8mm Forum: New prints struck from Castle/U-8 negatives!

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Posted by Douglas Meltzer (Member # 28) on September 26, 2014, 11:56 AM:

Phil Sheard at Classic Home Cinema has a chance to acquire a large number of Castle Films/Universal-8 negatives and would like to make new prints of the most popular titles.

Phil needs collectors to be specific and state which of the 200' or 400' black & white Castle/U-8 releases they would be interested in.

The condition of the color negatives is still to be determined, so let's put aside any color releases for now.

These would cost less than the latest group of new releases since there is no negative cost involved (Striking a negative is a major factor in the price of a new release). The price of a 400' black & white print would be approximately $80.00.

We do not have a list to work with yet, however I understand there are a considerable number of films involved. Let's assume these 400' titles would be among the choices:

4001 The Incredible Shrinking Man
4002 The Invisible Man
4003 Frankenstein
4004 The Bride of Frankenstein
4005 The Wolfman
4006 Dracula (1931)
4007 A&C In Society
4008 A&C Meet the Keystone Cops
4009 Psycho
4010 It’s A Gift
4011 Monkey Business
4012 The Raven
4013 Horse Feathers
4014 Duck Soup
4015 The Mummy's Ghost
4016 A&C Go to Mars
4017 I’m No Angel
4018 If I Had a Million
4019 The Mummy
4020 Frankenstein meets the Wolfman
4021 Son of Frankenstein
4022 The Mummy's Tomb
4023 A&C Meet the Mummy
4024 The Wistful Widow Of Wagon Gap
4025 A&C Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
4026 A&C Meet Frankenstein
4027 A&C in the Foreign Legion
4028 Mexican Hayride
4029 Buck Privates Come Home
4030 Keep ‘em Flying
4031 In The Navy
4032 You Can’t Cheat an Honest Man
4033 Never Give a Sucker an Even Break
4034 The Old Fashioned Way
4035 You're Telling Me
4036 The Bank Dick

So if you would like new prints of any of these titles, please post your want list here. I know I would like a new print of Bride of Frankenstein!

Doug

Posted by Andrew Woodcock (Member # 3260) on September 26, 2014, 01:01 PM:

Psycho would be a definate for me for starters.

Posted by Jose Artiles (Member # 471) on September 26, 2014, 01:48 PM:

Frankestein, wolfman, any abbott and costello.....and the mummy !!!!!

Posted by Maurizio Di Cintio (Member # 144) on September 26, 2014, 01:58 PM:

I second Andrew: Psycho for me, too.

Posted by Marshall Crist (Member # 1312) on September 26, 2014, 02:12 PM:

THE MUMMY 400' is the hardest-to-find horror title in my experience. Only one I am still looking for. Would easily pay $80 for it. Might be nice to have a brand new print of the TARANTULA 200' if they have access to it. Those prints are always run to death. Great news!

Posted by Nigel Higgins (Member # 4312) on September 27, 2014, 03:39 AM:

This possibly one of the best pieces of news for 8mm film collectors in recent years lots of digest available and at an affordable price ,i know at least 2 have to be printed side by side in a run but if those are the prices then id even buy 2 to get the film i wanted ,it will be great to see what films are available b/w or color ,just imagine those digests youve been after for years could be available and brand new await further news .

Posted by Kevin Hassall (Member # 2352) on September 27, 2014, 06:32 AM:

thats great news doug i will get my lists done yippee

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on September 27, 2014, 12:02 PM:

What wonderful news! I would like to see "The Mummy" digest as well! (I never knew there was a 400ft, just the 200ft).

Posted by Jim Schrader (Member # 9) on September 27, 2014, 03:30 PM:

wow i was surprised i had all the u/8 horrors listed here i guess i wont need any new prints. maybe the wolf-man mine has 1 splice [Smile]

[ September 30, 2014, 01:19 PM: Message edited by: Jim Schrader ]

Posted by John Hourigan (Member # 111) on September 27, 2014, 08:30 PM:

Outstanding news! Please put me down for The Raven --

Posted by Clay Smith (Member # 4122) on September 27, 2014, 11:07 PM:

If there are 400' editions of Frankenstein, Dracula, The Mummy and The Wolfman, I would definitely buy those four.

Posted by Jason Gronn (Member # 3921) on September 28, 2014, 01:27 AM:

Abbott and Costello would be great and Psycho

Posted by Bruno Heughebaert (Member # 2756) on September 28, 2014, 08:13 AM:

Count me in !

4001 The Incredible Shrinking Man
And psycho

Posted by Paul Adsett (Member # 25) on September 28, 2014, 03:49 PM:

Dracula, and The Bride of Frankenstein.

Posted by Dan Mollise (Member # 1875) on September 28, 2014, 08:55 PM:

Fields: never give a sucker and the old fashined way I would buy immediately.

Posted by Mark Todd (Member # 96) on September 29, 2014, 04:51 AM:

I suppose stick to the main horrors, and see how it goes would be a good start, 400 cutdowns best.

