8mm Forum: The most unrepeatable digest/feature

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Posted by Winbert Hutahaean (Member # 58) on June 07, 2007, 04:35 AM:

It has several times this forum discussed re the most repeatable sigest/feature.

But I am curious in finding the opposite. What do you think the most unrepeatable digest or feauture?

(I, my self, don't have any feature, but if "Home Alone" is avaialble in 8mm, then this will be my most unrepeatable)

thanks,

Posted by Mark Williams (Member # 794) on June 07, 2007, 04:46 AM:

Thats an easy one!!

My nomination is THE GREAT DIAMOND CHASE AKA POPSY POP AKA DIAMONDS ARE DEATH starring the lovely Claudia Cardinale and a very embarressed looking Stanley Baker who has very little to do,the Mountain editor had a field day removing large sections of plot which left the remaining story a bit of a mess!!

Posted by Gary Crawford (Member # 67) on June 07, 2007, 07:54 AM:

I have several nominations based on my actually viewing them once and never again. UA8's two part Incredible Shrinking Woman (terrible quality print), UA's Raven.( hack job on editing) UA's Smokey and the Bandit Part II ( which was terrible in itself and wasn't helped by very very soft focus). Ken's Day the Earth Stood Still. (would have liked to seen what Castle editors would have done). You know, thinking about it, having had or seen hundreds of digests, there were not that many really bad ones that I've come across. Oh, forgot one more...the one reel Castle Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy.....a total editorial mess. Some films are easier than others to condense and that's one of them that is just too hard to cut down.

Posted by Kurt Gardner (Member # 440) on June 07, 2007, 08:44 AM:

It IS tough to come up with just a few, but my top votes (400', of course; 200' would be like shooting fish in a barrel) would be: "Tell Them Willie Boy Is Here," "The Chase," "Family Plot," "Cat Ballou." Maybe it's because the films they're condensed from are so dull.

Posted by Douglas Meltzer (Member # 28) on June 07, 2007, 10:22 AM:

Although there are many bad edit jobs out there, my nomination for worst digest is from the same company that had perfected the craft: Castle Films. "Pirate's Haven" has absolutely nothing going for it. Ken Films and others certainly did some lousy work, but if you've ever wondered just how tedious 7 minutes and 27 seconds can be.....

Doug

Posted by Stewart McSporran (Member # 128) on June 07, 2007, 04:18 PM:

I nominate the 200' "First Spaceship on Venus".

Not only is it difficult to work out what is going on, but they wasted about 60 seconds on stock footage of radar dishes spinning rather than on the story.

Although, having recently picked up a copy of the complete film on DVD, I have to say sitting through eight minutes of the film is way preferable to sitting through the full length one. (If you haven't seen it then it's full of good intentions, ideas and some decent effects, but really it's just pretty dull most of the time.)

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on June 07, 2007, 05:22 PM:

One of my picks, (mind you, I haven't seen all of them) would be "Force 10 from Navaronne" especially the ending. The big scene of the damn and the bridge's destruction are given maybe one minute at the end of the digest instead at least a good three or four minutes, as this was a major highlight of the film.

"Coffy" was a waste of time as well. (Hey, i got it for free and watched it, but at least it's better than watching the whole feature!)

I think the top one of all is "Tintorrera" a two parter that was a very poor take-off on "Jaws".

Posted by Trevor Adams (Member # 42) on June 07, 2007, 06:52 PM:

Just "binned" Midnight Express(400ft)...hardly worth lacing into the projector!

Posted by Winbert Hutahaean (Member # 58) on June 07, 2007, 10:09 PM:

Hi all thanks for the reply.

But I would see here that the list will easily grow up when we are talking the digest. Certainly, it is not an easy job to cut the whole feature into 7 or 16 minutes scene.

All right, how if I now limit only for two parter until full feature.

Please give your comment.

thanks

Posted by Joerg Polzfusz (Member # 602) on June 08, 2007, 09:49 AM:

Hi,

I guess that the 120m-digest of "Bridge on the River Kwai" is one of the worst: First the soldiers come in whistling for about 10 minutes, then suddenly a bridge explodes (for no reason), Alec Guinness dies (for no reason) ... and that's it. Disgusting!

