- Joined
- Feb 8, 1999
- Messages
- 18,433
- Real Name
- Robert Harris
Universal was never a company known for quality three-strip Technicolor productions.
They began using the process later than most - 1942 - and during that entire decade only produced 23 films in the process.
Most was either westerns, or titles with exotic names and locales, hence Kino's latest Universal releases in the format, White Savage (1943), Gypsy Wildcat (1944), and Sudan (1945), all starring the exotically named Maria Montez, and Jon Hall.
Ms Montez, born in the Dominican Republic in 1912, was a Universal contract player, first appearing in Boss of Bullion City a 1940 western. Two years hence, she starred with Mr. Hall in the studios first 3-strip production, Arabian Nights (1942), Cobra Woman (1943) and Ali Baba (1944). All are available from Kino.
Her final film for the studio was Pirates of Monterey (1947), after which she appeared in European productions.
Mr. Hall, three years Ms Montez's junior, was born in Fresno, CA, and had a far longer career, beginning in 1935 in Women Must Dress. He played a Tahitian native in the 1935 Mutiny on the Bounty. He acted into the 1960s.
I make note of the number of Technicolor productions to make a point. This particular Kino release accounts for some 15% of the entire output.
To be clear, these films are all B fluff, but it's the Technicolor that should be of interest to the technically inclined. Of further interest, the screenplay for White Savage was by Richard Brooks - his first full screen credit.
How do they look?
Generally, fine.
White Savage is of lesser quality than the other two - possibly derived from an older IP. The others are far superior.
All three fit nicely on a single Blu-ray disc, as total running time is only 228 minutes, and the aspect ratio is 1.37.
Image
White Savage – 3.5
Gypsy Wildcat - 4
Sudan - 4!
Audio – 5 (Monaural)
Pass / Fail – Pass
Plays nicely with projectors - Yes
Recommended
RAH
They began using the process later than most - 1942 - and during that entire decade only produced 23 films in the process.
Most was either westerns, or titles with exotic names and locales, hence Kino's latest Universal releases in the format, White Savage (1943), Gypsy Wildcat (1944), and Sudan (1945), all starring the exotically named Maria Montez, and Jon Hall.
Ms Montez, born in the Dominican Republic in 1912, was a Universal contract player, first appearing in Boss of Bullion City a 1940 western. Two years hence, she starred with Mr. Hall in the studios first 3-strip production, Arabian Nights (1942), Cobra Woman (1943) and Ali Baba (1944). All are available from Kino.
Her final film for the studio was Pirates of Monterey (1947), after which she appeared in European productions.
Mr. Hall, three years Ms Montez's junior, was born in Fresno, CA, and had a far longer career, beginning in 1935 in Women Must Dress. He played a Tahitian native in the 1935 Mutiny on the Bounty. He acted into the 1960s.
I make note of the number of Technicolor productions to make a point. This particular Kino release accounts for some 15% of the entire output.
To be clear, these films are all B fluff, but it's the Technicolor that should be of interest to the technically inclined. Of further interest, the screenplay for White Savage was by Richard Brooks - his first full screen credit.
How do they look?
Generally, fine.
White Savage is of lesser quality than the other two - possibly derived from an older IP. The others are far superior.
All three fit nicely on a single Blu-ray disc, as total running time is only 228 minutes, and the aspect ratio is 1.37.
Image
White Savage – 3.5
Gypsy Wildcat - 4
Sudan - 4!
Audio – 5 (Monaural)
Pass / Fail – Pass
Plays nicely with projectors - Yes
Recommended
RAH
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