Blu-ray Review A Few Words About A few words about...™ Seven Chances (and Sherlock Jr.) -- in Blu-ray (1 Viewer)

[Robert Harris]

I tried to make a comparison between Kino's new release of Buster Keaton's Seven Chances and Sherlock Jr., and it's incredibly easy.

The new version, with a superb score by Robert Israel makes the old one a veritable coaster.

Image quality, especially in the Technicolor sequences, would make a repurchase worthwhile. As as lover of all things Technicolor, especially the early processes, this one is a big deal.

Let's begin with the problems. This is not only two-color Technicolor, but the earlier variant which used two cemented prints to achieve the goal as opposed to imbibition. Anything I've ever seen has been faded, but the earlier version (the 16 or whatever disc set) ended up taking what remained of the Technicolor and digitally paining color over image. If you like a blue house and flesh tones that run outside the lines, this would be for you. If you don't...

Then the new version, inclusive of fade is the way to go.

For the record, the Technicolor from Seven Chances will be found in the opening. The total length of the film was 5,113 feet on six reels - both black & white as well as tinted.

The Technicolor sequence is 275 feet.

340 prints were struck.

While I'd love to be able to brag about my brilliance at facts and figures, I can't do that.

All of the information that one might ever desire can be found in a single monumental volume written by James Layton and David Pierce, and published by George Eastman House (now Museum). It covers the process from its beginnings through the progression into three-strip Technicolor.

An extraordinary book, filled with images, and unfortunately now out of print.

If you can find a copy, I highly advise adding it to your library, as there is no finer reference on the subject. I'm currently seeing three copies available on Abebooks, with the closest in Canada at $200 and a single copy on eBay that will accept offers. Amazon has a single copy at $400.

It's one of the ultimate coffee table experiences for the cinephile.

As to Seven Chances, a necessity. Sherlock Jr. comes along absolutely free, also with a terrific score by Robert Israel.

Image (actually n/a)

Forensic - 5 - 6
NSD - 7.5

Audio –10 (score in DTS-HS MA 5.1)

Pass / Fail – Pass

Plays nicely with projectors - Yes

Upgrade from old Blu-ray - Definately

Worth your attention - 10

Slipcover rating - n/a

Very Highly Recommended

RAH



Thank you for supporting HTF when you preorder using the link below. As an Amazon Associate HTF earns from qualifying purchases. If you are using an adblocker you will not see link.

Amazon.com

 

[bujaki]

Fortunately a have a copy of that excellent book. Time to repurchase Seven Chances.

 

[Robert Harris]

Fortunately a have a copy of that excellent book. Time to repurchase Seven Chances.

You’re very fortunate. They’re hard to come by - and a treasure!

 

[Filmic]

It is a particular shame that many of the two-color Technicolor features are trapped in rights problems. I'm sure 'Follow Thru' would find an fun-seeking audience today, with that 'sharp as a tack' restoration derived from the negative (though by one of those unlikely chance happenings, it also survives as a nitrate print). And 'Under a Texas Moon' is a bit slow, but has some pleasing typically Curtiz shots of a vibrant confetti-filled fiesta, and even some tracking on location. 'Viennese Nights' stands up well, filled with amber highlights, dull bottle greens, and sepia charm. And the latter has excellent sound.

 

[Paul Penna]

Fortunately a have a copy of that excellent book. Time to repurchase Seven Chances.

You’re very fortunate. They’re hard to come by - and a treasure!

Holy mackerel! I got my copy of Layton and Pierce's The Dawn of Technicolor: 1915–1935 in 2015 from Amazon at $40.90, where today the only listing is for a used copy from a third-party seller at $399.99!

 

[mharrison56]

better than the Cohen restorations? I've purchased these so many times! but if an upgrade - I'm in!

 

[Patrick McCart]

I received my screener yesterday and took a peek. Cohen is cleaner overall, but I think most people will be happy with this release. To my eyes, Sherlock Jr. is a bigger upgrade, with a more detailed and sharper image than the Cohen.

My review will compare this with the initial Kino releases, as well as the Cohen/Eureka editions. One major problem with the US Cohen releases have been the complete lack of supplemental content compared to the first Kino editions and UK Masters of Cinema releases. And even on the Masters of Cinema editions, I don't believe any titles feature more than one score, while the Kino and Lobster releases tend to always have at least a second score option.

The 2-color Technicolor prologue to Seven Chances appears to be handled similarly to how Eric Grayson did it for Kino's first Blu-ray years ago, except with more sophisticated tools. Looks a lot like they used a monochrome source as the base and combined color information from the color print, then used a little digital magic to make it fit. Doesn't look perfect, but it's a gigantic improvement over the quite bad color on the Cohen master.

It's too bad Cohen and Lobster can't work something out to pool their resources together. Many of the Lobster masters are superior to the Cohen versions, not to mention Cohen made the odd decision to omit tinting from many titles like The General and The Navigator.

 

[Robert Crawford]

I received my screener yesterday and took a peek. Cohen is cleaner overall, but I think most people will be happy with this release. To my eyes, Sherlock Jr. is a bigger upgrade, with a more detailed and sharper image than the Cohen.

My review will compare this with the initial Kino releases, as well as the Cohen/Eureka editions. One major problem with the US Cohen releases have been the complete lack of supplemental content compared to the first Kino editions and UK Masters of Cinema releases. And even on the Masters of Cinema editions, I don't believe any titles feature more than one score, while the Kino and Lobster releases tend to always have at least a second score option.

The 2-color Technicolor prologue to Seven Chances appears to be handled similarly to how Eric Grayson did it for Kino's first Blu-ray years ago, except with more sophisticated tools. Looks a lot like they used a monochrome source as the base and combined color information from the color print, then used a little digital magic to make it fit. Doesn't look perfect, but it's a gigantic improvement over the quite bad color on the Cohen master.

It's too bad Cohen and Lobster can't work something out to pool their resources together. Many of the Lobster masters are superior to the Cohen versions, not to mention Cohen made the odd decision to omit tinting from many titles like The General and The Navigator.

Interesting, I'll place this on my future purchase listing. I'll most likely pick it up during a future sale.

 

[Filmic]

I'm struggling to think of an example of a cemented 2-color Technicolor insert that has survived unfaded. Apart from those where they were also later printed by dye transfer. The cemented green dye always fades, leaving a reddish image. We are fortunate to have The Black Pirate, and most of Toll of the Sea due to the negative material existing. But as we also know, the Paramount feature Wanderer of the Wasteland did exist till the 60s/70s in at least two prints, but both beyond any hope of preservation. I think I'm right in saying the Ten Commandments insert survives in two versions (all plain tinted, and another with a mix of Technicolor and some tinting), and the Technicolor insert was also copied to Eastmancolor in the past.

 

[warnerbro]

LOVE BUSTER KEATON. HIS FILMS NEVER GET OLD. SEVEN CHANCES IS MY FAVORITE.