A Few Words About A few words about...™ It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World -- in Blu-ray (1 Viewer)

[John Morgan]

Now that I have received my copy of MAD WORLD, I must say it looks and sounds marvelous. Until we get the Robert Harris treatment, I can live with this for a few years, and at the price, it is almost a giveaway.
No sync problems for me. The clarity was something else. This is the first time I could read the little copyright ribbon at the bottom of the screen.
Saying that, I do have a few quibbles that I think would be fairly easily fixed for a second pressing and without re-authoring the entire disc. And these “fixes” would only occur during the music only portions with blank screen.
1. Give a few seconds of space between the OVERTURE and the MAIN TITLES so the former music’s decay is not cut off when the first notes of the Title music comes on.
2. Since they now have the Police Calls, I would add them to the intermission, but only have them play in one cycle. Perhaps they could have the different calls coming from different speakers?
3. Reinstate the Entr’acte music that leads into Act 2 of the film, and make sure there is a few seconds blank after this music and the Act 2 opening.
4. Give a menu choice of viewing the film without this extra music and Intermission material.
I know this would be a hybrid version with the police calls, but for now and what is easily available, this would be my preferred edition.

 

[Roger Mathus]

This disc looked beautiful and detailed on my system which includes a Marantz VP15 projector and 8 ft Firehawk screen. Also noted a slightly high contrast. My player
is OPPO 93 and sound processor is DENON AVP-A1HDCI. I watched the film in its entirety and noted no sound sync problems.

 

[Robert Crawford]

Originally Posted by Roger Mathus
This disc looked beautiful and detailed on my system which includes a Marantz VP15 projector and 8 ft Firehawk screen. Also noted a slightly high contrast. My player
is OPPO 93 and sound processor is DENON AVP-A1HDCI. I watched the film in its entirety and noted no sound sync problems.

Thank you Roger for your comments on this disc. I'm really looking forward to viewing my disc when it arrives this week.








Crawdaddy

 

[Robert Crawford]

By the way, MGM/Fox are surprising me with their Blu-ray video presentations from MGM's library.








Crawdaddy

 

[Matt Hough]

Originally Posted by Robert Crawford
By the way, MGM/Fox are surprising me with their Blu-ray video presentations from MGM's library.








Crawdaddy

I've been surprised and delighted with the ecclectic choices they've been making each month and look forward to seeing what else they have to offer to us this year.

 

[DeWilson]

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....

Gee,Sid - almost ruin a great cameo by the #1 comedy box office star!

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).

Sitting on a shelf above me is a 2-tape MAGNETIC VIDEO VHS release of of the film from 1981! That running time is listed at 154 minutes - over the two tapes! Boy have times changed.

 

As far as the amazing clarity goes, a good test would be to look at the wall map of Southern California in Spencer Tracy's office. You can clearly read almost everything on that map - even the small print.

 

[Charles Smith]

The wall map, and the many store signs and other details in the location shots. What an absolute joy it is to see these things so clearly.

 

[Techman707]

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

Only Stanley Kramer's hairdresser knows for sure.
All I know is that my 16mm print has black overture music at the beginning and the intermission....but that's it. ALL the 35mm prints that were originally sent to the theatres had the intermission, but, they all didn't have any black music. There were even a couple of mag prints floating around.
The one thing that is CERTAIN, is that the titles on this Blu-ray (as well as the MGM-HD version), are IDENTICAL and NEVER looked as though they could have come from the same source as rest of the film. The "intermission" in this print doesn't look exactly like the original fonts used, these look a little thicker, besides being placed ON THE WRONG COLOR. I can't believe they didn't fix the color on the beginning of the main title, intermission and "the end" title. I never believed that the MGM-HD came from the 65mm negative, but everyone kept insisting it must have come from the 70mm print that ran at the Dome, which I never saw.
If the 65mm stock didn't fade, as Mr. Harris has suggested, why wouldn't the main title look as pristine as the rest of the Blu-ray? I can't believe that if it came from a 65mm negative that was already a composite with the titles, they wouldn't have used it because it said Stanley Kramer presents a Cinerama production (if I recall correctly), instead the the 35mm that just said Stanley Kramer presents.
They AT LEAST could have given us a "smile box" version in addition to the regular one. That could have been more fun than it was on "How The West Was Won". I have a feeling that we haven't seen the last of IAMMMMW on Blu-ray. If past actions are any indication, we're in for at least two more versions, an "SE" version, pack with who knows what and hopefully, a version with the CORRECT missing footage, which Mr. has indicated in another thread, STILL EXISTS.
btw- Has anyone had sync problem with this Blu-ray? I've played it on 3 different systems with no problems.

 

[Robert Harris]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Techman707
If the 65mm stock didn't fade, as Mr. Harris has suggested, why wouldn't the main title look as pristine as the rest of the Blu-ray? I can't believe that if it came from a 65mm negative that was already a composite with the titles, they wouldn't have used it because it said Stanley Kramer presents a Cinerama production (if I recall correctly), instead the the 35mm that just said Stanley Kramer presents.

