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"The Robe" and "Demetrius and the Gladiators" are now a wow! - Page 7

post #181 of 207
12/19/08 at 10:06am

Re: "The Robe" and "Demetrius and the Gladiators" are now a wow!

great - but several online retailers show this as one disc - amazon, barnes anand noble, dvd universe, dvd empire and classic flix which gave the specs out this morning. I hope I am proved wrong but at 19.98 list - it doesn't look good.
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post #182 of 207
12/19/08 at 1:43pm

Re: "The Robe" and "Demetrius and the Gladiators" are now a wow!

At what point do people learn the extremely simple lesson that the online retailers who list early specs usually get them wrong. And then this happens - people post and get upset for no reason. Why not just wait for an official press release - what Jack said is all you need to know at this point.
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post #183 of 207
12/19/08 at 5:16pm

Re: "The Robe" and "Demetrius and the Gladiators" are now a wow!

FWIW, the flat version is listed on the Classicfix coming soon page:
Fox Studio Classics - Coming Soon
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post #184 of 207
12/19/08 at 7:15pm

Re: "The Robe" and "Demetrius and the Gladiators" are now a wow!

Simon, Classic flix listing is lifted from the list of Fox Studio Classics . the specs they published TODAY for the Robe show a single disc with a few features.
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post #185 of 207
12/19/08 at 10:31pm

Re: "The Robe" and "Demetrius and the Gladiators" are now a wow!

[quote=Simon Howson]Any idea if your VHS was the academy version, or was it the CinemaScope version pan and scanned?

Or was it letterboxed?



If memory serves me right both my VHS and laser disc were letterboxed.
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post #186 of 207
12/19/08 at 11:28pm

Re: "The Robe" and "Demetrius and the Gladiators" are now a wow!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Joe Caps
Simon, Classic flix listing is lifted from the list of Fox Studio Classics . the specs they published TODAY for the Robe show a single disc with a few features.
Yeah, but the page previously said it was two discs, which is what my earlier comment (post 176) referred to.

I'm still hopeful the flat version will be included. It wouldn't bother me if it wasn't a PERFECT transfer, of course it makes more sense spending restoration / preservation dollars on the CinemaScope version.

Would it be possible to fit BOTH the flat version and the CinemaScope version on ONE Blu-ray? Or would that require too much compression?
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post #187 of 207
12/20/08 at 4:16am

Re: "The Robe" and "Demetrius and the Gladiators" are now a wow!

Simon, the Robe is a long film and to fit TWOo of them on one disc, plus doc, extras, commentary track, isoloated score etc. would be really pushing it.

This title was announced over a week ago, but still no official announcement word here at HTF.
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post #188 of 207
12/22/08 at 9:23am

Re: "The Robe" and "Demetrius and the Gladiators" are now a wow!

Latest specs on the Blu-ray - The Robe Blu-ray Details and Cover Art | HDR TheHDRoom
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post #189 of 207
12/22/08 at 9:44am

Re: "The Robe" and "Demetrius and the Gladiators" are now a wow!

It doesn't look like we're getting the 4x3 (I'm not that bothered). I'd swap "A Seamless Faith: The Real Life Search For The Robe" featurettes, for "The Cinemascope Story", but that's Blu-ray only. Oh well. I wonder if it's going to be released in England?

Edit. Just seen above that the DVD won't have "A Seamless Faith" just as well, it looks boring. But I would have liked to have "The Cinemascope Story".
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post #190 of 207
12/22/08 at 11:31am

Re: "The Robe" and "Demetrius and the Gladiators" are now a wow!

So - the regular SD has NO cinemascope story, sucks
No flat version - I am really getting angry
No intros from various stars on the Blue Ray (Susan Hayward,etc) I have seen these before and they are really nice.

Okay - blue ray players are getting cheaper, - Why don't I just buy one?

Simple - I would also need a hi def monitor and I just can't afford it.

Fox alaso haas a South Pacifc BD which has an exclusive Making of Doc. I am getting more and more angry.
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post #191 of 207
12/22/08 at 11:48am

Re: "The Robe" and "Demetrius and the Gladiators" are now a wow!

The BRD pricing is almost twice as much as the SD DVD.






Crawdaddy
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post #192 of 207
12/22/08 at 1:32pm

Re: "The Robe" and "Demetrius and the Gladiators" are now a wow!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Joe Caps
Okay - blue ray players are getting cheaper, - Why don't I just buy one?
Simple - I would also need a hi def monitor and I just can't afford it.

You can use it instead of your SD DVD player in the same setup you have now.
Then when you can afford it you already have all those movies in HD and you will be able to rediscover them in HD.

And don't know about your budget but with the going prices you could get something decent (player and display or even a used projector and screen) for well below 1000$, probably even below 700$ if you shop around..
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post #193 of 207
12/22/08 at 4:09pm

Re: "The Robe" and "Demetrius and the Gladiators" are now a wow!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Joe Caps
So - the regular SD has NO cinemascope story, sucks
No flat version - I am really getting angry
No intros from various stars on the Blue Ray (Susan Hayward,etc) I have seen these before and they are really nice.

