IT's A Mad Mad Mad Mad World Restoration - Page 2

I would not go that route as MGM are not the "bad guys."

They have a huge library, which, by no fault of current management, is probably in the worst shape in the industry.

They have an equally huge job on their hands producing preservation elements on printable titles, where there have been none produced in the past.

They are spending, and have been spending massive amounts of money on this project.

It simply isn't a case where they need to be publicly scolded. They haven't done anything wrong, and a campaign or public placement in that light would be adding insult to injury regarding what they are currently preserving.

very good question indeed.

What would say the amount of $ 33000 do in the long run (£ 1 donation from every HTF member, sounds simple enough I would think and would not hesitate to donate more),

From what I can read from these pages that is most likely just a tiny drop in a large bucket. What kind of money are we talking about anyway ? Doesn't more publicity help this in the long run ?

I would think so and at the same time MGM will realise that it is worth saving after all. Or am I missing the point here /

Ron I look forward to the newsletter!

This film is a CLASSIC! God I hope it's not to late to be saved?!?!

Since certain elements of THE ALAMO and MAD WORLD will be insoluble by mid year, why not have MGM put up the $ to make the necessary duplicates and preservation material for these elements?

Leave out the b & w protection masters, digital print work (at least the output process, not the scanning) and fully timed answer prints and audio work to some later date. The costs couldn't be 1/4 or 10% of the estimated final budget.

Clearly, it's imperfect and would only be a stopgap measure, but it sounds like a gap that needs to be stopped.

This would at least provide the option of further work down the line, should Texas investors and financing opportunities change.

We've been hitting similar stumbling blocks with the NIGHT OF DARK SHADOWS restoration. That situation is a bit reversed though, because the separation masters are in excellent condition and I'm confident they'll remain that way for several years. The problem is that we're missing audio for many of the recovered scenes and the dialogue needs to be re-recorded. This has been going on for 3 + years. We're now looking into the possibility of recording the missing dialogue soon, as a stopgap measure. The actors are not getting any younger and three of them have such extensive relooping that if we were to lose one of them, the restoration would be impossible. At least it would give us a few more years to put this thing together.

Perhaps similar pre-emptive work might help give more time for these two other projects to happen. With the current state of the economy and venture capital being very tight, it seems that time is definitely needed in this case.

Best of luck, as always.

Darren

Ron,

Why don't you find out what MGM/UA needs to restore the film. Maybe HTF can raise some of the cost through member donatations. This could be the first film restored/saved through the Home Theater Forum.

what to do, what to do?

Anyone here have any creative ideas that will move to Restore this picture?

I dont make alot of money but I'll kick a few bucks to save one of my favorite films.

This is indeed a travesty.

What can we do?

I want to do my part. IAMMMMW is one of my all time favorites. I would gladly kick a few dollars to this worthy cause.

Ron,

What can be done...to get MGM's attention on this matter. Any avenues to reach them directly and voice our concern, be it by written letters, phone calls?

Thanks!

MGM's address is:
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc

2500 Broadway
Santa Monica, CA 90404-3065

MGM's phone number can be found at http://www.switchboard.com/bin/cgidi...12&Search.y=13

I agree that if we could raise a small portion of the resoration cost and somehow get it to MGM (and get the powers-to-be's attention that there are concerned film buffs out there who would gladly rebuy an enhanced DVD), maybe MGM will pick up the ball and not see it as such a losing proposition.

Thank you for the mailing address and phone number. I'd like to keep this going up at the top of the agenda. I love all the New Releases and news, but this is a great classic.

I bought the current dvd (which will remain unopened forever while I watch the more complete laser disc) solely because there was some belief that higher sales might motivate a restoration. Unfortunately that didn't work and I'm stuck with a paperweight, but if there is anything that I can be done, I'm open to it, including donation of money if it would really work.

Have MGM put a copy of the 'fully restored' version of Its a Mad Mad Mad Mad World up on eBay with an opening bid of 1 million and make the bidding private. I'm serious.

Then have MGM issue a press release in conjunction with eBay. It will generate buzz. The story will get picked up on the AP, Yahoo news, etc. and some essentric philanthropist will most likely win the bid.

Winning bidder gets a copy from the HD masters, delivery in 1 year. More importantly, they get the satisfaction in saving this film.

It would be great if MGM/UA could auction off "Mad,Mad World" movie props/costumes, but they didn't make the film United Artists did and I don't think anything survives. My guess: The best people to go after are the stars of the film (They have the money) If they got behind it maybe MGM would do something. How much would it actually cost? No one has stated how much money is needed (Does Robert Harris have a budget?)

This film has a large cult following as evidenced by the showing at the American Cinematheque (hey, they sold out at $20 a ticket - ok many of the stars were there, but stars have come to other screening where only $8 was charged)

It may not be a large amount of money if many people are willing to donate. Or just buy the 70mm negative and have Robert Harris restore it, thus giving him ownership of the print)

Where are the Steven Spielbergs who have tons of money? (Martin Scorese already does his part) If a big name got behind the project it would be done.

