8mm Forum: Of Tom and Jerry and Super 8!

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Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on March 31, 2006, 11:51 AM:

I review of "Heavenly Puss" (Tom and Jerry, 1949, MGM)a great cartoon, spawned this additional topic, this one concerning negatives and film labs.

I was informed by the ever informative Kevin Faulkner, that Derann bought thier Tom and Jerry negatives from the defunct Walton super 8 film company, which would make one conclude that they are the same slightly edited negatives, but that's not what this topic is about.

I would be very curious as to the difference in print quality between the Walton releases of Tom and Jerry cartoons, and the Derann releases from the same negatives. If anyone out there has a copy of both a Walton AND Derann Tom and Jerry of the same title, I would love to hear if there is any difference in the grain, sharpness and color contrast in the prints. Especially concerning sharpness, as Derann is second to none in this category.
For instance, I used to have both a Walton AND a MGM release of "Two Mousketeers", one of Tom and Jerry's best. I noted that the MGM release of the cartoon had much more lush color, much more "body" to the image. Strangely, the Walton was ever so slightly more sharp, but I chose to keep the lush color version over the slightly sharper version. It would make sense that the MGM releases would have a better gradation of color as they own the original negatives, and color does degrade ever so slightly with each generation of film print. This can also be because of the film lab as well, as I have noted that many prints coming from the English film labs have a slightly "bluish" tint to the color, where, perhaps, the existing film labs in america (at that time) did not.

So, lets hear from you folks out there.

Posted by Graham Ritchie (Member # 559) on March 31, 2006, 02:43 PM:

Hi Osi Interesting to read your comments I would have to say that apart from Derann's excellent disneys films Waltons Tom & Jerry are of great value, on Super 8 many of my prints I bought back in the 70's still look great a favorite of mine is Two Mouseketeers the sharpness and colour is outstanding I bought Smarty Cat from Derann a few years ago, once again outstanding print,I have seen Tom & Jerry on DVD and those old Walton prints are far superior
Graham

Posted by David Kilderry (Member # 549) on April 01, 2006, 11:36 PM:

Hi Guys,
I don't have any Derann prints of the Tom and Jerry's but I loved the old Walton versions. Good colour and excellent sharpness. In fact I don't have a bad Walton print I have found them excellent over years and were the most common Super 8 films found in camera stores here in Australia.

David

Posted by John Clancy (Member # 49) on April 03, 2006, 03:20 AM:

I have never heard that Derann obtained the Walton negatives for the Tom and Jerry films. Doesn't mean to say they didn't, but I can't remember ever having seen Derann advertise their Tom and Jerry releases as cut. Those Derann's I have are superior to the Walton prints, are not cut and came from good 35mm masters.

Posted by Kevin Faulkner (Member # 6) on April 03, 2006, 05:12 AM:

It was Derek that told me that some years ago. Maybe Walton had to cut them due to contract reasons.
I have seen some Waltons which are far better than the Derann releases. Two Mousketeers was one of them. The Walton was superb for colour and sharpness but the Derann was soft and greenish in colour. Probably just down to the individual titles.

Kev.

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