- Joined
- Feb 8, 1999
- Messages
- 18,423
- Real Name
- Robert Harris
Raoul Walsh's The Big Trail (1930) -- (look him up, you'll like his work) does not stand the test of time. Like The Poseidon Adventure and The Barbarian and the Geisha, it's one of those proprietary Walmart titles, and it's not made in China.
Why did Walmart pick up this film?
I have no idea why.
The Big Trail is important to cinema history, but it's not a great film. It concerns the Oregon Trail, and what the early settlers went through on their way west.
Variety noted on Dec. 31, 1929, : "Young John Wayne, wholly inexperienced, shows it, but also suggests he can be built up. He certainly has a great start as the lead role in a $2 million production."
The reviewer went on to describe the Grandeur process, and I've a feeling they were having problems with their 4k projectors:
"The widescreen Grandeur [process] seems to dim the photography; leaves ensemble scenes indistinct, except for figure or form."
I presume this Blu-ray shares the earlier DVD master, and on Blu-ray it takes on a totally different existence. I did note that the frame seems to be cropped a bit in height, as the full title art does not quite make it to the screen.
The Grandeur version is lacking in shadow detail. I presume from the optical dupes down to 35mm. In many shots the standard Academy version looks better.
Beyond that shadow detail, there is little to complain about in this release, which services the need for a historical reference for an early Grandeur production. It only ran in the process in NY and LA.
Grandeur, by the way was a process that used 70mm film. It was developed by Fox. It's proportions were 22.5 x 48mm, and carried an optical sound track.
Desire more info. Go here, the best place in the known universe for information cinematography: http://www.widescreenmuseum.com/widescreen/grandeur-sep1930.htm
Seeing a widescreen film that's over 80 years old will get your attention, and this one is worth your time.
Again, not a great film, by any means, but a good one, and being able to witness the emergence of John Wayne, a decade before Stagecoach is worth the price of admission.
BTW, you do get both versions on a single Blu-ray.
As I recall, The Bat is another early large format film available on DVD only.
Image - 3
Audio -3
Recommended.
Why did Walmart pick up this film?
I have no idea why.
The Big Trail is important to cinema history, but it's not a great film. It concerns the Oregon Trail, and what the early settlers went through on their way west.
Variety noted on Dec. 31, 1929, : "Young John Wayne, wholly inexperienced, shows it, but also suggests he can be built up. He certainly has a great start as the lead role in a $2 million production."
The reviewer went on to describe the Grandeur process, and I've a feeling they were having problems with their 4k projectors:
"The widescreen Grandeur [process] seems to dim the photography; leaves ensemble scenes indistinct, except for figure or form."
I presume this Blu-ray shares the earlier DVD master, and on Blu-ray it takes on a totally different existence. I did note that the frame seems to be cropped a bit in height, as the full title art does not quite make it to the screen.
The Grandeur version is lacking in shadow detail. I presume from the optical dupes down to 35mm. In many shots the standard Academy version looks better.
Beyond that shadow detail, there is little to complain about in this release, which services the need for a historical reference for an early Grandeur production. It only ran in the process in NY and LA.
Grandeur, by the way was a process that used 70mm film. It was developed by Fox. It's proportions were 22.5 x 48mm, and carried an optical sound track.
Desire more info. Go here, the best place in the known universe for information cinematography: http://www.widescreenmuseum.com/widescreen/grandeur-sep1930.htm
Seeing a widescreen film that's over 80 years old will get your attention, and this one is worth your time.
Again, not a great film, by any means, but a good one, and being able to witness the emergence of John Wayne, a decade before Stagecoach is worth the price of admission.
BTW, you do get both versions on a single Blu-ray.
As I recall, The Bat is another early large format film available on DVD only.
Image - 3
Audio -3
Recommended.