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Author Topic: John Carpenter's "The Fog"
James N. Savage 3
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 - posted April 14, 2005 05:29 PM      Profile for James N. Savage 3     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
This movie was released to theaters in 1980. John Carpenter had made a real name for himself with "Halloween" two years earlier. I must admit that I was a little disapointed when I first saw The Fog at the movies (I was 17). To many teenage diehard horror movie fans, The Fog did not live up to their "slasher" expectations. As I've gotten older and wiser (I hope), and long out grown the "slasher" movies of the 70's and 80's, this movie has aged quite well. The scope cinematography is beautiful, and John Carpenter's score is perfect (things that I never noticed as a teenager [Cool] ) I have come to appreciate this movie more now.

This was released by Derann in the early to mid 80's, 1983 I think. Derann released this several years before they released "Halloween". It was released in full length and a 600 foot digest, both in Cinemascope. I think Derann might have released a flat version of the digest as well, but I cannot confirm this. A trailer was also released (flat).

I have the feature and the trailer, but have not seen the digest. Maybe someone out there who has the digest could add a review to this thread. On with the review-

"The Fog", super 8 full length, cinemascope, 3 x 600 foot reels. by Derann.

A small town is under a curse that every hundred years, ghost "lepers" must terrorize and kill several people. They travel via large patches of fog at night. Adrien Barbeau plays a radio D.J. who works from a lighthouse right at the waters edge, which enables her to broadcast to the townsfolk when the fog approaches.

This super 8 feature is superb. It starts with the neat old Avco-Embassy logo that was popular with these types of movies in the late 70's (and that have been changed on video versions I've seen). Then we see the late great John Houseman telling ghost stories to fearful children around a camp fire. Then the eerie credit sequence, in which we see all sorts of wierd things happening around town. Then, the first killing of several men on a fishing boat. Etc...

As I mentioned above, the cinematography is fantastic, and comes across very well in the super 8 format. The night scenes are well lit, especially on all the scenes where the fog is rolling through the town. The picture is very sharp, and the sound is very strong (mono). The movie fills all three 600 foot reels very nicely, and each comes in its own folding white cardboard box with somewhat plain labels (my only complaint).

I believe this is still available from Derann, and it does pop up on used lists from time to time. I recommend this to all horror/suspence fans, or those looking for good scope material.

The Fog (trailer) by Derann, super 8, on 50 foot reel.

available FLAT only.

This trailer is terrific! It's done in that classic campy B movie 70's style. Very fast paced, with lots of scenes of the fog and John Carpenter's score. Complete with photos of the cast at the end as the narrator states each one's name (you remember they used to do that on most trailers back then [Smile] ) Excellent picture and sound on this as well. I only wish it was available in scope like the feature [Frown]

Recommended.

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Tom Photiou
Film God

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From: Plymouth U.K
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 - posted April 15, 2005 11:43 AM      Profile for Tom Photiou     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Got this one and i agree it does make good use of the scope screen. Also i do have to say it loses its impact on tv. A total big screen movie only.

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Chip Gelmini
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 - posted April 16, 2005 11:16 PM      Profile for Chip Gelmini     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Thank you for this wonderful review. Hats off. If you can find this print...it's a keeper!

CG

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Jean-Marc Toussaint
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 - posted April 20, 2005 04:04 PM      Profile for Jean-Marc Toussaint   Author's Homepage   Email Jean-Marc Toussaint   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I have watched again the 600 ft Scope digest tonight and the story is very well condensed to one very full reel (too full actually, I had to transfer the print to a 800ft spool). All quintessential scenes are in there. All the long exposition scenes building up to the finale have been left out, so this abridged version is very well paced.
Colours are splendid, very deep blues, rich reds. A couple of night shots are a bit dark. Sound is OK, with maybe too much bass.
And John Carpenter knows cinemascope framing like no other ("In the Mouth of Madness" being an entire lesson of frame construction).

