IT's A Mad Mad Mad Mad World Restoration - Page 7

Well, do you have any other choice at this point really? If you've got the laser of course thats some consolation, but for those of us who came in during the DVD age, what we've got is arguably better than not having any IAMMMMW at all. The more that are sold perhaps the bigger incentive for it to be done right. This is easily among my favorite films of all time, and sure I would love to have it in the best shape possible, but I was glad to get it at all. And I'll buy it again and again if done right on DVD and HD.

Sam

Sony is reissuing titles in the MGM catalog this year(The Princess Bride is one mentioned) I hope there's someone at Sony will suggest bringing it up for a full blown restoration release soon.

Me too, I've been hoping and praying for a restored release of this movie. I hope it is still able to be done.

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Come on someone from Sony please give this film the restoration before nothings left of it!

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Too bad this film doesn't stir up the kind of home video hooting and hollering that Star Wars does.....

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Last I heard....

Nothing will be done.

Sony simply owns the distribution rights.

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Ron,

Thanks for the post.

I did not know till today that The Digital Bits reported yesterday that MGM has jumped ship from Sony?

http://www.thedigitalbits.com/#mytwocents.

I hope MGM will at some point soon give this film the restoration it desperately needs before nothings left of it now.

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I don't mean to hijack this thread. I also hope this restoration does happen before time expires on the aging process. My hope is also that the long awaited The African Queen gets some attention from Paramount. Anyone have any thoughts on this? The rumors seem to be just that 'rumors'...

Joel

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Joel,

We heard directly from Paramount that The African Queen
was undergoing extensive restoration. That was 2 years ago.

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Joel,

I don't mean to steer this away from the topic, but I too would love The African Queen get a full restoration, and it would be nice to hear something after being told this news two years ago. Where is it and when is it scheduled to come out Paramount? Thanks Ron for that info!

Now back to IAMMMMW and saving this from disaster!

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Now that Fox has the MGM DVD and TV rights, they wiLL HAVE A GOOD CHANCE to restore the film to it's former glory, you see back in the 1990's, Roddy McDowell (AKA one of the guys from Planet of the Apes) approached FOX to look for the missing footage of their 1963 film "Cleopatra" to restore tthe film to the original six hour version.

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Hi Folks,

I have obtained a couple little IAMMMMW surprises for you folks, courtesy of Josh Berman — the gentleman who located and saved the majority of the missing IAMMMW footage, and subsequently made it available to MGM specifically for the 1991 LD Reconstruction:


The above two pictures depict Hollywood's world famous Cinerama Dome with a certain film listed on the marquee. As many of you likely know, the Cinerama Dome was built in record time — a mere 16 weeks — specifically so it would be completed in time for the scheduled November 2, 1963 press premiere of IAMMMMW.

Josh discovered these pictures purely by accident — while going through a box of family photos! Needless to say, he was utterly shocked and amazed to find these photos, especially in his own home, many long years after he became an huge fan of the film (and several years after he located the missing footage). The photos were apparently taken by Josh's father shortly after the film premiered in 1963 — but as to why he took these photos in the first place, nobody has a clue, and it will have to remain forever a mystery. Still, what a terrific find for him!

Anyway, Josh and I hope that you enjoy seeing them well! (And if you'd like to see some other terrific photos from Josh's collection, I have posted some terrific shots of a certain stop motion miniature he owns from the original 1933 KING KONG...)

Regards to all...

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Fox may get the right to distribute MGM's DVDs, but they can't distribute something that doesn't exist. A distribution deal alone won't give Fox any unilateral authority to conduct restorations.

DJ

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:sigh:

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Jeff Krispow,

Thank you very much for status on the film and also Thank Josh Berman for his comments and those neat pictures provided here through you!!

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Deleted

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I´d hate to see I got the movie only DVD - 2003 release.

What´s the UPC code for the release that´s two sided, and has the documentary? And where can I get since it´s now OOP. Thanks.


Thanks for en excellent and informative thread.

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Nevermind folks...

"THIS SPACE FOR RENT"

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I´m really confused. Various websites list all sorts of UPC codes, and I don´t know which one is with the documentaries on. I fear that some vendors have mixed up which is which.

Here are the UPC codes I have located:

027616902740 --> this one says "Movie only"
027616865915 --> this one says with "Extras"

Any help from Experts as to confirm what is waht will be greatly appreciated.

All the best,
Sten F

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At the very least they should distribute the general release version that was reprinted to 70mm Ultra-Panavision a couple of years ago, with the original Overture and Intermission calls intact, as well as the original colors of the main title sequence. At this point this would be a major improvement over the DVD release, at least for me. Surely this wouldn't be major financial undertaking.

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027616865915 --> this one says with "Extras"

This is the UPC that is on my case. The disc is double-sided with the extras.
Hope that helps!

-Robbie

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No restoration of IAMMMMW would be complete (or entirely accurate) without the invaluable input of Mr. Eric Federing - the original champion of the "Save IAMMMMW" campaign.

