IT's A Mad Mad Mad Mad World Restoration - Page 6

I bet the cropping issue is exactly the same as the old Ben-Hur transfers.

Someone probably made a 35mm scope element from the 65mm material with Super Panavision specs (which crop on the top and bottom of the frame) instead of the Ultra Panavision specs (cropping the far edges, but keeping full height intact).

Besides this, the current DVD has a ton of DVNR in the credits (the text constantly smudges) and lots of interlacing problems between shots.

I guess "forever" isn't that long, eh George?

FWIW, I compared the two years ago with my LD hooked up via S-Video and DVD via Component on my AVIA calibrated 65" SONY 16x9 HD monitor.



Well....there you go!

BTW George, i knew this discussion sounded familiar. I dug up an old thread where much of this was discussed.

Here it is:

http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htfo...ighlight=world

I guess unwatched would have been more accurate. Not that I had ever even intended to open it when I posted that, but it was only for purposes of comparison to the ld. I can assure you I've never wasted 2 and half hours watching the film on dvd (though I've spent many a pleasant 3+ hours watching the laser disc).

Did this remove overscan, or is that the reason you didn't notice there is more info on all 4 sides of the laser disc?

The company name is DVDO.

Just for the record Tino, I'm not defending the laser disc in terms of picture quality, etc., only in terms of having a superior cut of the film to the dvd (if not as good as the roadshow), and superior framing and title sequence. The only way I'd ever truly be happy would be the Robert Harris restored version that will probably never happen, unless I win the lottery and can fund it myself.

Just to insert what little other information I know, there just isn't anything going on right now regarding a proper restoration of IAMMMMW. What a shame…

Besides the fine folks on this forum, there are many, many others who also desperately want to see a full and proper restoration of the film. The 40th Anniversary Screening at the Cinerama Dome in Hollywood was a terrific experience. A brand new 70mm print (even though it was the short version), but with the "Police Calls" intermission audio (6m11s) playing in the lobby during intermission. And my understanding was that the other screening at the other Cinerama houses were equally popular.

Aside from consumers, the actual people who would be involved with any restoration are just waiting around hoping that it will eventually happen. I think we all know that Robert Harris is ready and willing to move forward with this should a restoration get funded. One of the other "main" people waiting for something to happen is Joshua Berman -- he's responsible for providing the majority of the missing footage, outtakes, alt. takes, etc. used to put together the fantastic LD edition.

Josh is a very, very old friend of mine, back from when we were teens (ugh…over 30 years ago; feeling old again). We talk at least once a week, and the subject of IAMMMMW frequently comes up. If there was ANY movement going on regarding a restoration, Josh would be aware of it and involved. And as of our last talk a couple days ago -- when I told him about the continuing interest in the forum topic here -- he said there's nothing going on at all.

However, he says that even though a proper restoration is long overdue, the extra delays have not been an entirely "bad" thing. As of this point in time, nearly all of the missing footage and audio tracks has been located, I believe within a minute or two at most. (Robert could probably elaborate more than I could). For where some audio is missing, the original actors for the scene(s) are amazingly still with us and could reloop their own voices. Hopefully this will get done before they are among the departed. (Back when the LD edition was being produced 12 years ago, they wanted to get the actors in to reloop the missing audio for this footage so it could be added back in -- itunfortunately didn't get approved.)

And for those of us who wanted to have more of Buster Keaton in the film, one major missing bit of audio was also rediscovered a couple years back… a sequence where Culpepper (Spencer Tracy) went to a Baskin-Robbins for a yummy hot fudge sundae. While in the store, Culpepper calls up Jimmy (Buster Keaton), and a split-screen phone conversation followed. So the audio was rediscovered, but unfortunately the matching footage is still missing. However, Josh told me that a bunch of on-set stills taken during the filming of this sequence were found, and could easily be used to fill-in for the missing footage is necessary (ala: "A Star is Born," "Greed," etc.).

And again, the complete "Police Calls" intermission broadcasts are back with us again.

