 529) on 04-29-2003, 07:23 PM:
 
My logbook says about STAR in 70mm, that the single, danish print was still "as new" as i ran it last time 1979. I remember colors as perfect, but some scenes "softened" for romantic look. If otherwise today, it must be faded. Really bad at box-office, but a great film with a treasure of wonderful music !
A beauty of a 70mm trailer accompanied the film - lots of split screen with sound mix following the divided picture in all five front speakers
Both STAR and HELLO DOLLY were in top condition, when junked 1981 by narrow minded people, thinking only of saving rent for storage !

p.
 

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Posted by Bill Gabel (Member # 1105) on 04-29-2003, 07:45 PM:
 
Talk about junking prints. When my dad worked on the Fox lot
during the late 60's thru early 90's. He said around the early
70's, one night he found 3 70MM prints of "Hello Dolly" being dumpped in a dumpster. He said it happened a few times when he
was located on the Fox lot.
 

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Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 04-30-2003, 03:42 PM:
 
Oh, to have been a garbage man on the Fox lot.
 

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Posted by Per Hauberg (Member # 529) on 04-30-2003, 05:29 PM:
 
Mr P said:

quote:

---

Oh, to have been a garbage man on the Fox lot.

---

"With a little bit o' luck...."

Alfred P. Doolittle
 

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Posted by Bill Gabel (Member # 1105) on 04-30-2003, 05:30 PM:
 
John P

He was a Gaffer for alot of Fox movies and TV.

He worked on "Dolly". I was around on the days of the big parade shoot and Harmonia Garden sets.

Fox Home Video has a release date of August 18th, 2003 for the
DVD editions of "Hello Dolly" and "All That Jazz".
 

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Posted by Christian Appelt (Member # 1067) on 05-01-2003, 06:10 PM:
 
Thanks to those who e-mailed me on the AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS showing on May 23, 2003 in Frankfurt, Germany.

Unfortunately, the archive that holds the 70mm Todd-AO print was unable to provide information on the condition of the print. We located a 35mm Technicolor Cinestage print (4-track-mag with 1,57x squeeze) as a replacement, but two of the ten reels have Vinegar Syndrome and cannot not be restored in time for the closing show of the MGM/Royal theatre. We hope that a FilmGuard treatment will help to get the two AROUND THE WORLD reels playable in a few months, but by now this is uncertain.

Instead, a 1964 Technicolor dye transfer print of Billy Wilder`s IRMA LA DOUCE will be shown.
 

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Posted by Per Hauberg (Member # 529) on 05-01-2003, 06:41 PM:
 
Kind of You to let us know. "Irma" is one heck of a picture, but I have been showing it too often to go for 9 hours out, 9 hours home in a railroad sleeping-car to watch it once more.
Hope, You'll give the Royal a Royal Goodbye-treatment !

Per
 

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Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 05-02-2003, 07:54 AM:
 

quote:

---

Kind of You to let us know. "Irma" is one heck of a picture, but I have been showing it too often to go for 9 hours out, 9 hours home in a railroad sleeping-car to watch it once more.

---

"...but that's another story!"

"Irma" is one of my favorite comedies.
 

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Posted by Christian Appelt (Member # 1067) on 05-03-2003, 01:06 PM:
 
Per,
I am not to happy although it`s one of my favourite movies, too.
But all vintage 70mm titles have gone red to a degree that the audience will not accept without disappointment. In a film museum or cinematheque theatre, people will accept it, but not the general public.
But we still have a few days to find another print - who knows?

John -

did you start at Kodak directly "after working in the jungle with Dr. Schweitzer" ? But I suppose that`s another story, too...
 

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Posted by Per Hauberg (Member # 529) on 05-03-2003, 08:07 PM:
 

quote:

---

But that's another story

---

Famous last words of bartender Moustache - How does he say in the german dubbed version ??

