While we wait for a Miracle of... Star! (1968) (1 Viewer)

[SwatDB]

About "While we wait for a Miracle off...:

The topic series (hopefully) centers around noteworthy, underrated, unpopular films [Low or High rated, successful or not] that have yet to receive a word of a release or remaster (with today's available Hi-Tech technology, using authentic Elements) on Blu-ray, DVD or at least not on Home Videos.

Motive:

Share thoughts and recollections of your experiences on a particular title in question, but remember to stay on target on a talked about title on thread as much as possible (brief mentions of titles is acceptable at times)

On with the show:

Star! (1968)

Director: Robert Wise

Director of Photography: Ernest Laszlo
Filmed in: Todd-AO

Home Video Availability:

1993 Fox Video VHS
1995 Fox Video LD
2004 Fox Home Entertainment DVD

Home Video Issues:

1993 VHS/1995 LD: Presented in 2.35:1 [via squeezing 2.21:1 Film Transfer]
2004 DVD: Presents the film 2.20:1 but presents the newsreel sections in sepia instead of black and white and cuts out the Intermission/Entr'acte and Extended Cast Credits.

Timeline:

1993: Film is shown for it's 25th Anniversary at the DGA Theatre and later released on VHS
1995: Film is released on LaserDisc
2004: Film is released on DVD
2008: Fox (under the supervision of Schawn Belston) and the American Cinematheque runs a restored new 70mm print for it's 40th Anniversary and DTS 70mm prints are made and shown at:

March 8, 2008: Bradford, UK [National Media Museum (Now "National Science and Media Museum")],
September 5, 2008: American Cinematheque [Egyptian Theatre], LA, CA, US
October 3, 2008: Todd-AO Festival, Schauburg, Karlsruhe, Germany

2016: (from what I heard via FB Messenger): Home Video Label Twilight Time had unnanounced plans to release the film on BD in 2018 for it's 50th Anniversary, but never came into fruitation because Fox did not do a new Master for the film.

My Experience with this title:

After reading the downsides of the 2004 Fox DVD and got inspired by Wikipedia's text regarding the existing full version I bought the 1995 Fox Video LD on 2016, I then saw the film in 70mm (probably the same as the DTS 70mm Print) on April 2017 during the 70mm Film Seminar, the KRRR! Mir70 at Krnov. The only difference I spotted in comparison to the 1993 Restoration (VHS/LD) was that the Extended End Credits on the 1993 Presentation had a live background with the second section of the 45rpm Extended LP Version played as the credits scrolled, the 70mm Print that I saw had black background and no music playing as credits scrolled:

Spoiler: Extended Cast Credits [70mm Print - No Music and Live Background]

With that said [accurately as I could], I wish you luck sharing thoughts/recollections/anecdotes about Star! while we wait for a miracle and hit the Jackpot on Blu-ray [too expensive to do a 4K UHD, in my opinion].
Good Luck
- David

 

[Jim*Tod]

It is a film I first saw when it was released on VHS, obviously not the best format for a Todd Ao film. Since then I did purchase the dvd. I wish I liked it better though some of the numbers are great---I especially like "Limehouse Blues" (Interesting to compare this number with the "Limehouse Blues" sequence in ZIEGFELD FOLLIES.) A couple of years ago AFI Silver Spring showed a 70mm print. I went to a weekend matinee and there were less than 30 people in attendance. Print was in good shape though sadly the projection was a bit dim. Sound was OK if not spectacular. They did get the roadshow presentation right in terms of curtains, lowering of lights, etc. I guess faint praise would be that it is a much better film than DOCTOR DOOLITTLE though I know both films have devoted fans. I do miss the old roadshow presentations---sadly the multiplex era killed that kind of showmanship. On the other hand I am now able to own a lot of the big films of that era of blu ray and 4K and experience the films in my modest but effective little home theater. It will be interesting to see the discussion on this thread.

