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The Invaders

#481
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6/3/08 at 6:01am
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Re: ALL THINGS CONSIDERED...!!!!!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Harry-N
I don't know if anyone else recalls, but I remember that ABC filmed shows back in the '60s and early '70s always had a bit of a *dirty* look about them. Dirt marks and imperfections were noticeable even back then on the old TV's we had. It always seemed to me that NBC and CBS shows always looked a bit better than ABC shows. And it's not because of reception problems.

I wonder if it had anything to do with ABC basically being the "upstart" of the big three networks (and not really gaining many full-time affiliates until the late '60s), with them perhaps having inferior facilities and equipment? Certainly, some of their videotaped shows in the 1960s haven't held up so well, with many/most of their existing master tapes of The Newlywed Game being in such poor condition that they've practically lost all their colour signal.

Maybe they broadcast all their filmed shows from 16mm, rather than 35?
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#482
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6/5/08 at 3:52am
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Re: The Invaders

What a wonderful interview with Roy Thinnes. It's certainly not hard to like an actor with the humanity, humility and sense of humor that he displays. His story of the awe of working with James Daly was a gem.

Looking forward to the Mike Connors material on "Mannix" upon delivery.
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#483
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6/5/08 at 5:43am
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Re: The Invaders

JeffT, now your sig can say "they landed, go buy it!"

I am going to NetFlix this show. Been a long time since i have seen it. Didnt it have a format change in its second season? He found some allies in the fight?
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#484
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6/6/08 at 2:26pm
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Re: The Invaders

In Roy Thinnes' introduction to the episode "Wall of Crystal", he refers to Burgess Meredith's role in "Batman" as that of "The Joker". As any fan of the campy 60's series will attest to, Burgess Meredith played "The Penguin".
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#485
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6/8/08 at 6:44am
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THE LEECHES!!!!!

Well, you seriously wouldn't expect a sophisticated individual like Roy Thinnes to really be a BATMAN fan, would you?! Or would you?

It was erroneously reported that there was some some print wear on the video source elements for THE INVADERS episode "The Leeches" but having seen it for myself this just isn't the case.

What might be considered a "flaw" is some obvious reflective glare from the sun on the camera lens during an outdoor shot in the opening pre-main title teaser...which gives it a more natural elemental look!

But the print itself was (thankfully) in fine shape all things considered.

Jeff T.

THE INVADERS starring Roy Thinnes belongs in a DVD Collection.

Let them land!
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#486
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6/8/08 at 6:50am
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Re: The Invaders

Quote:
Originally Posted by RickER
JeffT, now your sig can say "they landed, go buy it!"

I am going to NetFlix this show. Been a long time since i have seen it. Didnt it have a format change in its second season? He found some allies in the fight?

Yes, about halfway through the second season, a group of allies began helping David with the fight. Most aficianados of the series find that the point where the series began slipping. I have only vague memories of some of those episodes, so I'll look forwaard to the release of the second season to see for myself if that weakened the show considerably.
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#487
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6/8/08 at 7:10am
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Re: The Invaders

As I recall they were generally referred to as The Believers and they first become prominent as a group of protagonists in the second season episode entitled, appropriately enough, The Believers
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#488
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6/8/08 at 7:12am
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Re: THE LEECHES!!!!!

Quote:
Originally Posted by JeffT.
It was erroneously reported that there was some some print wear on the video source elements for THE INVADERS episode "The Leeches" but having seen it for myself this just isn't the case.

What might be considered a "flaw" is some obvious reflective glare from the sun on the camera lens during an outdoor shot in the opening pre-main title teaser...which gives it a more natural elemental look!

But the print itself was (thankfully) in fine shape all things considered.

Jeff T.

It's not really print damage, per se, but rather a substitution of a lesser quality print for a scene transition. If you watch the no-intro version of "The Leeches", it occurs just before the 10 minute mark, as Thinnes, Richman, and Hill are standing in the parking lot after arriving at Hill's corporation. Right after Hill instructs Richman to take David Vincent to the commissary, the print changes to a lesser quality version. The scene then transitions to Hill and his wife and ultimately returns to the better quality print.