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Gary Crawford
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 - posted April 21, 2005 09:15 AM      Profile for Gary Crawford     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
For years I tried to find a scope print of the Fog in super 8 and always missed it...or it was priced much too high. I'm still looking. I want the whole thing. I've even turned down a reasonably priced 16mm print because it was a tv flat /cut version. I'm wondering if the color has held up on those super 8 fog prints.

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Jan Bister
Darth 8mm

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 - posted April 21, 2005 07:02 PM      Profile for Jan Bister   Email Jan Bister   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I wonder if this one is worth watching with a fogged lens. [Big Grin]

--------------------
Call me Phoenix. *dusts off the ashes*

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Adrian Winchester
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 - posted April 24, 2005 02:19 PM      Profile for Adrian Winchester     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
A few points on the above:

The 600' version, which I have, was not also released in flat. I agreee that it's very well edited and quite a nice print, but I believe the feature is a sharper.
You would be unlucky if you had a problem with fading - I think the labs Derann used were generally using LPP around the time this was released, and more recent prints would almost certainly be low fade of some sort.

Adrian

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Adrian Winchester

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Alan Rik
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 - posted December 10, 2005 12:35 AM      Profile for Alan Rik   Email Alan Rik   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I received my copy of the Feature length "Fog" and I enjoyed the content. But the picture? Very soft in so many spots.. I kept riding the focus. Then riding the anamorphic lens. My print is a dud! I am going to send it back to Derann.
After I screened this I thought maybe it was my machine so I laced up "Grease" in scope. Nope. "Grease" was perfectly sharp!
I wonder....why are some prints sharper than others? I would have thought that if one print was bad..like the "Little Mermaid" they all would be. But I have heard from more than one person that this print is Sharp. Not mine! [Frown]

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Andrew Wilson
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 - posted February 26, 2006 09:24 AM      Profile for Andrew Wilson   Author's Homepage         Edit/Delete Post 
the full feature of THE FOG is on deranns march lists.andy

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Mark Todd
Film God

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From: UK
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 - posted February 26, 2006 09:38 AM      Profile for Mark Todd     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I suppose like anything they vary from print to print depending who was doing it on the day.
I had the 600 of capricorn 1 twice, one was pretty good the other very very soft and quite hard to enjoy.
Best Mark.

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Alan Rik
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 - posted February 26, 2006 04:27 PM      Profile for Alan Rik   Email Alan Rik   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I saw the Fog on the March list..but I wonder...is that mine? I did send it back to Derann...

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Kevin Faulkner
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 - posted March 02, 2006 04:08 PM      Profile for Kevin Faulkner         Edit/Delete Post 
Oh dear! I have just bought that copy of their list [Smile] hope it's not yours Alan [Frown]

Kev.

--------------------
GS1200 Xenon with Elmo 1.0...great combo along with a 16-CL Xenon for that super bright white light.

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Alan Rik
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 - posted March 03, 2006 08:35 AM      Profile for Alan Rik   Email Alan Rik   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Kev,
You'll know if its mine because I put it into a Chinon projector and it ate the the first 10 minutes of the film and put a big green emulsion scratch down the middle of the picture....
he he...! [Smile]
Just a joke...

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Kevin Faulkner
Film God

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 - posted March 03, 2006 06:17 PM      Profile for Kevin Faulkner         Edit/Delete Post 
Gary told me today that it was not your copy, thank goodness [Smile]

Cant wait to see it and get that sound put on in stereo. [Smile]

Kev.

--------------------
GS1200 Xenon with Elmo 1.0...great combo along with a 16-CL Xenon for that super bright white light.

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Andrew Wilson
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 - posted September 16, 2006 01:07 AM      Profile for Andrew Wilson   Author's Homepage         Edit/Delete Post 
Hi Kevin,Did you put your copy into stereo yet?.Andy.

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Robert Aragon
Master Film Handler

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 - posted September 16, 2006 01:16 AM      Profile for Robert Aragon   Email Robert Aragon   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
GLAD YOU GENTS MENTIONED STEREO! NOTHING LIKE IT.
I have the 600 ft FOG digest, and very nice colours sharpness..would never trade it for anything. Oh, PLUS ,it's IN STEREO! IF you can re-record it. The STEREO tracks add SO MUCH MORE!

