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Topic: DCR films

Graham Sinden
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1131
From: Kent, UK
Registered: Aug 2005

posted March 11, 2012 06:54 PM

Did DCR ever produce a catalogue as Ive never seen one.

If someone has one any chance you could scan it in.
Thanks,
Graham S

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Lee Mannering
Film God

Posts: 3216
From: The Projection Box
Registered: Nov 2006

posted March 13, 2012 07:18 AM

Morning Gray. Don’t think they ever produced a cat as such, certainly I have never seen one. They mainly advertised in the old Movie Making or Film Making magazines which I’m sure you will have seen around and its worth picking some of these up if you see them about as a useful tool/ point of reference. Keep well lad.

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Michael O'Regan
Film God

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

posted March 13, 2012 07:33 AM

I seem to remember a list of theirs coming in a pack of catalogues, etc. from Mailmaster films back in the day. Not a catalogue as such.

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Graham Sinden
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1131
From: Kent, UK
Registered: Aug 2005

posted March 13, 2012 04:59 PM

Thanks Lee and Michael for that info.

Yes Ive also seen the numeros adverts in Movie Maker and this is my main reference since there are no catalogues. I quite like DCR films for their shorts and documentries because there are some you wont find anywhere else. We should all thank Dave for bringing these to super 8 and their later releases were on LPP so good to find, and print quality was pretty good too.

Graham S

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Lee Mannering
Film God

Posts: 3216
From: The Projection Box
Registered: Nov 2006

posted March 14, 2012 10:14 AM

I found it fascinating that Dave recorded all his super 8 prints himself using a synchronised reel to reel tape recorder in what amounted to a shed in the garden. Just goes to show how successful you can be with a fairly basic setup, which reminds me I must watch some DCR films this week. Looking back (here I go again) they sure were great and memorable times Graham. Sent you PM.

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Hugh Thompson Scott
Film God

Posts: 3063
From: Gt. Clifton,Cumbria,England
Registered: Jan 2012

posted March 15, 2012 02:24 PM

Dave West of DCR Released some very unusual stuff as you rightly
say Graham and as Lee pointed out was a bit of a one man band
who achieved some excellent results.One of my favourites done
by him, is the excellent documentary on pioneer flight entitled
"The Wind in the Wires"narrated by James Mason,which still
brings a lump to my throat when you see all those brave men
flying in things held together with glue and string,as Mason says
"The skys will never see flyers like this again" A nice film and one worth keeping an eye out for.I do believe that we all share
this nostalgia Lee,it does seem strange when you open one of
the old "Movie Maker" mags and realise that all those firms
that advertised are gone,as are Tony Rose,John Wright, Ivan
Watson.On this depressing note I'll leave it or we'll all be looking
for a rope!

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Steve Klare
Film Guy

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

posted March 16, 2012 09:23 AM

I have a number of their railroad films. Two of my favorites are "Terrier to Wooton" and "Piccadilly Line to Shanklin". These are both shot in the Isle of Wight in the 1980s. Both are amateur productions, but this is a compliment: they are very good ones. ("Terrier" was the very last brand new Derann print I bought, and has a prominent "Derann" logo at the head.)

Is it possible that if we work together here we can build up a list and give DCR kind of posthumous catalog? I'm sure I have at least five I can contribute.

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

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Mal Brake
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 591
From: Neath, South Wales, UK
Registered: Jun 2003

posted March 16, 2012 09:33 AM

Hi Steve,
I also have the two films you mentioned. If you like those,
another to look out for is Tracks Around the Island which covers the various transport modes on the Isle Of Man.It proved to be popular with rail fans and general audiences alike.
To follow up your suggestion I will check what DCR prints I have/had in my collection.
Mal

[ March 17, 2012, 07:42 PM: Message edited by: Mal Brake ]

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I'm gonna live forever or die trying

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Steve Klare
Film Guy

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

posted March 16, 2012 09:42 AM

Hi Mal!

I have "Tracks Around the Island", it is a good one. It describes the railway there as being built to the "Rare 3 ft. gauge" which in North America was (and still is) the most common narrow gauge.

Off the top of my head I have:

"Ffestiniog Holiday" (1x600 Ft.)
"Land of the Little Trains" (1x400 Ft.)
"Tracks Around the Island" (1x400 Ft.)
"Terrier to Wooton" (1x300 Ft.)
"Piccadilly Line to Shanklin" (1x200 Ft.)

-probably more when I can get to my shelves...

"Terrier" was supposed to arrive from Derann on a 400 foot reel but was squeezed onto a 200 footer. I had at least 1/8 inch of film beyond the flanges. The opening minute of that first projection was a little tense. Our friends at Gepe set things straight.

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

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Steve Klare
Film Guy

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

posted March 16, 2012 08:39 PM

Two More:

Journey Into Spring (1x600)
Between the Tides (1x400)

Also, lot of the Looks at Life ("Look at Lives"? "Looks at Lives?") I bought from Derann have this lable:

Is it reasonable to assume these titles in the Derann Catalog all started out at DCR? I have a file with all the Derann titles in it.