 

[richardburton84]

I’ve heard that the DVD presented the newsreel footage with a sepia tint even though it was apparently supposed to be pure black and white. Should a Blu-ray of Star! be released, it would be interesting to see if this gets fixed.

I’ve only seen the film once on a TCM showing, so I can’t offer any insight on the roadshow presentation. I thought the film was decent, if not overwhelmingly great and Julie was definitely the best aspect of the film playing against type. I mentioned this in another thread, but I can’t help but wonder if the film might have done better if it covered the last few years of Gertrude Lawrence’s life. If anything, it would have given us Julie in her prime performing some of the songs from The King and I.

 

[trajan007]

Saw Star! at the Madison Theater Detroit. Same theater that SOM played. Could we at least get a decent bluray? Should not cost that much. Anything would be better than the horrible dvd.

 

[SwatDB]

I’ve heard that the DVD presented the newsreel footage with a sepia tint even though it was apparently supposed to be pure black and white.

According to:

Rick Mitchell [Written at: in70mm.com]:

"The conceit has Gertrude Lawrence in a screening room in 1940 watching a documentary on her life and reflecting on what really happened. The documentary is in black-and-white 1.37:1 mixing archival and recreated footage (with some surprising anachronistic hand-held and zoom lens work!) while the "reality" is in wide screen and color."

Jaroslav Cibulka [KRRR! 2017]:

"What is also stimulating is the mixing of documentary, sepia-toned shots in academic format with those of live action, of course in color and wide-angle."

My perspective:

While watching the 70mm Print I kept an eye out to see if the print was either Black and White or Sepia, but it was tricky to conclude what it had, but first glance, it looked like the newsreel scenes on the print with "Colours intact" (as KRRR! states), was more or less the same DTS 70mm Print from 2008.

 

[Matt Hough]

The whole DVD seems to have been tinted in sepia. It did not look that brownish in a theater or on the LD release.

I went to the premiere showing of Star! in Charlotte at the Carolina Theater (our Cinerama theater so it had a huge screen) on December 7, 1968. By then, even though it was the local premiere, it had already lost two numbers: "My Ship" and "Someday I'll Find You," and I'm not sure we got the whole "Red Peppers" sequence. Months later, I think in May, I saw its horrendous cut down version Those Were the Happy Times and left the theater despondent that I'd never see the whole film in my lifetime. The laserdisc in 1993 restored my spirits and is my go-to version when I want to see the movie.

Yes, it has problems with its narrative, but Julie once-and-for-all proves her versatility not only in song and dance but also in her performance which is among her best. And I will be forever grateful to Nick Redman for issuing the soundtrack album on CD. I know he was trying to negotiate for the Blu-ray rights before his passing, but I have enough Star! in my collection to get me by, if not completely satisfied.

 

[John Maher_289910]

The entire DVD appears to have a beige hue ("I do so abominate beige") that I do not recall from seeing it 3 times during its roadshow, at Philadelphia's magnificent Cinerama Theater, The Boyd. While I find the screenplay a bit clunky, Julie Andrews gives the best performance by an actress (and singer) that year. My most-wanted Blu-ray!!

 

[ahollis]

During golden age of Twilight Time I expected a blu-ray release of Star. I’m sure Nick Redman should have done it right. Now I have little to no hope that Disney will release a Blu-ray, or dare I say it, a 4K release. My blu-ray and Laserdisc will have to do.

 

[Erik_H]

I attended a screening of "Star!" in 70MM at the Museum of the Moving Image in NYC about 7-8 years ago. I remember that the print was in good condition and that the screening was decently attended but being disappointed by the modest size of the Redstone auditorium screen---not ideal for a Todd AO film. But what stands out most about that day occurred on a Times Sq subway platform while waiting for the train to Queens for the screening. I was standing next to a couple engaged in a lengthy conversation about, of all things, "Star!" --- such as the bad timing of opening a few weeks after the premiere of another big budget biopic of a major stage performer of the early 20th century, "Funny Girl." Only in NYC...

