Jaws: Super 8mm Edition Project (* unfinished project *)

There is a creature alive today…

In 1975, Jaws premiered in the United States with instant positive reviews. The film had become the number one summer blockbuster and had made Steven Spielberg famous. After the film was released, the marketing aspect of the film went sky high. Many products included Jaws’ footballs, action figures, and even underwear. But, one of the most famous Jaws items is the Super 8mm version of Jaws. It is noted for containing the unfiltered ‘Chrissie’s Swim’ scene, which original was darkened so it was much harder to see her body from the Shark’s POV. Two editions were released for the Super 8mm version, one in Cinemascope (30 minutes, two reels) and one in Full Screen (10 minutes, 1 reel).

I am preserving this film on 8mm because of the unfiltered scene as it has never been released that way. The DVD has the original darkened scene and the ‘Terror in the Aisles’ documentary on the Halloween II Blu Ray has the scene slightly brighter that reveals some more body.

Sources:

Jaws Super 8mm (10 minute version)

Sources Still Needed:

(30 minute version, 2 reels) Jaws Super 8mm

At the moment, I am trying to get a telecine transfer for the 8mm film, however I am exploring my options as I know of a business that could make a 1080p scan from the film but I would have negotiate with them since this isn’t a ‘home movie’ and the price is very high. Any recommendations and help would be appreciated.

Is the Jaws super 8 monaural sound?

I would think it would be.

Not sure if Jaws had a mono mix.  Not a Jaws super fan but it is one of my favorite other Spielberg films along with Duel.

Maybe someday someone will also do the Raiders super8 digest as well.

Jaws had a mono mix so I believe the audio with the Super 8mm version is Mono too. Can't say just because I still haven't been able to run the whole thing through the projector.

Yes, the 25th Ann. DVD contained only a 5.1 Audio and DTS track. The 30th Anniversary was the first to release the mono track in 2005. 

JawsTDS said:

At the moment, I am trying to get a telecine transfer for the 8mm film, however I am exploring my options as I know of a business that could make a 1080p scan from the film but I would have negotiate with them since this isn't a 'home movie' and the price is very high. Any recommendations and help would be appreciated.

Did you ask Puggo?

I haven't, but now I will. I forgot about him, loved all his Star Wars 16mm transfers :P

I doubt I could do justice to it.  The Workprinters for 8mm are great for home movies and novelty stuff like the digests. But for serious transfer of really high quality super8, such as the Deranns, I'm skeptical.  For one thing, they don't take the large sized reels, so you'd have to cut the film and add leaders - not a dealbreaker but not appealing either.  But more importantly, the claw drive isn't as stable as the sprocket drive used on the 16mm workprinter. And, faking scope in 16mm is one thing, but faking it from a super8 print is bound to result in further loss of resolution in an already small format.

If I hired a service to transfer a Derann print, I'd want to know EXACTLY what technique they were using, and I'd want to see their setup.  A lot of places advertise HD super8, but it's usually just projected and filmed off the screen, or it's a workprinter like mine. If it's just a workprinter, I hardly see the point of the HD if it's gonig to be fake scope anyways.  Now if they have a more professional frame-by-frame scanner with sprocket drive, or better yet a cintel rank type system (which the best transfer houses DO have - but you're not likely to find it local unless you live in Hollywood or NYC), then it would be worth paying for.

I also have no way of capturing stereo from super8 like many of the Deranns have.  That too is something most transfer houses can't do.

JawsTDS just pointed out that this is the Digest version.  So the Workprinter would be fine... I thought we were talking about a full-length scope version.  I should pay more attention to the first post.

UPDATE:

I'm getting a test transfer done  by a friend just to see if the print is in good condition. Screengrabs will be posted!