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Any insider news about a possible 50th Anniversary edition of 7th VOYAGE OF SINBAD?

#1
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7/13/08 at 10:41pm
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Now that we've gotten the colorizing of Harryhausen's early Columbia titles out of the way, can we hope for a restored edition of SINBAD? By restored I mean: fully saturated and accurate colors and sharp-as-a-tack picture from the original negative. I am hoping Ray has already done a commentary for this one, and that some fine supplementary material has been dug up and/or created.

Hopefully Columbia has already employed him to do a commentary for JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS also, though hopefully we won't have to wait another five years for an anniversary edition of that. He did a commentary for the Criterion CAV laser release, but as that has not been ported to a DVD (yet), it remains a collector's item at this point. I'd love to see Sony release the movie as Harryhausen intended it - with several sequences darkened down that were meant to be day-for-night but which have appeared as bright as day in all video incarnations except the Criterion laser disc.

Anyway, 7th VOYAGE has always been and will always be my favorite of his films, as it so lovingly and perfectly combines the opulence of bygone Baghdad with mysticism, superstition, romance, magic, a worthy villain, a gloriously evocative score and the animator's best creations (especially the cyclops). For this eight-year-old sitting in a huge theater in New York, nothing could ever eclipse it (and hasn't) as the most memorable and astonishing fantasy of all time. I just hope I can see it looking as good again as it did in 1958 before I pass on... Please, Sony?
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#2
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7/13/08 at 11:48pm
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Re: Any insider news about a possible 50th Anniversary edition of 7th VOYAGE OF SINBAD?

Completely agree, Dick.

I think the signs are positive.

Columbia clearly thinks there's still mileage in their Harryhausen titles. The remake of Clash of the Titans will raise the stakes, and provide a good excuse to re-visit the catalogue.

If Columbia do re-release the catalogue, there's a good chance they'll add new content (and release them on Blu-ray, too). They've done this for some of their recent re-releases (The Adventures of Baron Munchausen, for example).

The sad recent losses of Kerwin Mathews and John Philip Law should be a wake-up call for Columbia to act now if they want to document these films for posterity (if, indeed, they haven't already done so).

Ray Harryhausen and producer Charles H. Schneer are both 87, and obviously not getting any younger!

Forthcoming UK DVD releases database: Incoming.
Forthcoming UK Blu-ray releases database: Incoming.
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#3
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7/14/08 at 12:28pm
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Re: Any insider news about a possible 50th Anniversary edition of 7th VOYAGE OF SINBAD?

Oooh, I'd bite. Love this film (particularly Bernard Herrmann's score).
They're round, they're shiny...
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#4
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7/14/08 at 2:20pm
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Re: Any insider news about a possible 50th Anniversary edition of 7th VOYAGE OF SINBAD?

It would be nice if they could finally port over that stereo track the old Pioneer Special Edition Laserdisc had.
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#5
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7/14/08 at 3:12pm
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Re: Any insider news about a possible 50th Anniversary edition of 7th VOYAGE OF SINBAD?

Count me in

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#6
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7/14/08 at 3:38pm
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Re: Any insider news about a possible 50th Anniversary edition of 7th VOYAGE OF SINBAD?

Four years ago, there was a book signing of Ray's latest "The Art of Ray Harryhausen" near my home.

I knew his producer and was able to have Ray stop by my home and see my home theater (den) dedicated to his movies and creatures.

I have all his original movie posters from all his movies on the walls and he was quite taken with my den.

Got a nice pic of him and I in the den, surrounded with the posters.

"7th Voyage of Sinbad" is my favorite movie and was my first movie poster purchase.

We need this film and the remaining on BD NOW!!! I don't want a SE on DVD, just the movie in all its BD glory!!!

...retired at last!!!

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#7
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7/14/08 at 6:38pm
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Re: Any insider news about a possible 50th Anniversary edition of 7th VOYAGE OF SINBAD?

