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1937 A Star Is Born

post #1 of 33
3/11/06 at 7:52am
Thread Starter 
I have been trying to decide which version of the many choices availlable to buy of the original "A Star is Born". I am one of the many who has seen the trailer in beautiful technicolor on the Garland disc, and want to get a copy on DVD that will be as close as possible.
I recognize this may be wishful thinking, but someone who loves this film and the three strip technicolor process could possibly give me some direction. It's been years since I have seen the movie, and I'd like to watch the best version availlable-

Any chance Warners is going to release this title restored?

Thanks-
Jack
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post #2 of 33
3/11/06 at 8:04am
The Kino disc, hands down. It was transfered from a 35mm nitrate print from the Selznick estate. While it's not perfect, it is miles and miles ahead of the others...even including a brief deleted scene (without sound)
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post #3 of 33
3/11/06 at 8:05am
During the recent chat, WB indicated that they may do something with it; I believe they own the elements. At present, the best version I've seen comes from Image. It's from a Tech nitrate print and is quite nice; Amazon has it for only $8.99.
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post #4 of 33
3/11/06 at 8:06am
Just saw your post, Will - I've not seen the Kino version. Have you been able to compare it to Image's?
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post #5 of 33
3/11/06 at 8:54am
Warners used to syndicate the 1937 version on television in 16mm. Those prints were beautiful, as they derived from original elements which went to WB when they did the remake. I imagine a DVD from Warners would be a gorgeous thing to behold.

Link deleted by moderator. See HTF Rule 7.
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post #6 of 33
3/11/06 at 10:07am
Thread Starter 
Thanks for the input-

So far I can't find the DVD for Kino, only the Image version- Their boxes look very similiar- Any chance they are one in the same?

What other pre-GWTW Selznick videos are availlable on DVD in good picture image and sound quality?

Jack
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post #7 of 33
3/11/06 at 12:17pm
Sorry Jack, the Kino and the Image are the same disc. When I pulled it this morning to look at it, it's listed as KINO VIDEO on the spine and IMAGE on the back. Sorry for the mixup, but that's the one you want.

And the extra minute IS a costume test, but I believe it's Viki Letser's costume test--not Janet Gaynor's (in other words, I think it's a costume test that was part of the narrative--but I may be wrong--I haven't seen it in a while)

As for the other pre-GWTW titles, GARDEN OF ALLAH looks phenomenal from Anchor Bay (and I hear that the MGM redo is the same transfer but I haven't seen it) and YOUNG IN HEART looks great from MGM.

The best available version of NOTHING SACRED is from LUMIVISION. I would love to see somebody release the restoration ABC/Disney did that's mentioned here:

http://millimeter.com/mag/video_first_person_restoring/
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post #8 of 33
3/12/06 at 12:40pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks again-

Got your posting in a nick of time- I had gone to Amazon and bought both the DVD from Image and the tape from Kino- I was able to go back and delete the tape! I also bought the Garden of Allah, the MGM version. Is Selznick's "Prisoner of Zenda" availlable on DVD? Is that multiple editions as well? If so, which version of that is best?

Jack
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post #9 of 33
3/12/06 at 3:09pm
PRISONER OF ZENDA isn't yet on DVD; happily, the recent WB chat revealed that all three versions are planned for release (1922, 1937, and 1952). No date given yet.
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post #10 of 33
3/12/06 at 3:29pm
somebody release the restoration ABC/Disney did that's mentioned here:


Fascinating article. 2000? Hmmmm. Why are we still waiting, I wonder. Ridiculous. A fantastic film..... ASIB '37, as well. Both should be treated as well as CITIZEN KANE, GONE WITH THE WIND, and OZ, imo.
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post #11 of 33
3/12/06 at 4:32pm
Thread Starter 
It was a fascinating article- Am I to understand that the ABC version of Nothing Sacred has never been released on DVD?

How does the Lumnivision product look?
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post #12 of 33
3/12/06 at 4:44pm
That's right Jack it hasn't. I was used to really crappy versions of Nothing Sacred (I remember it being one of the first videotapes I got when I was a kid back in the 80's)and, to me, the LUMIVISION/SLINGSHOT dvd is a revelation. It's mostly sharp (if grainy) and the colors are good, if not great. It's by far the best of the video versions to date and includes the theatrical trailer, two Mack Sennett/Carole Lombard shorts (in Two-color Technicolor) and some really great Kodachrome home movies of Gable and Lombard.

There's even a warning on the back: "During one scene, shrinkage of the original 3-strip materials has caused an uneven line-up of the colors." heheh.....for a pd film, quite a bit of care has gone into the package.

Try it, and ignore the other crap versions. Good luck!
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post #13 of 33
3/12/06 at 5:35pm
Interestingly, it seems that Anchor Bay released NOTHING SACRED on VHS at around the same time they released other Selznick titles on dvd (with beautiful restorations.) Anchor Bay got their titles from Disney so it's highly probable that this was the Disney restoration.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...glance&s=video

The only problem is that it isn't available except through Amazon Marketplace. I've had trouble with mulitple version pd films through Amazon Marketplace in the past (I went through hell trying to track down the LUMIVISION dvd of the LITTLE PRINCESS because it was the only one transfered from Technicolor elements. They advertised their dvds under the right listing, but I wound up getting Madacy or Goodtimes dvds instead. I bought it three times before giving up--I never did get my hands on one) so there's no guarantee that you will get the right video, but I'd be curious to know.
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post #14 of 33
3/12/06 at 6:28pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks for the tip- I just purchased the one from Anchor Bay- In the Marketplace notes, it says it is from Anchor Bay, and that it is in the same box- Let's hope it is!

