Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Return Of The King. Running Time?

This is topic Return Of The King. Running Time? in forum Film Handlers' Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by John Wilson (Member # 269) on 10-14-2003, 07:04 PM:

Any further advice on this as yet?

Posted by Jim Leko (Member # 1287) on 10-14-2003, 07:34 PM:

The Arclight told me it will be 3:30, but I have no idea where they got that information. Also, New Line has said it will ship with 3 DTS discs, so that would lead me to believe it will be longer than 3 hours, like the first two movies.

Posted by Shane Hoffmann (Member # 1620) on 10-14-2003, 11:52 PM:

I read last week that the current time was at 3:30. (theonering.net frequently has reports about anything to do with this movie). It was also mentioned that Peter Jackson still had a few weeks of additional shooting to do (he's cutting it to within a few weeks of the world premiere), which could mean that it may end up being even longer???

Posted by Ron Lacheur (Member # 1126) on 10-15-2003, 02:33 AM:

I doubt it will be longer than 3:30. Is there an intermission planned this time?

Posted by Jim Leko (Member # 1287) on 10-15-2003, 04:08 AM:

The extra shooting he is doing could be for the Extended Edition DVD, which will probably come out next November. Then again, maybe not.

Edit: Scratch that. Just read the article. You are right, it will be for the theatrical release. Shooting for the Extended Edition DVD will begin next year.

[ 10-15-2003, 05:10 AM: Message edited by: Jim Leko ]

Posted by Bill Gabel (Member # 1105) on 10-16-2003, 01:34 PM:

The version I ran for New Line here in New York back in August.. It was on 11 reels and ran 3 hours and 56 mins. That was without credits.

Posted by Jim Leko (Member # 1287) on 10-16-2003, 03:01 PM:

I would guess they have cut it down since then. I wish the movie was that long though. The extended edition would be LONG!!!

Posted by Dick Vaughan (Member # 540) on 12-04-2003, 10:39 AM:

Just received from Warner Village

quote:
Booking for Return of the King is NOW OPEN!! Click here to book :
http://www.warnervillage.co.uk/rotk/book

Please be advised that due to the length of this film there will be a 15 minute break during each showing for your comfort.

Running time of film: 3hrs & 20 mins. Programme will run for 3 hrs & 55 mins (including intermission).

Nothing to do with extra concession sales of course [Roll Eyes]

Any one else know of platter equipped theatres planning a break in this film?

Posted by Darryl Spicer (Member # 711) on 12-04-2003, 11:26 AM:

We got a letter here from New Line that states No Intermissions allowed. The total running time for us with trailers will be 3Hrs. 35Mins.

Posted by Michael Brown (Member # 890) on 12-04-2003, 02:11 PM:

Ohhh I should have checked the running time on our box office computer today. Had 5 people book tickets for it.

Wait a minute, the magic of the telephone.

Oh, not answering must be busy. Give me a minute.

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 12-04-2003, 02:47 PM:

Our booker says 200 minutes. (3:20)

Posted by Michael Brown (Member # 890) on 12-04-2003, 03:00 PM:

Just rang up work:

We have 221mins (3h 41min)

(that's including 20 mins of ads/trailers)

So feature run time would be 3hr 21min

Posted by Frank Aston (Member # 478) on 12-04-2003, 05:22 PM:

Certainly an Intermission planned by certain exhibitors/distributors in the UK.

Feedback on where, when and why appreciated.

Rumor has it that Peter Jackson doesn't want one.

Posted by Dan Harris (Member # 1759) on 12-04-2003, 05:54 PM:

No intermissions for us (Odeon), as instructed by New Line. Opening night here is getting full already (tickets went on sale yesterday), with 2 prints playing across 4 screens.

Posted by Steve Kraus (Member # 476) on 12-04-2003, 06:47 PM:

3 hrs 21 minutes. 10 reels.

Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 12-04-2003, 08:47 PM:

My understanding is a DTS-CD rom will hold 100 minutes of audio. So 3:21 would be 1 minute over budget for 2 discs wouldn't it?

I looked through the "how to fit a 3 disc DTS movie onto 2 discs" feature. The trick is an excellent idea. But will that work on a pair of 9 year old DTS-6 players with 2X speed Toshiba caddy drives?

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 12-04-2003, 09:31 PM:

Yes, it works with ALL model players and ALL model drives.

Posted by Michael Brown (Member # 890) on 12-05-2003, 06:02 PM:

So considering the movie is out in 12 days it should appear on the BBFC website soon. Then we can tell how long the film is in feet and frames. [Smile]

Posted by Daryl C. W. O'Shea (Member # 1303) on 12-05-2003, 06:10 PM:

Why wait when you can guess. 289440 frames +/- whatever I'm off by.

Posted by Dan Harris (Member # 1759) on 12-05-2003, 06:23 PM:

Incidentally, we had confirmation today that the film is 12A rated in the UK. Can't see it on the BBFC's website yet though.

