WHV Press Release: How The West was Won (DVD/Blu-Ray)+Western & Errol Flynn Classics - Page 2

dannyboy104 · 04-29-2008, 05:22 PM

Hi
Some further info:

"Making of HTWWW" seminar / rough cut (Digital Video 4 x 3 Projection) 1 hour hosted by Dave and Randy. (Randy & I will introduce several start and stop video segments and talk between them, this will be a "rough cut" of a 40 minute documentary for Warner Home Video. )

This will cover the origins of How The West Was Won beginning with a 1923 pageant, the seven part Life Magazine series, the popular Bing Crosby record album, and through the gigantic production that became the highest grossing picture made in the year 1962.

This would feature rare audio recordings of Henry Hathaway and the three ASC cameramen who shot the film talking about the difficulties of the Cinerama filming. On screen will be rare behind the scenes stories and never before seen interviews with the actors, producer and editors. An added bonus is an unusual look at the films spectacular locations back then and how they look today after 45 years.

We would briefly discuss the remastering of "How the West Was Won" and what the Warner Brothers plan is for SmileBox deluxe collectors edition.

We would also spend the last 15 minutes of the hour getting feedback on what the audience would like to see included in the final cut documentary.

This presentation will begin with a the showing of the 6 minute 3-panel trailer for "How the West Was Won" on the curved screen.

RolandL · 04-29-2008, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarcoBiscotti

Now THIS is what an "Ultimate Collector's Edition" should look like!

Just a comment on the extras pictured above.

The "Exhibitors Campaign Book" in the lower left corner, was for the 35mm general release. This is a pressbook that the theatre owner could use to order posters, movie program books, lobby cards, etc.

The movie program in the bottom center was a hard cover and sold at Cinerama theatres. A smaller black and white program was handed out at the performance.

The poster in the bottom right corner was also for the 35mm general release.

RolandL · 04-29-2008, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simon Howson

The image is taller at the sides, and narrow at the centre to emulate the enveloping quality of the image caused by the deeply curved Cinerama screen.

Basically 3-strip Cinerama films aren't meant to be viewed as a flat image, because it means the distortion of the 3 x 28mm lenses goes uncorrected.

The problem is, a lot of How the West Was Won was shot in Ultra Panavision, not three strip Cinerama, so the Smilebox formatting may not help the UP sequences.

I don't know about "a lot". I remember parts of the river rapids and the train robbery scenes were not filmed in Cinerama. Maybe a total of 5 minutes? Sorry, I would have to watch it again to see which ones and how long they were.

RolandL · 04-29-2008, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oscar_merkx

what's smilebox anyway ?

Example of smilebox - The Cinerama Adventure - "Smilebox" Process

MarcoBiscotti · 04-29-2008, 07:23 PM

As excited as I am for this upcoming release, I have to echo the sentiments of others that it is incredibly lame that Warners is not offering the Smilebox option with the big expensive UCE set. No BluRay exclusives at this point will drive me to upgrade and only serve to piss off the loyal supporters of home video companies releasing products in other SD formats.

mdnitoil · 04-29-2008, 08:24 PM

I've got to agree. I'm not sure exactly where they get the nerve to market something as the Ultimate Collection and then leave off a major supplement. I can see coming out with it sometime later, but to basically stick it to the folks paying 60 bucks day and date is pretty galling.

If you're willing to pay that much money for this movie, you'll want to at least have access to the smilebox version. Even Warners should be bright enough to figure that one out.

Simon Howson · 04-29-2008, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mdnitoil

If you're willing to pay that much money for this movie, you'll want to at least have access to the smilebox version. Even Warners should be bright enough to figure that one out.

I totally agree. For $60 the SD-UCE should be 4 discs, including both letterboxed and smileboxed versions of the film.

The resolution argument doesn't make sense. Smileboxing the film means there is more efficient use of the resolution because of less letterboxing, producing a roughly 2.59:1 image. I can't understand why Warner thought it was OK to release the film uncorrected at 2.89:1 on SD-DVD, but not at 2.59:1 smileboxed.

I may opt for just the standard 2 disc collector's edition...

WadeM · 04-29-2008, 10:05 PM

Great news from Warners! I'm sold on all of these releases.

ahollis · 04-29-2008, 10:45 PM

I understand that the elements for The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm are in bad shape. While it is an interesting and entertaining film, it was not a big money maker and was a small part of the decline of the three-panel Cinerama (theatre payroll being a large part).

MGM did release a letterbox laserdisc many years ago and thankfully I still have it. Thank yo