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Author Topic: Who printed the best quality B/W movies?
Tony Milman
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1336
From: United Kingdom
Registered: Jun 2003

- posted September 26, 2003 05:23 AM      Profile for Tony Milman   Author's Homepage   Email Tony Milman   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Just to change the topic away from doom and gloom, I wondered what your views are on which company made the most consistently good quality prints of black and white films? I have heard it said that DCR (whoever they were) are the best. For that matter are there any to avoid??

Tony [Smile]

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Tony

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Mal Brake
Jedi Master Film Handler

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

- posted September 26, 2003 01:29 PM      Profile for Mal Brake     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Tony, DCR was operated by Dave West on the Isle of Wight.
He released many b/w features and shorts. DCR titles were noted for their (usually) excellent soundtracks. Mr. West gave up the business a few years ago due to failing health. Classic Home Cinema are re-releasing some of the DCR titles.
Mal

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I'm gonna live forever or die trying

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Paul Adsett
Film God

Posts: 5003
From: USA
Registered: Jun 2003

- posted September 26, 2003 03:18 PM      Profile for Paul Adsett     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
The very best Black & White film in my collection is "Goldiggers 0f 1933" from Derann. A beautiful print with razor sharpness and rich contrast. Blackhawk prints were generally excellent and processed with great care by people who loved and respected film. I have a stunning print of a Blackhawk Litle Rascals short called "Hook and Ladder". I also have terrible B&W prints from Derann such as " Calling all Girls", and several washed out L&H prints from Blackhawk. Columbia and Castle B&W prints were usually excellent. The ABC films B&W features that I have are quite good. All the Niles prints I have seen have been awful and I won't touch Niles prints. I still think the best black and white results when it is printed on colour stock (provided the color is balanced correctly) due to the much higher resolution of color film. One nice thing about B&W prints is that there is no worry about fading.

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James N. Savage 3
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1375
From: Washington, DC
Registered: Jul 2003

- posted September 27, 2003 06:43 AM      Profile for James N. Savage 3     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
My best B/W prints are from Columbia. They seem to be the most consistant with really good quality B/W. I have also have some very excellent Blackhawk prints, but they were not as consistant. One of my worst B/W prints was from Ken Films - 200 foot sound B/W "Screaming Skull". Nick.

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Steven J Kirk
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 873
From: Southern England
Registered: Apr 2008

- posted June 21, 2018 08:20 AM      Profile for Steven J Kirk   Email Steven J Kirk   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Ivy Films HIGH NOON is the best black and white I have.

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VistaVision
Motion Picture High-Fidelity

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Osi Osgood
Film God

Posts: 10204
From: Mountian Home, ID.
Registered: Jul 2005

- posted June 21, 2018 11:30 AM      Profile for Osi Osgood   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I would agree that on a "consistent basis", reel by reel, I would have to tip the hat to Derann, but there are other very good super 8 prints as well. I have that, "High Noon" print as well and it is top notch!

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"All these moments will be lost in time, just like ... tears, in the rain. "

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Joe Caruso
Film God

Posts: 4105
From: USA
Registered: Jun 2003

- posted June 21, 2018 12:28 PM      Profile for Joe Caruso     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Blackhawk in defense had some clinkers, but 90% were sharp, especially the Std 8 releases - I'll go with CASTLE and DERANN, STEEL VALLEY, DCR, GRIGGS, GLENN PHOTO and T-BIRD - Morecraft also handled many shorts quite nicely - Shorty

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David Michael Leugers
Master Film Handler

Posts: 264
From: Fairfield, OH, USA
Registered: Feb 2004

- posted June 21, 2018 03:36 PM      Profile for David Michael Leugers   Email David Michael Leugers   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Shorty's comment about Blackhawk 8mm prints I have to agree. In my experience overall, just about all of my 8mm silent era prints no matter who printed them are very good. I think they were made from materials closer to the camera original, some are truly excellent. I don't have enough experience with all the companies mentioned, but for S-8mm sound digests I am a fan of Columbia's prints.

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Live Free or Die

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Panayotis A. Carayannis
Jedi Master Film Handler

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

- posted June 21, 2018 03:44 PM      Profile for Panayotis A. Carayannis     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
For continuing exellence in b&w prints: DCR and Brakespear in England. Ivy,Columbia Castle and Blackhawk in the US.I will disagree with Shorty on Griggs,Glenn and Tbird. While they did issue a great variety of subjects and many rarities,quality was not always good.

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Winbert Hutahaean
Film God

Posts: 5468
From: Nouméa, New Caledonia
Registered: Jun 2003

- posted June 22, 2018 07:36 PM      Profile for Winbert Hutahaean     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Somebody just resurected a 15 years old thread... [Razz]

Nothing wrong with that...but am happy to see those 4 guys posting in 2003 are still the loyal members in this forum. We are the 2003ers.... [Wink]

Only Milman who I knew sold his 8mm stuff recently. I don't know if he is quitting or still collecting.

Cheers,

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Winbert

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Mike Brantley
Junior
Posts: 23
From: Mobile, AL, USA
Registered: Jan 2018

- posted July 05, 2018 07:11 PM      Profile for Mike Brantley   Email Mike Brantley   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
This is awesome. I just recently signed on as a member and was reading this thread with the same question in mind. Read right through the conversation without even noticing there was a 15-year pause.

Awaiting delivery on some B&W Castle 200-foot digests. Looking forward to seeing how they look.

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Steve Klare
Film Guy

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

- posted July 05, 2018 07:40 PM      Profile for Steve Klare   Email Steve Klare   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Welcome to the 8mm Forum, Mike!

If you are who I think you are, your film forum was the very first one I ever joined!

-what was it: eighty or a hundred years ago?!

(-or maybe it just feels that way!)

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

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Mike Brantley
Junior
Posts: 23
From: Mobile, AL, USA
Registered: Jan 2018

- posted July 05, 2018 07:51 PM      Profile for Mike Brantley   Email Mike Brantley   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Hey, Steve. Yep, it’s me. About a hundred years later. Good to “see” you. My new apartment has two adjoining rooms separated with pocket doors, making a great arrangement for film projection. Am interested in B&W films because the faded red material is a bit heartbreaking.

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Steven J Kirk
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 873
From: Southern England
Registered: Apr 2008

- posted July 06, 2018 01:43 AM      Profile for Steven J Kirk   Email Steven J Kirk   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Long live Black and White, truly the Silver Screen...

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VistaVision
Motion Picture High-Fidelity

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Tom Photiou
Film God

Posts: 4837
From: Plymouth U.K
Registered: Dec 2003

- posted July 06, 2018 06:31 AM      Profile for Tom Photiou     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I also love b/w films, would love to get a 16mm scope copy of the longest day.

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Joe Caruso
Film God

Posts: 4105
From: USA
Registered: Jun 2003

- posted July 06, 2018 06:37 AM      Profile for Joe Caruso     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Pan, I agree with your disagree with me - Though the GRIGGS, GLENN PHOTO & T-BIRD weren't always superior, one must give them credit for acquiring the most obscure titles, and whatever negs were left, that's really the best we have - Grateful we have anything at all, really - Cheers all, Shorty

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Panayotis A. Carayannis
Jedi Master Film Handler

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

- posted July 06, 2018 12:04 PM      Profile for Panayotis A. Carayannis     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Shorty,I agree that you agree that I disagree with you! Especially Glenn and Tbird had too too many rarities that you never see today in second hand lists (and vdry few of us have [Wink] )

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