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The Last Valley (1 Viewer)

Dr Griffin

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James Clavell's The Last Valley (1971) UK/USA Filmed in TODD-AO Directed, and Screenplay from the J.B. Pick novel, by James Clavell Starring Michael Caine and Omar Sharif Cinematography by Norman Warwick and John Wilcox Film Editing by John Bloom Music by John Barry Filmed August-December 1969 with an estimated budget of $11 million (losing approx. $7 million) Production Company: ABC Pictures Distributed by 20th Century Fox in Europe and Cinerama Releasing in UK 70mm prints released with 6-track audio. 35mm prints released in mono. Standard 70mm and 70mm Super-Cinerama Film listed at 128 minutes US, but MGM DVD runs 126 minutes. MGM DVD (2004) is non-anamorphic 2.35:1 letterbox with extreme video aliasing indicating a much older video master than would be done in 2004. The appearence of the DVD leads me to believe the video master may be from the VHS era.

This is probably another case of extreme cost to bring this back to a quality image, if the original elements are even still usable. I read somewhere a while ago that the original elements may be lost, but there were no details, and there are probably few who could truly answer that question. So we have this 2004 MGM DVD (region 1) which is non-anamorphic letterbox from a 35mm source with artifacts in every scene and in mono. The aliasing is very bad, especially when the camera is moving. To release this film to home video in 2004 with this transfer, speaks volumes about MGM even 10 years ago (edit: even though I've been told Disney supplied the master). The movie is watchable (barely) on an HDTV monitor with a good zooming machine, such as an OPPO. This of course makes the problems worse, but at least you can approximate the AR outside of a small box in the middle of the screen. I feel this is a film of better performances, especially from Mr. Caine and Mr. Sharif, than story. There are some tugging moments of deciding to pursue peace rather than barbaric war practices, which is where the film shines. Restoration and Blu-ray? Doubtful, but I would love to hear some informed thoughts.


the-last-valley-1971-2.jpg



TODD-AO, not in all its glory.


Ed. - click on the pic to better see the grubby image.
 

Dr Griffin

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Bob Cashill said:
Not to mention one of Barry's most stirring scores.

Wouldn't it be grand to hear the score in 6-track? The mono sound on the DVD is the jewel of that release though, the opening credits are barely legible due to the extreme aliasing.
 

Capnvid

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I saw "The Last Valley" in Todd-AO at the Rivoli Theater in NYC when it opened for a few weeks in its 1971 theatrical release. Those who saw it then and folks I've shown it to in 16mm over the years loved it. The problem was getting people to see it, which was difficult when it first came out. The whole cast is first class, but Michael Caine gave a performance that changed your expectations of his great talent. James Clavell financed it partly out of his profits from his novel "Tai-Pan" and his agent, Martin Baum, produced it through ABC and Cinerama theatrical releasing. I don't know who owns the original release rights now. Anchor Bay did the DVD release you may be talking about, letterboxed, but in the Todd-AO aspect ratio of 2.2 to 1. It definitely is a very noisy transfer. I'm waiting for it to be discovered in a Canadian vault, like "The Alamo," so we can have the Blu-Rau we deserve and enjoy one of John Barry's best scores in surround.
 

Dr Griffin

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The DVD I talk about is the MGM DVD release from 2004 which states that it is Letterbox 2.35:1. It is hard for me to believe that mess was sourced from the large format elements, and does appear to be from a 2.35 copy, but I could be wrong. The master looks so old that I have no idea what they would have done back then. There aren't any other large format films that I can think of that look this bad on DVD. Take Can-Can for instance, it looks very good, and in the correct AR, compared to The Last Valley, which is a newer film. I was aware of the Anchor Bay DVD, but I haven't viewed it.
 

Alan Tully

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I saw this when it opened in London's West End, one of the most beautiful films I've seen at the cinema, & what an amazing John Barry score! It really needs the full restoration treatment, but probably won't get it. I think it's now owned (controlled) by Disney.
 

ahollis

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THE LAST VALLEY belongs to Disney/ABC and the home entertainment rights are leased to MGM. It would be up to Disney to do any work on it.

When MGM leased the titles they released all the titles on DVD that Anchor Bay had previously released using the same transfers that Disney provided.
 

Dr Griffin

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ahollis said:
ahollis, on 30 Nov 2015 - 2:39 PM, said:ahollis, on 30 Nov 2015 - 2:39 PM, said:


THE LAST VALLEY belongs to Disney/ABC and the home entertainment rights are leased to MGM. It would be up to Disney to do any work on it.

When MGM leased the titles they released all the titles on DVD that Anchor Bay had previously released using the same transfers that Disney provided.

Allen, I can truly say that you know more than some Disney employees, and their database, it seems. After an initial contact with them regarding The Last Valley, they told me this was not one of their titles, but with some persuasion from me, and a couple emails, they acknowledged they have the rights to this film, but, of course, they have no plans to re-release it. They did tell me they would pass my request on to the team. :) It leaves me worried that if they were to re-release it, I would hope it's not the same ancient master in letterbox format! I would think this could use a little restoration and mastering in 1080p or better, a new commentary from Mr Caine and some nice extras. :biggrin:
 

ahollis

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Dr Griffin said:
Allen, I can truly say that you know more than some Disney employees, and their database, it seems. After an initial contact with them regarding The Last Valley, they told me this was not one of their titles, but with some persuasion from me, and a couple emails, they acknowledged they have the rights to this film, but, of course, they have no plans to re-release it. They did tell me they would pass my request on to the team. :) It leaves me worried that if they were to re-release it, I would hope it's not the same ancient master in letterbox format! I would think this could use a little restoration and mastering in 1080p or better, a new commentary from Mr Caine and some nice extras. :biggrin:
Wow, I'm speechless. I do hope they don't let it deteriorate and at least preserve it.
 

RolandL

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Dr Griffin said:
... Standard 70mm and 70mm Super-Cinerama Film listed at 128 minutes US, but MGM DVD runs 126 minutes.

The Last Valley was never intended or promoted as a Cinerama title. It is only included with all the other non Cinerama titles that were promoted as "On the Giant Cinerama Screen".
 

Dr Griffin

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RolandL said:
The Last Valley was never intended or promoted as a Cinerama title. It is only included with all the other non Cinerama titles that were promoted as "On the Giant Cinerama Screen".

I wasn't quite sure what that meant (Super-Cinerama), but included it anyway.
 

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