CLEOPATRA-FAIR LADY -DR DOLITTLE (1 Viewer)

[L BENDER]

My understanding is that the dvds of CLEOPATRA-MY FAIR LADY and DOCTOR DOLITTLE were from 35mm sources. In that case, will we ever see new transfers from 65mm sources, considering that new Todd-AO prints were struck for CLEOPATRA and DOCTOR DOLITTLE.

 

[Alan Tully]

I don't think a 65mm Telecine gate worked that well, but I'm sure Mr. Harris knows all about that. I'm sure they could design a hi-def scanner that would scan a 65mm neg. It's all about money, & these old movies don't sell for much these days. But for all I know there may be a 65mm scanner working now (hope so).

 

[Robert Harris]

You probably will, as 65mm scanning has now come of age. PhotoKem in Burbank has a wonderful setup.

RAH

 

[OliverK]

Fotokem already did a 4k scan from 65mm elements for Cleopatra.

Here is a link that explains the processes involved with the creation of 4k masters, new prints and, most important, preservation elements for large format films and there is also a short mentioning of rescaling to HD. I would suggest for everyone to try and witness the restored Fox large format titles, I think they now have made new prints of all or at least nearly all of their large format titles.
"South Pacific"

 

[Alan Tully]

Thanks for that, a really interesting site.

 

[OliverK]

You#re welcome - an you might be surprised who already worked on the restoration of My Fair Lady

 

[L BENDER]

Do you think will will see these new 65mm transfers on standard dvd as well as blue ray?

 

[OliverK]

I would be very surprised if not, does not seem to be a good idea to only make money with a release in the smaller format. Of course at some point down the road this might change, but probably not in 2009 and 2010.

 

[OliverK]

Dr. Dolittle has been shown on SkyHD UK and unfortunately it has a real problem with EE. Other than that it looked pretty detailed by broadcast HD standards. One thing that is getting to be a problem are lower bitrates on some Sky broadcasts as of late - Dr. Dolittle was one of them and it shows.

So with regard to the level of detail in that broadcast there could already be a master available that will make most viewers happy, but the EE was really bothersome and if it is also in the studio master they really should go back to the drawing board for Dr. Dolittle.

 

[RomanSohor]

I missed out on the DVD of My Fair Lady - just wasn't on my radar at the time... unless someone buys it for me as a gift, I'm holding on to my cash for a BluRay edition

Can't wait for it. Til then - I'll watch my letterbox VHS maybe one or two more times before it wears out :-D