8mm Forum


  
my profile | my password | search | faq | register | forum home
  next oldest topic   next newest topic
» 8mm Forum   » 8mm Print Reviews   » The Incredible Hulk (Page 1)

 - UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!  
This topic comprises 2 pages: 1  2 
 
Author Topic: The Incredible Hulk
Douglas Meltzer
Moderator

Posts: 4554
From: New York, NY, USA
Registered: Jun 2003


 - posted June 14, 2008 12:40 PM      Profile for Douglas Meltzer   Email Douglas Meltzer   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
 -

With Universal’s latest “Hulk” movie in the theaters, I thought it might be a good time to look back at an earlier incarnation of the big green guy. The CBS television series debuted in 1978 and ran for 5 seasons, followed by three made-for-tv movies.

Universal 8 released a 2 x 400’ version that’s very well edited. However, it’s a strange combination of the 1977 two hour pilot and the series’ 7th episode “747”.

Part One:
We start with titles that appear to be made specifically for this 8mm release, since they combine the casts from both the pilot and the later episode. Dr. Bruce Banner (Bill Bixby) is driving with his wife when a tire blows out, causing the car to veer off the road. Banner is thrown clear while the car rolls over, trapping his wife inside. As it starts to catch fire, Banner desperately tries to lift the car to rescue his wife, but he cannot summon enough strength. As the fire rages on, Bruce wakes from his nightmare and stares at the empty space beside him in the bed.

At the Culver Institute, Dr. Banner is interviewing a woman who was in a similar car accident, but she was able to lift the car in order to rescue her young son.

Obsessed with discovering why his case studies found remarkable power in times of stress when he could not, Banner sees a correlation between gamma levels and increased strength. In a radiology lab, he exposes himself to high levels of gamma radiation. We know this is risky because the “danger” light on the instrument panel is flashing.

Driving home in a thunderstorm, the tire blows out (not a good film for tire manufacturers) and Banner tries to change the tire in the torrential downpour. The jack breaks, injuring his hand, and boy does he get angry. So angry that his eyes turn white, his shirt starts to rip, and he becomes the title character (bodybuilder Lou Ferrigno). The Hulk smashes the car, picks it up and tosses it down a hill, where it explodes.

Stopping by a lake, the Hulk sees his reflection and in a nice touch, we see the transformation back to Bruce Banner in the ripples of the water.

With a change of clothes, Banner calls a radiation specialist for help. Bruce heads to the airport and boards a Columbia Airlines flight. That’s a dead giveaway something bad is about to happen. Columbia was the airline name in “Airport 1975”, so whenever Universal had a tv script that called for a plane in peril, you could expect to see footage from that disaster film.

A flight attendant is seen doping the flight crew's coffee, but a passenger takes one of the cups by mistake. Of course, he’s sitting next to Banner. The flight attendant and the co-pilot are actually drugging the rest of the crew so they can steal the priceless King Tut artifacts that are in the cargo hold. They plan to parachute out with the loot and let the plane crash.

Part Two:
Banner is concerned about his unconscious seat mate and knocks on the flight cabin door. The evil co-pilot asks the doctor to follow him to the cargo hold to get the “medical kit”. He imprisons Banner in a large metal container, opens the cargo door and starts to push it off the plane! Banner becomes the great green beast and after a struggle he finds himself dangling outside the aircraft. The Hulk soon takes care of the bad guy but a key hydraulic line is punctured! The Hulk changes back to the good doctor and soon he’s in the pilot’s seat trying to fly the plane. A passenger hops into the co-pilot’s seat to help. This young fellow is Brandon Cruz, who played Bill Bixby’s son in “The Courtship of Eddie’s Father”. Good time for a reunion.

With ground control attempting to give Banner a quick course in flying, things get stressful and his alter ego appears, just in time to give a strong tug on that stuck wheel. The plane lands safely, the Hulk scares the passengers and runs off.

A very solid edit job by the Universal team, but I wonder why they chose to include “747” as opposed to continuing on with the original film. One possibility is that they felt there should be more action in part two. The digest is enjoyable, moves quickly and it’s always nice to see the very talented Mr. Bixby on the screen. The print quality is good. The color on my print has faded a touch, but there are still strong blues and especially (a good thing, considering the hero)…..greens.


 -

Doug

--------------------
I think there's room for just one more film.....

 |  IP: Logged

Joe Taffis
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1592
From: United States
Registered: Jun 2003


 - posted June 14, 2008 03:33 PM      Profile for Joe Taffis   Email Joe Taffis   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Doug, just how big is that "closet" of yours???? [Roll Eyes]

--------------------
Joe Taffis

 |  IP: Logged

Osi Osgood
Film God

Posts: 10204
From: Mountian Home, ID.
Registered: Jul 2005


 - posted June 14, 2008 04:14 PM      Profile for Osi Osgood   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
You know, I had heard of this release on Super 8, but I never thought I'd hear a review. Great job, Doug !

Were there many of this title released? I have only seen two, and one of them is your copy.

