A Few Words About A few words about…™ Wings of the Hawk – in Blu-ray & 3-D (1 Viewer)

[Robert Harris]

Budd Boetticher directed some interesting westerns.

His 1953, Wings of the Hawk, filmed in 3-D, was not one of them.

What does work, however, is the 3-D, which has been nicely handled, albeit slightly less dark than a bat's groin at midnight in projection, when viewed through the requisite optics. You'll want to either crank the brightness in projection or view on a flat panel, if you can find one that still offers 3-D.

With imagery harvested from Eastman IPs, the film looks better than okay, but if the plays the thing, it's this play that isn't.

And while Julie Adams (here billed as Julia), would make her star turn in another 3-D production for Universal, Creature from the Black Lagoon, she doesn't quite fit the bill as a Mexican firebrand.

For those who appreciate early 3-D, Mr. Woodpecker is along for the ride in his 3-D Hypnotic Hick, and that's great fun.

A quality package for 3-D-ophiles. And having the original 3-track stereo is a nice bonus.


Image – 3.5

Audio – 5

Pass / Fail – Pass

RAH

 

[Malcolm R]

Sounds pretty dark.

 

[Bob Furmanek]

Here's the image on a ten foot screen via Epson 5040, calibrated for 3-D.

No brightness issues whatsoever!

 

[RolandL]

If a 3D title is too dark, I change the setting to Vivid. I know it's not the proper way to watch a 2D title but for 3D it works fine.

 

[Peter Apruzzese]

Here's the image on a ten foot screen via Epson 5040, calibrated for 3-D.

No brightness issues whatsoever!

Just that giant foot in the way.

 

[B-ROLL]

Just that giant foot in the way.

Pretty much the theatrical experience in a nutshell .

 

[Robert Harris]

If a 3D title is too dark, I change the setting to Vivid. I know it's not the proper way to watch a 2D title but for 3D it works fine.

Possibly yet another need for an automated update. The projector correctly identifies a 3-D data stream. It might be possible to automatically go to a different setting to more properly exhibit 3-D.

As opposed to another created and locked setting for 3-D, for which one size will not fit all. Also doesn’t help that JVC glasses seem a couple of points heavier than Sony.

 

[Bob Furmanek]

That’s a good idea, Robert. The only dark scenes would be the day for night footage which is intentional.

 

[Robert Harris]

That’s a good idea, Robert. The only dark scenes would be the day for night footage which is intentional.

On my system, and through the JVC glasses, every scene was a night scene.

 

[Matt Hough]

I can't wait to see this, another Golden Age 3D film.

 

[Bob Furmanek]

Robert, please mention in your review that image darkness is your projection system and not the restoration or mastering.

 

[Robert Harris]

Robert, please mention in your review that image darkness is your projection system and not the restoration or mastering.

I thought that was made clear.

Those who can view on a flat panel with 3-D should have no problem.

You owe me twenty bucks.

 

[BleedOrange11]

You need to calibrate your projector while wearing your 3D glasses or put the glasses in front of your light meter. Your 2D settings obviously will not look good in 3D. A new locked, alternate picture setting for 3D that you can manually switch to when you watch a 3D film would be just fine.

 

[Robert Harris]

You need to calibrate your projector while wearing your 3D glasses or put the glasses in front of your light meter. Your 2D settings obviously will not look good in 3D. A new locked, alternate picture setting for 3D that you can manually switch to when you watch a 3D film would be just fine.

I’m aware, thank you. As all 3-D is not mastered / authored in the same way, it’s a bit of an annoyance.

One nice attribute about this release, thanks to Mr. Furmanek, is that the 3-D works beautifully.

 

[Bob Furmanek]

One nice attribute about this release, thanks to Mr. Furmanek, is that the 3-D works beautifully.

Thank you Robert, that is very much appreciated and our work is a team effort. Greg Kintz did shot by shot stereoscopic alignment and left/right panel matching; Thad Komorowski performed dirt and damage clean-up and Jack Theakston helped Greg with bringing back the severely faded color.

Here's an example of what we were up against. The dupe opticals (and there are many) were absolutely toasted!

 

[JoeDoakes]

So, is this the first appearance of a 3-D version of the Woody Woodpecker cartoon. That's kind of a big deal. Never mind the film. Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!

 

[Bob Furmanek]

Other than a small handful of revival screenings over the last six decades, this is the first widespread release of the cartoon in 3-D since 1953!

This also marks the first time the feature is presented in the intended widescreen aspect ratio since the original theatrical release. It was the first film composed for 1.85:1.

 

[marcco00]

ooo what a nice space to watch films in!!

 

[JoeDoakes]

Other than a small handful of revival screenings over the last six decades, this is the first widespread release of the cartoon in 3-D since 1953!

This also marks the first time the feature is presented in the intended widescreen aspect ratio since the original theatrical release. It was the first film composed for 1.85:1.

There are very few classic cartoons in 3-D. This is extremely welcome. If something just could be done about the Popeye and Bugs Bunny ones Warner controls.

 

[RolandL]

There are very few classic cartoons in 3-D. This is extremely welcome. If something just could be done about the Popeye and Bugs Bunny ones Warner controls.

On Blu-ray in 3D:

Boo Moon
Working For Peanuts
Hypnotic Hick