I will also purchase the Lumnivision copy, and compare the two-

Thanks again- Let's hope it's the restoration!
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post #15 of 33
3/12/06 at 8:13pm
The Image DVD for the 1937 version is pretty awful. Very damaged print, way too dark, lousy color, and interlaced.
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post #16 of 33
3/12/06 at 9:58pm
The Image DVD for the 1937 version is pretty awful. Very damaged print, way too dark, lousy color, and interlaced.
Completely agree. If you're going to buy it, keep your hopes real low.
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post #17 of 33
3/12/06 at 10:28pm
Far from perfect, but STILL the best version released thus far
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post #18 of 33
3/12/06 at 11:54pm
Hopefully, someone will have the foresight to license the UCLA restoration I saw a 35mm print of it last year and it was absolutely STUNNING (apparently off elements). It made the film so much more enjoyable.
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post #19 of 33
3/13/06 at 12:05am
Quote:
Far from perfect, but STILL the best version released thus far

For a time, Madacy's DVD for Metropolis was the "best" available on DVD.
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post #20 of 33
3/13/06 at 5:22pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
The Image DVD for the 1937 version is pretty awful. Very damaged print, way too dark, lousy color, and interlaced.


Are we talking about the "Star is Born" DVD with this quote, or the "Nothing Sacred" DVD?

Jack
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post #21 of 33
3/13/06 at 8:42pm
Are we talking about the "Star is Born" DVD with this quote, or the "Nothing Sacred" DVD?


ASIB. I bought it upon it's initial release for $24.99 and was highly disappointed.
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post #22 of 33
3/14/06 at 4:35pm
Thread Starter 
Well... Sorry to hear you were disappointed- Like it was said here, untill Warners does something with the original elements, we'll have to settle. I should be getting mine this week, and I'll be interested to see it for myself.
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post #23 of 33
3/14/06 at 5:58pm
It's worth noting that the 1937 A Star is Born has been fully restored and preserved by the UCLA Film & TV Archive (Robert Gitt). It's just a matter of Warner creating a new high-res transfer from those elements. In fact, it would probably be a terrific use of the Ultra-Resolution process since the 35mm elements are already in fullly restored condition.
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post #24 of 33
3/16/06 at 4:05pm
Thread Starter 
Simultaneously, Disney saw the opportunity to authenticate the main-title sequence and asked Pacific Title Mirage to investigate utilizing David O. Selznick's personal nitrate dye-transfer print for scanning, as it was the only existing version that still retained the 1937 main title and color credit cards. The scans of these two shots would then be incorporated into the final output in order to meet our objective of providing an authentic version of the highest quality.


If I read this portion of the article Will shared with us, the restored version that ABC/Disney did would have the "Color by Technicolor" credit. Got my Anchor Bay videotape today, and sadly there is no mention of Technicolor in the credits. Makes me think that the Anchor Bay version is unfortunately not the restored print.

I'll compare it next to one of the cheapo DVD's I have of this title and see how it compares.

Keep you posted,
Jack
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post #25 of 33
11/19/09 at 2:32pm
From Lou Lumenick at the NY Post:

One of the big vintage titles bowing on Blu-ray -- within the next six months, Felteinstein says -- is George Cukor's 1954 version of "A Star is Born'' with Judy Garland."It's an extraordinary presentation, with a lot of exciting extras,'' he says. Felsteinstein confirmed our earlier report that the extras include a remastered version of William Wellman's classic 1937 version. But not Cukor's "What Price Hollywood,'' which is considered a precursor. "We considered it, but there wasn't space and it truly isn't a version ofthe same story.''
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post #26 of 33
11/19/09 at 2:55pm

It will be great to see the 1937 version in pristine condition.  I shopped around a while back and came up with an OOP version that seems to be in pretty good condition - The 1998 Master Movies Silver Screen edition now fetching big bucks.

 

http://www.amazon.com/Star-Born-Janet-Gaynor/dp/6305010641/ref=sr_1_21?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1258671084&sr=1-21
 

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post #27 of 33
11/19/09 at 2:59pm
 I'm really excited to see remasters of both versions. Hopefully they will both be in HD (it goes without saying Judy's version will be).
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post #28 of 33
11/20/09 at 5:15am
Count me in as excited for both versions also.  I've only ever seen PD copies of the original and haven't seen the re-make for a number of  years.  Does anybody know if any of the long lost footage was every found for this restoration?  I know that there was a thread discussing this some time ago with rumors of a private collector who had an original uncut print.
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post #29 of 33
2/1/10 at 2:48pm
Any updates on this double deal release?
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post #30 of 33
2/2/10 at 6:19am
Quote:
Originally Posted by marknyc View Post

From Lou Lumenick at the NY Post:

One of the big vintage titles bowing on Blu-ray -- within the next six months, Felteinstein says -- is George Cukor's 1954 version of "A Star is Born'' with Judy Garland."It's an extraordinary presentation, with a lot of exciting extras,'' he says. Felsteinstein confirmed our earlier report that the extras include a remastered version of William Wellman's classic 1937 version. But not Cukor's "What Price Hollywood,'' which is considered a precursor. "We considered it, but there wasn't space and it truly isn't a version ofthe same story.''

What you mean there's no space? Put an extra disc then! However, I'm still excited we're getting both versions of the filme. That'll be a great release.

I wonder if Warner will ever put out the three versions in a box set.
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