Okay - blue ray players are getting cheaper, - Why don't I just buy one?

Simple - I would also need a hi def monitor and I just can't afford it.

Fox alaso haas a South Pacifc BD which has an exclusive Making of Doc. I am getting more and more angry.
Maybe, I'm reading the following specs. wrong, but I only see the cinemascope version available on both, the SD DVD and Blu-ray. There is a comparison segment on the BRD, but it says nothing about two different versions being on the BRD.

DVD Times - The Robe SE (R1/US BD) in March
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post #194 of 207
12/22/08 at 5:03pm

Re: "The Robe" and "Demetrius and the Gladiators" are now a wow!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Robert Crawford
Maybe, I'm reading the following specs. wrong, but I only see the cinemascope version available on both, the SD DVD and Blu-ray. There is a comparison segment on the BRD, but it says nothing about two different versions being on the BRD.

DVD Times - The Robe SE (R1/US BD) in March
It does say this:
Quote:
BONUSVIEW picture-in-picture mode:

* The Robe Times Two: A Comparison of Widescreen and Standard Versions
Hopefully it is just preliminary specs, considering the release is 3.5 months away.

Also, Jack Theakston is confident the academy version will be included, and it is still mentioned on the Foxclassics coming soon page.

The producer Frank Ross made a fortune on The Robe, so who knows, maybe his estate still earns huge royalties whenever Fox re-issue it? Maybe they wanted double the royalties for a release that included both versions.
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post #195 of 207
12/22/08 at 7:38pm

Re: "The Robe" and "Demetrius and the Gladiators" are now a wow!

When I was interviewed for some of the special features a couple of months back, I was told that the standard ratio version would be included as well. That much I can tell you.

Whether or not Fox has changed their minds remains to be seen, but I'm willing to give them the benefit of the doubt until the specs are set in stone.

Regardless of whether or not the alternate version is included, this BD is a no-brainer, if not for the restored film but for the slew of special features Fox is bringing us.
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post #196 of 207
12/22/08 at 7:54pm

Re: "The Robe" and "Demetrius and the Gladiators" are now a wow!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Simon Howson
It does say this:

Hopefully it is just preliminary specs, considering the release is 3.5 months away.

Also, Jack Theakston is confident the academy version will be included, and it is still mentioned on the Foxclassics coming soon page.

The producer Frank Ross made a fortune on The Robe, so who knows, maybe his estate still earns huge royalties whenever Fox re-issue it? Maybe they wanted double the royalties for a release that included both versions.
I noted the comparison segment in my post, but nothing about the entire two versions being on the disc according to the specs. released so far.
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post #197 of 207
12/22/08 at 7:57pm

Re: "The Robe" and "Demetrius and the Gladiators" are now a wow!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jack Theakston
When I was interviewed for some of the special features a couple of months back, I was told that the standard ratio version would be included as well. That much I can tell you.

Whether or not Fox has changed their minds remains to be seen, but I'm willing to give them the benefit of the doubt until the specs are set in stone.

Regardless of whether or not the alternate version is included, this BD is a no-brainer, if not for the restored film but for the slew of special features Fox is bringing us.
Jack,
Why would anybody want to watch the alternate version over the cinemascope version? I'm not particularly interested in doing so, not the entire movie.
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post #198 of 207
12/22/08 at 8:19pm

Re: "The Robe" and "Demetrius and the Gladiators" are now a wow!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Robert Crawford
Jack,
Why would anybody want to watch the alternate version over the cinemascope version? I'm not particularly interested in doing so, not the entire movie.
To see the changes that the filmmakers decided to make when filming in CinemaScope.

I'm VERY interested in watching all of the academy version.
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post #199 of 207
12/22/08 at 8:36pm

Re: "The Robe" and "Demetrius and the Gladiators" are now a wow!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Robert Crawford
Jack,
Why would anybody want to watch the alternate version over the cinemascope version? I'm not particularly interested in doing so, not the entire movie.
I think it's more of a completist/collector thing. When Disney released "Lady and the Tramp" on Laserdisc in widescreen back in 1998, they also released the specially-prepared Acacdemy frame version as well. I bought both Laserdiscs, (the special Academy frame version was not on the recent DVD - that was just a panned-and-scanned extraction of the remasted CinemaScope version) even though I never fully watched the Academy ratio Laserdisc. It was just fun to compare the differences in layout and composition made by the original artists.

On the other hand, the "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" DVD included a 1.85:1 version that was shot at the same time as the CinemaScope version and I did watch that as the picture quality was actually better than the Scope version due to the fact the the Oneg of the Scope version was severely damaged by the studio making 70mm blowups from it in the 60s and 70s.

So even though I'd probably never watch the Academy frame version of "The Robe" in its entirety, I'd still like to have the whole movie as an extra.
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post #200 of 207
12/22/08 at 9:25pm

Re: "The Robe" and "Demetrius and the Gladiators" are now a wow!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark-P
So even though I'd probably never watch the Academy frame version of "The Robe" in its entirety, I'd still like to have the whole movie as an extra.
The other issue is, it probably wouldn't sell on its own. So if they are ever going to release the Academy version, as part of an SE would be there best chance.

