8mm Forum: Murder on the Orient Express

This is topic Murder on the Orient Express in forum 8mm Forum at 8mm Forum.

To visit this topic, use this URL:
https://8mmforum.film-tech.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=010344

Posted by John Armer (Member # 4655) on November 24, 2015, 01:30 PM:

I picked this title up at Blackpool on Sunday. Does anyone know anything about this release? It's Super 8, on 4x400ft reels in plain white boxes. I've yet to watch it all the way through, but I've sampled the first reel and the colour seems to be OK... perhaps a slight warming in some of the blacks and not the bluest of blue skies, but pretty good.

From what I can make it, it may have been an Iver films release, but I can't find out any more than that. Does anybody know what stocks Iver used? I wonder if the colour is as released or is it starting to shift.

Posted by Andrew Woodcock (Member # 3260) on November 24, 2015, 01:44 PM:

I have the full length release of this print John. I got it from a fellow collector and though faded its still a good view. Lovely scenery etc and some big stars in it.

Full length it is on 6x 400ft reels, I have never come across a 4 x 400ft print so I am not sure about the origins of the one you have John but if it's an Iver print I have never seen one advertised for sale in recent years.

The original boxes are all stored away in the loft so I honestly cannot remember for sure who released the print I have. Hopefully we will both be enlightened by another collector here.

I did think it was a marketing print but thinking about it,the boxes were card not the usual blister pack kind that Marketing Prints came in.

Posted by John Armer (Member # 4655) on November 24, 2015, 01:53 PM:

Thanks Andrew... I might just prepare myself for two reels being missing at the end! Will report back.

Posted by Andrew Woodcock (Member # 3260) on November 24, 2015, 02:19 PM:

I hope not John.

Posted by Tom Photiou (Member # 130) on November 24, 2015, 02:41 PM:

I must admit i thought this was a full length release from marketing films.

Posted by Andrew Woodcock (Member # 3260) on November 24, 2015, 02:49 PM:

Maybe it is Tom, I just cannot remember without seeing the boxes again. Never seen a 4x4 version though I have to say. [Confused]

Posted by Maurice Leakey (Member # 916) on November 24, 2015, 03:06 PM:

My copy of Marketing Film International catalogue of 1980/81 has this film listed as a full feature #4302 with a running time of 128 minutes.
However, it further says that it was only available in the U.S.A. and Canada.

Posted by Mike Newell (Member # 23) on November 24, 2015, 03:18 PM:

Marketing film stock was thinner than most but I can't see 128 minutes going on 4 reels. It will be interesting to see if someone has made an abridged version out of a feature print.

Posted by Dominique De Bast (Member # 3798) on November 24, 2015, 03:24 PM:

An Italian release was on 6 x 180 m (600 ft) http://passionesuper8.blogspot.be/2011/10/assassinio-sullorient-express-1974.html

Posted by John Armer (Member # 4655) on November 24, 2015, 03:28 PM:

Just found this link about Iver films:
http://8mmforum.film-tech.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=004408

It states
MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS-Midi feature only ( 4 x 400ft=80 mins)

Setting the projector up now!

Posted by Andrew Woodcock (Member # 3260) on November 24, 2015, 03:49 PM:

Great news John! [Smile]

Posted by Mark Williams (Member # 794) on November 24, 2015, 04:43 PM:

Yes this is the full Iver release and pretty rare too these days 😊

There were also some full length super 8 library prints doing the rounds and an optical version too.

Posted by Andrew Woodcock (Member # 3260) on November 24, 2015, 04:49 PM:

Thanks for the clarification Mark! Great that John doesn't miss the conclusion on his print. As good as it is, it is very talky this film and you do have to properly watch the film to follow the plot correctly.
It wouldn't be very good at all with any missing reels.

Posted by John Armer (Member # 4655) on November 24, 2015, 05:38 PM:

Alas, it is missing the ending [Frown]

It's a real shame as I was really enjoying it... it got to the part where Poirot was interviewing the princess's maid. I will get the DVD so I can see the ending.

So I guess this is four reels of the 6 x 400ft version.

Posted by Andrew Woodcock (Member # 3260) on November 24, 2015, 06:30 PM:

If you are big on your film John, rather than digital,you can have mine if you like for very reasonable money.

Its quite faded and i've watched it several times now plus the wife tells me almost daily, I need to cut down on the number of films I buy and keep.

In answer to your first question here John, from the era these were printed in, none will now look like an LPP print even if they ever could or ever did which I strongly doubt.
Print quality came a very long way from 82 onwards.Much of the earlier stuff on 8 can, at times, look very grainy and have soft focus issues in many many cases.

I used to love "That'll be The Day" on Super 8mm in the very early 80's, but I wouldn't be looking to buy it nowadays. It simply doesn't live up to the printing standards of any you see from the later period of releases for sharpness, colour or granularity despite the fact it is a really entertaining and charismatic film.

Some films are best left as a fond distant memory to me on Super 8mm to avoid disappointment from a re run, and this is one example of such.

It's entirely up to you John of course, but the offer is there if you would like the full print of this.

I may also be selling all of my Optical prints now as my interest in anything decent that I can find to view these on is waning fast I'm afraid.

Someone with a top machine would get the benefit from these far more than I can these days unfortunately.

Posted by Maurice Leakey (Member # 916) on November 25, 2015, 03:37 AM:

I think that John should contact the seller and ask for a refund as the film is not complete, unless he was informed at the sale that it had reels missing.

Posted by Andrew Woodcock (Member # 3260) on November 25, 2015, 03:45 AM:

I completely agree with you there Maurice. It's totally unfair to sell an incomplete film without first warning the buyer that this may well be the case.

There are lots of films like this now on e bay where the sellers claim to have neither the equipment or the time to view them through.
I am always very wary of these type of sales now.
A good salesperson should always be able to provide a few screenshots and description of the films condition from beginning to end in my book.

Even if the film is a relatively cheap one.

[ November 25, 2015, 05:49 AM: Message edited by: Andrew Woodcock ]

UBB.classic^TM 6.3.1.2