Because the titles are dupes, and fade.

RAH

 

[Dennis Gallagher]

They AT LEAST could have given us a "smile box" version in addition to the regular one.


Just a reminder that Mad World wasn't filmed "in Cinerama" but rather in Ultra Panavision and doing a "smilebox" version wouldn't really accomplish anything. The smilebox
of "How the West Was Won" did a good job of fixing the distortion resulting from showing a movie designed for a deeply curved screen on a flat one.
My understanding is that Mad World didn't really use any kind of wide angle lenses that really justified the curved screen - unlike some of the early Todd-AO films - minimally -
and later D150 films). They used all kinds of tricks to get Mad World to look reasonably OK on the curved screen - and cut back the
curvature from the original 146 degrees to 128 or so (just like the early Todd-AO films and later D150.)

Though Mad World doesn't need a "smilebox" version you may be interested in this one coming up:

 

[Techman707]

Quote:

Because the titles are dupes, and fade. RAH

So if I understand you correctly, BOTH titles, the Cinerama titling and the 35mm titling are only available as "dupes"? What are you saying it was duped from, a dupe negative or positive and what do you believe it was from, 35mm or 70mm? They're look bad enough to have been duped from a 35mm positive.Do you know whether that's the BEST the titles are going to be....or do you know where something better is located? If tomorrow they told you they wanted the "missing" footage and main title restored, would you be able to do anything better with the main title than what's on the Blu-ray? Did you either see the 70mm print that was run at the Dome or know if those titles are the same as on this Blu-ray? This picture has become more of a mystery than a Colombo episode.

 

[Robert Harris]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Techman707
So if I understand you correctly, BOTH titles, the Cinerama titling and the 35mm titling are only available as "dupes"? What are you saying it was duped from, a dupe negative or positive and what do you believe it was from, 35mm or 70mm? They're look bad enough to have been duped from a 35mm positive.
Do you know whether that's the BEST the titles are going to be....or do you know where something better is located? If tomorrow they told you they wanted the "missing" footage and main title restored, would you be able to do anything better with the main title than what's on the Blu-ray? Did you either see the 70mm print that was run at the Dome or know if those titles are the same as on this Blu-ray? This picture has become more of a mystery than a Colombo episode.

BOTH sets of titles, created for 65 and 35 prints, are both 65mm. Both would have faded enough to be problematic. Can they be restored? Yes. Not a big deal.

Same titles, no mystery.

I chose not to go to the Dome.

RAH

 

[Techman707]

Just a reminder that Mad World wasn't filmed "in Cinerama" but rather in Ultra Panavision and doing a "smilebox" version wouldn't really accomplish anything. The smilebox
of "How the West Was Won" did a good job of fixing the distortion resulting from showing a movie designed for a deeply curved screen on a flat one.
My understanding is that Mad World didn't really use any kind of wide angle lenses that really justified the curved screen - unlike some of the early Todd-AO films - minimally -
and later D150 films). They used all kinds of tricks to get Mad World to look reasonably OK on the curved screen - and cut back the
curvature from the original 146 degrees to 128 or so (just like the early Todd-AO films and later D150.)

HTWWW didn't "need" a smilebox version either, it's JUST a gimmick. Without getting into the subject of distortion of 3 panel Cinerama, the smilebox on the Blu-ray actually added distortion that was unnecessary unless you find the effect "pleasing". The hardest part they originally had was the optical printer for "piecing" it together for the regular 35mm anamorphic prints. They CAUSED some distortion (of a different kind) which was mainly noticeable on pans.
While today they could have used D150 lenses to run Mad World on a deeply curved screen, there really weren't any "tricks" used. What little was done simply dealt with some vertical screen bowing. In the end, the MAIN consequence was that they wound up with "bowtie" aperture plates (and distortion).

 

[Techman707]

Quote:
BOTH sets of titles, created for 65 and 35 prints, are both 65mm.  Both would have faded enough to be problematic.  Can they be restored?  Yes.  Not a big deal. Same titles, no mystery. I chose not to go to the Dome. RAH

I guess the mystery is just me trying to follow some of you one sentence responses. At the beginning of the thread you said "The film was shot on 5250 and 5251, which had superb resistance to fade, and all is well." So I guess the titles were shot on "super fade" stock (like my Eastmen film collection).I understand you are saying that while you didn't see the 70mm at the Dome, however, you know that it's the SAME poor quality titles as was used for the Blu-ray. However, you're saying that they CAN be restored and it would be "Not a big deal". So then for me, the mystery in MY MIND will end with the answer to this question: Have you also located all the missing footage that you believe (I understand that some people don't agree on what was and was NOT in the original roadshow) would restore it to it's "primiere roadshow" opening? If your answer to this question is yes, then the "mystery" for ME is over.