So, even though the delay has been horrendous, it's also proven invaluable for the relocation of nearly all of the missing elements that would provide for a proper restoration. A big thanks should go out to Robert Harris, Josh Berman, Jim Kroeper and a few others for their continued efforts at locating these materials and trying to see that a restoration occurs.

Now we just have to wait until someone at Sony decides that a restoration of the film is required and funds the project. Sony has had a good track record with restorations over the years, and now that they own MGM (and thus own IAMMMMD, hopefully they will want to add it's restoration to their catalogue.

I'm sure it's only a matter of time until it happens… oh, and money, of course.

Just as I am not defending the DVD in terms of not being closer to the roadshow version as the LD is, just in terms of having, imo, a superior cut of the film, better sound, picture quality, and most of the LD extras to boot, including all those extra scenes from the LD.

I have the LD too, and it's a prized posession. However the theatrical DVD version is the one I grew up with and fell in love with, hence my passion for it.

Disturbingly, with regard to the deteriorating elements, it's also literally a matter of time until the restoration can never happen. My fear is that said time has come and gone.

DJ

The time is past gone for some elements, which have been junked.

RAH

Hasn't this been said about other films like Kane and Kong and others. Then they find other prints and able to make a copy that looks like it was shot last week. It just takes years longer searching across the world for prints. No?

In terms of magical events where pieces of film are discovered and saved, IAMMMMW already had its moment. While the general release version of the film survives fine and dandy, it is the additional footage only seen in certain screenings that is problematic. Someone else with a more definite understanding of the situation could tell us for sure, but this additional footage is likely too unique to turn up a second time (I'm not clear if longer versions ever even got screened outside the United States, for example).

This film already had its magic moment. Banking on another one is probably a hope too far.

DJ

be nice if someone could almost buy JUST the other footage to maintain restore and preserve it till the studio wants to do the whole thing. Or somethin like that I dunno.

I read somewhere that Mr. Kramer wanted additional foley effects, but was denied that opportunity by the studio. Perhaps his production notes contain a written record of his intent. For instance, I believe he wanted the sound of birds and seagulls dubbed over the music when Mr. Winters first sees the Big W.

In the case of the missing Keaton footage, one alternative is to shoot new footage and incorporate existing shots of Keaton's face from that era. I'm sure there are many shots in the beach party films which would work splendidly, so long as you don't mind a Clutch Cargo effect - inclusive of minor visual distortions in the mouth area.

Why always Robert Harris? I think Grover Crisp and his staff can do the job when the time comes.

To Mr. Ryan...

Although we've been working on background, creation of continuities, construction of a 35mm work picture and further research for several years gratis on this project, I'd be quite happy to see anyone attempt it.

We're certainly willing to lend a hand.

RAH

True, Grover Crisp and his staff has done excellent work in the past, and I expect they will continue to do so in the future.

However… why Robert Harris?

Well, with regard to IAMMMMW, he is literally the BEST person for this restoration work. Aside from Stanley Kramer, I think it's safe to say that Robert likely knows more about this film than ANYONE else around. For many years (many MANY years), he's been personally involved with a small group of people (including Josh Berman and Jim Kroeper) who've dedicated much of their spare time towards locating all the missing materials in the hopes of reconstructing the original Roadshow version of the film. They are all intimately knowledgable regarding the film and its restoration requirements, have done quite a bit of behind-the-scenes work already, plus have access to much of the "missing" material.

Basically, there is already a good team of experts in place ready to undertake this specific restoration, one of whom just happens to be a well-known and respected restoration expert. That sounds like pretty good credentials to me…

I have no doubts that Grover Crisp would do an excellent job if he were assigned to the project. By what's really important is that the film be restored, reconstructed and saved by someone equally as dedicated as RH, JB and JK. I'm sure they would also be more than happy to offer their assistance and expertise to whomever tackles the project.

Hopefully someone at Sony will realize its importance and act upon it… soon.

Regards,

I'll be in line at the theater, and at the DVD store...

- Steve

There isnt an actor or director or someone big on film preservation that can be told about this and talk the studio into doing something about it?