This is the scene at the 9:27 mark in the no-intro version:


...and at the 9:55 mark, this similar frame from the lesser-quality print used for this sequence:


You can see in the above examples that the color pallette changes, the image is fuzzier in terms of sharpness and clarity, and the extreme left and right edges of the lesser quality image are just black.

The good image at the top has a natural blueness associated with the bright blue sky. The bottom image has the color neutralized to reduce the blueness and boost the skin tone colors.

By the way, I just *love* the way that Hank Simms, the narrator says the title of this episode, "The Llllleeeches", with a proper note of disgust at the idea!

Harry
My DVD Collection

A fugitive moves on, through anguished tunnels of time, down dim streets, into dark corners. And each new day offers fear and frustration, tastes of honey and hemlock. But if there is a hazard, there is also hope. - Closing narration to THE FUGITIVE, "Death Is The Door Prize".
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#489
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6/8/08 at 12:06pm
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Re: The Invaders

there is an optical dissolve between the two shots. So this might be less a case of them using a lesser quality print and more of the fact that the guys at the optical department reprinted the film to create the dissolve. Remember that this is long before you could quickly perform this effect quick and easy on a computer.

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#490
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6/8/08 at 5:23pm
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Re: The Invaders

I'm currently on disc two of the set, but I'm enjoying The Invaders immensely! I never saw the series before buying the DVD, but the premise was intriguing (and its similarities to The Fugitive) and members here have been very passionate about the series in this thread, so that was enough for me!

I quite like the paranoia theme as the nameless aliens have infiltrated all aspects of American society and the fact that the series is deadly serious about its science fiction trappings--Irwin Allen it ain't.

So far I'm not totally sold on Roy Thinnes' David Vincent, but it's probably because I'm comparing him (unfairly) to David Janssen's Richard Kimble. I find Vincent to be a little cold and bland, but considering the futility of his mission, this could be intentional.

I also like the QM flourishes (formal act changes, a regular announcer and narrator) and the quality of the guest casts--it's great to see so many character actors I saw on The Fugitive.

It's easy to see why this classic series (and Kolchak) was a big influence on Chris Carter's The X-Files (Roy Thinnes even guest starred as an alien hybrid!) and I look forward to Season Two (hopefully it won't be split like a lot of CBS/Paramount's vintage shows). I'd also like to see the 1995 sequel mini-series released (my first exposure to the concept)--I know a lot of people aren't fond of it, but it does have Thinnes reprising Vincent (albeit as a cameo).
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#491
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6/9/08 at 3:09am
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Re: The Invaders

Quote:
Originally Posted by Corey3rd
there is an optical dissolve between the two shots. So this might be less a case of them using a lesser quality print and more of the fact that the guys at the optical department reprinted the film to create the dissolve. Remember that this is long before you could quickly perform this effect quick and easy on a computer.

I'm familiar with changes in film appearances around optical dissolves. This particular change of prints goes way beyond anything I've seen before.

Harry
My DVD Collection

A fugitive moves on, through anguished tunnels of time, down dim streets, into dark corners. And each new day offers fear and frustration, tastes of honey and hemlock. But if there is a hazard, there is also hope. - Closing narration to THE FUGITIVE, "Death Is The Door Prize".
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#492
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6/9/08 at 6:52am
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Re: The Invaders

Quote:
Originally Posted by Harry-N
I'm familiar with changes in film appearances around optical dissolves. This particular change of prints goes way beyond anything I've seen before.

Harry

It's a really bad transfer, but the fact that its the two edits around the dissolve shows that this isn't merely the guys doing the DVD transfer were grabbing random prints. Remember that when this was broadcasted, people didn't had those rabbit ears bent so a little lack of film quality wouldn't look as nasty on their old sets.

come see the reviews at
http://thedvdlounge.com/

and the Seinfeld Tour Bus
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DztXpmMbj_0

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#493
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6/9/08 at 7:59am
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Re: The Invaders

Quote:
Originally Posted by Corey3rd
It's a really bad transfer, but the fact that its the two edits around the dissolve shows that this isn't merely the guys doing the DVD transfer were grabbing random prints. Remember that when this was broadcasted, people didn't had those rabbit ears bent so a little lack of film quality wouldn't look as nasty on their old sets.