Possibly they didn't want to spend money restoring it, and didn't feel they could include an average transfer of it in a Special Edition set.
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post #201 of 207
12/22/08 at 10:35pm

Re: "The Robe" and "Demetrius and the Gladiators" are now a wow!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Simon Howson
...Possibly they didn't want to spend money restoring it, and didn't feel they could include an average transfer of it in a Special Edition set.

They didn't have any problem including a sub-par transfer of the Todd-AO version on the "Oklahoma!" DVD
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post #202 of 207
12/22/08 at 10:48pm

Re: "The Robe" and "Demetrius and the Gladiators" are now a wow!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark-P
They didn't have any problem including a sub-par transfer of the Todd-AO version on the "Oklahoma!" DVD
Good point, hopefully they do the right thing for the Blu-ray.

You could say the same for the first version of The Robe (not that it was an SE).
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post #203 of 207
12/22/08 at 10:50pm

Re: "The Robe" and "Demetrius and the Gladiators" are now a wow!

As stated above, it's totally a completest thing. However, unlike some films where alternate versions were shot-- DOCTOR X comes to mind, where people were making a hoopla about including the black and white version that differs for about a total of three minutes at most-- THE ROBE is a significantly different film in its flat and 'scope presentations, at least from what I remember comparing the two.

For what its worth, the flat version of THE ROBE has been preserved by Fox. Whether or not they put money into restoring it, I don't know. There was an NTSC transfer done in the mid-90s for AMC, and I believe that was the first time most anyone saw that version (it certainly wasn't released in the US that way).
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post #204 of 207
12/23/08 at 12:01am

Re: "The Robe" and "Demetrius and the Gladiators" are now a wow!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jack Theakston
As stated above, it's totally a completest thing. However, unlike some films where alternate versions were shot-- DOCTOR X comes to mind, where people were making a hoopla about including the black and white version that differs for about a total of three minutes at most-- THE ROBE is a significantly different film in its flat and 'scope presentations, at least from what I remember comparing the two.

For what its worth, the flat version of THE ROBE has been preserved by Fox. Whether or not they put money into restoring it, I don't know. There was an NTSC transfer done in the mid-90s for AMC, and I believe that was the first time most anyone saw that version (it certainly wasn't released in the US that way).
I'm interested in how different the staging was. Koster stages The Robe primarily laterally - across the screen, as he was instructed to do so by Zanuck. Did he do the same in the academy format, or did he tend to stage in moderate depth like in his pre-CinemaScope 50s films?

Were VHS versions of The Robe the academy version, or were they pan and scanned from the "Scope version?
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post #205 of 207
12/23/08 at 5:18am

Re: "The Robe" and "Demetrius and the Gladiators" are now a wow!

I don't know abuot the AMC showings, but for YEARS, the ONLY version on tv of The Robe was the flat version. Fox first releas on Magnetic video label was the flat version.

Also, in the early 90s Fox vid found a STEREO track for the Flat version. It would be great to have.

The flat version plays better, - better camera angles and editing. SThe scope version was hampered because of unfamiliarity with the system.

The Flat version should have needed little restoration.

The scope version was shot in Eastman color, the flat was shot in three strip technicolor.

Fox found trouble shooting early scope in true technicolor. But the name meant a great deal to the public. so Fox struck a deal with Technicolor, The first early scope films would be shot in Eastman Color but all would printed in Dye transfer technicolor so Fox could legally put Technicolor in the credits and on the posters, It's not true - ALL of the early Fox scope are actually shot in Eastman color, That includes The Robe, How to marry a Millionaire, etc.
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post #206 of 207
12/23/08 at 1:12pm

Re: "The Robe" and "Demetrius and the Gladiators" are now a wow!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Joe Caps
Fox found trouble shooting early scope in true technicolor. But the name meant a great deal to the public. so Fox struck a deal with Technicolor, The first early scope films would be shot in Eastman Color but all would printed in Dye transfer technicolor so Fox could legally put Technicolor in the credits and on the posters, It's not true - ALL of the early Fox scope are actually shot in Eastman color, That includes The Robe, How to marry a Millionaire, etc.
To be accurate, it was impossible to use an anamorphic lens with a three strip Technicolor camera and Fox had no choice. They also felt that the dye transfer prints did a lot to minimise grain which was a problem on the new larger screens.
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post #207 of 207
12/23/08 at 5:39pm

Re: "The Robe" and "Demetrius and the Gladiators" are now a wow!

I've been ready and waiting with High(er) Definition projection for 10 years and now that Blu-ray players and Blu-ray titles of my favorite movies are finally available I've just added another medium to the chain of processors in order to view my favorites.
Looking back it seems quite ridiculous as to how many versions of the same movie I own but I can't wait for Blu-ray "The Robe " to come out just so I can compare.
It's become an obsession but since I figured I won't be around in 50 years to enjoy what the future will offer I gladly splurge on the latest fangle /dangle technology.
I'm definitely looking forward to buying a Blu-ray recorder in anticipation that H.D television channels such as TCM will broadcast my favorites ...Hope I'm still around by then ....in the meanwhile ,any format , any transfer any extras..... just keep them coming .
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