Only the Harris/Katz team can restore this film to the directors original intent, inclusive of studio tinkering and Eric Federing's invaluable input.

Any other "restoration" would not be worth seeing.

Would someone be willing to give me the details of the laser release spoken of so often in this thread? The only one that I have seen is the MGM three disc restored version. Is that it?

Year?
Studio?
Stock number?

Thanks!

Im sure the details are already present on the HTF, searching would probably reveal all the info you could possibly need.

But, since I have it in my hands right now...

ISBN # 0-7928-0705-7

"MGM.. wishes to express its thanks to Stanley Kramer and Joshua Berman for their contribution which made this special presentation possible. IAMMMMW was restored for home video by Rennie Johnson and Paul Scrabo"


Released to Laserdisc in 1991, the 3 disc CLV version is 3 hours and 8 minutes long (according to the cover) and "restores" several scenes from the roadshow version "discovered in a warehouse slated for demolition". Although far from a recreation of the roadshow version, it does offer a glimpse of some of those scenes.

Im sure Mr Harris could (and has) detailed what scenes should and shouldnt be seen in a potential restoration of the roadshow version. If I recall, some of the footage added to the laserdisc version was not seen in either the general release or roadshow versions. They were simply scenes cut from the film by Stanley Kramer.

Hi Jeremy,

I did a quick search of the forum, but found no specific details of this with the exception of what material it contained. I was hoping to narrow it down to what the cover looked liked. I am not sure how many versions were released to laser.

In the 90's, I worked for a video distributor and had just begun collecting laserdiscs. The only version I recall seeing released was the three disc version by MGM that was in a box with a white front cover and had the gold "Deluxe Letter-Box Edition" ribbon across the top. It also said "New Restored Version" on the front. Is that what I'm looking for?

Yes.

Update -

Cross-referencing the ISBN number that you gave seems to confirm that we are talking about the same edition.

After all of the talk, I would love to add this set to my collection. Actually, "collection" is a strong word. I have narrowed my LDs down to just 1776 (Pioneer Special Edition) & The Wizard of Oz Ultimate Edition. Hopefully, I can get hold of this one too. Had I known it's significance, although not complete, I would have picked it up a long time ago.

Thanks again for your help, Jeremy.

I recently picked up a mint copy on eBay for $4.54.

there is one on ebay here

I'm a little confused over the difference between the "roadshow" and general release versions. Wasnt this shorter general release version actually the same cut (minus Overture, Entracte, exit music)that MOST people saw during the roadshow runs throughout the U.S.? I was under the impression that the world premiere version was cut rather quickly (maybe less than two months) after the premiere in November, 1963. And the movie was still being rolled out in the so-called "Cinerama" roadshows well into 1964. So wouldn't most of those roadshow engagements actually opened with this shorter cut?

And if so, then what the Cinerama Dome showed two years ago could legitimately be referred to as the final "Roadshow" version.

It's a new year! I was wondering if any talk has occured at Sony regarding the restoration at all?

I'm hoping Columbia is taking the right measures for Mad World.

Personally, I don't want anything else but the roadshow cut. We don't need to put more footage than what was intended. After all, that's what deleted scenes sections are for. Perhaps it would be possible to fully restore the excess material and present it as a supplement (like the two extra scenes from Superman: The Movie were).

Any word from someone at Sony on reviewing the restoration needed and giving it the green light?

They just don't "make 'em like dear old Dad used to make 'em" anymore...

Anyways, I was just looking into buying this disc and stumbled onto this thread. Seems more like a sad, sad, sad, sad world when films die an unnecessary death; it's shameful that somebody or some organization close to the film has yet to step up to make the restoration happen, but as others have noted, who has the power to cheat death? Of course, the answer for a film would usually be, anybody with deep enough pockets (assuming that there is a film left to work with).

Now before my old fashioned goes completely to my head, is this effort truly dead, or is there still hope? Has the time truly passed due to the condition of the surviving elements, or could it still be done to one extent or another? Clarify if you can, and then I'll go out and buy the existing disc and pass out on the pool table just like good old Uncle Jim...