Home Theater Forum › Home Theater Forum › Blu-ray, DVD, Streaming Video and Digital Downloads › Blu-ray › A Few Words About By Robert Harris › A few words about...™ It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World -- in Blu-ray
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

A few words about...™ It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World -- in Blu-ray

post #1 of 196
7/5/11 at 6:22pm
Thread Starter 

This is a favorite film, which I found at a physical Walmart location, after going on line and per their website being told that

it was on-line only, and sold out.

 

First and foremost, having now spent over three hours with techs from Oppo and Anthem, the sync problem is almost fixed, and

will get fixed the rest of the way via offset on the Anthem.  What I was originally seeing, an advance of almost two frames, is now

down to under one, which is fine.

 

I have no idea why this occurred, nor do any of the techs.  These things just happen, and I apologize for any concerns.

 

To the technical.

 

Aspect ratio is around 2.65 or thereabouts, which is terrific.

 

Appears to be from a 65mm element, but with the Main Title sequence prepared for 35mm printing.  A bit of fade shows on the sides of the dupes, but nothing of concern, as the problem

has been corrected and is not serious.

 

Color is very nice.  Contrast a bit too high, with intrusion on shadow detail.

 

Nice clean-up, with occasional minus density, helping the film look, which is very nice.

 

Quality audio.

 

Those who are holding out for a Roadshow version might consider that the $10 investment gets you the film that everyone loves at a bargain price.

 

Lastly, let me make the point again, as the word restoration has been used, that this version of the film, outside of some dupe sections, really needs no

restorative work.  The film was shot on 5250 and 5251, which had superb resistance to fade, and all is well.

 

Recommended.

 

RAH

Reply

Gear mentioned in this thread:

It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World [Blu-ray]
post #2 of 196
7/5/11 at 7:08pm
Hmnnn, I have a mad, mad, mad copy in the mail. eek.gif
Reply
post #3 of 196
7/5/11 at 7:47pm

how bad are the sync problems? Sync issues can really ruin a disc

Reply
post #4 of 196
7/5/11 at 7:51pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Robert Harris View Post

One of my favorite all time films.

 

Found a Blu-ray at a Walmart along with the other Exclusive releases.

 

Here's what I'm seeing.

 

Aspect ratio is around 2.65 or thereabouts.

 

Appears to be from a 65mm element, but the 35mm version, inclusive of the 35mm Main Title sequence, which shows fade on the sides.  There have been corrections, and the problem is not serious.

 

Color is very nice.

 

Contrast far too high, with intrusion on shadow detail.

 

Nice clean-up.

 

Quality audio.

 

Not the one that I'd want in my library, and I'm not speaking of version, ie. general release vs. premiere.

 

Sync problems should have been caught.  For eight bucks I might have been willing to adjust sync, but if I'm putting out ten for a Blu-ray...

 

Fail.

 

Recall.  

 

RAH

 

 


Mr Harris your post is a bit confusing - is it from a 65mm element or 35mm?
How can you have quality audio if the soundtrack is out of sync?

 

 

 

 

Reply
post #5 of 196
7/5/11 at 8:06pm
I haven't noticed any sync problems. At least not a whole two dollars' worth.
Reply
post #6 of 196
7/5/11 at 8:30pm
I just finished watching this movie tonight. I found the picture quality, color and detail amazing for a film of this age. I do agree that the contrast is a tad bit too high, but overall I have found this film far superior to any other version I've seen. I have found no problem with the audio sync whatsoever on my PS3. Highly, highly recommended. smile.gif
Reply
post #7 of 196
7/6/11 at 5:05am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by GMpasqua View Post


Mr Harris your post is a bit confusing - is it from a 65mm element or 35mm?

How can you have quality audio if the soundtrack is out of sync?

 



All Main Titles sequences were originally in 65mm.  For domestic, there were two.  One lacking the Cinerama credit, which was produced for reduction printing.  This is specific 35mm intended element.

