8mm Forum: Did I watch a "virgin" film ?

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Topic: Did I watch a "virgin" film ?

Melvin England
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 707
From: Hull, East Yorkshire, UK
Registered: Feb 2016

posted March 13, 2016 11:43 AM

I recently managed to purchase a copy of the 2x 400' version of "The Hindenburg" and was really impressed to see that the part 1 container and wrap around box was completely sealed. What a rare delight it is these days to view a "virgin" film.

However,on opening it,I found that the leader was preceded by about 2 feet of white leader film spliced on, and someone had written in black biro the title of the film. Even in days gone by when films WERE purchased new, I have never come across this.Has anyone else? The picture quality was very good, but did suffer from colour fade, but the best thing was being able to watch a film without a single mark on it.Wonderful.

This is a very welcome digest to the collection, but it still leaves me with the question as to whether someone had watched it and re-sealed it,if that is possible, or was it really a "virgin" film?

.

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"My name is for my friends!"

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Joe Taffis
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1592
From: United States
Registered: Jun 2003

posted March 13, 2016 01:17 PM

Hi Melvin,
I've never seen a sealed pre-packaged film with a leader spliced on. Sounds like someone re-did it. I guess it's pretty easy if you have the equipment to shrink wrap...
Some sellers may think it makes the film more valuable, which isn't the case with color prints...

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Joe Taffis

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Paul Suchy
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 199
From: Westchester, IL, USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted March 13, 2016 01:35 PM

It probably was resealed, but it's for the best: digest prints denied air for 35 years tend to be troublesome (especially the last 25 feet or so), and the color fades anyway. As long as you are enjoying the film, I'm happy for you.

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Paul Suchy

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Melvin England
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 707
From: Hull, East Yorkshire, UK
Registered: Feb 2016

posted March 13, 2016 02:29 PM

Hi Paul and Joe.

Thanks for your comments. Fortunately, barring the faded colour,both parts are well balanced against each other.The digest is a good one and, with the so called "sealed" first part,as I mentioned,it was completely clear of any marks or scratches...a real delight, so whether it was new or not, it ticked the box.The sound was very good also.

.

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"My name is for my friends!"

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Steven J Kirk
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 873
From: Southern England
Registered: Apr 2008

posted March 14, 2016 05:30 AM

I have bought 3 Walton Tom and Jerry cartoons still sealed in cellophane. Must be pre-1983. All 3 were great condition and perfect colour. I didn't detect any problem with having been sealed for so long.

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VistaVision
Motion Picture High-Fidelity

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Andrew Woodcock
Film God

Posts: 7477
From: Manchester Uk
Registered: Aug 2012

posted March 14, 2016 09:13 AM

Nice find Steven! Some I have found myself to be perfect, others on Acetate i have found to have slight fade and in some cases warping, though no scratches!! [Big Grin]

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"C'mon Baggy..Get with the beat"

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Winbert Hutahaean
Film God

Posts: 5468
From: Nouméa, New Caledonia
Registered: Jun 2003

posted March 14, 2016 11:28 AM

I once got a sealed film suffered with VS. We never knew the condition until we open it. So in the opposite of the first poster,I never been happy buying sealed films

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Winbert

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Osi Osgood
Film God

Posts: 10204
From: Mountian Home, ID.
Registered: Jul 2005

posted March 14, 2016 11:59 AM

yeah, sadly Melvin, you got a rip-off artist there. I never trust "new/sealed" prints unless they are a Derann post 1982 print, as I know that it will have good color.

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"All these moments will be lost in time, just like ... tears, in the rain. "

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Melvin England
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 707
From: Hull, East Yorkshire, UK
Registered: Feb 2016

posted March 14, 2016 02:04 PM

Winbert - That must be a real disappointment. I assume you had to get rid of it straight away in that condition ?

Osi - I have found the 8mm fraternity an honest set of people. If a film someone is selling has colour fade, then they say is has got some fading. So why on earth,I wonder, do some people feel it necessary to play tricks like this? At the end of the day, apart from the colour problem, the rest of the film I.E. focus / scratches (or lack of them in this case) and sound,is fine.

C'est La Vie !

.

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"My name is for my friends!"

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