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Topic: This Is War?

Joseph Randall
Master Film Handler

Posts: 437
From: Wyckoff, NJ, USA
Registered: Jun 2015

posted July 28, 2015 09:34 PM

THIS IS WAR?
Castle Films
The Marx Brothers
200' reel
B/W, sound

A great excerpt from arguably the Brothers best film, DUCK SOUP. A lot is packed into about 8 minutes, focusing on the climax of the film. Plenty of great Groucho lines and general crazyness. This is one of the 3 original Castle releases of Marx films -- the others being THE INCREDIBLE JEWEL ROBBERY and THE PIGSKIN CAPER. (Castle later released 2 excerpts from MONKEY BUSINESS before becoming Universal 8, when we were treated to longer extracts.)

The print: As usual, Castle had access to superior pre-print material. Beware, however, that sometimes Castle printed things a bit dark; I have 2 copies of this one: the better one, printed nicely, I used to enhance the later 400 foot release. The one I left intact is dark, but not bad on a projector with a 150 watt lamp. BTW, the cover art on the box is off-the-charts beautiful -- one of Castle's best.

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Paul Suchy
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 199
From: Westchester, IL, USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted August 01, 2015 06:12 PM

I agree that this is a pretty awesome digest. It's true that there is different footage in the 200 footer than in the 400. I have both on 16mm. How much splicing did you have to do in order to marry the prints?

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Paul Suchy

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David Ollerearnshaw
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1373
From: Penistone Sheffield UK
Registered: Oct 2012

posted August 02, 2015 11:56 AM

Can you post box art please

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I love the smell of film in the morning.

http://www.thereelimage.co.uk/

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Joseph Randall
Master Film Handler

Posts: 437
From: Wyckoff, NJ, USA
Registered: Jun 2015

posted August 02, 2015 12:12 PM

quote:
How much splicing did you have to do in order to marry the prints?

It's been about 20 years, but when I watch it it jumps back and forth many times. I'd estimate between 5 and 10 splices. It's obvious that the Castle part is superior quality.

box art from eBay listing

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Paul Suchy
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 199
From: Westchester, IL, USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted August 02, 2015 01:25 PM

Thanks, Joseph. I'll have to give the Universal 8 a watch again.

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Paul Suchy

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