To me, it looks like that particular dissolve may have been eliminated in some syndication print, and when they were assembling the DVD, the only source they could find of this particular scene was one of lesser quality - and in the interest of completeness, used that bad section.

If that's the case, I'm all for it. I'd rather have the whole episode than an edited version, regardless of the print quality.

It's just that this particular print difference is extremely noticeable on today's digital media and display devices. Granted, that if the episode has always been this way, it would have been less noticeable on 1967 TVs.

Harry
My DVD Collection

A fugitive moves on, through anguished tunnels of time, down dim streets, into dark corners. And each new day offers fear and frustration, tastes of honey and hemlock. But if there is a hazard, there is also hope. - Closing narration to THE FUGITIVE, "Death Is The Door Prize".
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#494
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6/9/08 at 8:31am
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Re: THE LEECHES!!!!!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Harry-N
By the way, I just *love* the way that Hank Simms, the narrator says the title of this episode, "The Llllleeeches", with a proper note of disgust at the idea!

Harry


I just started watching this episode last night and I cracked up over that. Really funny.
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#495
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6/9/08 at 9:27am
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Re: The Invaders

but if it was an issue of lost footage from a syndicated print, wouldn't there be a couple more examples of footage of equal quality? who clips that little for syndication?

come see the reviews at
http://thedvdlounge.com/

and the Seinfeld Tour Bus
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DztXpmMbj_0

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#496
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6/9/08 at 10:57am
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Re: The Invaders

Quote:
Originally Posted by Corey3rd
but if it was an issue of lost footage from a syndicated print, wouldn't there be a couple more examples of footage of equal quality? who clips that little for syndication?

Beats me. I'm just trying to offer whatever kind of explanation I can make sense of. That's the way it *looks* to me.

Perhaps the master print for that episode was damaged and they had to use some other combination of film elements to asseble the whole episode.

I haven't examined the entire episode that carefully to determine if there are other examples within that show. It was just that one jarring example that stood out.

Harry
My DVD Collection

A fugitive moves on, through anguished tunnels of time, down dim streets, into dark corners. And each new day offers fear and frustration, tastes of honey and hemlock. But if there is a hazard, there is also hope. - Closing narration to THE FUGITIVE, "Death Is The Door Prize".
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#497
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6/9/08 at 11:46am
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Re: The Invaders

Quote:
Originally Posted by Harry-N

Perhaps the master print for that episode was damaged and they had to use some other combination of film elements to asseble the whole episode.Harry

I noticed the exact same thing when that scene occurred and figured that they had included that scene from another source, just as you surmised.

CBS DVD has done this previously if I recall, with some episodes of The Brady Bunch, wherein the quality drops in certain scenes that had been restored after having been excised from the show's masters for some bizarre reason.
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#498
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6/9/08 at 3:05pm
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Re: The Invaders

Another new convert here. Surprised I never managed to see this before. Never seemed to run across it except for the public domain VHS releases. Really enjoyed the 1st ep and don't expect it to drop from here so count me in. Hopefully will see the 2nd episode tonight.
...When you eliminate the impossible whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth

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#499
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6/9/08 at 6:22pm
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Re: The Invaders

I hadn't seen an episode of this show in roughly 20 years and I expected this to be a show that wouldn't live up to my memories , boy was I wrong. I have fallen in love with this show all over again.
I have only gotten through a few episodes so far but I think it looks great, the stories are fun. I hope we get to see the next season on DVD as well.
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#500
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6/10/08 at 5:34am
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Re: The Invaders

Quote:
Originally Posted by Randy Korstick
Another new convert here. Surprised I never managed to see this before. Never seemed to run across it except for the public domain VHS releases.

Well, technically those weren't public domain. "Low-rent" company Goodtimes licenced 12 episodes from Worldvision and sold them on LP-mode tapes for about $5.99 apiece around 1988 or so.
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#501
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6/10/08 at 8:56am
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Re: The Invaders

Stuart Galbraith's review over at DVD Talk . . . .