Best Mark.

Posted by Joe Caruso (Member # 11) on September 29, 2014, 05:35 AM:

Might there be original box reconstruction?

Posted by Brian Hendel (Member # 61) on October 01, 2014, 06:01 PM:

This is almost too cool for words. I know I'm dreaming - but how amazing would it be to finally make Dr Cyclops and Phantom of the Opera digests with low fade color! I'm sure the negatives are beyond help on those and we're not even thinking about color but.......

Posted by Joe Caruso (Member # 11) on October 02, 2014, 01:40 PM:

I guess there are 4 I'd like

Posted by Michael De Angelis (Member # 91) on October 05, 2014, 06:12 PM:

I would love color copies of the 1964-65 Worlds Fair and Operation Sail.

Strictly 8mm? Any 16mm?

It would be great if Phil were able to ascertain the various color Disneyland and Walt Disney World Vacation Reels, including the Main Street Electrical Parade and theme park attractions.

Posted by Brad Kimball (Member # 5) on October 05, 2014, 06:49 PM:

Brian, I,too, would love to see beautiful FULL color prints of "Phantom", "Dr. Cyclops", and "This Island Earth" to name a few. Definitely not interested if the negs are faded or have the horrid sepia-type color that "Dr. Cyclops" had to begin with. I have both 8 & 16 guage prints of the 3 titles I mentioned and they're simply embarassingly colorless today. I will only show them to myself at this point. How would I ever consider making anyone else sit through them? My "Bride Of Frankenstein" would definitely need replacing. It has a lot of black lines that come and go from having been run so often over the past 30 years. The sound also has a 30-second blank spot during the scene where Thesiger is showing off his miniature people in the jars. Sadly when I tried to exchange it Select Film Library in NY told me there were no more and that U-8 had folded altogether (sigh). I just won't buy another used copy risking the same, or worse, different flaws. Today, I'm just happy to have it at all being that it doesn't turn up on Ebay very often and I never see it in 16mm. People who bought the 18-minute versions in 16mm are holding onto them for dear life like myself and I can certainly understand why. They're all keepers. The 800' "A&C Meet Frankenstein" always goes for too high a price in 16mm whenever I do see it. I've always wondered if the print qualìty in 16 was any better than the two S8 prints I have.

Posted by Steve Klare (Member # 12) on October 05, 2014, 08:12 PM:

I'd have to be in on anything involving the 1964-1965 New York World's Fair:

Spring 1965, I'm three years old and became disinterested in what my parents were doing and escaped into the Fair. I made it all the way back to the Ford pavillion where I was rewarded with a model car (which I still have) for my adventure.

Mom still says she aged 25 years that day. Either she's exaggerating or it's a miracle she's still with us!

You see there is a second tie-in here. Just aound the time I was born, Mom left her job. She worked at Universal in Manhattan at the distribution office for Castle Films!

Serious Question: Would these prints be Regular-8 or Super-8?

Posted by Doug Thompson (Member # 3381) on October 05, 2014, 08:16 PM:

Michael asked about Disney vacation titles. I ran across the reg 8, very full 200 foot reel edition of "A Day At Disneyland" in IB Tech. Gorgeous color and pretty good registration. It's a bit odd to see tiny YCM leader.

Posted by James N. Savage 3 (Member # 83) on October 06, 2014, 08:53 AM:

That is great news Doug. From what you've listed, I'd get "Son of Frankenstien" 400 ft.

I would really like to see all 3 "Creature/Lagoon" films re-released. Even a full 600 foot compilation reel would be nice [Smile]

. Please keep us informed on this situation.

James.

Posted by Brad Kimball (Member # 5) on November 07, 2014, 06:54 AM:

Any updates?

Posted by Larry Arpin (Member # 744) on November 07, 2014, 07:37 PM:

Check this out:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/221593107944?_trksid=p2060778.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Shows there's lots of interest in a great title.

Any word on the color negs?

Posted by Douglas Meltzer (Member # 28) on November 07, 2014, 08:15 PM:

I haven't heard anything new. I'll try to find out.

Doug

Posted by Raymond Glaser (Member # 1766) on November 07, 2014, 08:23 PM:

I would like to get the 400' version of THE CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON (not in 3D)

Posted by Paul Adsett (Member # 25) on November 08, 2014, 09:14 AM:

I agree with Raymond there, a 400ft B/W, non 3D, of Creature from the Black Lagoon would be great. The content and editing of the 3D digest is excellent, but the anaglyphic 3D is IMO crap.

