8mm Forum: Fame (2 x 400")

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Posted by Winbert Hutahaean (Member # 58) on November 03, 2005, 06:55 AM:

I will not write a long review since I am not a native english speaker.

I bought this before just for my fun and to accompany my other favourite stuffs for the sake of shipping cost. I was understimate it firstly, but having seen this 2 x 400 abridged version, I was so satisfied by the good editing result.

Watching this 30 minutes show was so so enjoyfull since songs were presented full, not like Grease and Saturday Night Fever (SNF) where sometime only half of the songs. Despite this is two parter only vs three parter of Grease and SNF from Marketing, the flow of the story is smoother. Three parter Grease and SNF (BTW I have the Germany version) were ended in sudden without conclution.

Fame has also good color too.

This is my post of my underestime expression when FAME was bought.

I don't have the original cover for this, I will appreciate if someone can scan it in full size and send that to winberthutahaean @ yahoo.com (delete space)

Cheers,

Posted by Graham Sinden (Member # 431) on November 03, 2005, 07:08 AM:

Ive also noticed this as well that marketing print cutdowns, even the 3x400', seem to be missing the end titles. This could only be a cost cutting factor, but is dissapointing because marketing had some top film titles like the first two Godfather films.

Posted by Jean-Marc Toussaint (Member # 270) on November 03, 2005, 09:00 AM:

Winbert, scans of covers are on their way... [Wink]

Are you still looking for "The Warriors" covers?

Posted by Tom Photiou (Member # 130) on November 03, 2005, 04:15 PM:

Have to agree with Graham on the dissapointing endings to many marketing 3 x 400fts. I remeber Bill Davidsons reviews on these films . Who remebers the first batch of marketing filmsi.e, SNF,godfather,barracuda etc, they recieved so many complaints that they produced Paramount logo's to spice onto the starts. You just had to send an SAE and we gor three.. [Razz]

.
Other than this gripe the 3x400footers were very good. Indeed, the second batch of titles (inc the Warriors, The hunter, Escape from Alcatraze) had amazing picture quality with no sign of any negative sparkle what so ever.If only they paid the damm royalties there'd have been more isuspect. [Mad]

Posted by Winbert Hutahaean (Member # 58) on November 03, 2005, 07:03 PM:

Another dissapointment with Grease and SNF was the editor sometimes pitched one octave higher in the middle of the song to give the impression that the song is finished. It's so funny, for people who know exactly the notes.

In fact, I bought SNF from my friend who tought that his three reels were incomplete. [Razz]

Jean, yes I badly need the Warriors, I have sent a PM to you. Thanks for FAME.

Cheers,

Posted by Tom Photiou (Member # 130) on November 04, 2005, 12:40 PM:

i'D still like to get my hands on a feature of Warriors. Good movie,

Posted by John Clancy (Member # 49) on November 08, 2005, 02:44 AM:

Marketing didn't have the rights to the front and end titles for the edited versions of the films. Seems ridiculous but that was the way it was back then, hence the pathetic letraset titles.

Posted by Winbert Hutahaean (Member # 58) on November 08, 2005, 03:08 PM:

John,
Could you be more specific when you're saying Marketing didn't have the rights to the front and end titles for the edited versions of the films? and WHY?

How was the copyrights system at that time?

thanks

Posted by James N. Savage 3 (Member # 83) on November 09, 2005, 04:59 PM:

Hi- I'll adress the Marketing statements first, then the original subject, "Fame".

I think, for the most part, Marketing did best at releasing full length features, rather than digests. When watching a Marketing digest, you can tell that the editors were not as skilled as the other top U.S. super 8 companies at that time (Ken/MGM, Universal). The only Marketing digest I remember using original titles was "Raiders of the Lost Ark", and maybe "Baraccuda" (I'll have to check that one). As mentioned previously, the "Warriors" digest really took a loss without the original credit scene, since it was an essential part of the movie. Now, on to "Fame"....

Winbert, this is one of my favorite digests. I agree that it flows VERY well. And ALL of the hit songs are included-

Reel #1-Red Light (great dance scene), Dogs in the Yard (partial song, but well done), and Hot Lunch.

Reel #2- starts with Fame (the famous street dance in Times Square),then, my favorite, when the beautiful Irene Cara sings the hit "On My Own", then a solo "Is It OK if I Call You Mine". Then, a special bonus, the scene in the movie theater where the crowd watches "Rocky Horror Picture Show" (we had this wild show for years in D.C. too), and we get a little of the song "Doin the Time Warp" from that movie. Then, the fabulous grand finalee, "I Sing the Body Electric", where all of the performers come together.

This digest doesn't have time to get in to all of the sub-plots (and there were a lot of them), but instead, the editor concentrates on the music, and is still able to capture some of the atmosphere and feeling from the comlete movie.

Nick.

Posted by John Clancy (Member # 49) on November 10, 2005, 04:41 AM:

Can't be more specific Winbert. Things were different back then. Look at the trouble Derann had with the opening titles of "Carrie". The lab had to airbrush over the shot of Sissy Spacek naked to avoid breach of her contract but still keep the title that was laid over her to avoid breaching the contract on the titles.

Like I said it all seems ridiculous but remember Super 8 extracts were the first form of movie mass entertainment for the home market and so it was all new in those days, hence some of the stupid contracts.

Posted by Tom Photiou (Member # 130) on November 10, 2005, 12:09 PM:

Pity about the markettin missing bits, on the first batch of titles they all did have original titles, all be it, extremly fast and brief, the second batch of titles improved on an already good quality product but as you say, ALL the titles were replaced by crabby letrasets.
Mind you, i recently bought the 3x400 version of the Hunter which as you probably know was Steve McQueens last movie and this film does have some of the original titles [Confused]

Posted by James N. Savage 3 (Member # 83) on November 11, 2005, 02:40 PM:

The opening of Carrie was airbrushed?? They must have done a good job, because I never noticed it. I sold my print a loooong time ago. I thought Derann did a very nice job with the opening scene though- the volleyball game, where Carrie is hit and ridiculed, then the locker room/shower scene, and that terrific score by Pino Dinagio. It flowed nicely. This is another example of how a pre-credit and original credit scene can be so important to a movie. Imagine if Marketing had released it instead- blue and white title cards, then, Carrie's in the principle's office with blood on her shorts. Oops! Getting off the subject again.........

Nick.

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