DVD Talk Review: The Invaders - The First Season
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#502
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6/11/08 at 11:21am
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Re: The Invaders

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeff*H
CBS DVD has done this previously if I recall, with some episodes of The Brady Bunch, wherein the quality drops in certain scenes that had been restored after having been excised from the show's masters for some bizarre reason.

You see these fluctuations in quality also on the TZ: DEFINITIVE sets.
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#503
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6/11/08 at 12:10pm
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Re: The Invaders

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeff*H
I noticed the exact same thing when that scene occurred and figured that they had included that scene from another source, just as you surmised.

CBS DVD has done this previously if I recall, with some episodes of The Brady Bunch, wherein the quality drops in certain scenes that had been restored after having been excised from the show's masters for some bizarre reason.
Jeff,

Yes, there is definitely some of this (or something very similar to it) going on with The Brady Bunch. I've noticed it three or four times. You have a stellar print, and then all of a sudden, a splice of sorts is seen and the print is a tad blurry--almost as if we've moved to another generation film.

As for The Invaders, we watched The Innocent last night. It was good finally to see the inside of the aliens' spaceships. The result of the headgear worn by David Vincent reminded me somewhat of Brainstorm. I didn't know what was happening with some of the imagery until later in the episode.
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#504
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6/11/08 at 4:09pm
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Re: The Invaders

I just got my INVADERS set a few days ago and, having never before seen it, I've watched the first three episodes and like it. It's growing on me with every episode. I actually turned to it to numb the recent disappointment of another QM release, and the Invaders has been really good medicine.

Any timetable when we'll get season two?
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#505
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6/11/08 at 8:43pm
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Re: The Invaders

Quote:
Originally Posted by Carabimero
I just got my INVADERS set a few days ago and, having never before seen it, I've watched the first three episodes and like it. It's growing on me with every episode. I actually turned to it to numb the recent disappointment of another QM release, and the Invaders has been really good medicine.

Any timetable when we'll get season two?
Carabimero,

I'm pleased you like the show. I watched some of the episodes during its original run. I also read some of The Invaders books back in the late 1960s or early 1970s. Those books are some of my most fond reading memories as a child. They were quite chilling--very descriptive and as such, they resonated big time with me.

Could you elaborate on which QM release you were particularly not satisfied with? I'm curious now.
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#506
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6/11/08 at 10:59pm
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Re: The Invaders

I was speaking of the recent FUGITIVE release. It is my all-time favorite show and I am still in shock. I hesitated to name it as I don't wish to incite more anger.

What books did you read of THE INVADERS back in the day? I'm curious to check into them.

I am watching an episode per night of THE INVADERS. Tonight is episode 4. Can't wait.
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#507
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6/12/08 at 5:51am
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Re: The Invaders

Quote:
Originally Posted by Carabimero
I was speaking of the recent FUGITIVE release. It is my all-time favorite show and I am still in shock. I hesitated to name it as I don't wish to incite more anger.

What books did you read of THE INVADERS back in the day? I'm curious to check into them.

I am watching an episode per night of THE INVADERS. Tonight is episode 4. Can't wait.
Carabimero,

Duh--I wasn't even thinking of The Fugitive! For some reason, other QM shows popped into my head when I read your post. Talk about being out of sight, and out of mind....

I will have to track down those books. They were paperbacks, and not too long (roughly 150 pages at most, if memory serves).

Enjoy the show.
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#508
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6/14/08 at 12:18pm
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Re: The Invaders

I watched episode six last night (with Jack Lord) and man I keep liking this show more and more. How I never saw it until now is a bigger mystery than the Invaders themselves!

Bring on season two!
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#509
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6/14/08 at 12:45pm
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Re: The Invaders

Quote:
Originally Posted by Carabimero
How I never saw it until now is a bigger mystery than the Invaders themselves!

David, That's what a lot here think about me (1st-time Fugitive viewer)

I have seen the Invaders but only during its original airings. I have this one coming in the DD sale cart. This is one I'm really looking forward to watching on DVD.

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#510
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6/14/08 at 7:28pm
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Re: The Invaders

I hope they do season two in one full set, but the company pattern and packaging does not support my hope.
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