Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: The Grapes of Wrath

This is topic The Grapes of Wrath - any prints around? in forum Ground Level at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 03-23-2009, 12:34 PM:

Our state historical society is promoting something called "The Big Read" where they pick a vintage book and encourage the kids to read it. part of the promotion is, they go into towns and bring in the movie version of the book.

They contacted me earlier this year and said they were working with "The Grapes of Wrath" and asked if we'd be interested in doing a special showing of the film. I said Yes, as long as they could get a 35mm print...they assured me they could.

Well you can guess the rest, they have now said there is only a DVD available.

Does anyone know if and where a print of the movie would be available? (1940 film with Henry Fonda)

Thanks in advance for any help.

Posted by Martin McCaffery (Member # 37) on 03-23-2009, 01:28 PM:

It was originally Fox, so start with them. If you need a non-theatrical print instead, try Criterion

Posted by Mitchell Dvoskin (Member # 751) on 03-23-2009, 02:59 PM:

This played at the Lafayette Theatre in Suffern, NY last year in 35mm, so somebody must have a print.

Posted by Jonathan M. Crist (Member # 413) on 03-23-2009, 07:08 PM:

I would suggest that you post your print request on the 35mm collectors forum.

The members there seem to be fairly good at helping locating prints for repertory showings such as you are seeking.

Posted by Robert E. Allen (Member # 1351) on 03-23-2009, 10:23 PM:

Warner Bros. has a classics division that handles films for several studios. You might try there also.

Posted by Richard P. May (Member # 3598) on 03-24-2009, 10:01 AM:

It is not a Warner Bros. film, so they can't be of any help.
Try your contacts at Fox. They should know how to book it. This is one of the best films ever made by that studio, and should be in constant distribution.

DM

Posted by Robert E. Allen (Member # 1351) on 03-24-2009, 01:22 PM:

As I said Warner Bros. handles films for several of the studios. I have booked MGM films from WB classics.

Posted by Bill Gabel (Member # 1105) on 03-24-2009, 01:46 PM:

Well the film is a 20th. Century Fox film.

Robert, Mr. May should know what Warner Bros. handles since he was Vice President of Film Services for Turner Entertainment. (MGM/WB)

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 03-24-2009, 01:47 PM:

Our booker made a few calls and came up empty. Bottom line, the sponsoring organization is not willing to pay the (probably) high film rent and shipping, and the other probability is we'd only be able to find a vault print which we couldn't use due to being a platter house, so we told them the deal was off. I think the local county librarian was glad of it, actually...she said her April schedule was already jammed with other things anyway.

Posted by Martin McCaffery (Member # 37) on 03-24-2009, 02:39 PM:

<i.As I said Warner Bros. handles films for several of the studios. I have booked MGM films from WB classics.
</i>

Yes, this is the horror for those running rep houses, Warners owns some of it's own stuff, MGM owns some of Warner's stuff and all the indie stuff/small label stuff over the years gets passed around.

Lots of emailing and phone calling can be involved. And when the catalog changes hands (or when the studio vault burns) sometimes the studio doesn't know what it has.

Pity Mike couldn't get a print, it's a good movie (though it stops halfway through the book, screwing up generations of HS kids trying to cheat their tests).