---------------

Christian: I sure am aware of red/brown fading 70mm - I ran reel one of My Fair Lady last week, and didn't really care for running the next six They say somewhere "Don't cry over things You lost. Smile over things, You once had." - Sometimes a bit difficult !

As for "Around the World", I will keep my eyes on this topic every day until the 23rd, -promise !

Per
 

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Posted by Christian Appelt (Member # 1067) on 05-04-2003, 05:41 PM:
 

quote:

---

They say somewhere "Don't cry over things You lost. Smile over things, You once had." - Sometimes a bit difficult !

---

In some way it`s true. I remember seeing a 70mm screening of PORGY AND BESS a decade ago, and surely I won`t be able to experience that film again. But it`s in my memory, just like many other great films that are not available any more.

But you asked about Moustache. In the German dubbing he says:

"...aber das ist eine andere Geschichte!"

which is a quite word-perfect translation.

But sometimes they DO make great changes. No one in Germany will recognize Bogart`s "Here`s looking at you, kid". There was no matching expression in German, so for the last thirtyone years Bogarts said:

"Ich seh Dir in die Augen, Kleines."

which means "I keep looking into your eyes, baby".

Well, in 1955, when Casablanca came out here, they even cut out the Nazis...
 

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Posted by Per Hauberg (Member # 529) on 05-04-2003, 07:12 PM:
 
Christian:

Talking about german dubbed versions of foreign films:
I have seen, that some german theaters are running late nite shows "in Originalfassung". Courtesy DTS, i guess (subtitled, so that You use two different prints, or just another set of discs and no translation at all ?) -Is this wide spread ? - Is it popular, or are the german versions appreciated by private cinemagoers ? I know, it is a matter of, what You have been used to at all times. In Denmark, a Disney or similar films for the youngest audiences simply will not sell tickets, if they are not dubbed, but the kids shouldn't be more than 10 years old, before protesting. And to dub an adult picture (no, not that kind of "adult", Michael !) would make the cinemas stand empty for sure. On the other hand, our subtitles - especially after changing from stamped-in by cliches to burned with laser, are very often not in focus with the picture itself, causing us to choose between focus on text or focus on picture. If on top of that, the print is some third generation internegative stuff, rush made on overtime in Rome, the menu says Blur, and i have a problem, answering those patrons who claims, they are better off at home with the DVD. -And being without the subtitles won't work either.
Getting somehow far from "Around the World" now, admitted - sorry for that, but it seemed natural to throw this in just now.

Another extra - a bit closer to post, as this concerns another "REEL STUFF" Todd-AO movie: You mentioned "Porgy & Bess". -Something strange happened to that film in Denmark a long way back: The local Columbia boss was ordered, relatively soon after the end of the films first engagements, to junk all prints, including a 70mm in very fine condition. Being aware of the costs of this print, including the expensive subtitling, he protested and allmost got spanked by European Columbia HQ. -The film disappeared from danish distribution and never came back, which was most uncommon in those days (first half of the sixties), when every single print was used for re-issue after re-issue until they were completely worn out. -Those good, old days before video destroyed re-runs totally. Anybody know, if Columbia loosed rights for this one so early or what ?

Per
 

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Posted by Steve Kraus (Member # 476) on 05-04-2003, 08:06 PM:
 
"Ich seh Dir in die Augen, Kleines."

I don't think much of that translation. "Here's looking at you, kid" is a sort of phantom toast, as though he said "Here's TO looking at you". Saying something like "Prosit (or some other toast word) to looking at you" probably would not seem right in German but I'm sure there would be some way to convey the toast-like spirit of the line.

"In Casablanca steht ein Cafe Americain...
Eins, zwei, ILSA!"

Well, in 1955, when Casablanca came out here, they even cut out the Nazis...

How do you have Casablanca without Nazis?
 