 

[Alan Tully]

During golden age of Twilight Time I expected a blu-ray release of Star. I’m sure Nick Redmond should have done it right. Now I have little to no hope that Disney will release a Blu-ray, or dare I say it, a 4K release. My blu-ray and Laserdisc will have to do.

I could be wrong, but I'm sure I remember reading that Twilight Time had a license to release Star! but were waiting for Fox to do a new HD transfer, & then it all came to an end. Confession time...I've never seen it! I wasn't that keen on musicals at the time, I would have bought a Twilight Time release, & would buy a new good looking HD release now, but like the rest of us, I'm not holding my breath

 

[SwatDB]

Nick Redmond

* Redman? (not confusing character name from the 1975 film)

 

[Douglas R]

I saw "Star" in 70mm. Although not a big fan of musicals I loved seeing films in 70mm no matter what the subject matter. I enjoyed the film but can't recall much about the picture quality, unlike "Hello Dolly" which opened around the same time which I remember looked magnificent and spectacular in 70mm,

 

[SwatDB]

I could be wrong, but I'm sure I remember reading that Twilight Time had a license to release Star! but were waiting for Fox to do a new HD transfer, & then it all came to an end. Confession time...I've never seen it! I wasn't that keen on musicals at the time, I would have bought a Twilight Time release, & would buy a new good looking HD release now, but like the rest of us, I'm not holding my breath

To recap a bit: I chatted with TT via FB about the film back in 2016 (same result)

Me (as of now): Still waiting and still holding my breath and anticipating for this film.

 

[DarkVader]

Julie strutting her stuff in "The Saga of Jenny" sequence must have been quite a sight in 70mm. She's just absolutely phenomenal in that number.

STAR! was the film that convinced me that yes, Julie Andrews was sexy. Still is...

 

[SwatDB]

Julie strutting her stuff in "The Saga of Jenny" sequence must have been quite a sight in 70mm. She's just absolutely phenomenal in that number.

I once read that Dar Robinson (before he became popular as a Stunt performer) on his debut, appears uncredited as a Utility Acrobat in the film during the music number.

It would be interesting to see check out where he appears in the music number, If one person have keen eyes to spot him.

 

[trajan007]

I saw "Star" in 70mm. Although not a big fan of musicals I loved seeing films in 70mm no matter what the subject matter. I enjoyed the film but can't recall much about the picture quality, unlike "Hello Dolly" which opened around the same time which I remember looked magnificent and spectacular in 70mm,

HELLO DOLLY is spectacular. One of the best musicals ever put on film. It begs for a 4K release.

 

[KPmusmag]

When the laserdisc of Star! came out, there was a launch party that was attended by Robert Wise, Michael Kidd and Saul Chaplin. Not only did I miss a day's pay to attend, but I paid $80 for the laserdisc (adjusted for inflation that is $175!) The launch was held at Virgin Records in West Hollywood, in a new complex on the site where Schwab's Drugstore had once stood.

The three men could not have been more generous with their time and autographs. Mr. Wise and Mr. Chaplin signed my West Side Story LP (which I gave to my aunt, her fave film) and Michael Kidd signed my Seven Brides laserdisc (and he mentioned how pleased he was that it was a widescreen disc, as he hated seeing that movie cropped). And of course, all 3 signed my shiny new laserdisc package of Star!. Also in attendance was Mr. Chaplin's wife, Betty Levin, who had served as script supervisor on The Sound of Music, and she also was so gracious and generous with her time. I also talked a bit with Mr. Wise about Star Trek: The Motion Picture and he divulged that he was trying to get Paramount to allow him to revisit the film for a new home video release. What a tantalizing tidbit at the time! (And, of course, it finally happened 8 years later and by then, of course, DVD was the format of choice.)