I've also sold several Italian/Spanish Western and some Karate-Movies from Hong-Kong where the digests only consisted of unknown men fighting/killing each other without any cause. I can't remember the titles - but I fear that the full length versions of these films aren't any better ;-)

Jörg

Posted by James N. Savage 3 (Member # 83) on June 08, 2007, 11:34 AM:

Hey, I liked "Coffey" and "The Raven"! [Razz]

While not the most skillfully edited, they at least hold some entertainment value, with some story content.

Worst/unrepeatable single 400 foot digest, in my opinion-

"Dressed to Kill" (1980).

Worst/unrepeatable 2 x 400 footer-

"Xanadu".

Although, I must admit, I have watched it many times, myself. Love those songs, and Olivia is hot [Wink]

. Its just not well edited as a digest, in my opinion. Plus, I was hoping for more of the popular songs.

James.

Posted by Jean-Marc Toussaint (Member # 270) on June 08, 2007, 12:11 PM:

I remember a Dean Martin/Matt Helm cut-down (was it The Silencers?) being just darn boring. I watched it once then sold it. The sale helped to finance the purchase of Jaws (2x400 ft). [Wink]

Posted by Del Phillipson (Member # 513) on June 08, 2007, 01:50 PM:

Winbert, wow, I watch Home Alone 1 & 2 every Christmas and I must admit Christmas wouldn't be the same without it, we love em. But everybody's tastes are different, one man's treasure is another man's junk.

Posted by Graham Ritchie (Member # 559) on June 08, 2007, 05:54 PM:

"The Exorcist" [Eek!]

400ft being one "Yuk", "Raise The Titanic" 600ft flat version which was loaned to me lately, faded, badly edited, totally lost me, [Roll Eyes]

switched the lamp of near the end, hope the Scope version was better than that. [Wink]

Graham.

PS Just remembered those dumb Columbia 400ft Jerry Lewis movies [Eek!]

Posted by Douglas Meltzer (Member # 28) on June 08, 2007, 06:07 PM:

Graham,

I feel the 600' version (Edited by Ken Locke) of "Raise the Titanic" is far superior to the fairly dull feature. Then again, I thought the 400' "Exorcist" was a halfway decent cut.

Doug

Posted by Frank Picaro (Member # 811) on June 08, 2007, 06:26 PM:

I must be 'film starved', because I can't think of one film which I have screened which I haven't shown over and over again. Maybe it's because my kids were the audience when they were younger, and now my grandkids are the audience.

Another possibility is that I only purchase the films I want. All I know is that our hobby is tops, as are the members of the forum. Proud to be a part of it. [Smile]

Posted by Graham Ritchie (Member # 559) on June 08, 2007, 07:07 PM:

Hi Doug
The print of Raise The Titanic was loaned to me from another forum member who had told me how disappointed he was after getting this print from the UK. I had never seen the 600ft version but had read that it was supposed to be good, what surprised me was it was a "Flat version", I thought it only ever came out in "Scope", the underwater scenes you could not make out what was going on, and as the ship was coming to the surface, because the image was cropped from Scope, this made a very disappointing climax, I am sure that a good colour Scope print should come across better. The owner who is very keen in all things Titanic was let down and so was I.

Graham.

Posted by Andreas Eggeling (Member # 105) on June 09, 2007, 10:10 AM:

[ August 07, 2008, 09:14 AM: Message edited by: Andreas Eggeling ]

Posted by Keith Ashfield (Member # 741) on June 09, 2007, 12:13 PM:

It has to be the 400ft digest of "The Shape of Things to Come" - the re-make, with Jack Palance and Carol Lynley.Made in Canada in the late 1970's. H.G.Wells must have "spun" in his grave when this turkey was made. What a howler!!

Posted by Kevin Faulkner (Member # 6) on June 09, 2007, 12:45 PM:

For me it has to be Ivers cutdown of "Hugo the Hippo". I yawned all the way through this 400 footer and only watched it the once.

Kev.

Posted by Mark Williams (Member # 794) on June 09, 2007, 02:10 PM:

Hey thats a thumbs up for COFFY for me too!!!