 

Am re-checking sync problems, which could be weather (storm) related.

 

RAH

Reply
post #8 of 196
7/6/11 at 5:19am
Hope the titles are in the correct color. I remember that the screen should open with a greenish background, not red.
I'm still hoping there can be a 50th Anniversary disc presentation, we have been stockpiling lots of extras - "Then & Now" location featurettes, rare color slides taken by the sound man, Tania Rose on "Mad World", audio commentary featuring stoires shot but not included in the 1990 documentary, Wonderful to include "Stanley Kramer's Funny Men of Film" (ABC TV presentation), the Stan Freberg spots...We're trying!
Paul
Reply
post #9 of 196
7/6/11 at 5:21am
I watched an hour of this last night. Had no sync issues ( at least none to the point I was watching). Unlike The Magnificent Seven, which does have sync issues...at just over an hour into it until the end.

The contrast was the only thing I noticed. But this is the best video version I have seen of the movie, so far. I have owned the LD, DVD, and now the BD.

I am very happy the extras carried over too.

Edit: Paul the title backgrounds change color, starting with a green. They are a bit faded on the outer edge, however.
Reply
post #10 of 196
7/6/11 at 5:27am
Quote:
Originally Posted by RickER View Post

I watched an hour of this last night. Had no synch issues ( at least none to the point I was watching). Unlike The Magnificent Seven, which does have synch issues...at just over an hour into it until the end.

The contrast was the only thing I noticed. But this is the best video version I have seen of the movie, so far. I have owned the LD, DVD, and now the BD.

I am very happy the extras carried over too.

I'm very happy to hear that too!! We only had about a week to get that documentary together, we had no money. It's certainly not defintive, but at least we captured some of the folks involved who since passed away. I would have loved to have made a newer expanded version of it. The best fact that came out of it all was that everyone truly liked Stanlley Kramer, and so many remained friends with him over the years.
Reply
post #11 of 196
7/6/11 at 5:38am
What happened to the Entr'acte music? Extremely disappointing that it's not on the Blu-ray, especially when it was on the DVD.
Reply
post #12 of 196
7/6/11 at 5:39am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Douglas R View Post

What happened to the Entr'acte music? Extremely disappointing that it's not on the Blu-ray, especially when it was on the DVD.


Entr'acte music should not be on this Blu-ray.  Nor should the Overture or Intermission slug.  This is the 35mm version of the film.

 

RAH

 

Reply
post #13 of 196
7/6/11 at 5:43am
Hi Paul! Glad to hear the Blu edition is good apart from the deficiencies reported by Mr. Harris.

I too would very much like a 50th Anniversary Edition. Hopefully using branching technology to let viewers choose between general release version and the roadshow reconstructed for the laserdisc. I know the reconstruction isn´t final but I think it gives a fair idea of the screenwriters intentions in regard o pacing and rhythm (all those subtle gags and pauses, apparently planned out during writing, using an index card system) in between the big slapstick bits.

Hopefully you can also use the TV ads with many of the big stars in the same room talking about the movie (available on YouTube).

On another Mad World HTF thread someone mentioned that half a line of dialogue (spoken by Jonathan Winters) is missing from the little old lady monologue (there is an audio jump cut on the laserdisc audio). On the same thread Mr. Harris reported that the original audio for Monica Crump´s spinning scene is available.
Reply
post #14 of 196
7/6/11 at 6:14am
Quote:
Originally Posted by mercyflight View Post

Hope the titles are in the correct color. I remember that the screen should open with a greenish background, not red.
I'm still hoping there can be a 50th Anniversary disc presentation, we have been stockpiling lots of extras - "Then & Now" location featurettes, rare color slides taken by the sound man, Tania Rose on "Mad World", audio commentary featuring stoires shot but not included in the 1990 documentary, Wonderful to include "Stanley Kramer's Funny Men of Film" (ABC TV presentation), the Stan Freberg spots...We're trying!
Paul

