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Exodus - Page 2

post #31 of 42
1/23/08 at 9:07am

Re: Exodus

Quote:
Originally Posted by Chuck Pennington
I don't know I COULD GO ON SINGING inside and out like you apparently do, but the image on both formats looked terribly soft and murky. Both transfers are pretty hideous. Agree? The film looked nothing like either DVD or LD release when it was on HDNET MOVIES 2 yrs ago.

Yes, Chuck, both releases have many shortcomings, and one that is consistent is the high level of red in both. The black levels take on a reddish hue which throws everything off, especially skin tones.
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post #32 of 42
1/23/08 at 9:20am

Re: Exodus

Quote:
Originally Posted by Charles Ellis
Well, the whole Porgy & Bess thing is complicated. You've got the Gershwin estate supposedly blocking it because the movie version wasn't as good as the original opera (the family hated the idea of Mamoulian being replaced by Preminger). Then there's the issue of groups like the NAACP not being happy about the film- while filming was about to be made, there was pressure on Sidney Poitier not to do the film. Well, as a person of color I liked the film as a kid, and looked forward to seeing it on TV on Sunday afternoons when the local station used to play it several times a year until around 1980 or so. I remember that my parents had a '101 Strings' album of selections from the score, and I played the hell out of it. I just hope the original elements are still around for a restoration and God willing, a future DVD release with extras. Sidney Poitier and Diahann Carroll are still around, so maybe they can give commentary, along with Samuel Goldwyn, Jr. and Preminger's son Erik. Let us have today's audience and critics get the the opportunity to see the film and judge its merits.
I've read direct quotes from Sidney Poitier that he's embarassed by this film so don't expect him to do any commentary. According to him, he wouldn't have made the film if not made to do it by the studio.
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post #33 of 42
1/23/08 at 10:07am

Re: Exodus

Quote:
Originally Posted by Simon Howson

Also, if you read the Foster Hirsch biography, it doesn't sound like Preminger's wife ever wants Skidoo to see the light of day again. She summarises her thoughts on the film by saying

Personally I don't like it when people say what dead filmmakers think about their films. But if she has any say whatsoever in which of Preminger's Paramount films make it onto DVD, it seems she will never allow it while she is alive.

Sad really, because I'm sure it would be a hilarious train wreck of a film.

SKIDOO had a rare TV screenings just a few weeks ago on TCM. I reviewed it here:

The Moviezzz Blog: FORGOTTEN FILM: SKIDOO (1968)

It deserves a release on DVD, if only for the curiosity factor. TCM showed it full frame and it needed letterboxing, so I guess the film hasn't been remastered.
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post #34 of 42
1/23/08 at 2:52pm
Thread Starter 

Re: Exodus

"Porgy and Bess" was shown at New York's Ziegfeld Theater last September, for two nights. The 35mm print belonged to a private collector. I hadn't seen it since the ABC network TV broadcast in 1967, and enjoyed it very much. Although Dorothy Dandridge's singing voice was dubbed (as was Sidney Poitier's and most of the principal actors), her performance was truly heartbreaking.

Hope Preminger, Otto's widow, attended the screening and spoke to the audience. I wish I'd known enough to ask her to release "Skidoo" anyway, despite the way she feels about it. I love that movie!
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post #35 of 42
1/23/08 at 6:49pm

Re: Exodus

Quote:
Originally Posted by Charles Ellis
Well, the whole Porgy & Bess thing is complicated. You've got the Gershwin estate supposedly blocking it because the movie version wasn't as good as the original opera (the family hated the idea of Mamoulian being replaced by Preminger). Then there's the issue of groups like the NAACP not being happy about the film- while filming was about to be made, there was pressure on Sidney Poitier not to do the film. Well, as a person of color I liked the film as a kid, and looked forward to seeing it on TV on Sunday afternoons when the local station used to play it several times a year until around 1980 or so. I remember that my parents had a '101 Strings' album of selections from the score, and I played the hell out of it. I just hope the original elements are still around for a restoration and God willing, a future DVD release with extras. Sidney Poitier and Diahann Carroll are still around, so maybe they can give commentary, along with Samuel Goldwyn, Jr. and Preminger's son Erik. Let us have today's audience and critics get the the opportunity to see the film and judge its merits.
They should put the film out with documentaries added explaining the controversy. If releasing the film HELPS open up a discussion of racial representation, then that is good. I don't understand how pretending the film was never made actually helps.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jon Martin
SKIDOO had a rare TV screenings just a few weeks ago on TCM. I reviewed it here:

The Moviezzz Blog: FORGOTTEN FILM: SKIDOO (1968)

It deserves a release on DVD, if only for the curiosity factor. TCM showed it full frame and it needed letterboxing, so I guess the film hasn't been remastered.
I believe it was shot in Panavision, so it must've been pan and scan, rather than full frame. But I completely agree with you, it should be out on DVD, including a documentary on why the hell the FBI investigated the film because of the script.
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post #36 of 42
1/23/08 at 6:55pm

Re: Exodus

Quote:
Originally Posted by Simon Howson
I believe it was shot in Panavision, so it must've been pan and scan, rather than full frame. But I completely agree with you, it should be out on DVD, including a documentary on why the hell the FBI investigated the film because of the script.

Yes, it was originally in Panavision. And the TCM airing wasn't even panned and scanned. They just showed the center of the image even while the action went off to the sides. It was obvious Paramount hadn't even gotten around to making a pan and scan version of it.
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post #37 of 42
1/23/08 at 7:16pm

Re: Exodus

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jon Martin
Yes, it was originally in Panavision. And the TCM airing wasn't even panned and scanned. They just showed the center of the image even while the action went off to the sides. It was obvious Paramount hadn't even gotten around to making a pan and scan version of it.
Crazy! See if I was part of the Preminger estate I would be restoring everything, so that it is already to go on DVD and Blu-ray.

Even a film like In Harm's Way could look a lot better than it does.
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post #38 of 42
1/23/08 at 8:26pm

Re: Exodus

Actually, I believe PORGY AND BESS was shot in Todd-AO.
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post #39 of 42
1/23/08 at 11:12pm

Re: Exodus

Quote:
Originally Posted by MattH.
Actually, I believe PORGY AND BESS was shot in Todd-AO.
We were posting about Skidoo.

But the fact Porgy And Bess was shot in Todd-AO is another reason it should be restored and release on DVD.
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post #40 of 42
1/23/08 at 11:21pm

Re: Exodus

Porgy and Bess was shot in Todd-Ao and was shown in that format in London at the Dominion Cinema, Tottenham Court Road. Its release was hugely delayed because of the long run of South Pacific. It didn't last long and quickly made way for, I think, Cleopatra. I did see Porgy then, however, and have the souvenir brochure, but I can't remember much about it
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post #41 of 42
1/24/08 at 8:04am

Re: Exodus

I am so frustrated that COMCAST has no HD channel that will play classics such as EXODUS in HD. I wish that would change!!
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post #42 of 42
1/24/08 at 12:52pm

Re: Exodus

Quote:
Originally Posted by AdrianTurner
Porgy and Bess was shot in Todd-Ao and was shown in that format in London at the Dominion Cinema, Tottenham Court Road. Its release was hugely delayed because of the long run of South Pacific. It didn't last long and quickly made way for, I think, Cleopatra. I did see Porgy then, however, and have the souvenir brochure, but I can't remember much about it
Porgy and Bess only managed a short run at the Dominion and went out on general release in London on the ABC chain. It was followed at the Dominion by 55Days at Peking which then moved over after a few months to the Odeon Haymarket to make way for Cleopatra.
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