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Thanks Ron, (and Paul) but wouldn't an update of 'progress' or perish the thought an imminent release be due after 2 years? Something tells me this project has either been put on 'hold' or dropped. I did Tivo a pretty good looking print recently (from a TCM showing) and I still have the marginally acceptable R2 in my possession. sigh

Joel

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For those interested, the Parmount Theater (see sig) will be screening a 70mm print of It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World with the 6-track stereo DTS mix on August 5th and 6th.

This screening is part of this year's Summer Classic Film Series which just started last week with screenings of new prints of Casablanca and King Kong (1933).

Through September they will be screening the following films, some with brand new prints, and like IAMMMMW some even in 70mm with 6-track stereo DTS:

70mm print

• CASABLANCA
• KING KONG (1933)
• THE MALTESE FALCON
• WESTSIDE STORY
• TO CATCH A THIEF
• THE TROUBLE WITH HARRY
• SHADOW OF A DOUBT
• THE LADY VANISHES
• NORTH BY NORTHWEST
• STRANGERS ON A TRAIN
• COBRA WOMAN
• THE GANG'S ALL HERE
• THE CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON (3-D)
• IT CAME FROM OUTER SPACE (3-D)
• LOLITA
• BABY DOLL
• GUNGA DIN
• THE MAN WHO WOULD BE KING
• RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK (25th anniversay screening)
• INDIANA JONES & THE TEMPLE OF DOOM
• INDIANA JONES & THE LAST CRUSADE
• SOPHIE'S CHOICE
• THE FRENCH LIEUTENANT'S WOMAN
• CABARET
• DOG DAY AFTERNOON
• SERPICO
• STAGECOACH (1939)
• RED RIVER
• ON THE WATERFRONT
• A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE
• JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR
• BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY'S
• ROMAN HOLIDAY
• SERGEANT YORK
• PRIDE OF THE YANKEES
• PATTON
• TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
• INHERIT THE WIND
• SAFETY LAST
• THE FRESHMAN (1925)
• ANIMAL CRACKERS
• MONKEY BUSINESS (1931)
• GUYS & DOLLS
• YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN
• THE PRODUCERS (1968)
• HAIL THE CONQUERING HERO
• MIRACLE OF MORGAN'S CREEK
• THE SHOP AROUND THE CORNER
• NINOTCHKA
• FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM
  (a common phrase used among HTF members)
• THE PINK PANTHER (1964)
• THE PARTY
• THE WOMEN
• ADAM'S RIB
• THE SEVEN YEAR ITCH
• SOME LIKE IT HOT
• FUNNY GIRL
• ANNIE HALL
• HANNAH AND HER SISTERS
• HIS GIRL FRIDAY
• BALL OF FIRE
• ONE TWO THREE
• THE APARTMENT
• PLAYTIME
• IT'S A MAD, MAD, MAD, MAD WORLD
• TWELVE ANGRY MEN
• MISTER ROBERTS
• DIRTY HARRY
• BULLITT
• BYE BYE BIRDIE
• GIANT
• TOUCHEZ PAS AU GRISBI
• CLASSE TOUS RISQUES
• BLACK ORPHEUS
• BLACK NARCISSUS
• THE RIVER (1951)
• SAMURAI SAGA
• THRONE OF BLOOD
• THE SOUND OF MUSIC
• VERTIGO
• BARAKA
• LAWRENCE OF ARABIA
• GONE WITH THE WIND
• ELEVATOR TO THE GALLOWS
• QUAIS DES ORFEVRES
• FALLEN IDOL
• THE THIRD MAN

No need to wait for HD DVD or Blu-ray. See these films the way they were intended to be seen and in most cases, with picture quality unmatched by any 1920x1080 video transfer.

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Nils,
You may already know this, but you can get 2 free passes for screenings at the Summer Film Series from Book People if you purchase something today and bring any printed material that mentions the event (e.g. yesterday's movie section of the Austin American Statesman).

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I didn't, so thanks for the heads-up.

Another way to save (for those going with groups or planning on attending several screenings) is to buy a book of 10 admissions for only $45 at the box office.

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Too bad WB didn't acquire the rights for this super-widescreen comedy epic; I think it would have had a better chance to perform some sort of restoration and HD mastering like they done with the latest 1959 Ultra-Panavision version of Ben-Hur and Todd-AO's Around the World in 80 Days, both available on DVD. I'll hang on to the "restored" laserdisc box set a while longer...

-THTS

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Thanks, Jeff Krispow, for posting those great pictures. It was really a dream come true to see that particular movie in that theater, in the fall of 2003.

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Manage to find the 2-sided DVD on eBay for only $5.99 in excellent condition. Not bad considering how difficult it is to find it elsewhere.

I really look forward to se this gem again.

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Reading some of the recent news that MGM is having 20th Century Fox release and distribute some of their titles makes me curious if IAMMMMW may be be re-examined for restoration or release?