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

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Graham Ritchie
Film God

Posts: 4001
From: New Zealand
Registered: Feb 2006

posted March 17, 2012 05:35 PM

I still have the DCR David Lean feature "Great Expectations 1946" an outstanding film, as with the print and sound.

I used to have "Oliver Twist" 1948 another David Lean film I am pretty sure it was also a DCR release.

One film I bought new from Derann years ago was "Vickers Aviation" 50 years of achievement from the vickers corporation. I am pretty sure although it states a DCR release at the begining it was printed and recorded at Derann.

An excellent film by the way.

Graham.

PS. Just thought, would someone like to add a bit more regarding DCR the people behind it and the business itself, would be interesting.

[ March 17, 2012, 08:05 PM: Message edited by: Graham Ritchie ]

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Hugh Thompson Scott
Film God

Posts: 3063
From: Gt. Clifton,Cumbria,England
Registered: Jan 2012

posted March 18, 2012 05:00 PM

Did you chaps know that Columbia actually infringed Dave West's
copyright on the release of their 400' condensation of "Scrooge"
Which was probably released as "A Christmas Carol" in the US.

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Brad Kimball
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1171
From: Highland Mills, NY USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted June 17, 2012 09:27 PM

Hugh, How did Columbia infringe upon Dave's copyright? Wouldn't Columbia have had their legal eagles check all that out prior to the release of the "Scrooge" digest?

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Maurice Leakey
Film God

Posts: 5895
From: Bristol. United Kingdom
Registered: Oct 2007

posted June 18, 2012 12:29 PM

DCR also had another title, "Davelyn Films". Mr & Mrs West?

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Maurice

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Hugh Thompson Scott
Film God

Posts: 3063
From: Gt. Clifton,Cumbria,England
Registered: Jan 2012

posted June 18, 2012 12:42 PM

Dave West had the UK rights to the film and even went so far as to
put it in "Movie Maker" at the time.Come to that it was a pretty
scarce film over here from Columbia,Daves film being the more
common.I think his 400' version ran for 23 mins.Some years ago
when I was searching for a copy of "Scrooge",I was having no luck
this would be about 1991/2 and so I enquired of Dave himself,
who told me that he wasn't going to be making anymore copies
but was prepared to sell me the negative.I didn't wish to get into it this deep, so I patiently waited for a copy to turn up secondhand,which it did.

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Hugh Thompson Scott
Film God

Posts: 3063
From: Gt. Clifton,Cumbria,England
Registered: Jan 2012

posted June 27, 2012 04:44 PM

I have just come across the very issue of "Movie Maker" that has
DCRs advert where he mentions this,I quote "PLEASE NOTE THAT
"A CHRISTMAS CAROL" DIGEST VERSION IS ILLEGAL.PRINTS ARE
LIABLE TO CONFISCATION". That was December's issue 1979.
So Columbia must have infringed his copyright.

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Panayotis A. Carayannis
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 969
From: Athens,Greece
Registered: Jul 2008

posted June 29, 2012 04:53 PM

Here is a DCR list

...

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Hugh Thompson Scott
Film God

Posts: 3063
From: Gt. Clifton,Cumbria,England
Registered: Jan 2012

posted July 03, 2012 08:14 AM

Well done Panayotis,he also released a few aviation films and a
longer complete version of "Night to Remember" and a great
comedy "Night We Got The Bird",plus the excellent tribute to
the early flyers "The Wind in the Wires" col & b/w snd.

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Adrian Winchester
Film God

Posts: 2941
From: Croydon, London, UK
Registered: Aug 2004

posted July 04, 2012 06:37 AM

A real oddity on that list that I have is the 'Dick Turpin' TV episode. An uncharacteristic release for DCR and I can't believe it was really an "import"!

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Adrian Winchester

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Robert Crewdson
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1031
From: UK
Registered: Jun 2013

posted August 03, 2013 12:48 PM

I had a catalogue of DCR, it came with my very first purchase, which was 'Not wanted on Voyage', contained photocopied pages; I never received any others. Graham, I have Great Expectations, Oliver Twist, and Tom Brown's Schooldays, also from him Carry On Admiral, and Oh Mr Porter.

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Bill Phelps
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1482
From: USA
Registered: Jan 2009

posted August 03, 2013 04:21 PM

I have PLAYING TRAINS and DRAW THE FIRES but I believe these are from Derann. Did they reprint some of this material?

Bill [Smile]

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Robert Crewdson
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1031
From: UK
Registered: Jun 2013

posted August 03, 2013 04:29 PM

I wouldn't be surprised Bill, they snapped up some of the negatives of Collectors Club, and took on Movietone News from Powell Films.

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Hugh Thompson Scott
Film God

Posts: 3063
From: Gt. Clifton,Cumbria,England
Registered: Jan 2012

posted August 03, 2013 05:31 PM

I was offered the negative of "Scrooge" by Dave, for the princely sum of £60.00, this would be in 1991,I had been searching for
a print of this film, Dave only had the neg. thankfully, Ian at Perry's came to the rescue.

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Robert Crewdson
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1031
From: UK
Registered: Jun 2013

posted August 04, 2013 04:01 AM

What happened to Keith Perry?, he was the owner when I was buying films.

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