So far it seems that Warner/Vue are the only major chain running with intermissions.

Posted by Michael Brown (Member # 890) on 12-09-2003, 05:51 AM:

From BBFC:

Run Time 200min 54sec

18081 +10 (Feet +Frames)

12A Contains intense battle violence and horror scenes

Posted by Daryl C. W. O'Shea (Member # 1303) on 12-09-2003, 11:33 AM:

Hmm, only off by 134 frames, not bad for not having touched a print. [Smile]

Posted by Dick Vaughan (Member # 540) on 12-09-2003, 03:48 PM:

Daryl

Congratulations [beer]

Perhaps the difference is because we have the Final Cut United Kingdom Unified Print version

[Confused]

Posted by Dave Hall (Member # 1589) on 12-10-2003, 01:44 PM:

VUE are placing the intermission at the end of reel 4, i'm told giving a running time of 1hr 50 ads+r1-4, 15 min break, 1hr 50 r5-10, total 3hr 55 mins.

They are also talking about playing 2 screens with some prints (2hrs apart) *in addition to interlocks* on peak shows. Will be fun to manage both upstairs and downstairs!

Posted by Dan Harris (Member # 1759) on 12-10-2003, 06:05 PM:

Just had a memo through today: New Line have given Odeon the go ahead to have an interval and it is entirely up to individual sites whether they want to or not.

The memo goes on to state that show times should not be altered if already programmed (i.e. only put in an interval if sufficient clean up time has been left between shows), the interval must be in a specified location which you find out from booking (I don't know where as we're running without an interval), and that all customers should be informed when purchasing tickets.

Posted by Paul G. Thompson (Member # 655) on 12-11-2003, 08:26 PM:

3 hours and 21 minutes plus previews. Hmmmm....I wonder how well that is going to run on "wild platters" such as the old CFS, A-3, and other micro-switch platters.

I never ran the LOTR yet and didn't build it up, so I don't know how much room is left on the 52 (54?)-inch platter decks if intermissions are not allowed.

There are theaters still equipped with the 48-inch version of the CFS platters, and I am sure they will be forced into running an intermission whether New Line likes it or not. I took my 48-inchers out of service years ago.

I assembled Shindler's List on a Strong A-3 it when it came out in the mainstream market. The film pile was up to about 1 inch from the platter edge. I had to use the small preview cores wrapped inside out with masking tape (about 30 of them) to keep the A-3 from tossing the print near the end of the movie. However, I do not remember what the running time was on Shindler's List - but I am sure it is close to being equal to the LOTR.

I think there are going to be plenty of tossed LOTR prints if the platters are not up to snuff.

Anyone care to comment on this?

Posted by John Westlund (Member # 913) on 12-11-2003, 08:38 PM:

Well if a Christie AW-3R can hold over 4 hours on one deck I would think that there would be around 3 inches or so from the end of the print to the edge of the deck. Maybe the stock used for Shindlers list was thicker since it was black and white? Im sure John P. could tell us more about that.

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 12-11-2003, 08:46 PM:

The picture of the safety ring on a Strong platter was indeed a print of "Return of the King", but without any previews.

Posted by Paul G. Thompson (Member # 655) on 12-11-2003, 08:50 PM:

Thank you, gentlemen. [thumbsup]

John, I think it was an tri-acetate print. I can't be absolutely sure on that, though.

Posted by Michael Brown (Member # 890) on 12-11-2003, 08:59 PM:

----------------------------------------------------------------
Quote: Just had a memo through today: New Line have given Odeon the go ahead to have an interval and it is entirely up to individual sites whether they want to or not.

The memo goes on to state that show times should not be altered if already programmed (i.e. only put in an interval if sufficient clean up time has been left between shows), the interval must be in a specified location which you find out from booking (I don't know where as we're running without an interval), and that all customers should be informed when purchasing tickets.
----------------------------------------------------------------

At Odeon Leeds-Bradford we are going with both.

We are having a mix of showings with and without intermissions. (It's showing with intermissions in some auditoriums and without in the others). The customer gets a choice of attending a showing with or witout an intermission whichever is their preference. Should be interesting to see how it goes.

Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 12-11-2003, 09:50 PM:

"Schindler's List" was on color and B&W triacetate stock, which is thicker than polyester base film.

Posted by Dave Hall (Member # 1589) on 12-12-2003, 07:52 PM:

VUE have decided tonight to remove intermissions from all shows.

Pressure from New Line/Entertainment/Peter Jackson, or just from the other chains not running them? who knows...

Posted by Aaron Garman (Member # 1653) on 12-12-2003, 07:53 PM:

SChindler's List [Big Grin]

AJG

EDIT: Looks like John beat me to it. Oh well.

Posted by Mark Hajducki (Member # 1732) on 12-12-2003, 08:07 PM:

VUe have already lost sales due to the proposed interval.

so now Cityscreen (Cameo) are the only Edinburgh {first run} cinema showing LOTR ROTK with an interval