A Few Words About A few words about...™ Kismet -- in Blu-ray (1 Viewer)

[davidmatychuk]

Until I was 8 years old, and already a Beatles fan, the pictured console radio/78 record player was our family's only music-playing option. Opening the front provided easy access to the back of the large speaker, which was important for direct-connection to our reel-to-reel tape recorder (which my parents used exclusively for recording at family events) and later to a cassette deck. My parents had a modest collection of 78's. mostly country music and rarely played, which were very easy for my brother and I to break over each others heads. Though we did finally get record players (mono only, until 1969) that would play LP's and 45's, this radio remained essential for home taping off the radio until we finally got a stereo system with stereo output jacks. Considerable nostalgic value aside, I do prefer my current set-up.

 

[GlennF]

I remember when I finally made the switch from a "record player" to a stereo. (Which meant you could buy stereo records - even though they cost a dollar more). I would put the two speakers a few feet apart and sit between them marveling at the different sounds coming from each side. That is partly why I enjoy Blu-rays of these movies so much - I get to hear them in a way very few theatres were equipped to in the day. I spend as much time listening to the orchestrations as I do watching the pictures.

 

[davidmatychuk]

I remember when I finally made the switch from a "record player" to a stereo. (Which meant you could buy stereo records - even though they cost a dollar more). I would put the two speakers a few feet apart and sit between them marveling at the different sounds coming from each side. That is partly why I enjoy Blu-rays of these movies so much - I get to hear them in a way very few theatres were equipped to in the day. I spend as much time listening to the orchestrations as I do watching the pictures.

When I was six, I'd play records on my cousin's stereo record player (with one detachable speaker) while laying on the floor between the speakers, which I placed as far apart as possible (which was maybe ten feet). It was the beginning of my enduring fascination with directional audio, and the novelty has yet to wear off.

 

[Rob_Ray]

When I was six, I'd play records on my cousin's stereo record player (with one detachable speaker) while laying on the floor between the speakers, which I placed as far apart as possible (which was maybe ten feet). It was the beginning of my enduring fascination with directional audio, and the novelty has yet to wear off.

Same story here. My first stereo record player I got in 1969 as a Christmas present was the exact same model and color as seen in CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND, where Melinda Dillon's character has Johnny Mathis' "Chances Are" on the turntable. The speakers were detachable and you could place them on opposite sides of the room, which I did to hear all the great Capitol R&H soundtrack albums and countless others.

 

[AnthonyClarke]

When I arrived in London in late 1968 the first thing we did was buy a cheap Ferguson stereo player with a detachable speaker. It was my first stereo player and we used it constantly .. even though our favourite records, including Bob Dylan bootlegs from the Kensington Hyper emporium, were in mono!
It did mean I could buy 'Abbey Road' on first day of release in its proper stereo .. and that was a real blast!

 

[Doug Bull]

David, I hope you didn't lift and re-lay that carpet into your Home Cinema.

Doug.

 

[davidmatychuk]

David, I hope you didn't lift and re-lay that carpet into your Home Cinema.

Doug.

It's actually linoleum, and acoustically inappropriate. I know it's terrifying enough for use in a David Lynch film.

 

[Virgoan]

I am going to make a confession here I have rarely revealed to anyone:

In 1961, I was in the second half of 7th grade and my parents relocated us to a new neighborhood requiring me to go to a new school. In 8th grade, I was in homeroom with a guy I had met and made friends with during gym class in the seventh. One morning before home room started, we were chatting about movies we saw on TV that weekend and, well...one thing led to another...and by the end of morning class, I owned 20th Century-Fox, Walt Disney, Warner Brothers, RKO, and Desilu. He owned MGM, Columbia, United Artists, Paramount and a few others, as well. From then on, we both researched the film product of all the studios and became extremely well-versed in output in the 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s and 60s. At that time, MGM and Fox were both struggling with the productions of, respectively, "Mutiny on the Bounty" and "Cleopatra". That left us to paying less attention to the 60s and the products of the past.

Oddly, weirdly and happily, we were both attuned to the music in the films and we were both very busy researching music credits, etc. That led to obtaining soundtrack albums. We were both very immersed in the careers and recordings of Alfred Newman and Miklos Rozsa.

