I'll also do a quick audio capture of the full film - I'll just run it through my computer before it gets to the speaker...
OK, that's what my print says, "Dolby System." However, it does say the "Some Enchanted Evening" bit, too. I wonder if they would have redone the titles just so that it would not have that in, from when the scene was originally cut? I guess it gives me an excuse to watch the movie... :D
Sorry to double post myself, but I've got some bad news - mine appears to be the '78 reissue. However, it is in mono, if that interests anyone. That is easy for me to do - I've got an Elmo CL that puts out a pretty good signal, and a Kodak 250s Pageant that has an EQ built in, so if anyone is interested in the audio, let me know.
Also, now that I think about it, mine would be a decent candidate for the non-special edition, as it doesn't have the CGI clouds. It might also be a fun learning experience even though it is not unique, so I'm still interested in building a 2 or 4k scanner, so advice is still needed!
Surprisingly, it was. I figured that someone would bid me up - I had planned on spending $300+, but it went for my lowest bid. An extra bonus - it had free shipping. :)
Kind of makes you wonder what that other seller is smoking... $800 for a very scratched print of a flat scope movie? :S
I know - the print is in great condition. Can you believe I paid $50 for it? :)
I'll check those end titles right now to see what I have...
What do you think of the scan quality? This was done on a flatbed scanner with 2400 dpi throughout the 4 frames, do you suppose the quality would be better if I did 2400 or 4800 dpi per frame? Alternatively, is the quality good enough now? I am just kind of thinking out loud, and don't know what "good" should look like. I don't mind building a transport device that would automate the process if this is worth pursuing, otherwise I can try to figure out what -1 and co. used...
Alrighty. Do you guys want to see some really promising shots from the first few minutes of the film? Here it is:
Those last two are pretty bad, looking at them with fresh eyes. Here's a better version:
I just did. :) I also made an American Graffiti thread with some pictures of the frame scans I did...
OK, so here are some pics of the print I have. More will follow, but this was just preliminary to see what version I might have.
First, the raw scan of the film:
Next, the black and white level normalized scan:
Two different color corrected and anamorphically stretched frames:
Bear in mind that these were scanned at low res and have not been cleaned since I projected them last. My goal, if this project goes through, would be much, much clearer than this. These are tests only.
OK, a scan is coming up of the end titles. My print shows Milner as being killed in December, but I'll check some of the other points you talked about. I am 99% sure that my print was struck in '76, so unless it was a prerelease print (likelihood almost zero) then I'm pretty sure it was theatrical. We'll see.
Thanks for the assistance you were able to provide!
Wow, I had no idea that the original had never been released on home video. I'm going to get some pictures of it and see what I actually have...
I'm pretty sure that is the version known as the "Coal Black" disc, as it has a hidden Easter egg featuring the Warner Bros. short, "Coal Black and the Sebben Dwarfs." I suppose it could be uploaded to Myspleen - I don't think it is there yet - but it is not all that interesting. It is, IIRC, a Hong Kong LD rip, which had bad 3:2 pulldown as well as colors that were noticeably off. Thanks for posting the screenshots!
In other news, I have a low-fade, 16mm print of Song of the South. It is cobbled together with one Fuji reel, one LPP reel, and another low-fade of unknown vintage. In any case, it is made off of the negative (not a dupe or reduction) so it is really clear and in great condition. I have been messing around with trying to get it scanned, but tests have shown the results to be less than desirable.
Basically, I'm putting this out there to see if anyone on this board could help me make a telecine machine, similar to the one that -1 and cinch made (with the digital camera setup.)
If anyone has any assistance, it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!
I was asked to make a new thread for this to see if there would be some interest and ideas as to how to make it happen. I have a 1976 'scope 16mm print of American Graffiti on Kodak SP which has lovely color. It has been my preferred way of watching the film for a long time now, so I didn’t even realize that there was a different version of the film (which came out in '78). Even though it is SP, it just leans a hair towards red - it is absolutely watchable and in mint condition.
I would be more than happy to scan it (or telecine it with a digital camera, similar to -1’s project) but have zero experience in that department. Ideally, I would like to scan it at 2k or 4k (like -1 did - if he can do it, that should be my goal, too.) Basically what I am asking for in this thread is help on building a telecine machine similar to the one -1 and cinch built, or just general suggestions on how I might get it scanned or telecined. I have talked to Puggo, as well, but he only has the capability to do SD.
Thanks in advance for any assistance!
Cool! I'll make a thread right now.
I'll also see if I can do some preliminary scans, so that you guys can see what shape it is in.
I've talked to Puggo, and he is interested in doing it. However, he said he can only do SD (which I guess would be better than what we have) and that the backlog is pretty big - I think he still has a few projects in front of me.
Otherwise, I'd be glad to lend him my prints.
As far as I know, it was printed in 1976. I believe it is Kodak SP, so it hints towards red, but is pretty low fade (the lowest fade SP print I've seen, and I've seen a lot). It is scope, and pretty much mint condition, with the "When in Hollywood, visit Universal Studios" and the preceding film rating card. I have an idea that mine was either an army or a drivethru print.
I didn't realize it was wanted, so I didn't bother piping in! I have a low fade print of Song of the South, too, but have no way of transferring them. I would like to have them transferred at 2k or 4k (like the -1 project), but don't have the skills to build a transfer machine. If someone wants to help me build one, I'd love to start a project. :)
Seeing as how we are mentioning American Graffiti, I've got a scope, low-fade 16mm print of it... Just putting that out there, in case a desire for an American Graffiti preservation exists.
captainsolo said:
SilverWook said:
...
...or get so bored you swapped a reel of The Lake House with X-Men 3 have you Mr. TFN 720p sir?
XD
SilverWook said:
Never trust anyone who doesn't know how to thread a projector. ;)
I'm so putting that up on the wall of my projection booth. :D
Double-post. Sorry.
I just can't figure out where these people are coming from. It's like they don't understand how film works - things "pre-digital" aren't automatically junk. Think about huge, 70mm productions like Laurence of Arabia or 2001: A Space Odyssey and how clear they are - wait, I guess those suffered from '60s and '70s film limitations. Nevermind. :)
AntcuFaalb said:
...
Sethian Eber said:
The worst prints are release prints. Contrary to popular belief, release prints are crap and have at best the equivalent of 720p in terms of spatial resolution when projected. The chemical process smears the resolution due to uneven gate speeds. Then you got dirt and damage on top of that.
What is this, I don't even...
How did they think a "chemical process" smears the film?? Uneven gate speeds? That would never happen, but if it did, that would lead to jumped frames, not resolution problems. What a moron.
Space Kaijuu said:
Regarding the burn marks, those were added to the prints and not the original negatives. They were there for use by cinemas that used older projection systems that used two seperate projectors instead of the single large platters in order to accomodate multi-reel films. The first burn mark would indicate that the reel is about to end and the second mark would tell the projectionist to start the other projector and switch off the one that was running. All of the film prints that were sent to theaters at the time would have them but if the transfers were off of the negatives and not a film print, the burn marks wouldn't be there.
Those were different burn marks Harmy and Antculfaab were talking about...
No, you were lucky to get out of there.