Interview Exclusive Interview: Robert A. Harris & Kevin Koster on the Restoration of My Fair Lady (1 Viewer)

[Adam_S]

I saw a 35mm print screened at usc in fall 2002 and it was wretched. Different fading from reel to reel, some of the he fading was pretty bad, lots of scratches and really grainy in the first reel or two. I've always assumed the print predated the restoration and wondered how usc came to make such a mistake in renting it rather than a renting a print from the restoration.

 

[Noel Aguirre]

Just about everything either used to premiere in NYC or be specially treated with special prints, extra equipment added or the introduction of new technology.

That's no longer the case. NYC used to be a real movie town, but no longer. I don't think that BowTie, which operates the Ziegfeld (and the Chelsea) cares much about doing anything special (other than renting the theatre out for premieres).

We're a long way from the era in which the Ziegfeld showed films exclusively.

Since 2001, NYC has lost 32% of its theaters and 18% of its screens. There's been rumors for a few years that we're going to lose the UA14 and the Cinema 1,2, 3rd Ave. Going back decades, there were 139 U.S. theaters with more than 2800 seats. 29 of those were in NYC.

While the Walter Reade is capable of 70mm, the screen is too small and the audio isn't that great. I was disappointed when I saw Lord Jim there.

On the other hand, we do now have a Dolby Cinema screen at the AMC Empire 25 (although film can't be shown there).

I still boggles the mind that so many who never have will not have an opportunity to see it properly in New York!
It could certainly be booked for one night - were not taking premiere here. The last I saw there was Into the Woods- a first run. Anywhere else doesn't cut it in NYC.

 

[PMF]

What's going on in NYC?

I traveled 4 hours by train to see to first restoration of "Lawrence of Arabia" at the Ziegfeld, a quarter of a century ago.

I sincerely mourn for the city audiences of today who don't have venues such as these available to them.

Is the Ziegfeld no longer a premiere spot to exhibit restorations?

Furthermore; if they arequipped: I wonder how "My Fair Lady" would look at Radio City Music Hall?

- PMF

 

[Robert Harris]

Latest 4k List:


Check myfairlady50.com for proper play dates.







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[KPmusmag]

Latest 4k List:


Check myfairlady50.com for proper play dates.







THEATER CITY STATE










Orleans 18 #424





Las Vegas





NV








Sam's Town #442





Las Vegas





NV










Sante Fe Station #484





Las Vegas





NV








South Point 16 #486





Las Vegas





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Suncoast 16 #438





Las Vegas





NV

This is frustrating; none of these Las Vegas venues is appearing on myfairlady50.com.

 

[Josh Steinberg]

What's going on in NYC?

I traveled 4 hours by train to see to first restoration of "Lawrence of Arabia" at the Ziegfeld, a quarter of a century ago.

I sincerely mourn for the city audiences of today who don't have venues such as these available to them.

Is the Ziegfeld no longer a premiere spot to exhibit restorations?

Furthermore; if they arequipped: I wonder how "My Fair Lady" would look at Radio City Music Hall?

- PMF

The Ziegeld is a great theater, but is no longer open continuously. They hold premieres and will sometimes show a first-run movie, but are just as likely to be dark on a given night. They are also now part of the Bow Tie Cinemas chain and it seems that most of the venues on this list are independent theaters, so that may be why they're not showing it.


As for Radio City, I can't remember the last time they had a regular movie screening. They're showing "Back To The Future" with a live orchestra playing the score next week, but it's not a regular screening and is priced at $50-100 a ticket. I cannot recall a regularly ticketed movie screening at Radio City with standard cinema pricing anytime in the past five years, if not longer. I just don't think that's their game anymore.

 

[Jim*Tod]

I contacted theater managers here in Richmond and got confirmation that MY FAIR LADY will show on the 20th in 4K at the Cinebistro . The response I got from Cinebistro was very enthusiastic, nice when the exhibitor takes pride in presentation. I am pleased to say this is almost sold out already.


I just watched the first 30 minutes of SPARTACUS and must add my kudos to Mr. Harris and his team for this incredible restoration. The image is perfect and the sound is perhaps the best I have heard from a six channel film of this vintage...it really sounds like a live orchestra is in the room. And... is this my imagination or is the overture a bit longer than before? I would swear I hear some music I'd never heard before, though I will admit it has been a while since I watched the movie.