I would definitely get this. I mean if 20 Million Miles to Earth can get a deluxe release, I don't see why one of his best and most popular titles shouldn't. At least the current disk is decent enough, one of my favorite films is One Million Years BC and thats only a barebones disk, thanks to Fox.
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#8
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7/14/08 at 8:13pm
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Re: Any insider news about a possible 50th Anniversary edition of 7th VOYAGE OF SINBAD?

I don't think it's gonna happen. If Sony hasn't announced it by August, I don't think it's going to be on the slate.

And for the record, the farther away they keep that terrible stereo remix away from the film, the better. It compromised Bernard Herrmann's score terribly.

-J. Theakston

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#9
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7/15/08 at 12:34am
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Re: Any insider news about a possible 50th Anniversary edition of 7th VOYAGE OF SINBAD?

I wasn't aware it was a remix? In any case, the only stereo aspect seemed to be the music. (All dialog and sound FX came out of the center channel only.) Does a true stereo recording exist or not?

And what about the stereo track for Mysterious Island?
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#10
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7/15/08 at 5:52am
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Re: Any insider news about a possible 50th Anniversary edition of 7th VOYAGE OF SINBAD?

I think studios these days are more focused on new movie tie-ins more than anniversaries, that said unless there's a new Sinbad movie in the works I'm not holding my breath for remastered Harryhausen fantasy flics.

I'd love a restored 7th Voyage, Jason and the Argonauts, Mysterious Island, etc specially on Blu-ray and would buy them anniversary edition or no anniversary, doesn't matter to me.

Maybe the Clash of the Titans remake in 2010 will spur Columbia to redo these to piggy-back on the marketing campaign.
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#11
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7/15/08 at 6:30am
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Re: Any insider news about a possible 50th Anniversary edition of 7th VOYAGE OF SINBAD?

Jack Theakston. Why was the stereo remix terrible. and How di it compromise bernard Herrmanns score.

Just for the record, I am the one who did that stereo remix.
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#12
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7/15/08 at 10:45am
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Re: Any insider news about a possible 50th Anniversary edition of 7th VOYAGE OF SINBAD?

Joe, no offense to you personally, but I didn't like the fact that it down-mixed certain instruments and brought up others. Why?

I also don't like the fact that when the LD first came out, there was no effort made to explain that it was a remix. As seen above, everyone now thinks that mix was original. And as we know, the original release of SINBAD never had a stereo release.

-J. Theakston

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#13
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7/15/08 at 2:56pm
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Re: Any insider news about a possible 50th Anniversary edition of 7th VOYAGE OF SINBAD?

What mix down of instruments. the tracks I used were a combination of two elements.

1. the two channel stereo soundtrack album, there was NO WAY to change this mix at all - and why would I?

2. three channel stereo music units. again, none of these is multi track so there is NO WAY to change balance of instruments.

Also, the final reel beginnning with the end of Death of the cyclops is orignal MIXED four channel stereo and NOT a remix by me. Apparently some locations had limited stereo showings of this film, but there were very few prints.
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#14
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7/15/08 at 3:25pm
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Re: Any insider news about a possible 50th Anniversary edition of 7th VOYAGE OF SINBAD?

One only has to flip between the LD's stereo and the original mono track to hear the difference. You are aware that the stereo soundtrack album is made of different takes than those used in the film, right?

I'm not familiar with the three-tracks music sessions from 7TH VOYAGE, but why would they have recorded the music stereophonic when the film was going to be mixed down mono in the end? It would make more sense to do as Columbia did on a number of their films and record the soundtrack on three track with the appropriate instruments separated by track.

And I skirted around it with my post above, but I'll ask the question again directly-- why did certain people responsible for this mix claim that it was an original mix made for the film (which is total BS)?

-J. Theakston

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#15
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7/16/08 at 3:29am
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Re: Any insider news about a possible 50th Anniversary edition of 7th VOYAGE OF SINBA

I have some news.

