"The Alamo"s Status? (1 Viewer)

[sonomatom1]

"The laser disc is standard def. Upconverting that source material would not make a real Blu-ray. It would essentially be the same thing as taking your standard DVD of The Alamo and playing it in an upconverting DVD player. The film needs to be restored from the original elements as much as possible using all the latest technology. It is expensive and I don't know who would pay for it, but that's what needs to be done for a Blu-ray release."

Thank you for your cilvilized response; actually, I was expecting to be ripped a new one for being so ill-informed, but that said, I understand perfectly well that a DVD made from the LD would not be a true "blu-ray" release.

However, it seems *very* unlikely that the film will ever be restored. It sounds like time and neglect have taken their combined tolls on any surviving elements. Frankly, I would be very content with a standard DVD release of the "road show" release of the film as opposed to NEVER seeing that version of the film again on any medium (except for going back and purchasing a LD player for one movie, or a VHS player for the VHS version of the film). The future doesn't look bright for a director's or "Roadshow" cut of "The Alamo" - and more's the pity.

 

[battlebeast]

I want to see the roadshow version. I really do. And, I want to see "the Alamo" on Bluray. I really hope we can get thesis important title on blu.

 

[Darby67]

I just saw the 167-minute version on Retroplex last night; it has been years since I last saw it. What an incredible film! I really hope that the restoration on the 202-minute roadshow version can be completed and would love to see that version released on DVD. This is definitely one of my "holy grail" titles.

Darby

 

[David_B_K]

I just saw the 167-minute version on Retroplex last night; it has been years since I last saw it. What an incredible film! I really hope that the restoration on the 202-minute roadshow version can be completed and would love to see that version released on DVD. This is definitely one of my "holy grail" titles.

Darby

With all its speechifying, the movie does get corny at times. However, I find the its epic qualities to be often thrilling. The scenes where Santa Anna's armies show up are as spectacular as the action scenes (with Dimitri Tiomkin's equally epic score accompanying the visuals). There are many shots that have such a screen filling quality that I often find myself just concentrating on the visuals. As we become inundated with CGI phony epics, these older "cast of thousands" films really stand out as being unique products of their times whose like will not be seen again.

And sadly, The Alamo itself will apparently not be seen again, at least in its entirety.

 

[sonomatom1]

David: I liked your comment, especially about the "speechifying" in the film. If I remember, Davy Crockett talks about that very thing about his time in Congress (but seriously, it was a major weakness of the film that critics took great pains to point out at the time). More importantly, the film is very impressive with its big set pieces (as you point out, the arrival of Santa Ana's army - if I remember correctly, one crusty old defended on the wall says "that's the prettiest army he'd ever seen"... or something like that. The reality of a "cast of thousands" can be pretty breathtaking, and Wayne really got it right in the film.

Robert Harris is probably the only person who can comment on the possibility of any kind of future restoration or re-release, but I think he's probably given-up on the project. I still think that if the laser disc 'director's cut' edition can somehow be converted to DVD that it's worth the time and trouble, and I'm quite certain that there is a market for it even if it's not the pristine restoration we'd all like to see.

 

[JoeDoakes]

Robert Harris is probably the only person who can comment on the possibility of any kind of future restoration or re-release, but I think he's probably given-up on the project. I still think that if the laser disc 'director's cut' edition can somehow be converted to DVD that it's worth the time and trouble, and I'm quite certain that there is a market for it even if it's not the pristine restoration we'd all like to see.

I don't know. See post #3 of this thread.

 

[Richard V]

I don't know. See post #3 of this thread.

I would expect Mr. Harris to keep absolutely mum on the issue, if progress is being made on this front. If and when there is a 100% certainty, I'm sure he would share something with us. Conversely, if the project is dead and buried, he'd tell us. After the announcements and releases of titles like Batman-The Original TV series, The Wonder Years, and It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, I think I've learned that It's never over........till it's over.

 

[davidmatychuk]

At the current rate, I'll be able to retire my venerable Pioneer CLD-D704 Laserdisc player in about 50 years.

 

[sonomatom1]

It's weird, but I almost kept my LD just because I wanted to keep the LD version of this one movie. I guess I intuitively knew I'd never see it again. Sigh.

 

[Richard Stammer]

I've kept both of my LD players and have the road show LD and the regular DVD of The Alamo. If the studio cares so little about this film, maybe it's time that other technical video enthusists take matters into their own hands and marry the best surviving elements of both mediums into a single DVD. Just sayin'.

 

[sonomatom1]

I was all set to purchase a used LD player and a copy of the 'Roadshow" LDs, but when I discovered that it would cost nearly $100 to have the LDs transferred to DVDs (with no idea how successful the transfer might be), plus the cost of a used player, I decided it just wasn't worth it. I think I'm throwing the towel in - I won't live long enough to ever see the release of a restored version of this film (which I think, frankly, has more value than the "Batman" TV series, but I digress).

