Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Name that movie...

This is topic Name that movie... in forum Film-Yak at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

To visit this topic, use this URL:
https://ft-forum.com/ft/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=8;t=000134

Posted by Randy Stankey (Member # 64) on 02-15-2001, 04:39 PM:

I have this clipping of an old 70 mm print that I use as a visual aid when training new people in the booth.

Problem is, whenever I whip it out and show it to somebody I ALWAYS get the question, "What movie is this?" Well, I'm sick and tired of having to waste 5 minutes explaining that I don't know what it is and going through the whole story of where I got it from.

The story is that I got it from the booth at the old Warner Theatre I volunteered at back in Erie, PA. They have a set of AAII's and used to run 70 mm, back in the day. This is one of the little "test loops" I found lying on the shelf when I was cleaning the place up. As you can see the film is old and almost completely red. It's of no use, except as a conversation piece, which is why I picked it up and kept it.

I have ABSOLUTELY no idea what this is from or even if it was from any identifiable movie. I was just wondering if anybody here had any ideas.

I wish I had a prize to offer for the first one to give a verifiable answer. You'll have to settle for a pat on the back and security in the knowledge that YOU ARE A TRUE FILM GOD!

If this puny, little scan isn't enough, you can get a 1,000 DPI scan off my website:

http://homepage.mac.com/randystankey/.Pictures/70ScanLg.jpg

Beware! That image is over 1.4 MEG! Unless you have a "big pipe" you'll be downloading for a while!

Thanks,

Randy

Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 02-15-2001, 05:10 PM:

Randy --- the color change from fading says the print was likely made well before 1982. The costumes and shipboard scene with crowds of what appear to be refugees make me think it might be Otto Preminger's "Exodus", which is about the Jewish emmigration to Palestine after WWII. If so, the print probably dates back to 1960:
http://us.imdb.com/Title?0053804

------------------
John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services, Entertainment Imaging
Eastman Kodak Company
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7419
Rochester, New York, 14650-1922 USA
Tel: 716-477-5325 Cell: 716-781-4036 Fax: 716-722-7243
E-Mail: john.pytlak@kodak.com
Web site: http://www.kodak.com/go/motion

Posted by Randy Stankey (Member # 64) on 02-15-2001, 05:45 PM:

Well, I guarantee that it's a pre-1980 film. They haven't shown 70 mm in there for years.

The original Simplexes were installed in the 1930's (1933 to be exact) and the AA-II's were installed in 1960 or 1961.

I asked Sherlock what he thought and he took me to the IMDB site.

http://us.imdb.com/Title?0053804

The release date of the film matches up with the info about the theatre above. AND if that guy in the middle of the frame who has his body facing the camera but has his head turned away is THIS guy...

Then it's Lee J. Cobb (Who was also in "The Exorcist", if I'm not mistaken) and he is listed as being in the cast.

I think I saw Sal Mineo in the background there, too but I can't tell until I get a better shot of him (Sal).

I'm going to do a little bit more checking but I'd say it looks like we have a winner here!

Give that man an Oscar!

Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 02-15-2001, 07:32 PM:

Randy said: "You'll have to settle for a pat on the back and security in the knowledge that YOU ARE A TRUE FILM GOD!"

No worship needed --- I just love the movies, like most of the rest of us here on Film-Tech.

(And I really miss seeing those 70 mm epics on a big screen )

Posted by Randy Stankey (Member # 64) on 02-15-2001, 08:07 PM:

Still... Thanks, John! I didn't think I'd ever find out what that movie was!

After a bit more research, I found a picture of Sal Mineo. I'm pretty sure that's him, just to the left of (the supposed) Lee J. Cobb. I think that just about wraps it up!

So... Where ELSE in the world can you go with a clip of ONE SINGLE FRAME from some "random" movie and have an answer in 30 minutes? That's right! Film-Tech!

(Even if you say you're not a film God I'm still submitting your nomination for God-like status! )

Posted by Aaron Sisemore (Member # 145) on 02-15-2001, 09:47 PM:

>>Otto Preminger's "Exodus"<<

Were threre 70mm spherical prints made of Exodus? I thought it was a UP70 anamorphic title.

Aaron

Posted by Evans A Criswell (Member # 381) on 02-15-2001, 11:10 PM:

Well, since y'all are so good at identifying these types of things, I have one that I've never been able to get identified.

In the 1952 cartoon "T.V. Of Tomorrow" that Tex Avery did for MGM, there is a scene where they're making fun of problems that people often had with their TVs. There is the rolling picture problem (vertical hold), and there was a scene where a TV picture was squeezed in (Cinemascope picture without anamorphic unsqueeze). The question is, "What movie was that picture a clip from?" The really interesting thing is the cartoon was made in 1952, and the first Cinemascope movie was made in 1953, which I find very interesting that they would be use that in the cartoon.

Any ideas?

Evans A Criswell

Posted by Randy Stankey (Member # 64) on 02-15-2001, 11:15 PM:

IMDB says it was in Ultra Panavision-70 but it also says the aspect ratio was 2.2:1. (Which is the "normal" AR for 70mm, right?)

The scans I made were direct off the film. I didn't "compensate" by expanding the X-axis or anything like that.

Maybe they made both?

Posted by Brett Rankin (Member # 31) on 02-15-2001, 11:26 PM:

Aaron-

Exodus was shot in Super Panavision 70, not Ultra Panavision 70. SP70 was shot standard spherical 70mm with the 2.21:1 aspect ratio. Even if it had been shot UP70 there is a good chance that there would be spherical (albeit slightly cropped) prints struck. A few weeks ago I saw a 70mm spherical print of Ben-Hur, so there were definitely flat prints of that made.

Now anamorphic 70mm must be something to behold. If only I was born 60 years ago.

Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 02-16-2001, 07:38 AM:

Brett Rankin said: "Now anamorphic 70mm must be something to behold."

Over on rec.arts.movies.tech, Bob Harris(who did the restorations of My Fair Lady, Spartacus, Lawrence of Arabia, Vertigo, Rear Window, etc.) has been lobbying Warner Bros. to let him have a crack at a 70 mm restoration of "Ben Hur". A few years ago, I was lucky enough to see the Ultra Panavision 70 reel of the chariot race screened by Panavision in their screening room (on maybe a 10x27 foot screen), and it was fantastic! (Thanks to Tak Miyagishima of Panavision for inviting me.)

AFAIK, the 65mm negative of Ben Hur resides in cold storage at the Kodak Pro-Tek film vault, so it should still be in reasonable condition, except for the wear and tear of making all the original 70mm prints.
http://www.cinesite.com/la/presrest/protek.html

Posted by Aaron Sisemore (Member # 145) on 02-16-2001, 04:07 PM:

>>Exodus was shot in Super Panavision 70, not Ultra Panavision 70.<<

After reviewing the Widescreen Museum, I stand corrected.
http://widescreenmuseum.com

Aaron

Posted by Brett Rankin (Member # 31) on 02-16-2001, 07:26 PM:

>...to see the Ultra Panavision 70 reel of the chariot race screened by Panavision in their screening room (on maybe a 10x27 foot screen), and it was fantastic! <

Just out of curiosity, where was the Panavision screening room? I've been to the one in Woodland Hills, and it looks to be 35mm only (all Strong equipment, if I recall correctly). Was the reel you saw faded, or from a newer print? I'm green with envy...

Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 02-17-2001, 07:00 AM:

It was in Panavision's old facility, about five years ago. The print was not faded.