8mm Forum: The Bank Dick

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Topic: The Bank Dick

Joseph Randall
Master Film Handler

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

posted January 12, 2016 08:53 PM

starring: W.C. Fields
400 feet
Super 8 sound
Universal 8

A nice condensation of the feature of the same name, Universal 8 included all of the footage from the earlier 200 foot extract, THE GREAT CHASE. What they added, however, is priceless: the opening scene in Fields' home, as well as a scene in the bar with Shemp Howard. Some of the scenes from THE GREAT CHASE aren't as tightly edited and are allowed to play out a little longer.

My copy is bright and clear with great sound, but as usual with the U8 400 footers, the source material was from 16mm (not 35mm as Castle used), so it is a bit contrasty, but not enough to mar enjoyment.

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Paul Suchy
Expert Film Handler

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

posted January 13, 2016 07:19 AM

This is one of my favorite digests; it's a good example of Universal 8's way of allowing sequences to play out and not feel rushed or choppy. It doesn't hurt that the film is episodic and there were good choices made (and it's running time is well over a quarter of the feature length). As you say, the quality is decent, but sourced from 35mm would have been great.

Is that gun loaded?

No, but I think you are!

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Paul Suchy

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Joe Vannicola
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 108
From: Lincoln, DE, USA
Registered: Feb 2014

posted February 19, 2016 10:08 PM

The Great Chase was the first 200ft film that I received for Christmas in 1967. Since then, I have gone on to 16mm, but a few years ago purchased the 400ft 16mm version at Cinefest. When I got home, I ran it on my projector and for a moment, it was Christmas 1967 all over again.

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Joe

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