|
Author
|
Topic: The Empire Strikes Back 2X400ft Ken Films
|
Osi Osgood
Film God
Posts: 10204
From: Mountian Home, ID.
Registered: Jul 2005
|
posted October 31, 2009 05:20 PM
There are some films that really stand out apart from the rest, and back when there was little VHS around, laserdisc a near future and DVD hadn't entered the vocabulary ...
... many Super 8 enthusiasts hungered to see this film be released on Super 8. By late 1980 early 1981, the writing was already on the wall for the future of Super 8 digests; this being brought on by VHS becoming increasingly reasonable in price.
So, to find that Empire Strikes back was coming out on Super 8 sound film was a collectors dream, and come out it did. It could be well said that this was the last hurrah for Ken Films as, (and others can correct me if I'm wrong), this was among Ken Films last releases.
The digest was released as a 2X400ft digest, as well as a 200ft digest; but unlike the STAR WARS 200ft, there was no additional material released in the 200ft to splice onto the 2X400ft. Interestingly, the 200ft Empire digest was released silent, with sound-stripe and an audio cassette of the soundtrack.
The digest was as follows ...
After a quick FOX logo, we then go into some made for the digest credits upon a black/bluish background. We then see that first shot of the Star Destroyer coming towards the screen. It drops probe droids, scattering out amongst the stars.
One lands upon the ice planet HOTH, where intrepid rebel warrior Luke Skywalker immediately spots it, but before he can do anything about it, an ice planet monster kills his Tauntan.
We then cut to Obiwan Kenobi appearing to the now conscious Luke, telling him to go to the Dagobah system, to be instructed by a Jedi Master by name of Yoda. Luke is rescued by Han, who has went in search of him.
The rebels detect the signal of the probe droid and quickly begin preparations for a ground assault. Meanwhile, Darth Vader, aboard his massive ship, knows by the force that Hoth is the system where Luke will be found.
The assault begins, first with Star Destroyers trying to take out fleeing rebel forces, which are defended by an Ion cannon.
The assault continues with the massive ATAT's (all terrain armored transport). This is, in my opinion, one of the truly great sequences, with those little snow-speeders taking on the ATAT's.
After a lengthy battle, Princess Leia just barely escapes with Han Solo aboard the Mellenium Falcon, while Luke heads to Dagobah. With some deft manuevers, Han outclasses the approaching star destroyers and fighters.
Luke, meanwhile encounters the diminuitive Yoda for the first time. "Take you to him I will!" We then cut to Han Solo taking the Millenium Falcon into an asteroid field on a suicide mission, desperate to escape the pursuing Tie Fighters. He succeeds.
End of Part 1
Darth Vader contacts his Dark Lord, (the original version of the Dark Lord), and they agree that perhaps Luke could be turned to the dark side.
"He will join us or die ... master."
Luke now realizes that the little fellow he first met is in fact Yoda and insists that he is ready.
"I'm not afraid."
"You will be ... you, will be."
We cut to Han Solo and company arriving at the Bespin, the planet where an old friend (?) Lando Calrissian awaits him and welcomes him ... before later turning them over the Darth vader.
Meanwhile, Luke continues his training with Yoda. He realizes, thru the force that his friends are in pain and in trouble. he must go to them, but before leaving, Yoda informs us that, though Ben insists that Luke is they're last hope, Yoda states that there is another.
We cut to Luke arriving at Bespin and the city in the clouds.
He is quickly directed to Darth Vader and they're long awaited Lightsabre battle ensues. Luke gets his forearm and hand cut off, but this is not the worst of it.
"He told me enough, he told me you killed him."
"No, Luke ... I am your father."
The revelation is too much for Luke. He chooses to let himself fall into the depth's of the gas mining station, (instead of joining his father.) Fortunately for Luke, Lukes sister, Leia, knows thru the force to pick him up, (though she doesn't know that Luke is her brother). They escape the clutches of Vader and, to end the digest, a now noble Lando and Chewbacca head off to find Han Solo, (who has been taken by Boba Fett, not shown in the digest.
End of part 2.
This digest is a masterful edit and though there are some plot points that one would wish were in here, (this would have made an outstanding 3X400ft) it flows quite nicely and is a rip snorting ride.
Print evaluation ...
Sound
Sound is a good booming mono. One would wish that the mono was a little sharper, but it is more than adequete for the time that this was released. There are no drop-offs in sound.
Color
If your lucky enough to find a mint condition print withy unfaded color, (as this was printed on both Kodak SP as well as the dreaded Eastman), you'll find that the color is very saturated, and is a big improvement on the somewhat drab color of the original STAR WARS 1X400ft from a few years earlier.