--------------------
"All these moments will be lost in time, just like ... tears, in the rain. "

 |  IP: Logged

Douglas Meltzer
Moderator

Posts: 4554
From: New York, NY, USA
Registered: Jun 2003


 - posted June 14, 2008 04:53 PM      Profile for Douglas Meltzer   Email Douglas Meltzer   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Joe,

That closet is quickly running out of room!

Osi,

I don't recall seeing another copy. Originally this title was only for sale outside of the US and Canada.

Doug

--------------------
I think there's room for just one more film.....

 |  IP: Logged

Jean-Marc Toussaint
Film God

Posts: 2392
From: France
Registered: Oct 2004


 - posted June 15, 2008 02:41 AM      Profile for Jean-Marc Toussaint   Author's Homepage   Email Jean-Marc Toussaint   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Doug, This combo (pilot episode + 747) was released theatrically over here. This is probably the source material for this edited version.

--------------------
The Grindcave Cinema Website

 |  IP: Logged

Jim Schrader
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1628
From: Savage, MN, USA
Registered: Jun 2003


 - posted June 16, 2008 08:35 AM      Profile for Jim Schrader   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I will have to take mine out and look at it [Smile]

--------------------
jim schrader
"Let's see “do I have that title already?"

 |  IP: Logged

Steve Klare
Film Guy

Posts: 7016
From: Long Island, NY, USA
Registered: Jun 2003


 - posted June 16, 2008 10:46 AM      Profile for Steve Klare   Email Steve Klare   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Quote:

"A flight attendant is seen doping the flight crew's coffee, but a passenger takes one of the cups by mistake. Of course, he’s sitting next to Banner. The flight attendant and the co-pilot are actually drugging the rest of the crew so they can steal the priceless King Tut artifacts that are in the cargo hold. They plan to parachute out with the loot and let the plane crash."

Wow!, they really wrote 'em in the 1970s!

--------------------
All I ask is a wide screen and a projector to light her by...

 |  IP: Logged

Jean-Christophe Deblock
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 693
From: Grimbergen, Brabant, Belgium.
Registered: Mar 2007


 - posted June 16, 2008 11:59 AM      Profile for Jean-Christophe Deblock     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Please note that the shot of the 747 in flight come from "AIRPORT '75". You can see the "columbia" logo on the plane.

Regards,
JC.

 |  IP: Logged

Douglas Meltzer
Moderator

Posts: 4554
From: New York, NY, USA
Registered: Jun 2003


 - posted June 16, 2008 06:56 PM      Profile for Douglas Meltzer   Email Douglas Meltzer   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
As mentioned in the review!

Doug

--------------------
I think there's room for just one more film.....

 |  IP: Logged

James N. Savage 3
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1375
From: Washington, DC
Registered: Jul 2003


 - posted June 17, 2008 09:14 AM      Profile for James N. Savage 3     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Doug-

Thanks for that great review, and great photos as usual!

"The Incredible Hulk" was my favorite show as a teenager. Bill Bixby adds so much class to his roles (my favorite- "The Magician").

A question- When Bixby turns into the Hulk on the airplane, do they play the eerie music effect during the transformation? I don't think it was used in the original pilot episode, but since this is a special edit of an episode, I thought it might be.

Thanks!

James.

 |  IP: Logged

Patrick Walsh
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 723
From: Christchurch, New Zealand
Registered: Jul 2006


 - posted July 11, 2008 04:53 AM      Profile for Patrick Walsh   Email Patrick Walsh   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I am running the new HULK film at work at the moment and Lou Ferrigno has a role in it as a security guard.
Pat [Smile]

--------------------
"Raise The Titanic!", It would of been cheaper to lower the Atlantic!

 |  IP: Logged

Mark Todd
Film God

Posts: 3846
From: UK
Registered: Aug 2003


 - posted July 11, 2008 05:52 AM      Profile for Mark Todd     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Thnask Patrick I was wondering what he was doing,nice when they do that sort of thing. Is he still biggish.
Best Mark.

 |  IP: Logged

Patrick Walsh
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 723
From: Christchurch, New Zealand
Registered: Jul 2006


 - posted July 12, 2008 04:43 AM      Profile for Patrick Walsh   Email Patrick Walsh   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Mark
He plays a security guard at the university where the Hulk experiments happen, we see him in one scene for about 20 secs. He just looks like the Hulk but not green! and they made his security guard's uniform way to small on him so he looks like he is going to pop out of it.
Stan Lee is also in the film as an old man who drinks some milk and dies..... [Big Grin]
Pat

--------------------
"Raise The Titanic!", It would of been cheaper to lower the Atlantic!

 |  IP: Logged

Osi Osgood
Film God

Posts: 10204
From: Mountian Home, ID.
Registered: Jul 2005


 - posted July 12, 2008 09:09 PM      Profile for Osi Osgood   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Just a little triva concerning Lou Ferrigno.

He was just on an episode of "American Gladiators" when they did a "Hulk" Themed show, and he looks just as impressive.

