Lromero1396
Supporting Actor
- Joined
- Dec 19, 2012
- Messages
- 640
- Real Name
- Leon Romero
I recall an HTF owner stating in a forum post a while back that he had taken a look at some restored elements for the 1953 version of The War of the Worlds while on a visit to Paramount studios in Q4 of last year. This leaves me to wonder if we'll see a BD release in Q3 or Q4. Of course, there are some variables that I'm concerned about:1. Source elements:This film was originally released in Technicolor dye-imbition prints in 1953. The 1967 reissue and all subsequent rereleases and home video editions have come from Eastmancolor elements. The original technicolor negatives could have been lost or destroyed, so color timing must be done perfectly if there are no original elements to work with. TWotW originally played in 1.37:1 Academy ratio, but was also released inlimited venues in 1953 in 1.66:1. These venues also ran a 3-track magnetic stereo sound mix on interlock. Further reissues were 'whatever' aspect ratio (probably cropped to 1.85 in some venues) and mono only. Warner has opted to issue Shane; another Academy ratio Technicolor film from the same year and with the same original exhibition specifications as TWotW, in 1.66. I'm worried they might do the same with TWotW, despite the fact that TWotW was originally composed for 1.37. Audio-wise, the 3-track mag original has been lost and the curren mix on the DVD is derived from stereo music tracks as well as some stereo effects and from the mono track. The mono track on TWotW has sounded abysmal for a very long time. Numerous crackles, pops, hisses, and hum plague the track. I hope that a faithul reconstruction of the original mix will be on the BD with all age-related damage removed.2. Potential wire removal:The now famous wires suspending the alien craft were not present in the original release since the soft look of dye-transfered Technicolor masked them. Later, sharper Eastmancolor reissue prints exposed them. Since Warner exercised digital wire removal on The Wizard of Oz, I'm concerned it will happen again. Wire removal has also been done on the recent restorations of Tora! Tora! Tora! and The Robe, even though those were both handled by Fox and not Warner. Since fans of the film have gotten to know the wires as a part of the film, it would outrage the fanbase to delete them. So, the sequences with said wiring should be presented via seamless branching with the option to view them with wiring or without wiring. However, I doubt that will happen.Any info from anybody (or even simple comments) would be greatly appreciated.