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Posted by Claude S. Ayakawa (Member # 1401) on 05-05-2003, 01:16 AM:
 
As I understand, the estate of George Gershwin was not pleased with the film adaption of PORGY & BESS" and revoked all rights for future showings of the film once the initial first run engagements were completed. "PORGY & BESS" is one of the most requested musical film on DVD and unless the Gershwin estate change their minds, the film will never be seen again in public or on home video. We can only hope that they will change their minds like the Alfred Hitchcock estate did when they finally agreed to allow the master's classics including "REAR WINDOW", PSYCHO", "ROBE" and a few others to be released to theatres and home video after the films were place in moratorium by the Hitchcock estate. Honolulu was not fortunate to play a 70mm print of "PORGY & BESS" but did get a very beautiful 35mm mag stereo print and I saw the film at it's first run showing at the long defunct Princess Theatre in downtown Honolulu which was operated by the then locally owned Consolidated Amusement Company. I recall liking the picture very much.

-Claude

-Claude
 

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Posted by Per Hauberg (Member # 529) on 05-05-2003, 05:18 AM:
 
That Gershwin-family sure were critic. -Well, -my curiousity has been pleased. Thanks, Claude. You're not alone to wish for it coming up again...

p.
 

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Posted by Thomas Hauerslev (Member # 566) on 05-05-2003, 08:03 AM:
 
We ran "Porgy and Bess", in Todd-AO, in 1999 at the Bradford Film Festival. It was an English print with German title cards. Film was of course faded. Since then "P&B" has been shown at several festivals here and there.

Per, get your finger out, go to Bradford next year and let your mom and the dog run the business for you. How many years have I told you to come along - 8?

For decades, Per has kept his mom, a sweet old woman, "imprisoned" at Bio's concession stand - isn't that cruel?
 

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Posted by Christian Appelt (Member # 1067) on 05-05-2003, 10:07 AM:
 
Per,

ten, fifteen years ago, it was hard to find original version screenings in most German cities. The situation has improved, certainly due to the convenience of DTS.
In my hometown, a 7 screen plex (5 of them small, I admit) changed to OVs only and does tremendous business since then.

In the other multiplex theatres, they will occasionally put in an additional show in the afternoon, but this is rare. Two former repertoire theatres do a lot of special screenings for school classes (English and French OVs) - if they have to see HARRY POTTER, at least they will improve their English...

The German affinity to dubbing is a historical phenomenon (I think that goes for Italy, too), after WW2 the allied nations all hastened to set up dubbing studios to get their own movies on German screens. During the Third Reich, there was little chance of seeing foreign-language movies, and after the WW2, audiences grew accustomed to having everything dubbed.

So DTS finally bridged the gap because there is no more need for special OV prints.

I like subtitled prints very much, especially with languages other than English or French. But most people seem to hate subtitles and claim it will detract them from the movie.
 

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Posted by Karen Hultgren (Member # 395) on 05-05-2003, 11:26 AM:
 
Per -

It doesn't sound like you are using the DTS-CSS system for subtitles. If you were, you could very easily adjust subtitle focus on the subtitle projector.

Karen at DTS
khultgren@dtsonline.com
 

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Posted by Michael Schaffer (Member # 1204) on 05-05-2003, 12:11 PM:
 

quote:

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How do you have Casablanca without Nazis?

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I have never seen the infamous first German version of Casablanca, but I have read that it had been heavily reedited and dubbed so that there were no Nazis in the picture anymore, but the bad guys were aliens somehow - no kidding!

I hate dubbing very much. It completely destroys the film for me. Fortunately, one big multiplex (Sony Center) in Berlin switched to original versions 1 1/2 years ago, and there has always been a relatively lively arthouse scene which always played original. Still, the vast majority of German audiences prefer to watch the dubbed versions.

The prints shown at the Sony Center are practically always original prints, not German prints with dts. The same goes for most of the arthouse cinemas too. In one, they recently installed dts-6D to be more independent of the print situation - often there are very few prints available.

