Author
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Topic: KING KONG (1976) – 4 x 400 ft – MARKETING
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Jean-Marc Toussaint
Film God
Posts: 2392
From: France
Registered: Oct 2004
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posted January 04, 2006 08:30 AM
Another fine Mini Feature from Marketing Film and a rare occurrence of the 4 reels treatment. This abridged version runs for almost 70 minutes.
The first reel opens with a view of the Petrox Explorer ship leaving NY’s harbor, with surimposed title, and cuts directly to the crew arriving at Skull Island. It goes on with the discovery of the wall and the tribe, the kidnapping of Dwan by the natives and the sacrifice to Kong This first part ends with the waterfall scene, between Kong and Dwan.
And that’s – roughly – the middle of the full feature, meaning that reels #2 though #4 bring the remaining 65 minutes (or so) of the original film to 50 minutes. From the log bridge sequence to the crowd storming World Trade Center Plaza after Kong’s death, you don’t miss much of the action.
The print is presented in letterbox format (adapted scope). Apart from the title on the opening shot of reel #1, and forgetable title cards on the other spools, there are no other credits. No surprise here, as this is often the case with Marketing releases. Colours seem to be holding quite well. I have seen a couple of different reels from different origins and didn’t notice any major fading on all of them. Sound, in German, can be re-recorded in English with pulse-sync and the Region 2 DVD.
While browsing Ebay Germany, I have seen odd reels being sold with the "Revue" clamshell boxes. I don’t know if they are rebranded Marketing reels or "cut-downs of the cut-down". Also, as far as I remember, the film was available full length in the US. (Perhaps Andreas could confirm these two informations…)
Bonus - Here's the card that my better half and I sent to our friends this year for the Holiday Season...
[ January 04, 2006, 01:35 PM: Message edited by: Jean-Marc Toussaint ]
-------------------- The Grindcave Cinema Website
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Andreas Eggeling
Master Film Handler
Posts: 467
From: R.I.P.
Registered: Aug 2003
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posted January 14, 2006 08:02 AM
Hi Eberhard,
"apart from the Quelle-/Revue-200ft-edition, Marketing also released a 200ft edition in Germany which carried their own brand (order no. 865)"
That isn´t 100% correct. There was only one 200 feet extract. The exclusive revue-editions from marketing have the revue order no. on the front, back and small site of the cover. Only on the small site they have also a marketing internal number for the stock in Bochum. For example "Saturday Night Fever 200feet edition revue order no. 8780, internal marketing-film number 797.
revue order numbers in four digits and with beginning of an 8 was the result of that deal that over 90% of revue edition came from Piccolo Film. They order numbers also have had four digits. beginning with 9 were universal titles, beginning with 5 were columbia titles, 7 for Disney, 8 ->revue, 3-> independent......
On the few MGM releases wich were distributed in Germany by marketing-film the US-Manufactures also printed the marketing-film number over the MGM-numbers. 967 - M4 - Quo Vadis 998 - M7 - Logans Run 969 - M8 - The dirty Dozen
Later, when marketing-film took a step over the Atlantic, they used numbers starting with 4 or 2 for the stock in N.Y. first. for example: Saturday Night Fever full feature 4001 400er - 401-4 3x400 - 401-1, 401-2, 401-3 200er - 2401 which is the same version marketing sold for revue.
Later marketing-film-international changed to the german order numbers which started in 1974 with 801 and which with each published reel was increased by one. Prohecy - 1049,1050,1051
The order numbers between 500 and 750 was reserved for the adult labels of marketing. Few weeks ago I was amused about a message from a spanish collector. He sent me a pic with boxes from "Airplane" and " "One Eyed Jacks" which shows plastic inlay of their adult lable "love film production".
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Robert Aragon
Master Film Handler
Posts: 264
From: Santa Fe
Registered: Mar 2004
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posted August 20, 2006 12:53 PM
Excellent Review Jean-Marc, and because of it, i purchased a print. WOW! Thank you! VERY COOL! I was never a fan of ANY kong film post Kong 33'. Obviously, as a child HE was KONG. Then I realized what the problem has always been. Kong no matter what interpretation on film, MUST be viewed on the big screen. There, one can marvel at a giant, on the old television....one towers over the eighth wonder of the world. We are larger than the threat. I had never seen this film version on the screen, until last week. I had re-recorded the film into STEREO (of course). Resulting in an INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE! As for the special effects...I'd rather watch a man in a suit, than a digital cartoon. Perhaps, Since I do not watch todays Digitally filled films of pixeled "special effects". When and IF i do, they still seem cartoonish to me, and DEFINATELY not resembling anything sustaining life. Below are some scenes from the showing.
There are SO many shots which are simply grandioso with it's artistry. In Light, shadow, and use of color. The 6 track dolby surround track was booming. Incredible! This was an experience, not just a "picture show". This has become one of my favorite digests in my collection. This film serves as a reminder of what happens when you remove a "god" from it's native surroundings. A Poetic Tragedy. [ August 20, 2006, 05:22 PM: Message edited by: Robert Aragon ]
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