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Author
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Topic: Digests or Bonus Features
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Akshay Nanjangud
Jedi Master Film Handler
Posts: 637
From: Dallas, TX
Registered: Nov 2011
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posted December 07, 2011 02:48 PM
When familiarizing myself with films, the first shock I received was to hear that butchered versions of great films were sold left, right and center. Most sales online, at least in the 8mm format, seem to be digests. My first thoughts were, why would anyone want to watch a condensed version of a great film. The only film I know of that benefited from severe edits is Cinema Paradiso. I can't imagine watching watching a digest even of the longest film, Lawrence of Arabia for example. What is the appeal? Why digests? Why not just watch the trailer? Why not just skip the movie?
In the modern world, the audience is brought very close to the film. Bonus, features, interviews, extended cuts, directorial cuts ..... so much so that many discs carry several versions of the same film. Today, a movie runs beyond its playing time as opposed to a reduced duration. There are so many interviews, behind the scenes takes of actors and directors that we actually know how they work. We know the people behind today's cinema. How I wish I'd known more about Buster Keaton, Fritz Lang, etc. Now we can only speculate.
Perhaps the little that is archived of films from the past helps create a mystery around it. There is more to debate.
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Winbert Hutahaean
Film God
Posts: 5468
From: Nouméa, New Caledonia
Registered: Jun 2003
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posted December 07, 2011 04:18 PM
We are talking about 1970s products.
During that day, not everyone was able to spend $150 for a full feature....not even for TODAY!
Akshay, just FYI, even for a digest alone was cost $52 for a 400'. Without need to include the inflation rate, to spend $50 for a home entertainment is kind of impossible nowadays.
Now if we include the inflation rate, $50 in 1970s will be around $150 in 2011's value and full feature will be around $450!!.
So during that day, people were forced to see digest because of the financial condition. Of course they wanted to see full feature.
Now we are in 2011 still collecting digest because of different reasons, while financial status might be one of the reason, but mostly we are doing that because:
1. Sentimental reason (nostalgia as Mike says above)
2. Not everyone has time to see full feature
3. Collecting habits (like to see original box, clean print, different edit, etc)
4. Investment (because some titles price keep rising)
5. Other may add.....
cheers,
--------------------
Winbert
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