But then, many distributors still don`t put dts timecode on all their prints. There is a cinema for French films here too. In most cases, they have two prints since the German versions rarely have dts even though the French OVs usually have it. dts is very popular in France.
Interestingly, even though the French are very reluctant to speak English, they show a lot more OVs there than here.
I have no idea why that is so, but I think they have a better developed feeling for the cinema as an art form so they want to see it in its original version. German audiences see the cinema more as a big TV and don`t care about authenticity.

Since there is a very small market for original versions, many of the prints are not subtitled, those which are usually have laser etched subtitles. I have never seen the dts CSS in action here.
 

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Posted by Per Hauberg (Member # 529) on 05-05-2003, 07:17 PM:
 
Karen

I have been copying and sending the part of the dts homepage, presenting the subtitling system, to allmost all danish distributors. Noone ever bothered to even comment on it. After trying again in connection with the possible reissue on 2001 when the calender invited to it, and still not getting through, i simply gave up.
They (local distributors) were years to understand the possibility of the one print - two sets of discs idea, and that was their maximum efford presented. They just don't get it !!
Someone ought to do something - Someone with more power of penetration than the owner of a 127 seat countryside twoplex....

Per
 

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Posted by Christian Appelt (Member # 1067) on 05-11-2003, 05:15 PM:
 
The GOODBYE ROYAL show that I announced earlier in this thread
(when we were trying to get a good AROUND THE WORLD print for the last show of that former MGM theatre in Frankfurt, Germany)
will take place on May 23, 7.30 p.m. local time).

A dubbed 35mm Scope print of THE VIKINGS (1958) will be shown, the print is on Agfa positive stock and has the slightly bluish look that many 1950s Eastman/Scope films have when they were printed by dupe negative instead of Technicolor IB.

Nothing special regarding print quality, I just wanted to mention it because I got some mails off forum on the subject.

The AROUND THE WORLD 70mm print (dubbed german) that was mentioned earlier may be shown during the summer in the Cineplex theatre here at Frankfurt, they play many old 70mm prints like AIRPORT, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, EARTHQUAKE. Today I saw INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM almost 20 years later, still a lot of fun.

So if you guys from Scandinavia think about making a 70mm trip, just check now and then at

www.cineplex.de

then click on "Frankfurt" and "70mm Filme".

May 18: DIE HARD

May 25: AIRPORT

Juni 1: EARTHQUAKE

June 8: SPARTACUS (old version)

June 15: DIE HARDER

June 22: THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

June 29: JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR

All shows start at 11:00 A.M., prints are dubbed german, the restaurant opens at 10:00, and you can order Film&Breakfast tickets.

More films are to come and will be announced on their website, I think also on in70mm.com .

PS: Naturally all tough men from Denmark & Sweden are welcome on May 23, you can leave your dragon ships on the river Main just 10 minutes from the theatre, and don`t bring your axes, we have no drawbridge! (I ran the THE VIKINGS today...)
 

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Posted by Darren Crimmins (Member # 1116) on 05-15-2003, 05:20 PM:
 
I like the old Hellen Keller joke, "Around the Block in 80 Days".
 

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Posted by Patrick J. McCart (Member # 1043) on 05-17-2003, 12:06 PM:
 
I was doing research on the film and was able to get a photocopied article from the Library of Congress about their holdings for Around the World in Eighty Days. Here is one paragraph describing what is in the collection:

"The Library's "Around the World in 80 Days" footage consists of 426 reels of picture and sound track material, in several languages, in 16mm, 35mm and 70mm [probably 65mm, too]. These range from preliminary rough cut "workprints" to production elements, preprints, color separations, tests, shots of the premires, and "behind-the-scenes" footage about the making and publicizing of the movie. The footage includes portions of the original 1957 German, Italian and French versions. Other original sound track material is broken down into various components, such as music, sound effects and dialogue."

"Should the movie someday be restored, the Library's collection will have much to contribute."

Taylor deposited the materials with the LoC in the early 1980s, I think...so this may have been what happened to the separations.
 

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