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I wonder if Sony will bother to remaster all those UA 1.66:1 non-anamorphic DVD's.

post #1 of 16
1/18/09 at 7:48pm
Thread Starter 
My God, what a huge number of great flms were released through MGM on non-anamorphic DVD's, mostly from the United Artists catalog. They look okay on 27" t.v.'s but, as we all know, people are buying larger sets by the bucketload and those old "letterbox" transfers no longer cut it. Everything from THE MIRACLE WORKER, KISS ME DEADLY and WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION to Hammer's HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES and EXODUS (which didn't even look good on a 13" set) need to be reissued as anamorphic transfers if they are to play with any fidelity on newer monitors. I really hope the economy isn't going to discourage Sony from revisiting these titles.
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post #2 of 16
1/18/09 at 8:02pm

Re: I wonder if Sony will bother to remaster all those UA 1.66:1 non-anamorphic DVD's.

Sony does not have the rights to the UA films, they are still under control of MGM and distributed by Fox. At least for now, since MGM again has cash flow problems and may have a new owner again by summer.

I agree with with you that the films need to be presented as an anamorphic transfer, especially "Exodus." With it not being anamorphic is one of the crimes of the century.
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post #3 of 16
1/18/09 at 8:37pm

Re: I wonder if Sony will bother to remaster all those UA 1.66:1 non-anamorphic DVD's.

Two more great ones that need anamorphic attention: JUDGMENT AT NUREMBERG and INHERIT THE WIND.
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post #4 of 16
1/19/09 at 1:46am

Re: I wonder if Sony will bother to remaster all those UA 1.66:1 non-anamorphic DVD's.

Not UA but MGM DVD anyway

Konga
Journey to the 7th Planet
Theatre Of Blood
Madhouse
Lifeforce
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post #5 of 16
1/19/09 at 6:47am

Re: I wonder if Sony will bother to remaster all those UA 1.66:1 non-anamorphic DVD's.

Quote:
Originally Posted by ahollis
I agree with with you that the films need to be presented as an anamorphic transfer, especially "Exodus." With it not being anamorphic is one of the crimes of the century.
Exodus should be preserved from 65mm, and released on a 2 DVD special edition, and a Blu-ray. It is one of the most beautifully photographed large format films ever made.

I was thinking the other day that Elmer Gantry should be preserved and reissued. It is a brilliant film, and the last photographed by John Alton. Problem is, 1960 Eastmancolor means it probably requires an expensive restoration. I haven't watched it for a while, but my recollection is that the current DVD is atrocious quality.
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post #6 of 16
1/19/09 at 1:04pm

Re: I wonder if Sony will bother to remaster all those UA 1.66:1 non-anamorphic DVD's.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Simon Howson
Exodus should be preserved from 65mm, and released on a 2 DVD special edition, and a Blu-ray. It is one of the most beautifully photographed large format films ever made.

I read somewhere several years ago that Exodus does not exist anymore in 65mm as the neg as long since disappeared.This title seems illfated-even the once record selling soundtrack sounds like crap-as if it was transferred from a cassette!
It seems some serious $$ needs to be spent on it and somehow I can't see that MGM/Fox will be up to it.
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post #7 of 16
1/19/09 at 1:51pm

Re: I wonder if Sony will bother to remaster all those UA 1.66:1 non-anamorphic DVD's.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Simon Howson
Exodus should be preserved from 65mm, and released on a 2 DVD special edition, and a Blu-ray. It is one of the most beautifully photographed large format films ever made.

I haven't watched it for a while, but my recollection is that the current DVD is atrocious quality.
Your recollection is correct. The DVD of Exodus is an absolute disgrace.
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post #8 of 16
1/19/09 at 7:29pm

Re: I wonder if Sony will bother to remaster all those UA 1.66:1 non-anamorphic DVD's.

