Posts: 1461
From: West Sussex, UK.
Registered: Jun 2003
posted September 24, 2006 09:20 AM
Guys
As many of you will know, I have for some time been collecting the digests released by MGM. I've nearly got a complete set now .
However, I still haven't established what # M31 was. Non of my catalogues make referene to it, but as the numbers all run consecutively, and there are numbers M32 M33 & M34, I'm thinking there must have been an M31. Does anyone know what it was?
Here's the rest of the list;
M1 Dr Zhivago M2 Ivanhoe M3 Shaft M4 Quo Vadis M5 The Wizard of Oz M6 An American in Paris M7 Logans Run M8 The Dirty Dozen M9 Easter Parade M10 Mutiny on the Bounty M11 How the West was Won M12 King Solomons Mines M13 International Velvet M14 Coma M15 Singin' in the Rain Pt1 M16 Singin' in the Rain Pt2 M17 Show Boat M18 Mogambo M19 A Night at The Opera Pt1 M20 A night at the Opera Pt2 M21 Anchors Aweigh M22 Gigi M23 North by North west M24 Ben Hur M25 Where Eagles Dare M26 The Champ M27 West World M28 Ice Station Zebra M29 High Society 2 x parts M30 Seven Brides for Seven Brothers 2 x parts M31 ? M32 Northwest Passage M33 Guns for San Sebastien M34 Fame 2x parts
The following appeared to be available as 3 x 400 ft only;
M35 The Formula M36 Clash of the Titans M37 ? M38 ? M39 Cincinatti Kid
I'm also aware that the following were available as 3 x 400fters;
M1 Dr Zhivago M4 Quo Vadis M6 An American in Paris M8 The Dirty Dozen M10 Mutiny on the Bounty M24 Ben Hur M25 Where Eagles Dare M27 West World M28 Ice Station Zebra M33 Guns for St Sebastien
The Time Machine Viva Las Vegas
Were there any others?
Thanks
Mike
[ September 26, 2006, 12:12 PM: Message edited by: Mike Peckham ]
-------------------- Auntie Em must have stopped wondering where I am by now...
Posts: 1411
From: Enfield, U.K.
Registered: Aug 2003
posted September 24, 2006 09:49 AM
Mike,
You can add "The Time Machine" & "Viva Las Vegas" & "The Cincinatti Kid" to the 3x400' section, these 3 were Ken's last foray into the edited field. You've also forgotten "Ben-Hur" 3x400' & "Westworld" 3x400' too, perhaps this is M31 ("Westworld"), as I believe they released a 400' to this film too.
Posts: 1461
From: West Sussex, UK.
Registered: Jun 2003
posted September 24, 2006 10:33 AM
Hi Barry
Thanks, West World is M27 so that doesn't solve the problem of the mysterious M31 .
I'd forgotten about the 3 x 400ft of West World, I already have that one in my collection along with The Formula, which I also forgot to list. I'll pop back and edit them in now.
Were the "Time Machine", "Viva Las Vegas" and "The Cincinatti Kid" released in the same MGM livery with clam shell cases?
Mike
-------------------- Auntie Em must have stopped wondering where I am by now...
Posts: 1411
From: Enfield, U.K.
Registered: Aug 2003
posted September 25, 2006 02:49 AM
Mike,
The last 3 releases were in clamshell boxes, but there was no proper artwork for the U.K. for these titles, and only the title was present on each box plus what part it was.
Posts: 963
From: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Registered: Feb 2006
posted September 25, 2006 08:54 AM
Hi Mike and other MGM collectors,
Sorry I can't help with M31, but want to know the answer too. Perhaps it was reserved for a title that was not released?
I have noticed that some of my clamshell MGM's have started to be effected by Vinegar Syndrome. I belive this is due to the air-tight seal of the clamshell. It is only a slight whiff at this stage, but there is no doubt it is there.
Have you noticed this with yours?
The only other Super 8/Std 8 with VS that I have are a few I had stored in air-tight cans. All my film is now stored so it can breath.
Posts: 1411
From: Enfield, U.K.
Registered: Aug 2003
posted September 25, 2006 09:37 AM
"Guns For San Sebastien" is M33, by the way. If my memory serves me there was a 400' of "On The Town", I wonder if this is the elusive M31.
quote: I have noticed that some of my clamshell MGM's have started to be effected by Vinegar Syndrome. I belive this is due to the air-tight seal of the clamshell. It is only a slight whiff at this stage, but there is no doubt it is there.
Have you noticed this with yours?
I sniffed my MGM's yesterday (clam shell) and I think some smell like vinegar. Some have a more chemical smell, not completely vinegar I’m not sure what. All films stored in cardboard boxes just smelled like old newspapers to me.
Does this mean that I've caught it in time you think?
Posts: 5468
From: Nouméa, New Caledonia
Registered: Jun 2003
posted October 08, 2006 11:12 AM
Thanks Eberhard,
I have found that. But IMO the great thing with the MGM covers are they mostly painted (not photo shots as most Germany versions). That's why I am not too interested with "Formula"...which was also presented with photo shots for USA version.
Any idea which other MGM USA versions were presented with photos?
Posts: 1171
From: Highland Mills, NY USA
Registered: Jun 2003
posted October 08, 2006 07:17 PM
My "A Night At The Opera" (both parts) and some of U-8 releases have that "vinegary" smell to them. Does this mean they won't project properly if I run them?
Posts: 963
From: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Registered: Feb 2006
posted October 08, 2006 08:36 PM
Brad, keep them away from your other film and let them breathe. They will still project OK if you stop the process. You can buy molecular seives to absorb the smell. Once the process starts, it feeds on itself. If you stop it early enough before the film shinks or buckles it can last for years.
posted June 29, 2007 04:10 AM
Can any of you (Mike?) tell me if "King Solomon's Mines" and "How the West Was Won" were available as three-parters? Thanks.
Posts: 1411
From: Enfield, U.K.
Registered: Aug 2003
posted June 29, 2007 05:33 AM
Jean-Marc,
Kempski touted a possible 2x600' release in scope of "How the West was Won" but I never did see a print (They also touted F/L "You Only Live Twice", again I never heard of a print).
posted January 11, 2008 04:47 PM
I get the distict impression that M31 was supposed to be part 2 of (what was it? Brides of Seven Brothers?), but they failed to list it as 31.
I could be wrong of course.
-------------------- "All these moments will be lost in time, just like ... tears, in the rain. "