Great Blaxploitation movie in my opion and the digest just concentrates on the OTT violence which is really tame by todays standards but in 1975 it was the only way in the UK to see the uncut scenes as the film censor had a field day cutting out all the best bits!!

The US print I have now has perfect colour too!!

Posted by Graham Ritchie (Member # 559) on June 10, 2007, 12:09 AM:

Kev
I thought Hugo was cute, "just kidding" I bet little pink Hugo has now turned red. [Wink]

Graham

.

.

Posted by Lee Mannering (Member # 728) on June 10, 2007, 05:35 AM:

Paradise Alley just about does it for me.

Posted by Joerg Polzfusz (Member # 602) on June 11, 2007, 04:31 AM:

quote:
Andreas Eggeling
Jörg, which "River Kwai" version do you think?
The early columbia or the later piccolo edition??

I was thinking of the letterboxed piccolo-version.

Jörg

Posted by Stewart McSporran (Member # 128) on June 12, 2007, 04:18 PM:

I've just remembered the 400' Dracula (the Frank Languela one) which has a dreadful 3 minute talking head from some studio boss prior to the action. That put me off watching it so much that I sold my copy!

Posted by Keith Ashfield (Member # 741) on June 12, 2007, 05:14 PM:

Aye Stewart, and I brought it, bargain that it was. [Big Grin]

It fits very well into the 2x 400ft and makes a good digest even better, with enough left over to make a half decent promo trailer. as they say from little acorns..... [Wink]

Posted by Stewart McSporran (Member # 128) on June 13, 2007, 01:29 PM:

All I ask is that I can make someone happy [Big Grin]

...and that one of you has Winnie the Pooh & Tigger Too to sell on 16mm!

Posted by David Kilderry (Member # 549) on June 14, 2007, 12:32 AM:

Coffey is one of my favourites, Pam Grier was georgeous then and now. I also could never knock anything with either Carol Lynley (Shape of Things to Come) or Stella Stevens (The Silencers), both of who I met once and were just great fun and only too happy to talk for ages about all of their classic films.

I got both of them to sign a Poseidon Adventure daybill poster. I should have got of them to sign my Ken Super 8 box!

http://www.drive-insdownunder.com.au/editorial/currenteditorial.htm

Here is a shot of me with Stella Stevens, Carol is sitting behind me seen just to my right. Taken in Hollywood ten years ago. Scroll to the bottom of the page.

None of these beautiful and talented actors could ever be in my most unwatchable digests.

David

Posted by Patrick Walsh (Member # 637) on June 16, 2007, 03:59 PM:

THE DIAMOND MERCENARIES 2 x400ft by IVER FILMS is crap to me
I have the 400ft Ken Films TITANIC 1953, great condition and is a good digest recomend it to everyone, also TORA TORA TORA and AIRPORT 77 are good digests.
Pat

Posted by Trevor Adams (Member # 42) on June 18, 2007, 07:10 AM:

How about that dreadful Daleks Invasion of Earth thing Patrick? [Smile]

Posted by Mark Williams (Member # 794) on June 18, 2007, 07:57 AM:

David,

Just seen your post from a few days ago,COFFY is probably my all time fave digest too,picked up a stunning Ken 400ft US print of it a few months back in pristine condition and perfect color!!
I was well pleased I can tell you!!
Its a real shame they didnt do a digest of Pam Grier's FOXY BROWN too.

Posted by Patrick Walsh (Member # 637) on June 18, 2007, 03:35 PM:

Trevor you have not lived until you have met a dalek let alone seen DALEKS INVASION EARTH 2150AD!, I have! and it has changed my life! (It is so good I forked out $1k and got a life/sized dalek built by a local prop building guy and it now stands proudly in the garage! (not allowed to have it in the house [Frown]

Do you have a print? if so I will buy it from you! [Wink]

Pat

Posted by David Kilderry (Member # 549) on June 21, 2007, 05:56 AM:

I agree with you Mark, Foxy Brown would have been another great title. My Coffy has excellent colour too, it is one of the first mainstream Super 8 titles (as opposed to straight sex titles) that featured nudity too.

Once you have seen Coffy, you will be a life-long Pam Grier fan!

David

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