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Andrew Wilson
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From: dundonald,belfast,co.antrim,northern ireland.
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 - posted September 16, 2006 04:28 AM      Profile for Andrew Wilson   Author's Homepage         Edit/Delete Post 
Now i am green with envy Robert.Did it take a long time to do the
Stereo re-recording?.A brillant cut down.I have it myself.Andy.
P.S I take it you used LASER DISC for your stereo re-recording.

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Kevin Faulkner
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 - posted September 16, 2006 04:30 AM      Profile for Kevin Faulkner         Edit/Delete Post 
No I have not got round to doing a re record on it yet. Time hasnt allowed. What I can say is that my copy is an early print as its on Kodak LPP stock and not the later AGFA stock which Derann's lab used. Colour and sharpness are great.

Well worth keeping your eyes open for.

Kev.

--------------------
GS1200 Xenon with Elmo 1.0...great combo along with a 16-CL Xenon for that super bright white light.

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Gary Crawford
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From: Manassas, VA. USA
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 - posted January 29, 2007 03:26 PM      Profile for Gary Crawford     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Back when this review thread was fresh, I wrote that I had always been looking for the scope feature version of The Fog...and thanks to ebay, I have just received a copy. While one or two mentioned soft focus, my print, obtained used, is absolutely stunning in terms of sharpness and color balance. I don't think I've ever seen a Super 8 print better than this one. The mono sound is crisp and full toned, from bass to treble. The color is a perfect match for the laser disc and is just lovely..without the annoying and unfaithful blue cast that so many of the recent Derann features seem to have. I have Die Hard, for example, and it may be just a tad sharper, but is very UNfaithful to the original color schemes. Too dark , as well. This print of The Fog is as close to perfect as you could want. A joy to watch. I don't know if Derann is still printing this one or not, but I would recommend it to anyone who likes a great showpiece for their Super 8 projector and who likes a good atmospheric , well made ghost/suspense thriller.

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James N. Savage 3
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 - posted January 30, 2007 06:03 PM      Profile for James N. Savage 3     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Gary- glad to hear of your terrific print. Sounds like it came from the same batch as mine, which was probably in the mid to late 80's.

Can Derann ever live up to some of these fantastic 80's and 90's prints??? They've been getting better in the past year, so hopefully improvements will continue.

Nick.

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Alan Rik
Film God

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 - posted January 30, 2007 08:56 PM      Profile for Alan Rik   Email Alan Rik   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I saw that on Ebay but I kept wondering..."I wonder if that's my old print...somehow worked its way back to the states...taunting me...teasing..taunting.."!!!!

Now I really know I've been taunted!

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Gary Crawford
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From: Manassas, VA. USA
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 - posted January 31, 2007 08:09 AM      Profile for Gary Crawford     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I guess it could be your print, Alan....it was bought from someone in New York State...it came mounted on two blue 1200 foot plastic reels...reel one full..the other about half full. Had little , if any leader at the end of reel one. No splices that I remember...no other distinguishing marks or tatoos. Almost no scratches or blemishes. It was so good I , for a moment , felt like I was back in time at the theater for the first run of the first print of The Fog.

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Jean-Marc Toussaint
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 - posted January 31, 2007 10:22 AM      Profile for Jean-Marc Toussaint   Author's Homepage   Email Jean-Marc Toussaint   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Gary, your quest is over. What will be your next most wanted title?

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Alan Rik
Film God

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From: New York City, NY, USA
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 - posted January 31, 2007 02:31 PM      Profile for Alan Rik   Email Alan Rik   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
If your print is sharp.. than it wasn't my old print! I can tell you I was riding the focus every 10 minutes.. it was horrible. The color was great though and so was the sound.
Glad you got a great print. Now if you find a really sharp "Little Mermaid"....

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Gary Crawford
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From: Manassas, VA. USA
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 - posted January 31, 2007 03:39 PM      Profile for Gary Crawford     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I got a Little Mermaid print a few months ago, but have not had a chance to screen it. I've heard some less than flattering things about the quality.

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