Please note: The color does vary, depending on the sequence. There are no "washed out shots nor any that are too dark. I would say that 90 percent of the color is very good. You will note, however, that the last two minutes of part 1, (the asteroid chase) immediately has a overly brownish tint. This begins right after yoda states, "Take you to him I will". You will immediately notice this defect in color. Considering that this was released literally within a year of the feature coming out, one is disappointed with this unnecessary color shift. Thankfully it is the only really noticeable color shift. This two minute sequence, even in perfect mint condition prints, has that same faded quality.
Grain
Grain is a little more than what one would desire, but it is not so bad that you can't live with it. This is where STAR WARS 1X400 (part 1) is much better, having very little grain.
Focus/sharpness
The focus is passable. Nothing is blurry, but not quite what you would desire. However, some shots, (such as the ATAT commander imforming Lord Vader that he came start his landing), are pin sharp. Is is sufficient.
As stated earlier, this is 2X400ft, however, unlike the Universal 8 2X400ft, this one is about 17 or more minutes to each part. Therefore, it is a little too long to fit on a standard 600ft. However, there are some earlier 600ft reels that have a smaller hub, (center) and it may just fit upon that size 600ft.
This is an excellent 2X400ft ... great for guests and well worth plcing in your collection. beware, however, as this digest is defintely subject to fade. Make sure that you asks the appropriate questions concerning the fade of the print. My print is mint, no fade whatsoever, so it is entirely possible to find a good copy.
LONG LIVE SUPER 8!!
[ October 31, 2009, 10:28 PM: Message edited by: Osi Osgood ]
--------------------
"All these moments will be lost in time, just like ... tears, in the rain. "
| IP: Logged
|
|
|
|
Osi Osgood
Film God
Posts: 10204
From: Mountian Home, ID.
Registered: Jul 2005
|
posted October 31, 2009 10:33 PM
I'm trotting down to my basement tommorow, so I'll word back to you soon. Actually, I should have two prints down there. One is a nice color print (Kodak SP), but the other one is a little pinky, (eastman) but in STEREO. That second one was re-recorded by a collector, some scenes have better stereo than others, but the synch is dead on!
--------------------
"All these moments will be lost in time, just like ... tears, in the rain. "
| IP: Logged
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rob Young.
Phenomenal Film Handler
Posts: 1633
From: Cheshire, U.K.
Registered: Dec 2003
|
posted November 02, 2009 08:19 AM
One of my favourite 8mm films of all time!
Osi, check out my box signed by cast members;
Now all I need do is have it signed by Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher to complete it...should be easy ![[Roll Eyes]](rolleyes.gif)
As discussed proviously on the forum, Empire was originally destined to be a 3x400ft version, but by the time the second extract was due out super 8 was in decline, Ken lost their nerve, and condensed the rest into just one more 400ft release. Shame ![[Frown]](frown.gif) .
Also (Star Wars Anorak info here!!) but the edit on Pt.1 varies ever, ever so slightly from one version to another. For example on some versions, after Luke is attacked by the Wampa, there is a quick fade out before the next shot with Luke lying in the snow...on other versions just a cut. Also, some versions have the Millenium Falcon entering the "cave" at the very end, with the lines, "I hope you know what you're doing", "Me too...", whereas some versions are missing this.
Also, some non-sync dialogue on Pt.2 is different to the theatrical release;
approaching cloud city, the pilot of the escort ship announces, "any agressive move will not be tolerated". On the theatrical versions he says, "you will not deviate from your present course".
As Luke hangs from cloud city and contacts Leia using the force, Leia announces, "we have to back". Lando, "but what about Vader?". Leia, "we HAVE to go back!". In the theatrical she says, "I know where Luke is".
Escaping cloud city as Tie-Fighters close in, Leia tells Lando on the intercom, "Lando, hurry up...we've got company...". On the theatrical "we've got company" is cut.
These aren't changes to the 1997 re-release either, but differences dating right back to the 1980 theatrical version. I know Lucas likes to "tweak" different releases (even differences between original release prints) but I've never heard these line differences anywhere but on the super 8 version.
| IP: Logged
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
James N. Savage 3
Phenomenal Film Handler
Posts: 1375
From: Washington, DC
Registered: Jul 2003
|
posted November 03, 2009 02:27 PM
Thanks for the review Osi (Wow! I cant believe this digest was never reviewed before now!)
