8mm Forum: Techno Film info?

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Posted by Douglas Meltzer (Member # 28) on January 01, 2004, 10:20 PM:

I recently picked up 2 Warner Bros. cartoons distributed by Techno Film. There was no info on the title sleeves about Techno so I was wondering if anyone could fill me in about this company.
I believe I've seen some Italian titles released by Techno......
Doug

Posted by Kevin Faulkner (Member # 6) on January 02, 2004, 05:57 AM:

Hi Doug, I too have seen quite a few Techno releases about. I think they were of Italian origin and run a bit like the Walton company. They seem to crop up quite a lot on the German ebay site too. Mainly cartoons from what I have seen. Maybe Ugo can shed some light on this one for us. Kev.

Posted by Chip Gelmini (Member # 44) on January 02, 2004, 12:07 PM:

I have some of these too. One thing to watch out for is they sometimes do not have track 2 - balance stripe installed. As such, they appear to be slightly bouncy as they run, and possibly make more noise. In general, they run OK and have low color fade.

bdbdbd that's all folks!

Posted by Tony Milman (Member # 7) on January 02, 2004, 12:29 PM:

Hi,I have just sold Ringo the Lone Cowboy (If the buyer ever responds!) feature for a bargain 9.99. It is a B/W western on 3x400 ft reels by Techno and is a nice print-sharp and contrasty though a little dark in some scenes. The only drawback was the dubbing which was a little obvious in places. A good watch.

Tony [Smile]

Posted by Tom Photiou (Member # 130) on January 02, 2004, 02:07 PM:

We had a few Techno print's, Kev's right they were an Italian company and the print quality was generaly very good and excellent colours to. They did realease two films of interest to us , Rebels on the loose, a really funny western sending up all the Clint Eastwood spagetti weesterns and a film called the Rover aka the adventurer, (did i spell that right?) with Antony Quinn.Both films were 3x400ft however on a big downer the sound sync was terrible,and i dont mean the italian english conversion of rebels i mean these were way out, in some places 5 seconds out, all the prints appeared to be the same,a pity as these were two very good and underated films realeased only by techno, i'm sure a lot of the tv programs were released thru techno as well as many scooby doo titles to name but a few.

Posted by Andreas Eggeling (Member # 105) on January 02, 2004, 05:37 PM:

It seems that they got the european 8mm rights of Warner Bros. Cartoons in the early 70s. The first releases were from 1971. The quality of the italian prints is different. The color on pre striped stock material is not so good as the colors of prints striped after processing. Yes, a lot of Techno Films in UFA-de Luxe cases listed on ebay, Germany. In Germany Techno give licences in the early 70s at Piccolo Film, Munich. But Piccolo make worse dubbed versions. Between 1977 and 1982 the Warner Bros. Cartoons were distributed by the German UFA under licence of Techno Film with better dubbed sound. The Piccolo Versions were printed in Germany. The UFA-Versions were printed in Italy. I think they were also active in France as "HEFA-Film". I got a french HEFA-Film Catalogue from 1983(!) and the most titles listed in were also released in Italy by Techno Film. "EUMIG distributeur exclusif" is printed on the hefa catalogue.

The Hefa-Catalogue lists films with following cartoon characters:
Scooby Doo
Hong Kong Phoeeye
Popeye
Goldorak
Schtroumpfs (Hanna Barbera)
Candy
Casper
Barbapappa
different WB Caracters

between 4 and 16 titles for each character. It is also typical Techno Film that all HEFA-films released in various lengths and versions (color or b/w, sound or silent ), like the warner bros cartoons.

Techno Film also released british tv-shows for the european 8mm market by the same distribution way. (UFO, Derpartment S, Jason King, ...)

It seems that the 8mm market was very global organised.
Universal8 find the way to Piccolo Film
Walton Films distributed their films also in Germany with german sound and packing.
"Film Office" France supplied Piccolo Film.
Piccolo Film distributed Universal8 films in France.
etc. etc.

Posted by David Kilderry (Member # 549) on October 01, 2009, 06:32 PM:

Was there another Super 8 distributor of Warner Bros cartoons (post 1950) in colour/sound other than Techno and more recently Derann?

It is strange that there was not a US company to sell these very popular cartoons. Here in Australia we could buy them from Techno Film at local stores.

I think I have the full list of the Techno releases of these cartoons, were their any more from other companies? I am only really interested in the post 1950 era where Freleng, Jones and McKimson directed.

David

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on October 01, 2009, 08:57 PM:

I've often wondered about that same question. I have a Super 8 print of "Whats Opera Doc" (1957) and the print quality is better than the better than average Picollo or Techno. Very sharp but slightly bright.

If it wasn't for Techno/Picollo Films, the post 1950 Warner cartoons would be almost non-existent.

Posted by Maurizio Di Cintio (Member # 144) on October 02, 2009, 12:59 PM:

In addition to what has been already written: they were based in MIlan. I recall I once saw their release of a full TV episode "The Persuaders" (3x400'). Speaking about soundstripe, it' should be no wonder you guys have found only the main stripe: that happened in the vast majority of cases here in Italy: since there were no stereo sound releases, the balance stripe was totally neglected, not at all considered for stabilty purposes and only present on Kodak pre-striped print stock.

Posted by Den Brown (Member # 819) on October 03, 2009, 11:04 AM:

I have several Techno documentary releases covering allsorts from wildlife to outer space. The American 'Nature's Window' series is excellent. As is the forest trilogy.

Posted by Steve Carter (Member # 4821) on June 02, 2015, 07:57 AM:

I just got a Great Grape Ape Techno release for silly money, the colour is still strong and not a scratch on it, OK it's not the best cartoon around, the later Hanna/Barbera were never as good, to me anyway. I noticed no balance stripe on this copy, was that usual for Techno?...

Posted by Maurizio Di Cintio (Member # 144) on June 02, 2015, 08:47 AM:

Yes, Steve, it was.

Posted by Brian Fretwell (Member # 4302) on June 02, 2015, 02:50 PM:

When Techno closed Derann bought their stock (including some negatives I think) and brought it to Dudley on a couple of lorries. Pictures of these were printed either in a newsletter or a film makers magazine.
Derann prints were often a lot better as with the Walton Tom & Jerrys they printed.

Posted by Steve Ellison (Member # 658) on November 09, 2015, 03:28 PM:

Techno Films were imported by Fletcher Films who were based near Heathrow, I think, and as well as some AAP Warner cartoons, they released some full episodes of The Persuaders, Jason King, etc.I still have a couple of the Fletcher catalogues here, the Techno material is in a seperate, full colour catelogue to the usual Fletcher cut downs.

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