8mm Forum: Universal 8 releases also on 16mm

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Posted by Adrian Winchester (Member # 248) on August 31, 2010, 07:26 AM:

Although this post involves 16mm, I've put it on the 8mm Forum as the subject is also connected to Super 8.

I wondered if a full list of Universal 8 releases on 16mm ever appeared anywhere as I'd be interested to know more about this. I'm aware that plenty of 200' and 400' S8 releases appeared on 16mm but I have no idea if it applied to most and continued right up to the last 8mm releases. E.g. I'd imagine that the one reel 'Jaws' would have been popular on 16mm but I've never heard of a print for sale - has anyone? And I'm presuming, as I've never heard of one, that 2 x 400' releases were never available on 16mm, but can anyone confirm this? And were Castle releases generally also released on 16mm before the days of Universal 8?

Posted by Douglas Meltzer (Member # 28) on August 31, 2010, 11:29 AM:

Adrian,

Having started in 16mm, Castle released all of their films in that format, even the new titles towards the end (1976) such as Frankenstein's New Brain, Psycho and Frenzy. In their final catalog every film is available in 16mm.

As for Universal 8, according to their 1979 catalog, many of the horror & sci-fi Super 8 400' digests were also released in 800' 16mm.

The Birds
The Bride of Frankenstein
Creature From The Black Lagoon (3D)
Frankenstein
Frankenstein Meets The Wolfman
Frenzy
Dr. Cyclops
Dracula
Duel
The Incredible Shrinking Man
The Invisible Man
It Came From Outer Space (3D)
The Mummy
The Mummy's Ghost
The Mummy's Tomb
Phantom of the Opera
Psycho
The Raven
Silent Running
Son of Frankenstein
This Island Earth
The Wolfman

All the Abbott & Costello titles (including Who's On First), The Marx Brothers, and W.C. Fields titles.

All boxing films.

All Woody Woodpecker, Pierre Bear, Dynam Doc, Inspector Willoughby, Funny Fables and Musical Cartoons.

Only a handful of non-horrors (aside from comedies and cartoons) were available in the larger format:

Assault On Everest
Flower Drum Song
I'm No Angel
Operation Tall Ships
Sweet Charity

They may have released more after the March '79 date.

I don't recall ever seeing the 200' Jaws in 16mm.

Doug

Posted by Adrian Winchester (Member # 248) on September 01, 2010, 07:00 PM:

Doug - Many thanks for the comprehensive answer. If there wasn't a one reel 16mm version of 'Jaws', maybe this indicates that there were no new 16mm one reelers in the Univeral 8 era, and that they concentrated on releasing two reelers. I have a small number of one reelers sold in Universal 8 boxes: 'Tarantula' and the first two 'Creature From the Black Lagoon' films, but I think are all re-prints of Castle releases with 'Castle Films presents' on the main title.

Posted by Brad Kimball (Member # 5) on September 02, 2010, 08:40 PM:

I have the following 800' versions in 16mm....
"Phantom Of The Opera" (Beet red now - a shame)
"This Island Earth" (Fair Color only - mostly red)
"A&C Meet Jekyll & Hyde" - (A tad dark, but nice)
"The Raven" - (Dark throughout - some spots are really dark)
"Franenstein" (Nice print)
"Dracula" (Nice print)
"Bride Of Frankenstein" (Nice print)
"A&C Go To Mars" (Very nice print)
"A&C Meet The Mummy" (Titles are a little washed out, but nice)
"Buck Privates Come Home" (Terrific print all around)

The sound (an exception being "The Raven" which has a little too much bass so it sounds a bit muffled, but one can still fully understand all the dialogue - my 8mm print is the same way) on all is loud and crisp. I like the bigger throw they give me - the only reason I bought them. Aside from that, the prints are identical to their 8mm counterparts so clearly the same masters were used for both formats.

Posted by Douglas Meltzer (Member # 28) on September 02, 2010, 08:51 PM:

Brad,

Very nice! I have many of the Castle shorts in 16mm, but I only have the Silent Running digest in that format. It's completely faded.

Doug

Posted by Winbert Hutahaean (Member # 58) on September 02, 2010, 10:38 PM:

Brad, do they have art work boxes like their counterpart in 8mm, or just plain boxes?

Posted by Jean-Christophe Deblock (Member # 792) on September 03, 2010, 12:57 AM:

And also "earthquake".

Posted by Brad Kimball (Member # 5) on September 03, 2010, 09:42 AM:

They all have the generic white boxes (identical boxes for the 400'ers - just smaller) that have a generic collage-type graphic on the front. It was the same box for all 16mm titles put out by U/8 regardless of the length. Castle also used generic boxes for anything in the larger format. The execs probably felt that 16mm was more for institutional (libraries/schools/etc.) use so the collectability of a carton wouldn't be a selling point. The fact that 16mm versions weren't merchandised in store displays with box art intended to inspire one to buy a particular title I'm sure went into the box decisions.

Posted by Douglas Meltzer (Member # 28) on September 03, 2010, 10:00 AM:

Doug

Posted by Brad Kimball (Member # 5) on September 03, 2010, 11:49 PM:

That's them. Thanks, Doug! They're all the same carton just in different sizes with the titles stamped in black ink on the front spines.

Posted by Jeff Missinne (Member # 3373) on November 27, 2012, 09:01 AM:

Would like to add some additional Universal Eight digest titles to your rundown. All of these were definitely available in 16mm:

SSSSSS
THE CAR
THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE
CHANGE OF HABIT
JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR
FAMILY PLOT
AIRPORT
THE DAY OF THE JACKAL
THE GREAT WALDO PEPPER (in fact I know a guy who has a print and would like to sell)
EARTHQUAKE
TWO MINUTE WARNING
CHARLEY VARRICK

At least one of the double-length digests was available in 16mm as well, and that was XANADU.

As for me, well, anyone got a 3-D IT CAME FROM OUTER SPACE for sale, in good condition and reasonably priced? [Cool]

Posted by David Ollerearnshaw (Member # 3296) on November 27, 2012, 09:06 AM:

Just to add my little bit. Currently scanning a Universal 8 catalogue, it should be uploaded to my site at the weekend.
Put post on here when its viewable.

Posted by Winbert Hutahaean (Member # 58) on November 27, 2012, 09:44 AM:

My curiosity if the super 8mm of below titles always attract high price on Ebay:

"Frankenstein"
"Dracula"
"Bride Of Frankenstein"
"A&C Go To Mars"
"A&C Meet The Mummy"

How much do you think they are on 16mm at second hand market?

Posted by Hugh Thompson Scott (Member # 2922) on November 27, 2012, 09:50 AM:

I came across a digest of "Charlie Varrick" on 16mm the other day

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