--------------------
"All these moments will be lost in time, just like ... tears, in the rain. "

 |  IP: Logged

Patrick Walsh
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 723
From: Christchurch, New Zealand
Registered: Jul 2006


 - posted July 12, 2008 11:19 PM      Profile for Patrick Walsh   Email Patrick Walsh   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Hi Osi
Yes he was I saw that episode as well as the show screens down here and he still looks just the same as he looked back in the day. [Smile]
Pat

--------------------
"Raise The Titanic!", It would of been cheaper to lower the Atlantic!

 |  IP: Logged

Osi Osgood
Film God

Posts: 10204
From: Mountian Home, ID.
Registered: Jul 2005


 - posted July 13, 2008 04:46 PM      Profile for Osi Osgood   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
(Though it has nothing to do with "The Hulk") ...

Lou did have a somewhat extensive series of "Hero" or action films. I know he did a series of "Hercules" films, and at least one "Sinbad" film.

... and all of that from a guy who is legally deaf (from what I have heard)!

--------------------
"All these moments will be lost in time, just like ... tears, in the rain. "

 |  IP: Logged

Patrick Walsh
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 723
From: Christchurch, New Zealand
Registered: Jul 2006


 - posted July 14, 2008 02:11 AM      Profile for Patrick Walsh   Email Patrick Walsh   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
watched the end credits of the latest hulk film and Lou also provides the voice for the hulk creature.
Pat

--------------------
"Raise The Titanic!", It would of been cheaper to lower the Atlantic!

 |  IP: Logged

Michael O'Regan
Film God

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


 - posted July 14, 2008 03:39 AM      Profile for Michael O'Regan   Email Michael O'Regan   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Lou Ferrigno can be seen quite regularly in KING OF QUEENS on Paramount. He plays himself as the Heffernans neighbour.

-Mike

 |  IP: Logged

Clinton Hunt
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 845
From: Waharoa,North Island,New Zealand
Registered: May 2010


 - posted November 26, 2016 07:01 PM      Profile for Clinton Hunt   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I know this is originally a post from 2008 but ....
I just watched my 2 x 400ft of this last night and even though it has fine black lines coming and going nearly all the way through both reels it still has great colour!
Unfortunately I don't have the original boxes :-(
 -
 -
 -

--------------------
Cheers from me in New Zealand :-)

 |  IP: Logged

Andrew Woodcock
Film God

Posts: 7477
From: Manchester Uk
Registered: Aug 2012


 - posted November 26, 2016 07:03 PM      Profile for Andrew Woodcock         Edit/Delete Post 
Lookin good still Clinton! (the print not yourself you understand, though both may be true, who knows ?? [Big Grin] [Wink] )

--------------------
"C'mon Baggy..Get with the beat"

 |  IP: Logged

Clinton Hunt
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 845
From: Waharoa,North Island,New Zealand
Registered: May 2010


 - posted November 26, 2016 07:09 PM      Profile for Clinton Hunt   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Thanks Andrew [Smile]
I too am holding up quite well ta lol
As for the print .... you can't see in the pics but it is "liney" from being well played for a good part of the both reels.
But it really doesn't bother me :-)

--------------------
Cheers from me in New Zealand :-)

 |  IP: Logged

Andrew Woodcock
Film God

Posts: 7477
From: Manchester Uk
Registered: Aug 2012


 - posted November 26, 2016 07:12 PM      Profile for Andrew Woodcock         Edit/Delete Post 
Lookin good and not "liney" at all Clinton!

Not you of course, the print! [Big Grin] [Wink]

--------------------
"C'mon Baggy..Get with the beat"

 |  IP: Logged

Clinton Hunt
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 845
From: Waharoa,North Island,New Zealand
Registered: May 2010


 - posted November 26, 2016 07:14 PM      Profile for Clinton Hunt   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
[Smile]

https://www.facebook.com/clinton.hunt/videos/pcb.10155508729923852/10154083106367742/?type=3&theater

I posted a short film clip on Facebook from my Super 8mm print [Smile]

--------------------
Cheers from me in New Zealand :-)

 |  IP: Logged

Andrew Woodcock
Film God

Posts: 7477
From: Manchester Uk
Registered: Aug 2012


 - posted November 26, 2016 07:45 PM      Profile for Andrew Woodcock         Edit/Delete Post 
Sorry Clinton, don't do Facebook!

I have no desire whatsoever to learn what my niece has just ate for breakfast! [Wink]

PS: don't watch Big Brother either! [Wink]

--------------------
"C'mon Baggy..Get with the beat"

 |  IP: Logged

Tom Photiou
Film God

Posts: 4837
From: Plymouth U.K
Registered: Dec 2003


 - posted November 27, 2016 04:37 AM      Profile for Tom Photiou     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
BB, worst nonsense on telly [Wink]
Back to the point, this is a cutdown i have been looking for in good condition only for a long time, reading back this review has reinstated my search.
Very good review, [Wink]

 |  IP: Logged



All times are Central
This topic comprises 2 pages: 1  2 
 
   Close Topic    Move Topic    Delete Topic    next oldest topic   next newest topic
 - Printer-friendly view of this topic
Hop To:

Visit www.film-tech.com for free equipment manual downloads. Copyright 2003-2019 Film-Tech Cinema Systems LLC

Powered by Infopop Corporation
UBB.classicTM 6.3.1.2