The studio is aware of the anniversary and I would suspect fans of the
film should not be disappointed.
Ronald J Epstein
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#16
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7/16/08 at 4:50am
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Re: Any insider news about a possible 50th Anniversary edition of 7th VOYAGE OF SINBAD?

Fantastic! Hopefully 7th Voyage fans who have adopted Blu-ray won't get the shaft.
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#17
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7/16/08 at 6:27am
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Re: Any insider news about a possible 50th Anniversary edition of 7th VOYAGE OF SINBAD?

Jack Theakston -
another claim made by you
"you are aware that the album used different takes than the fil"

great - where does such information come from ?

Hardly likely because if it was different takes, the music would not be dead on in sync as it is.

Another statement - why would Columbia record music in stereo if the film was to be mono?

Part of that you answered yourself. a few original release print were in stereo in big cities to promote the film.

Also, almost all studios were recording all of their music tracks in stereo (usually in three track) by the early fifties.
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#18
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7/16/08 at 7:11am
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Re: Any insider news about a possible 50th Anniversary edition of 7th VOYAGE OF SINBA

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ronald Epstein
I have some news.

The studio is aware of the anniversary and I would suspect fans of the
film should not be disappointed.

Wow that's awesome news.

My Blu Ray shopping list is becomer better and better

Toastmasters International

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#19
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7/16/08 at 11:22am
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Re: Any insider news about a possible 50th Anniversary edition of 7th VOYAGE OF SINBAD?

Quote:
Hardly likely because if it was different takes, the music would not be dead on in sync as it is.

Actually, they DON'T sync up. I remember trying on several attempts and failing.

Quote:
Part of that you answered yourself. a few original release print were in stereo in big cities to promote the film.

Joe, you know that's not true as much as I do. There were NO prints of SINBAD in stereo. Period. Find me a big city ad or a shot of a marquee where it says "In stereophonic sound" and I'll recant my statement.

Quote:
Also, almost all studios were recording all of their music tracks in stereo (usually in three track) by the early fifties.

Untrue. There were many productions that didn't give stereophonic sound a second thought because it just wasn't going to happen. And yes, I'm aware of bi and trinaural recordings. They don't count, unless you take them and remix them into a stereophonic soundtrack.

-J. Theakston

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#20
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7/16/08 at 11:27am
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Re: Any insider news about a possible 50th Anniversary edition of 7th VOYAGE OF SINBAD?

Well, Jack T the music tracks DO sync up - how else would they fit the film as they do in my stereo remix?

Also, by 1958, the year of Sinbads release, show me any studio that was still putting stereo sound in their ads. No one was, not even Fox for most of their stereo films.

Yes, almost all studios were recording in stereo even though the films would end up mono. Paramount was, MGM was, Fox was, Columbia, united artists - you name it.
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#21
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7/16/08 at 12:11pm
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Re: Any insider news about a possible 50th Anniversary edition of 7th VOYAGE OF SINBAD?

Quote:
Well, Jack T the music tracks DO sync up - how else would they fit the film as they do in my stereo remix?

Again, they don't. Anyone who switches between the mono and stereo of the opening titles can hear they're out of sync.

Quote:
Also, by 1958, the year of Sinbads release, show me any studio that was still putting stereo sound in their ads. No one was, not even Fox for most of their stereo films.

I'm calling BS on you, Joe. Let's assume your story is true-- then how is it that YOU know what theaters were playing SINBAD in stereo?

And again I ask-- why was Columbia that the mix you did was the original mix? It took someone ELSE to veto them putting those phony tracks on the DVD at the eleventh hour. I'm glad you're at least admitting that you mixed that track.

-J. Theakston

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#22
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7/16/08 at 2:09pm
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Re: Any insider news about a possible 50th Anniversary edition of 7th VOYAGE OF SINBA

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jack Theakston
Again, they don't. Anyone who switches between the mono and stereo of the opening titles can hear they're out of sync.