UCLA has a Jerry Lewis Show (11/02/63) with a good chunk of the cast promoting the movie.
Reply
post #15 of 196
7/6/11 at 6:16am
Hi Stefan,
Yeah, we did not have much to work with 20 years ago(!) The little old lady monologue made up of two trims, therefore the jump. To me, that was a lttiel scene that indeed did add to the film and to Jonathan's role. Back tnen, the Spin-Around scene we had was in very bad shape, but we knew what the music was, because it existed on the score album, and fit perfectly. Would give anyhting to hear the actual soundtrack. I think we did okay with this demo at http://www.scrabo.com/santarosita2.html

IMO, the general release version is the version that gave the film its reputation and is a masterful cut, and should always be available. Kramer was happy to make a "special editon" with the trims we had, and at least it provled the this film was indeed an epic experiment. A 3 hour comedy where the story takes place in about three hours. What we had was in bad shape, but to us back then it was gold. The film was also not only cut but re-arranged in areas over time, and all we had back then was the second draft screenplay and the half-frames on the trims as continuity, Some cuts I felt improved the film, certainly the entrances and exits. Some feel, myself included, that the deletion of the Tracy/Keaton phone call gave the second half more audience involvement, made it more interesting, and I'll alwayd feel that Stanley deciided to delete it himself. It gives away too much too soon , makes Culpeper just "one of the bunch", and there is a loss of tension.

No Entre Acte music on the BluRay..!??
Reply
post #16 of 196
7/6/11 at 6:17am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Robert Harris View Post





Viewed last night on three totally segregated systems, and each had sync problems.  Could be weather related.

 

RAH



How does the weather effect the sound? confused.gif

 

Reply
post #17 of 196
7/6/11 at 6:19am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Eric Vedowski View Post


UCLA has a Jerry Lewis Show (11/02/63) with a good chunk of the cast promoting the movie.

Yes, Eric, I was thinking of that as well! I remember watching it live when I was a kid! And I do remember somehting like this -

Sid Caesar - Yeah, everyone's in it. (pause) Well, YOU'RE in ti, right?

Jerry Lewis - (thinking quickly) No. No. They, uh, wanted me in it, but I couldn't make it....
Reply
post #18 of 196
7/6/11 at 6:55am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Robert Harris View Post




Entr'acte music should not be on this Blu-ray.  Nor should the Overture or Intermission slug.  This is the 35mm version of the film.

 

RAH

 


It's irrelevant whether the Blu-ray has come from a 35mm or 70mm print. It is still the same length version which was widely shown as a roadshow attraction with Overture, Entr'acte and Exit music, so those should all be included for completeness. I saw it in 70mm and also later on 35mm on general release. The 35mm version still had an intermission and may also have retained the Overture and Exit music (too long ago to be sure).
Reply
post #19 of 196
7/6/11 at 7:17am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Douglas R View Post



It's irrelevant whether the Blu-ray has come from a 35mm or 70mm print. It is still the same length version which was widely shown as a roadshow attraction with Overture, Entr'acte and Exit music, so those should all be included for completeness. I saw it in 70mm and also later on 35mm on general release. The 35mm version still had an intermission and may also have retained the Overture and Exit music (too long ago to be sure).


Well, one of you is wrong about this issue.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Crawdaddy
 

 

Reply
post #20 of 196
7/6/11 at 7:18am



 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ensign Eddie View Post

I haven't noticed any sync problems. At least not a whole two dollars' worth.


Yeah, I thought that was pretty funny too.

 

 

 

 

 

Crawdaddy

Reply
post #21 of 196
7/6/11 at 7:23am

htf its mad world opens.jpg

Reply
post #22 of 196
7/6/11 at 7:26am

sold out.jpg

Reply
post #23 of 196
7/6/11 at 7:44am
Thanks you for sharing the cool newspaper clippings, Greg. I miss the roadshow days!