My comments-
I've always thought this to be an excellent 2 x 400 foot digest of the feature, even if not perfect. It actually flows better (to me) than the 2 x 400 digest of Star Wars. My colors on reel #1 are good, but on reel #2 are excellent!
The sound on reel #1 was not too good, so I re-recorded it into stereo, which came out fantastic (very hard though, with all the small edits). I left the sound alone on reel #2, since it was already very good mono. I just copied the sound to the balance track to keep it more consistent to reel #1.
When the first 400 foot part of Empire was released, I think super 8 was still doing pretty well. By the time that the second 400 foot was released (about a year or so later), things were starting to change, as more and more households were owning video machines.
An interesting story-
Back in the 70's and 80's, I showed scary super 8 movies at the halloween carnival at my old elementary school. In 1985, I brought the 2 part "Empire" digest, just for the heck of it. When word got out that "Empire" was showing in the school library, the line was down the hallway! I had to show it continuously, and it became the "event" of the carnival that year! Note: even though video was rampant by then, "Empire" had not been released, and super-8 was the ONLY way it could be watched at that time ![[Wink]](wink.gif) .
Fun memories!!
James.
| IP: Logged
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Osi Osgood
Film God
Posts: 10204
From: Mountian Home, ID.
Registered: Jul 2005
|
posted November 04, 2009 10:43 AM
Being that it was mentioned earlier, I wonder if they ever did a 3X400ft edit, but just never sent it out for printing? If anyone knows anybody who worked for Ken Films at the time, it would be an interesting question. It would make sense that they would make at least one test printing, but we don't live in a perfect world.
Still, I'm happy to have a 2X400ft of this, equally happy to have a great color copy of this.
I'm still surprised at that last two minutes of part 1 being faded. One wonders why those who put together the digest wouldn't catch that or, perhaps, having finished it, thought to themselves, "Hell, this is the last release, lets just get it out there and hope for the best. Why bother to get better neg material?
It's not the only place where there is a strange shift in color actually. Right before this scene, you have Luke first encountering Yoda. Yoda gets down, we cut to Luke. When we cut back, the color is suddenly better than ever before. Perhaps it's this magnificent color of this short piece, that brings out even more annoyance with the poor color of the asteroid chase.
Still, though my part 1 (on Kodak SP) appears to have the slightest shift in color, it must be about as good as it's going to get. I have noted that some space shots are nearly perfect blacks, but perhaps it never truly have spot on completely black, blacks? Could someone else who has a mint condition color copy comment on this?
For instance, that first shot of the star destoyer sending out probe droids, has the slightest browning to the blacks. Later in reel one, there are space shots that do have literally spot on blacks. This leads me to believe that the color of the original negative, put together piecemeal, must have either been from assorted sources OR just have a variety of color saturation.
You really can't say color fade, as this digest came out within the year that the original film was released, so there really wasn't any time for the original negative to show any fade.
At least, I have always assumed that. This looks like it is approaching a John Whittle question. Can fade make itself known within even a year from processing the original film negative?
--------------------
"All these moments will be lost in time, just like ... tears, in the rain. "
| IP: Logged
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wade Epler
Junior
Posts: 18
From: Lancaster, Pa USA
Registered: May 2008
|
posted January 08, 2010 01:41 PM
I haven't been to this forum in a while-I can't believe I didn't comment on this one!
This was the very first film I ordered from Derann, and I was so satisfied with it that they now get all of my film business. Sadly, I was such a neophyte at rewinding with my Bolex sound projector, I looped the film under the helper spindle on the lamphouse, rather than simply letting it drape over that pulley. This resulted in my scratching reel 1 or ESB (luckily only a very minor scratch at the beginning) but left a terrible scratch on reel 2 of Jaws. But that was a lesson learned. A few weeks later I was at a friend's house, and as he was about to make the same mistake on his new Chinon, I literally dove across that projector to protect his home movies from a nasty scratching!
My copy has the I am your father line cut, as well as the loss of Luke's arm. A real shame, but the digest is so well cut I can't complain. I particularly like how they edited out the whole snow monster scene at the beginning- which really helped in picking up the pace. As far as print condition, mine has great color throughout, and a fine mono soundtrack, although the Obi Wan/ Yoda dialogue towards the end of reel 1 sounds a bit like there is dirt on the soundtrack for a few seconds. Prints of these tend typically be in better shape than the ubiquitous 400' Ken films Star Wars print that I can never seem to find with decent color, not that the editing on that one is very good.
| IP: Logged
|
|
|
UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
.
Printer-friendly view of this topic