I may be speaking on deaf ears.



By the way, Mrs Stanely Kramer said they were looking to restore the 70mm print, but MGM was not involved.

Technically, Stanley Kramer Productions made the film and UA only distributed the film (and owns it).

I'm surprised none of this came up at the screening with the stars and Stanley Kramer's family at the Egyptian in December. Was anyone from the forum in attendance?

"The Alamo" really chaps my hide because Imagine (Ron Howard/Brian Grazer) is remaking this now and they've got the deep pockets to throw some money toward a good cause like this-- and aren't.

I'd definitely contribute to a cause like this.

Re: The Alamo --

Ron Howard removed himself from this production last year. Even if he was involved in the creation of a remake, doesn't mean that he should be responsible to save an older version.

Any suggestions Robert on where to go with this?

Well, if anyone is going to do this, someone needs to step up to the plate with a little organization. If people are willing to donate money toward this cause, we need something to donate the money to, even if it's just a Paypal account.

There may also be some legal details about setting up a non-profit (if we're really going to be organized about this). Any lawyers in the house? Anyone with experience in this sort of thing?

Robert,

Imagine is still producing the film, only with a new cast, new director (The Rookie's John Lee Hancock) and a trimmed-down budget. I'm just throwing out that it seems a shame for there not to be some sort of tie-in with the new production when the old film is in danger of disappearing for good.

I was lucky enough to see "Mad World" in its original
"Cinerama" incarnation (though I'm not really sure if it
wasn't already cut some by the time I saw it -- I don't
remember the Intermission police calls.) Not to go off into too much of a baby boomer rant here, but it's really sad that they don't do film presentation like they did it then -- in 70mm, in theaters with CURTAINS which opened majestically after the playing of the rollicking "Overture"
(What, no commercials?) "Mad World" may not be a great film, but it epitomized an era when film presentation was done right; an era when going to the movies in the big city was still something very special. Now most of the big city theaters which featured these "roadshows" are gone, to be replaced by sterile gigaplexes.

I contribute fairly regularly to the National Film Preservation Foundation, an organization which sponsors film archive projects to preserve "orphan films" (those
not owned by film studios). I asked Annette Melville there whether their efforts ever extended to films deemed
unworthy of restoration by the studios which owned them,
particularly "Mad World." She replied that Martin Scorsese's Film Foundation (http://www.film-foundation.org/) is a typical sponsor of such projects.

Perhaps we can contribute en-masse to the Film Foundation in support of "Mad World" (like organizations sponsor local
highways.)

Dennis Gallagher

I guess some one representing the HTF should contact Scorsese's film Foundation regarding saving "It's a Mad Mad World" in it's 70mm Roadshow format. Maybe they would be interested in helping and allow a donation account to be opened.

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I would be more than happy to make a donation towards saving this landmark comedy classic. We should all rally together and join forces and use the power of media and the internet to save this picture. In the UK I am more than prepared to get a petition going...

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Bruce

If you need help, let me know

Also MGM can be contacted thru a feedback form on their website & the feedback form is located at http://www.mgm.com/help.do

You also might make Philips aware of this. According to this press release, http://www.press.ce.philips.com/press/20030109_380.html Philips is becoming very involved in restoration of old films.

Read especially the talk given by Larry Blanford.

Despise being in financial trouble,MGM also has the cheapest quality (sort of) DVDs on the market(Can find most of their titles for $9).

I wouldnt complain if they raised the prices of their DVDs a bit to add restoration funds.

Robert is correct in pointing out that the people involved in remaking a film do not have a responsibility to restore the original film. On the other hand, I can think of several reasons why they might want to restore the film.

First, if the elements have very little time left and MGM is not in a position to restore the film, the elements themselves and the rights to their distribution should be obtainable for a very reasonable sum.

Second, The Alamo is a fairly well regarded film with a reasonably important place in film history due to its connection with John Wayne. It also has the patriotic tie-in with the battle of the Alamo itself. All put together, it has reasonable potential for public relations: "Now you can 'Remember The Alamo' because Studio XYZ saved it from destruction".

Third, after the restoration is complete, the DVD of the original The Alamo can be released just in time for the remake of The Alamo. This would be good marketing for the new movie and would also stand to recoup a considerable amount of the initial investment.

I think Robert's figure was $2.5 million for the restoration, but that was for both films and most of the money was needed for IaMMMMW. Even if $2.5 million is needed for The Alamo and another $2.5 million is needed to purchase the elements and the rights (which I hope is exaggerated), $5 million is not a very large percentage of a marketing budget for a major Hollywood film, and this would be very good marketing for an Alamo remake.