This association led to 35 years of very close friendship and sharing until my friend's untimely death in August 1992 from a heart attack. I spent most of those years in the U.S. Navy while my friend, Jim Whaley, spent those years traveling the world and interviewing people in films for his syndicated PBS show "Cinema Showcase". Our letters to one another, especially when I was assigned overseas, were voluminous. Our telephone calls were, at that time, epic (and costly). Neither of us minded.

When Rhino began its historic issuing of titles from the MGM vaults, featuring all the music underscore and songs from MGM musicals, I grieved for Jim not being here to enjoy it all. When Film Score Monthly began its unprecedented issuing of 250 titles fromt he vaults of Fox, MGM and others, I could not listen to anything without hoping Jim was listening, too. When FSM celebrated its 100th release with a 3-CD "Mutiny on the Bounty" by Bronislau Kaper, I started a thread at the FSM Messageboard seeking closure with my friend's parting and citing all the bounties that had been bestowed upon us up to that point which Jim would have relished enormously.

If I seem maudlin, I apologize. I have moved on, with only an occasional wistfulness for Jim's having missed all the wonders we've seen the past 20 years. I have found another friend who shares many of these same interests and we are in touch weekly, but I wanted to share some of these thoughts and past memories with those of you who have the same sort of love for old films, and all the elements therein, that I have.

 

[Rob_Ray]

Ron,

Those sound like beautiful memories of a friendship to be cherished. Thanks for posting this.

 

[John Maher_289910]

I agree. Thanks for sharing it with us.

 

[Mike Frezon]

Just a terrific post.

 

[Matt Hough]

It is an amazing and heartrending story, and I'm so glad you shared it with us.

 

[Doug Bull]

Thanks for sharing Ron.
If only there were more posts like yours.

Doug.

 

[AnthonyClarke]

I can only concur absolutely. A wonderful tribute to an obviously very dear friend.

 

[Virgoan]

I thank you all for your kind words.

 

[RobertSiegel]

What a wonderful release. Thank goodness for Warner Archive, I have loved every minute of Hit the Deck, Jumbo and Kismet. With Jumbo, listening to all of the scoring alone, and there is alot of it, with the MGM orchestra is a treat in itself!

I am hoping Warner starts to release more in the Blu-ray Archive releases. They have such a huge wonderful catalog. I would love to have The Unsinkable Molly Brown, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, and Silk Stockings, not to mention the other great widescreen/stereo movies in the catalog. Another title I continually hope for, not a musical, is Auntie Mame. Sad the stereo tracks were destroyed by big Jack (Warner) for this great film!

I am hoping that they consider Victor Victoria for release, either a full release or archive.

 

[bryan4999]

What a wonderful release. Thank goodness for Warner Archive, I have loved every minute of Hit the Deck, Jumbo and Kismet. With Jumbo, listening to all of the scoring alone, and there is alot of it, with the MGM orchestra is a treat in itself!

I am hoping Warner starts to release more in the Blu-ray Archive releases. They have such a huge wonderful catalog. I would love to have The Unsinkable Molly Brown, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, and Silk Stockings, not to mention the other great widescreen/stereo movies in the catalog. Another title I continually hope for, not a musical, is Auntie Mame. Sad the stereo tracks were destroyed by big Jack (Warner) for this great film!

I am hoping that they consider Victor Victoria for release, either a full release or archive.

Don't forget Gypsy, which looks and sounds great, too.

 

[FoxyMulder]

Until I popped the new WB Archive Blu-ray into a player, and was able to see the incredibly sumptuous colors and resolution via my LG 42" flat panel.

What happened to your 120 inch projection setup. ?

I wonder if your opinion would be the same via projection.

 

[Edward Weinman]

...my first LP player was $17 which I purchased in a local Bronx store because of just seeing "The Band Wagon" at the Radio City Music Hall (I still have the LP).

 

[Doug Bull]

...my first LP player was $17 which I purchased in a local Bronx store because of just seeing "The Band Wagon" at the Radio City Music Hall (I still have the LP).

Is this the one?

Doug.