About 2 years later, I was lucky enough to acquire Julie's autograph on the laserdisc package as well. The short story is that she signed it for me at the stage door of the Marquis Theater in NYC where she was performing in Victor/Victoria on Broadway. The long story is that I had heard that Julie did not sign autographs after the show, so instead, I went to the stage door before the show. The door man greeted me tentatively and I explained that I had this laserdisc of Julie's "lost" musical and Julie was my favorite of all time and it was already signed by the creators of the film and it would be so special if she could add her signature and on and on. The man just looked at me inscrutably and let me babble until I felt quite the idiot and wishing he would just say "no" and put me out of my misery. But, amazingly, he took the package from me and said, "I will see what I can do." I watched him walk away with it, acknowledging to myself that I might never see it again. He returned shortly and took his post without looking at me. I did not know what to do, so I just waited. After 10 excruciating minutes, a stagehand appeared with the package. The doorman pointed at me, and the stagehand handed it to me. Julie had signed it! Tucked inside was a small card which read, "With the compliments of Julie Andrews". What a classy Dame!

 

[KPmusmag]

Here are a few pages from Image's Laserdisc Preview announcing the upcoming laserdisc of Star!.

 

[KPmusmag]

Before the laserdisc of Star! was released, the uncut version was showcased on AMC - back when it was as good as TCM. It was so exciting. I had the LP of the soundtrack of course, but the late late show always presented the severely truncated version so I had never seen many of the musical numbers, even though I knew them by heart from the LP.

On July 18, the early showing was pan and scan and the later showing was letterboxed. I guess they hadn't quite decided yet that widescreen was always the way to go. I remember that it was a rainy Sunday and I lived on the west coast at the time so the times listed were three hours earlier, thank goodness!

 

[DarkVader]

When the laserdisc of Star! came out, there was a launch party that was attended by Robert Wise, Michael Kidd and Saul Chaplin. Not only did I miss a day's pay to attend, but I paid $80 for the laserdisc (adjusted for inflation that is $175!) The launch was held at Virgin Records in West Hollywood, in a new complex on the site where Schwab's Drugstore had once stood.

The three men could not have been more generous with their time and autographs. Mr. Wise and Mr. Chaplin signed my West Side Story LP (which I gave to my aunt, her fave film) and Michael Kidd signed my Seven Brides laserdisc (and he mentioned how pleased he was that it was a widescreen disc, as he hated seeing that movie cropped). And of course, all 3 signed my shiny new laserdisc package of Star!. Also in attendance was Mr. Chaplin's wife, Betty Levin, who had served as script supervisor on The Sound of Music, and she also was so gracious and generous with her time. I also talked a bit with Mr. Wise about Star Trek: The Motion Picture and he divulged that he was trying to get Paramount to allow him to revisit the film for a new home video release. What a tantalizing tidbit at the time! (And, of course, it finally happened 8 years later and by then, of course, DVD was the format of choice.)

About 2 years later, I was lucky enough to acquire Julie's autograph on the laserdisc package as well. The short story is that she signed it for me at the stage door of the Marquis Theater in NYC where she was performing in Victor/Victoria on Broadway. The long story is that I had heard that Julie did not sign autographs after the show, so instead, I went to the stage door before the show. The door man greeted me tentatively and I explained that I had this laserdisc of Julie's "lost" musical and Julie was my favorite of all time and it was already signed by the creators of the film and it would be so special if she could add her signature and on and on. The man just looked at me inscrutably and let me babble until I felt quite the idiot and wishing he would just say "no" and put me out of my misery. But, amazingly, he took the package from me and said, "I will see what I can do." I watched him walk away with it, acknowledging to myself that I might never see it again. He returned shortly and took his post without looking at me. I did not know what to do, so I just waited. After 10 excruciating minutes, a stagehand appeared with the package. The doorman pointed at me, and the stagehand handed it to me. Julie had signed it! Tucked inside was a small card which read, "With the compliments of Julie Andrews". What a classy Dame!

View attachment 246611

I love this story! I really love the cover for this laserdisc! Now I want to see this film again....