 

[ahollis]

I've kept both of my LD players and have the road show LD and the regular DVD of The Alamo. If the studio cares so little about this film, maybe it's time that other technical video enthusists take matters into their own hands and marry the best surviving elements of both mediums into a single DVD. Just sayin'.

This is also one of the reasons I have kept my 2 Laser players. Roadshow versions of THE ALAMO, HAWAII, COMPLETE SHOWBOAT COLLECTION, RAINTREE COUNTY, Pioneer version of 1776, and several of the DAWN OF SOUND collections.

 

[Rob_Ray]

This is also one of the reasons I have kept my 2 Laser players. Roadshow versions of THE ALAMO, HAWAII, COMPLETE SHOWBOAT COLLECTION, RAINTREE COUNTY, Pioneer version of 1776, and several of the DAWN OF SOUND collections.

I have all those LD releases too and each one is a keeper. However, just to be clear -- the LD of RAINTREE COUNTY is the general release version. I believe the roadshow version made it to VHS (I don't have t), but not laserdisc. However, TCM has shown the roadshow version in the past and may still run it for all I know.

 

[RolandL]

I have all those LD releases too and each one is a keeper. However, just to be clear -- the LD of RAINTREE COUNTY is the general release version. I believe the roadshow version made it to VHS (I don't have t), but not laserdisc. However, TCM has shown the roadshow version in the past and may still run it for all I know.

Saturday, July 19 a 1:15 PM (EST) on TCM

 

[FWAJMB]

Robert A. Harris:

Is there any new news to report on an Alamo restoration?

Thanks,
Jason

 

[Stephen_J_H]

I think RAH is following his SOP of saying nothing until he's in a position to say something. That being said, if we get anything, we may get an announcement in the near future of an IAMMMMW-style package.

 

[sonomatom1]

I think I'm going to cop-out and buy a good copy of the VHS 2-tape "Director's Cut" and have it professionally transferred to DVD. Obviously, it's not going to be pristine or anywhere near the quality of the LD I mistakenly sold, but at least, I'll have a copy. And, honestly, I'm a little frustrated with Robert Harris. My respect for the man is enormous, but I've read his article about the deplorable shape of the film from several years back, and by now, he should have a pretty good idea if any kind of restoration is remotely possible. I'm not sure why he's so "hush-hush" about it - it's not like there is a gaggle of other restoration experts clamoring for the rights to resuscitate this film (and clearly MGM could give less than a damn about the project...).

 

[FWAJMB]

I think RAH is following his SOP of saying nothing until he's in a position to say something. That being said, if we get anything, we may get an announcement in the near future of an IAMMMMW-style package.

I think I'm going to cop-out and buy a good copy of the VHS 2-tape "Director's Cut" and have it professionally transferred to DVD. Obviously, it's not going to be pristine or anywhere near the quality of the LD I mistakenly sold, but at least, I'll have a copy. And, honestly, I'm a little frustrated with Robert Harris. My respect for the man is enormous, but I've read his article about the deplorable shape of the film from several years back, and by now, he should have a pretty good idea if any kind of restoration is remotely possible. I'm not sure why he's so "hush-hush" about it - it's not like there is a gaggle of other restoration experts clamoring for the rights to resuscitate this film (and clearly MGM could give less than a damn about the project...).

You can buy the true 2.35:1 LaserDisc and a used player on eBay for under $100. The VHS still managed to crop the sides back in the we're-afraid-of-black-bars-annoying-the-ignorant-masses days.

 

[John Hermes]

I think I'm going to cop-out and buy a good copy of the VHS 2-tape "Director's Cut" and have it professionally transferred to DVD. Obviously, it's not going to be pristine or anywhere near the quality of the LD I mistakenly sold, but at least, I'll have a copy. And, honestly, I'm a little frustrated with Robert Harris. My respect for the man is enormous, but I've read his article about the deplorable shape of the film from several years back, and by now, he should have a pretty good idea if any kind of restoration is remotely possible. I'm not sure why he's so "hush-hush" about it - it's not like there is a gaggle of other restoration experts clamoring for the rights to resuscitate this film (and clearly MGM could give less than a damn about the project...).

It was the same with IAMMMMW and Mr. Harris. Nothing was said by him until it was announced for release. If he is working on The Alamo and has to keep quiet now, that's okay be me.

 

[Steve...O]

Robert A. Harris:

Is there any new news to report on an Alamo restoration?

Thanks,
Jason

Hi Jason - please go back to post 67 from Richard V and see who "liked" that post. I think that provides some insight (and reason for cautious optimism) and goes along with what John and Stephen posted above.