Could this be a lost sequence smile.gif http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwQaxKgzXtE
Reply
post #24 of 196
7/6/11 at 7:56am
Opened at the London Coliseum in December 1963 and still playing in July 1964 when it transferred to the Royalty:

500

500
Reply
post #25 of 196
7/6/11 at 8:07am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Robert Crawford View Post


Yeah, I thought that was pretty funny too.


Crawdaddy


I was just trying to be a little cute. However, I want to say that I have an immense amount of respect for Mr. Harris' opinions and judgement. In fact, one of my first thoughts when I read about the sync issue was that it was my setup that was maladjusted (which is still a possibility). I did go back and watch more of the film before my original post to specifically search for sync problems and didn't find any (and usually when someone is looking for a problem with A/V they find it).

If Mr. Harris would provide a more detailed explanation of what he is experiencing, I would like to take another look.
Reply
post #26 of 196
7/6/11 at 8:19am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Robert Harris View Post

 

Fail.

 

Recall.  

 

RAH

 

 



The most disturbing thing about this review is that RAH is sounding a lot like my 11 year old son.

-R
Reply
post #27 of 196
7/6/11 at 8:33am
I saw this film several times when it opened in San Diego. It played nearly a year in 70mm. By the time it got to San Diego, the film portion was already cut to 154 minutes, but it did retain the Overture, Entr'acte and Walk-out music, but no polie calls.

Although Mr. Harris claims this is the 35mm version, he states the film looks like it was made from 65mm materials. So, I am considering this release and basing my criticism on what I saw when I first saw it in 70mm in San Diego after the cuts were made.

As I remember, the DVD had the Entr'acte and Walk-out music, but not the Overture. Although I haven't received the Blu-Ray yet, I understand it has the Overture and Walk-out music, but not the Intermission music. So, if this BluRay was to duplicate what I saw about 12 times in 1963 in San Diego, it would be the 154 minute "film" version with about 9 added minutes of blank-screen music, making the total time around 163 minutes, which is what I wanted. In that regards, I am disappointed.
Reply
post #28 of 196
7/6/11 at 8:40am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Robert Harris View Post


Recall.  

 

RAH

 

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Reagan View Post



The most disturbing thing about this review is that RAH is sounding a lot like my 11 year old son.

-R

Well, this thread IS called "A Few Words About..." smile.gif

(And as can be plainly seen by some of the overly-wordy responses in this forum, less is often more.)
Reply
post #29 of 196
7/6/11 at 8:41am

At first I thought someone was impersonating Mr. Harris on this site. Usually Mr. Harris gives reasons and is much clearer in his writings. Maybe he was just too tired or so (understandably )frustrated when he started this post

 

So many on the web have prasied the picture and sound and said nothing about sync issues. We all knew we were getting the cut version - so it's no surprise.

 

So does anyone really know if this was from 65mm or 35mm sources? - there is still so much debate on this matter

Reply
post #30 of 196
7/6/11 at 8:42am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Douglas R View Post


It's irrelevant whether the Blu-ray has come from a 35mm or 70mm print. It is still the same length version which was widely shown as a roadshow attraction with Overture, Entr'acte and Exit music, so those should all be included for completeness. I saw it in 70mm and also later on 35mm on general release. The 35mm version still had an intermission and may also have retained the Overture and Exit music (too long ago to be sure).

After the film left the San Diego "Cinerama" theater, over the years, I would often see it in 35mm when it played locally. Yes, the blank-screen music was all gone, but also the Intermission. In fact, the sing out to the Intermission was reworked ( even think composer Ernest Gold wrote another alternate version for non-intermission showing), where the music segued into the fuse music with no singing at all. That is the 35mm version I am most familiar with.
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home

Gear mentioned in this thread:

It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World [Blu-ray]
Home Theater Forum › Home Theater Forum › Blu-ray, DVD, Streaming Video and Digital Downloads › Blu-ray › A Few Words About By Robert Harris › A few words about...™ It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World -- in Blu-ray