Quote:
Originally Posted by john a hunter
I read somewhere several years ago that Exodus does not exist anymore in 65mm as the neg as long since disappeared.
Well that would be very sad. But surely they have better 35mm materials left than those used for the current DVD. It looks to me like a LaserDisc transfer, maybe made in the early 1990s.
Quote:
Originally Posted by john a hunter
This title seems illfated-even the once record selling soundtrack sounds like crap-as if it was transferred from a cassette!
It seems some serious $$ needs to be spent on it and somehow I can't see that MGM/Fox will be up to it.
No way! Does that mean they lost the original soundtrack master tapes as well?

The solution is simple though. The Preminger estate should license Hurry Sundown, Skidoo, and Preminger's 70s films, then use part of the licensing fees they receive to have Exodus restored.
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post #9 of 16
1/20/09 at 12:54pm

Re: I wonder if Sony will bother to remaster all those UA 1.66:1 non-anamorphic DVD's.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Simon Howson
Exodus should be preserved from 65mm, and released on a 2 DVD special edition, and a Blu-ray. It is one of the most beautifully photographed large format films ever made.

I was thinking the other day that Elmer Gantry should be preserved and reissued. It is a brilliant film, and the last photographed by John Alton. Problem is, 1960 Eastmancolor means it probably requires an expensive restoration. I haven't watched it for a while, but my recollection is that the current DVD is atrocious quality.
"Elmer Gantry" has aired in high-def on the HD Net Movies channel looking much much better than the extant DVD. They clearly have a decent high-definition master, they just have not ported it to a DVD yet.

Regards,
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post #10 of 16
1/20/09 at 1:13pm

Re: I wonder if Sony will bother to remaster all those UA 1.66:1 non-anamorphic DVD's.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Simon Howson
Well that would be very sad. But surely they have better 35mm materials left than those used for the current DVD. It looks to me like a LaserDisc transfer, maybe made in the early 1990s.

No way! Does that mean they lost the original soundtrack master tapes as well?

The solution is simple though. The Preminger estate should license Hurry Sundown, Skidoo, and Preminger's 70s films, then use part of the licensing fees they receive to have Exodus restored.
I wonder how concerned the Preminger Estate actually is. UA appeared to have no decent protection policy for their films leaving it up to the filmmaker's involved. I wonder whether Robert Harris has any information?

One has to wonder precisely what has survived even in 35mm of these films. And yes the music master tapes have long since gone. Perhaps there are some pristine elements in a garage some where but I doubt it.
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post #11 of 16
1/20/09 at 1:21pm

Re: I wonder if Sony will bother to remaster all those UA 1.66:1 non-anamorphic DVD's

ON THE BEACH (1959)
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post #12 of 16
1/20/09 at 4:58pm

Re: I wonder if Sony will bother to remaster all those UA 1.66:1 non-anamorphic DVD's.

Has MGM (via Sony or Fox) reissued any of them besides Some Like It Hot and 12 Angry Men?
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post #13 of 16
1/20/09 at 6:04pm

Re: I wonder if Sony will bother to remaster all those UA 1.66:1 non-anamorphic DVD's.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Patrick McCart
Has MGM (via Sony or Fox) reissued any of them besides Some Like It Hot and 12 Angry Men?

The Apartment, although that may have been one of the rare anamorphics to begin with (can't remember).

I agree about Exodus, probably the worst looking DVD I have ever seen.

Let's see a new The Train while we're wishing for improved transfers.
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post #14 of 16
1/20/09 at 7:51pm

Re: I wonder if Sony will bother to remaster all those UA 1.66:1 non-anamorphic DVD's.

The Taking Of Pelham 1-2-3

Would double-dip this one in a heart beat if released 16x9.
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post #15 of 16
1/20/09 at 8:32pm

Re: I wonder if Sony will bother to remaster all those UA 1.66:1 non-anamorphic DVD's.

Does MGM even release old library movies on DVD anymore, I mean besides stuff like the Pink Panther films with big screen tie-ins?
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post #16 of 16
1/21/09 at 8:27am

Re: I wonder if Sony will bother to remaster all those UA 1.66:1 non-anamorphic DVD's.

Gorgo
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