 

[Robert_Zohn]

I needed a BD with 220:1 aspect ratio to get our theater properly set-up for "My Fair Lady" so we're watching Spartacus in our home cinema now. The film and audio quality is wonderful. The exceptional restoration quality makes this classic movie a great experience to enjoy again!


-Robert

 

[Robert Harris]

This is frustrating; none of these Las Vegas venues is appearing on myfairlady50.com.

Just added. Will be on mfl50 shortly.

 

[Robert Harris]

I needed a BD with 220:1 aspect ratio to get our theater properly set-up for "My Fair Lady" so we're watching Spartacus in our home cinema now. The film and audio quality is wonderful. The exceptional restoration quality makes this classic movie a great experience to enjoy again!

-Robert

What Robert is referring to is a small gathering at his bespoke home theater shoppe, Value Electonics, in Scarsdale, NY, next Tuesday from 6-8 PM.

We will be running sequences from the new restoration of My Fair Lady, along with some very telling before and afters.

The film will be viewed on a myriad of different new panels, inclusive of the new huge OLEDs, and probably also in 4k projection.

You'll need a big screen to properly reproduce My Fair Lady, as the detail, found in sets, wallpapers, rugs and costumes, is far above one's normal expectations for the format. The bigger the screen, the better it looks.

Stop by.

RAH

 

[Dr Griffin]

That just may be worth the drive up from the wilds of Pennsylvania.

 

[Robert_Zohn]

RAH just left our store as we were doing a quick check before the event. Of course, we locked the doors and pulled the black out curtains so no one could see what we were viewing. Now that you all know that we are hosting the screening of select scenes.


Hope you can attend, we could use a doctor in the house!


-Robert

 

[Chuck_Kahn]

I keep hoping some theatre in Toronto will show this.

And hoping and hoping....

 

[Robert Harris]

That just may be worth the drive up from the wilds of Pennsylvania.

Would be a pleasure to meet you.

 

[Charles Smith]

You know, I was just saying to myself how I don't need one more damned thing on My Fair Lady. Right? I mean, I never acquired any posters or such, but I'm pretty well set on stage and screen content.


Or am I? What's missing from this picture? (Besides the selfie.) It needs...something.


But what?


Oh well. It just happens some guy is talking about it tomorrow evening, so I'm going to drop by and listen and -- who knows, maybe that will give me some ideas.


.

 

[Ethan Riley]

It's playing right across the street from my work; but that's a mall theater with smaller screens. Really, I want to hear it--and that's best done (for me) with my Dr. Dre's while watching the blu-ray at home. But while I've seen Rex Harrison do the show live I've never once seen the movie on the big screen, so I might just go...

 

[MatthewA]

Or am I? What's missing from this picture? (Besides the selfie.) It needs...something.

I know, you forgot this:

 

[Erik_H]

Having seen the restored versions of "Lawrence" and "MFL" at the Ziegfeld I am also disappointed that the Ziegfeld is not screening the new "MFL" restoration---and that there are no 4K screenings in Manhattan. Times sure have changed.


A clarification to one of the previous posts about the Ziegfeld. The theater's intermittent closures are nothing new. Even during the 1970s the Ziegfeld could be closed for weeks or months at a time due to lack of product.

 

[Clark V. Kauffman]

You know, I was just saying to myself how I don't need one more damned thing on My Fair Lady. Right? I mean, I never acquired any posters or such, but I'm pretty well set on stage and screen content.


Or am I? What's missing from this picture? (Besides the selfie.) It needs...something.


But what?


Oh well. It just happens some guy is talking about it tomorrow evening, so I'm going to drop by and listen and -- who knows, maybe that will give me some ideas.

From 1964, here's a purple-vinyl promo edition of the film soundtrack...

 

[Clark V. Kauffman]

Here's the rare, open-ended interview disc that was sent to radio stations before the film's premiere, enabling local disc jockeys all over the country to "interview" Rex Harrison. I bought this copy, still sealed, several years ago. Included inside were the scripts with the questions to be posed by the interviewers.