Free "farewell" Screening of 1977 Star Wars collector's print (British I.B. Technicolor) — Page 9

Middle of the day on a Friday, so barely anyone attending or running the theater. This time I know the movie is academy going in. I get there during the trailers, and oh man, I immediately know something is wrong. It's the trailer for Drive and the light is spilling onto the top and bottom black curtains which are still set up for scope. I've learned from experience that if something is wrong during the trailers, it's gonna be wrong during the movie. I run out and tell a guy about how they gotta open up the screen in auditorium 7. The guy says "ok," gets out his walkie-talkie and I run back. By the time the movie starts, they still haven't fixed the problem. I run back out to tell the guy again. He gives this frustrated look as he reaches for the walkie-talkie, a look that says "I told them to fix it."

Sounds like they had a newbie up in booth that didn't know how to change over the masking. My main complaint with AMC is with the shutter ghosting during the 35mm presentations. I also have big issues with their IMAX presentations regarding the shrill sound at insane levels. I will never watch IMAX at AMC again.

I saw that as well at a second run, but it only had a slight skip.

No one cares about aspect or presentation anymore. Any place that still does 35 will just throw up something and try to mask it on the fly. Even at my local arthouse Academy ratio will have spillover on all sides. They started using the smaller, longer theater which has a screen sized for about 1.85 and basically just pillarbox in the curtain on all sides.

It's not that they completely don't care , it's  more of a it's not a concern if there are no complaints.  Most theater chains are understaffed when it comes to projection tech's. They may have 1 or 2 techs servicing 100 plus screens and they cant spend a whole lot of time at any theater they visit. So alot of problems go unaddressed. Aperture problems seem to be the most common, and a problem that strangely doesn't get to many complaints; However, they are a major pain in the ass  to correct. You have to recut and recut the aperture many times to fit the screen proberly, and then you have to readjust the lense and masking to fit the new plate if they need it.  Most of the time the tech's just check the bulb, projector belts and chains ( if they have them ), the sound chain, and  platter systems when they do a projector maintenance.

Just wanted to draw attention to this...

My friend Peter, who was also at the screening and whose photos have been featured on savestarwars.com, just got around to uploading his videos from the screening. He, himself, points out that there are a million problems with them, but so it goes. I'm not sure if they're at all useful, though maybe the entrance into Mos Eisley could help Harmy, and they do a nice job of demonstrating, once again, the quality of the IB print, but they're at least plenty enjoyable for the crowd reactions in certain places. Anyways, they'rre on pages 3 and 4 of his gallery. This link should start you off, I think? http://photos.petergaultney.com/Movies/historic/Star-Wars-at-The-Senator/13089279_chpNjq#948713561_WKZxo

I don't believe so, no.

Wow, that looks awfully close to the JSC! I guess that telecine might be closer than I thought to the original colors.

Thanks timdiggerm and thanks to Peter for uploading those! very nice seeing how good shape that print is in. :)

I can't really use any of the footage but it sure is nice to see it. And it has the whole Greedo scene too, with the subtitles.

danny_boy said:

 

Hmm......was drooling over the technicolour shots that i did not realize that the print had the edges of the frame cropped off.

 

I compared the same frames from the technicolour print to the 2004 DVD

 

Looks like a dodgy aperture plate or the screen masking motor was giving up and projectionist didn't make any preparations to see that the masking was at correct 2.35:1. 

Films often on video disc are seriously cropped on the sides and often sometimes the top and bottom of scope film. Someone needs to go to SpecSavers!     

AuggieBenDoggie said:

 

Middle of the day on a Friday, so barely anyone attending or running the theater. This time I know the movie is academy going in. I get there during the trailers, and oh man, I immediately know something is wrong. It's the trailer for Drive and the light is spilling onto the top and bottom black curtains which are still set up for scope. I've learned from experience that if something is wrong during the trailers, it's gonna be wrong during the movie. I run out and tell a guy about how they gotta open up the screen in auditorium 7. The guy says "ok," gets out his walkie-talkie and I run back. By the time the movie starts, they still haven't fixed the problem. I run back out to tell the guy again. He gives this frustrated look as he reaches for the walkie-talkie, a look that says "I told them to fix it."

 

Sounds like they had a newbie up in booth that didn't know how to change over the masking. My main complaint with AMC is with the shutter ghosting during the 35mm presentations. I also have big issues with their IMAX presentations regarding the shrill sound at insane levels. I will never watch IMAX at AMC again.

 

Perhaps I'm simply not observant, but I haven't had much trouble with my local AMC theater. The IMAX sound is loud, but I always figured that was just because it was IMAX sound.

TServo2049 said:

Jedi Temple34 said:

Looks like a dodgy aperture plate or the screen masking motor was giving up and projectionist didn't make any preparations to see that the masking was at correct 2.35:1. 

Films often on video disc are seriously cropped on the sides and often sometimes the top and bottom of scope film. Someone needs to go to SpecSavers!     

Mike Verta explained that the print had platter scratches on the edges, so the projectionist probably cropped close to hide them. Also, I think the Senator was a primarily 70mm venue, so its screen was closer to the 70mm aspect ratio, which isn't as wide as 2.35:1. The amount of image shown in the Senator screenshots has an aspect ratio close to 2.20:1.

But did the projectionist crop it too much, even if we take these things into account? Not sure, it sure looks like it though...

 

Well no excuse for that I seen far worst at an early morning showing of Willow years ago 1990 on my day off, from projection and from reel 3 to the last reel one half of the image looked like a solvent was poured on it. It was all blurred and not one person expect myself got up. As I thought it was too with lens. The guy on duty that morning checked it and it was the print.

Well it was only a one morning showing so no matter it would end up going back to distributor. 

Looking at the video that was taken and very good nicely documented (even though its illegal for picture taking as well as video) I don't give damn too bad no one telecined this version and gave it away on eBay for free. :D    

I can see in subtitle text on Greedo its cropped by the masking and possible a different aperture plate so no visible sides will be seen.

But still nice camera pictures I gather a good SLR digital camera. 

I like the flicker as that is from the shutter between the lamp house and film gate a three sided blade that shuts light on off very fast to create the illusion of motion picture.

I guess someone didn't have enough memory left on the digital card I wanted to listen to audience cheering, when Greedo gets fried.

http://photos.petergaultney.com/Movies/historic/Star-Wars-at-The-Senator/13089279_chpNjq#!i=1495730644&k=GnX2777&lb=1&s=A

I like the audience reaction that is how it was in December 1977 cheers from the audience. And the wookie is still fast asleep. lol   

http://photos.petergaultney.com/Movies/historic/Star-Wars-at-The-Senator/13089279_chpNjq#!i=1495829701&k=L4tFtBx&lb=1&s=A

Also the screen capture of the DVD it has to be dismissed! Look at the 35mm print its got whiter whites! The DVD looks like it was filtered though a pair of George Lucas socks.

Fascinating.

Cool story bro :-)

I think I do know where the print currently resides though. And so do quite a few others.

Oh, wow, a girl. Here? For real? ;-)

Alright then, cool story, sis :-)

HewittYoda said:

The only person who truly knows was the theatre's famed projectionist and he passed away last November.

Under suspicious circumstances, no doubt.  :)