Posted by David Guest (Member # 2791) on November 08, 2014, 09:41 AM:

I own all these films mentioned plus another 100 or so making around 275 films plus. all boxed in new condition with sound and some very very rare titles I offered them to phil but need to make room ,if any one wants them I can bring them to blackpool I want £300 for the lot

Posted by Tom Photiou (Member # 130) on November 09, 2014, 02:45 AM:

Has anyone on here read my Emergency castle thread?
If no one reads it and acts on it we will not be seeing any re prints.
This is for re release NOT new release. I think Phil is a little despondent at present as my mail to him is the only one he has received. (as far as I know)

Posted by Nigel Higgins (Member # 4312) on November 09, 2014, 04:56 AM:

David are they all castle /u8 digests and are they 400ft

Posted by Dominique De Bast (Member # 3798) on November 09, 2014, 12:00 PM:

Tom, I don't know what the best way to act is in cases like this. The list of titles is maybe too long to hope to find 12 or 13 people interested on each of them, especially in a short time. Maybe a "pre-order" system on CHC website would be easier than e-mails. If you know how many (or at least almost enough) people already ordered (and paid for) some titles, you may choose one of them instead of one that hasn't attracted any attention, yet (as you know that you may wait a longer time). Of course in a small market, there is no garantee of anything but who knows...

Posted by David Guest (Member # 2791) on November 09, 2014, 02:37 PM:

all these films have now been sold tonight
unfortunate classic home cinema did not buy them

Posted by Tom Photiou (Member # 130) on November 09, 2014, 02:40 PM:

Oh dear.I wonder who has them?

Posted by John Hourigan (Member # 111) on November 10, 2014, 09:26 AM:

This is what I've never understood -- why is it that all this stuff has to be gleaned through osmosis? That is, CHC complains that collectors never indicate what they want, but CHC then doesn't provide any channel(s) for collectors to actually communicate what they want to CHC. Weird.

Posted by Tom Photiou (Member # 130) on November 10, 2014, 12:07 PM:

Email? [Big Grin]

Posted by Nigel Higgins (Member # 4312) on November 10, 2014, 03:46 PM:

I hope they are in good hands and maybe one day see a release or two

Posted by Dominique De Bast (Member # 3798) on November 11, 2014, 05:55 AM:

Tom, only the collectors who read this forum are aware of the possibility, it is not written on their site.

Posted by Tom Photiou (Member # 130) on November 11, 2014, 06:37 AM:

Dominique, I see your point now, that is daft. [Confused]

Posted by John Hourigan (Member # 111) on November 11, 2014, 08:47 AM:

That's my earlier point -- osmosis......

Posted by Nigel Higgins (Member # 4312) on November 11, 2014, 12:32 PM:

All i hope is that the person who brought them plans to do something constructive with them ,i tried to buy these myself with maybe bringing a couple out a year as prob cost £1000 to do a run of 20 prints of one title, im not rich but was thinking of risking it on a good title and see what happened and sell at cost wouldnt have been done for profit either . ,but unfortunately someone beat me to it ,haveing said this not shure how copyright is with things like this and if the lab would do it fgor just anyone ,this was a good opportunity lets hope this rare chance hasnt been wasted

Posted by David Guest (Member # 2791) on November 11, 2014, 04:02 PM:

I advertised these films on the forum on the 15th sept before I even contacted phil sheard and no one asked about them

Posted by Brad Kimball (Member # 5) on March 11, 2018, 08:42 PM:

Anything further on this?

Posted by Winbert Hutahaean (Member # 58) on March 11, 2018, 10:57 PM:

quote:
I own all these films mentioned plus another 100 or so making around 275 films plus. all boxed in new condition with sound and some very very rare titles I offered them to phil but need to make room ,if any one wants them I can bring them to blackpool I want £300 for the lot

Did you say you have 275 * U8 400' sound sold for £300? That is super cheap...almost £1/reel... or I have understood it wrongly?

Posted by Kevin Clark (Member # 211) on March 12, 2018, 10:25 AM:

I think I bought all or at least a large number of these from David. Most of them are still in one of my film sheds - I too tried to interest Phil at Classic in them but gave up in the end.

Please note the following:

1. They are up to 400ft B/W 16MM composite dupe negs - they are the same length as the Castle / U8 200ft Super 8 versions.

2. They can be watched and heard on any 16mm optical sound projector - the sound plays loud and clear but of course the picture is a negative.

3. Not all of them are Castle / U8 - there are all sorts, Disney, WB, old comedies, travelogues, from various sources.

The most interesting ones to collectors were actually of Harrison Marks short Nudie films from the early 60's which sold well on Ebay.

I personally feel these negs should be bought as curios rather than to print from - it would cost far too much to do and is there a market for them anymore? Not to mention copyright requirements etc.

Kevin

[ April 07, 2018, 04:09 AM: Message edited by: Kevin Clark ]

Posted by Kevin Clark (Member # 211) on April 07, 2018, 04:08 AM:

I've made a list of these and will put them up for sale on the forums this weekend - if anyone is interested please look in at the 16mm films for sale section - although these were made for printing 8mm or 16mm films, as they are on 16mm stock and projectable (albeit in negative format) it seems more logical to list them in the 16mm section.

Kevin

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