8mm Forum: "America" (DW Griffith) from Blackhawk Films

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Topic: "America" (DW Griffith) from Blackhawk Films

Winbert Hutahaean
Film God

Posts: 5468
From: Nouméa, New Caledonia
Registered: Jun 2003

posted November 01, 2010 08:40 PM

Hi all,

A friend of mine emailed me about his film "America" 5 reels from Blackhawk.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0014672/combined

Any one knows about this?

cheers,

[ September 09, 2012, 07:30 AM: Message edited by: Winbert Hutahaean ]

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Winbert

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Jonathan Sanders
Film Handler

Posts: 82
From: Bath, England
Registered: Oct 2005

posted November 08, 2010 06:48 AM

I still have a 1976 Blackhawk Bulletin and the Griffith film is the only one simply called AMERICA. The bulletin gives the Super 8 length as 2475 feet, so it sounds like a 12 reeler, which would have to be on 600ft spools to fit on "4 reels".

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Michael O'Regan
Film God

Posts: 3085
From: Essex, UK
Registered: Oct 2007

posted November 08, 2010 07:09 AM

This would be a nice print to have if it was complete, had a score, and had the original tinting for nighttime scenes.

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Winbert Hutahaean
Film God

Posts: 5468
From: Nouméa, New Caledonia
Registered: Jun 2003

posted November 08, 2010 09:40 AM

Hi Jonathan,

According to imdb: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0014672/combined

there are two version of America. i.e

quote:

Runtime:
141 min | USA:93 min (Killiam Restoration with narration)

This "America" is the second one since it is with Sound and has length 1972 feet (5 reels @ max. 400 feet).

The side label says:

880-34-2711
LOC0686
FTG 1972
0034001
LD405 BXB45

Can you check on your 1976 Blackhawk Bulletin for the above catalog # please.

[ September 08, 2012, 11:29 PM: Message edited by: Winbert Hutahaean ]

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Winbert

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Michael O'Regan
Film God

Posts: 3085
From: Essex, UK
Registered: Oct 2007

posted November 08, 2010 01:13 PM

The Killiam restoration was prepared in 1969.

I have a 1977 Blackhawk Bulletin - the only versions in there are the 2475ft feature and a 600ft highlights reel.

Is it possible that your friends version is missing a couple reels?

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Jonathan Sanders
Film Handler

Posts: 82
From: Bath, England
Registered: Oct 2005

posted November 09, 2010 05:00 AM

Hi Winbert

The catalog number you give does not match either the 2475ft or 600ft versions. Probably Blackhawk made the sound version available after 1977 and they did indeed use a 880 prefix for sound prints.

I'm a bit surprised a 93-minute print would have *narration* - the only narrated Killiam prints I've seen are heavily abridged, either Silents Please (about 25 mins, unless two-parters) or Hour of Silents (about 50 mins) versions. But it would account for the shorter length of 1972 feet (against 2475 feet) if a narration largely replaces the intertitles - Griffith's titles could be very long-winded!

Even so 1972ft/93 mins. seems a lot to cram onto 4 x 400ft - though it can be done if the reels are almost overflowing. I expect your friend could check, also if the reels are striped. I'm not interested in purchasing it, by the way, just providing information!

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Winbert Hutahaean
Film God

Posts: 5468
From: Nouméa, New Caledonia
Registered: Jun 2003

posted November 09, 2010 09:13 AM

quote:
The Killiam restoration was prepared in 1969.

I have a 1977 Blackhawk Bulletin - the only versions in there are the 2475ft feature and a 600ft highlights reel.

Is it possible that your friends version is missing a couple reels?

Hi Mike, since FTG is an abbreviation for footage, that means the said film has 1972 feet and this is very accordance with the imdb info for the narrated Killiam version, i.e 93 minutes. So nothing missing here, except the restoration version was made short than the original 1924 version. Perhaps by cutting some not too important scenes. So this is not in Blackhawk catalog?

So this must be after 1977 release, may be 1980s i.e at the end of super 8mm era. So this must be ultra rare knowing not too many films were printed after video became very popular in those years.

[ September 09, 2012, 07:27 AM: Message edited by: Winbert Hutahaean ]

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Winbert

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