Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: custer's last fight

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Posted by Rick Meister (Member # 689) on 09-21-2009, 12:59 AM:

I have a 35mm copy of custers last fight the 1925 version.
I would like to show it but need some advice on how to promote it.
it featured natives from this area in the making of it. I also have posters ( 3 sizes ) for it.
the film is in good shape dirty but good shape. I found a listing on ebay for a set of the 3 posters - 1 of each size that I have for 75.00 I have many of them.

Posted by Gene Stavis (Member # 110) on 09-21-2009, 11:18 AM:

If this is an original print, be careful. It might be printed on nitrate stock. It will say "nitrate film" between the sprockets. If in doubt, light a match to, with great caution, one or two frames removed from the print -- far from the rest of the print. Most venues will not allow you to show nitrate and many precautions must be taken.

Posted by Mitchell Dvoskin (Member # 751) on 09-21-2009, 12:14 PM:

In most states, it is illegal to run nitrate film outside of specially licensed venues that have the proper fire containment equipment. It is illegal to ship nitrate film though the US Mail. It is illegal to ship nitrate film though a private carrier unless it is properly packed and shipped as a hazardous material. While sellers on eBay ignore this all the time, should it catch fire in transit, you may find yourself visiting George Bush's vacation camp in Cuba.

Nitrate film is extremely flammable, and very hard to extinguish.

You need to wind though the film, looking for the words "Safety Film" in BLACK letters between the edge and the sprocket holes on one side.

All domestic 35mm motion picture film manufactured prior to 1950 was Nitrate. 1950 was the transition year to safety film. The fact that your film was originally issued in 1925 does not rule out that the print is a re-issue made after 1950, but based upon the title, I think that unlikely.

The burn test is the most definitive. Remove a couple of frames from the print, take outside and away from the rest of the film, hold with pliers, light it on fire. Safety film will stop burning when the source of the flame is removed, nitrate will burn it all to ash.

Posted by Joe Tommassello (Member # 4632) on 10-02-2009, 02:17 PM:

Here's a promotional idea...

After the screening hand out shirts that say I survived the nitrate film screening of 'Custer's Last Fight'

Seriously...if you are not properly equipped and experienced do not try to run nitrate. Something tells me from your first post that is probably the case. Mentioning whether it was nitrate or safety stock is something most here on Film-Tech would instinctively know to clarify just to avoid questions.