I'm calling BS on you, Joe. Let's assume your story is true-- then how is it that YOU know what theaters were playing SINBAD in stereo?

And again I ask-- why was Columbia that the mix you did was the original mix? It took someone ELSE to veto them putting those phony tracks on the DVD at the eleventh hour. I'm glad you're at least admitting that you mixed that track.

Jack Theakston, just a call out to say how much I enjoy your posts here - you are really informed and I for one really appreciate it. I agree with you wholeheartedly that there were never any stereo prints of Sinbad. I've recently talked to someone who had a long conversation with Ray Harryhausen and he reiterated that information, that the film was never shown in stereo anywhere.

I never had the LD of Sinbad so can't comment on its worth, but I love the mono soundtrack, which is all that should be included as that was the way the filmmakers mixed the film.
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#23
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7/16/08 at 3:39pm
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Re: Any insider news about a possible 50th Anniversary edition of 7th VOYAGE OF SINBAD?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Joe Caps


Another statement - why would Columbia record music in stereo if the film was to be mono?

also, almost all studios were recording all of their music tracks in stereo (usually in three track) by the early fifties.

Not by the early fifties but certainly by the time of the release of this film . Large orchestral scores were almost automatically recorded in stereo. Even Paramount who stupidly stuck to mono for VistaVision recorded the Vertigo score in stereo and I am sure others as well.
Anyway, there is no reason why the BD cannot contain both stereo and mono tracks. Let's hope they do.
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#24
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7/18/08 at 9:52pm
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Re: Any insider news about a possible 50th Anniversary edition of 7th VOYAGE OF SINBA

I don't care whether or not the stereo mix is included , as long as the original mono mix actually has fullness and clarity and great dynamic range, which the original DVD does not.
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#25
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7/21/08 at 7:37am
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Re: Any insider news about a possible 50th Anniversary edition of 7th VOYAGE OF SINBA

Here in France, the magazine Les Annees Laser (Les Années Laser - Accueil) in its last issue lists The 7th voyage of sinbad for a special edition dvd and Bluray, in the second semestre. No exact date but the info must come from the France Columbia PR.
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#26
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7/25/08 at 4:34pm
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Re: Any insider news about a possible 50th Anniversary edition of 7th VOYAGE OF SINBAD?

the cover and announcement was shown in the program guide
of the 39th annual San Diego Comic-Con, on a several page
color advertisement(for various releases)from Sony Pictures.
it is definitely going to happen...the question is when?
scant details say it will include commentary by Harryhausen,
but no mention as to a restoration job.
(the cover looks very nice, though)!
also shown was a blu-ray triple film Harryhausen collection of
the three colorized Columbia movies already released(also, a
very cool cover on this one, too).
their web-site does not mention any of this(as of yet).
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#27
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7/28/08 at 1:51am
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Re: Any insider news about a possible 50th Anniversary edition of 7th VOYAGE OF SINBAD?

It's here!! And in surround sound!! DVD Times - The 7th Voyage of Sinbad R1 50th AE in October
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#28
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7/28/08 at 4:21am
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Re: Any insider news about a possible 50th Anniversary edition of 7th VOYAGE OF SINBAD?

Blu-ray version also!

DVD Times - The 7th Voyage of Sinbad (US BD) in October

Sweet!
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#29
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7/28/08 at 12:32pm
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Re: Any insider news about a possible 50th Anniversary edition of 7th VOYAGE OF SINBAD?

nothing has been mentioned about a restoration
having being done on this film....
is this just a same print re-issue w/ new documentary/commentaries?
that is the big question.
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#30
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7/28/08 at 1:37pm
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Re: Any insider news about a possible 50th Anniversary edition of 7th VOYAGE OF SINBAD?

Surround sound? Uh-oh! The original mono tracks aren't included? Sigh, well, hopefully they got Kathryn Grant (Crosby) to participate in the retrospective since Kerwin Mathews is no longer with us.
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