 

[John Morgan]

I viewed this Blu Ray on an 103 inch screen. Although there is some fading in the credits, I certainly would not say they were of poor quality. Even the lettering is crystal clear. Never before I have been able to read that tiny copyright scroll at the bottom of the screen.
As I said in a few posts ago, my main complaint is the omission of the Entr'acte music, and the Overture's end too close to the beginning of the Main Title Music, cutting off the decay of the former.
Maybe I am wrongheaded here, but since they reformatted the original 6-track to 5.1, I think they could have "leaked" at tad more of the music score into the rear surrounds, and maybe panned some sound effects in the surrounds. For instance, Durante kicking the can, there is a shot where the sound of the can is "visually" off camera and behind the actors...that could have been directed more into the rear channels. I am talking about only using the original sound of the film itself and not added sound effects. Since the score was recorded at Goldwyn, one of the finest music recording venues we had, I think a bit more punch in the bass is possible. But I am probably nitpicking here. I think the score itself doesn't seem to survive in a pristine multi-track master, and I would assume the sound effect tracks probably don't survive separately.
It is certainly one of the most colorful, sharp and clear Blu-ray's I have ever seen for a older film.
I went through all the snippets cut portions and work print scraps and have to say over half of them seem forced or out of character and would throw off the timing of the film. I am a feeling a lot of that stuff was trims that were made before the first official long roadshow version. I assume the sections that have full foley sound effects and music would be from the uncut roadshow version and taken from a 70 mm print(s). I would also assume that those sections have the 6 track sound attached. I know miracles can be performed nowadays with digital restoration, so I hope when and if Mr. Harris gets the green light to really restore this film, the added scenes can be added without a jarring effect. Being a comedy and knowing timing and pacing is everything, I certainly would not like poor footage or stills inserted into the film.
I also hope that whatever material Robert Harris has found, is safely being stored to prevent further deterioration.
Probably our biggest hope would be some individual who loves this film as much as most of us do and has the means to finance a restoration would step up and fund it. I guess the days of a corporation coming in is a long shot with today's economy. Anyway, here's hoping.

 

Just watched this. Beautiful disc. Wish the Intermission card music didn't spill into the second half of the film, but that is a minor complaint. Not a huge fan of the film, but it is cute and filled with epic pratfalls.

 

[montrealfilmguy]

After reading all 4 pages of this thread,i can say that i'm ordering this pronto,that is,as soon as i stop drooling.
This is a childhood classic,and this whole thread has triggered a memory that had been shelved in the back of my mind.
One time when i went to the public pool ,my new running shoes were stolen from my locker.It wasn't a biggie to me until i got back home
and my mom turned into Joe Pesci (the Goodfellas Pesci,not the Casino one )
Anyways,as i was sort of listening to her rants,i opened the tv set.This film was playing.
I had seen it before and it literally blocked out her voice.
Cameo-wise,i'd rather watch this than Around the world in 80 days,because this has the following.
Sid Ceasar and his lovely wife Edie Adams(cutie/nerdy Imogene Coca would've been good also ),people double crossing each other,the complete destruction of a garage,Terry Thomas and the awesome
reveal about the palm trees.This last item may sound banal to you folks,but i always found it to be a moment that completes the chaotic chase before it.
After all this goofy running around with multiple characters,it was a reveal to a mystery,someone was finally going to get their hands on all this moolah.
Under the big W....can't remember the first guy who solves it now...Is it Sid ? Mickey Rooney ?
So although Around the world has all those exotic locations AND Shirley McLaine as a princess,this is a LOT more fun.A lot more mayhem.
Another great film i remember seeing many times as a kid is Kramer's The defiant ones with Curtis and Poitier.This made me realise how cool it was that the same
person that could direct those 2 different films .
In another thread tonight,i mentioned how i just watched my BD of Twilight zone with the Buster episode.The episode is so-so,but Buster remains legendary.

 

[Robert Harris]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Techman707
I guess the mystery is just me trying to follow some of you one sentence responses. At the beginning of the thread you said "The film was shot on 5250 and 5251, which had superb resistance to fade, and all is well." So I guess the titles were shot on "super fade" stock (like my Eastmen film collection).

With apologies for the single sentence responses. Been a long day.

http://www.tcm.com/mediaroom/video/431288/Napoleon-Trailer-San-Francisco-Silent-Film-Festival.html

 

[Sam Posten]

John, we've been preparing lots of stuff for a 50th anniversary disc. I hope it happens too! (PS- Rcih Scrivani says hello!)
Paul

Whom do we need to mail or email to send support for this?
I'm dying for it to be done as right as can possibly be done. My resistance to buying this cheapo version is weakening due to the heaps of praise it is receiving but I do not know if I'm better off buying it (and adding +1 to the sales for it) or holding off and waiting for something that may never come if weak sales of this are an indicator that a restoration wouldnt sell any better.