8mm Forum: Laurel & Hardy question

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Posted by Michael Beyer (Member # 1143) on December 27, 2010, 08:04 AM:

Hi folks,

I'm looking for two L&H-Titles: "Tit for tat" and "Big business".
As far as I know has Blackhawk the best picture quality.
So it would be interested to know, what editions were available (200", 400" etc.)
I think Walton Films had some editions, too. But I don't know if they were edited...

Regards,
Michael

Posted by Steve Klare (Member # 12) on December 27, 2010, 03:07 PM:

Blackhawk had both of them as 400 footers. Tit for Tat was available with sound. Big Business started out silent, and that's how mine is, but it's probably out there in a scored version too.

Other than the fact that the several scored silents I have all seem to use the same music, I like them much better than the silent-silents!

Posted by Tony Stucchio (Member # 519) on December 27, 2010, 05:37 PM:

Apparently, Blackhawk released a 50 foot version:

BIG BUSINESS

I never knew that until yesterday.

Blackhawk released at least 2 different full-length versions of BIG BUSINESS. One was from the U.S. negative, with Blackhawk main titles. The other was from the European negative, with original main titles (with a superimposed Chief Blackhawk emblem over the original M-G-M logo.) The latter has better picture quality -- but beware -- each shot is taken from a slightly different camera angle. This is the version where they added a music track.

Posted by Steve Klare (Member # 12) on December 27, 2010, 09:18 PM:

Wow!,

A 50 footer from a 400 foot original is a 77.5% deletion of footage!

I hope they focused on a specific sequence instead of jumping around the whole thing. Before you had the chance to figure out what you were looking at the screen would be white and the film would be slapping on the machine!

Posted by Michael Beyer (Member # 1143) on December 28, 2010, 05:03 AM:

Thanks, folks, for your answers !

I have a 60m-Version of "Big Business" from Piccolo, Germany and a 33m-Version of "Tit for tat".
And now I am looking for the full versions.

Is this one the complete "Big Business" ?
Big Business on Ebay USA

And the other question:
Are there (english) text-signs during the films or not ?

Posted by Steve Klare (Member # 12) on December 28, 2010, 07:55 AM:

Yes it is, Michael.

I think the starting price is a little high considering the condition of the box. I'd like to see this one start under 20 dollars or maybe I'd wait for another one. This one is pretty common.

In the neighborhood of 25 bucks to start I want to see a nice condition box and sound too!

Big Business started out as a silent film, so it has its original intertitles.

PS: If you can find a scored "You're Darn Tootin'!" it's well worth having.

Posted by Tony Stucchio (Member # 519) on December 28, 2010, 06:26 PM:

That one in the auction is the one made from the U.S. negative with Blackhawk main titles -- assuming that is the correct box.
I wouldn't be that turned off by the box -- it is the "flimsy" style box that they used for a short time -- they are never in very good condition. Because of the type of box, and the label, I would say this print is from circa 1973/74 -- that was right in the sweet spot of when Blackhawk was doing their best printings.
I wouldn't, however, pay more than $10 USD, because, as Steve says, it is a very common title.

Posted by Steve Klare (Member # 12) on December 28, 2010, 09:46 PM:

Did anybody here watch (or even buy) that sound print of "Unaccustomed as We Are" at the beginning of August this year?

A kind Forum Member knew I was interested and pointed it out to me. Even though I was on vacation I watched it and was poised to pounce on it, but like a lion being charged by an elephant I knew I was in over my head and backed away!

It started out in the teens and twenties. I thought I'd go up to a hundred, before I lost any right to nag my wife about keeping a budget. Before I even bid it zoomed past my "let it go" level and it ended in the mid 200s.

An old friend I used to collaborate with on film auctions would say "Well Steve, somebody wanted it a lot more than we did."

-That was certainly true here.

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