8mm Forum: Dr.Cyclops-17mins.super8.

This is topic Dr.Cyclops-17mins.super8. in forum 8mm Print Reviews at 8mm Forum.

To visit this topic, use this URL:
https://8mmforum.film-tech.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=4;t=000107

Posted by Andrew Wilson (Member # 538) on July 21, 2006, 11:49 AM:

Here's a good two reeler for lovers of cinema magic.Dating from
1940;long before computers came on the scene;its a terrific yarn.
This two reeler was released by Universal8 back in the winter of
1978 and was a success.
After the title sequence,we meet the smooth domed Dr.Thorkel(Albert
Dekker)-a sort of evil Kojak!-who's haveing trouble with his assistant."You're tamping with powers reserved for God",the
latter accuses-but Thorkel retaliated by jamming the assiatant's
head into the path of the deadly cosmic ray.We see it shrink before our eyes..!Excellent trick photography.
Four vistors think Thorkel is off his head as he shows them
around his lab.
As they examine the condeser chamber,he slams the door behind
them and truns on the ray.
When next seen,the visitors are only six inches tall using bits
of cloth to cover their nakedness.
As the cat growls at them,Thorkel snears"Thoses mice ain't for
you-not yet..."
Then followers some brillant special effects and trick photography as Thorkel plays with his human toys.When they escape
out into the garden,he sets fire to the grass-but they retain their freedom.As Thorkel takes a nap,they manage to break one
lens of his 'pebble' spectacles.He rages "Now you can call me
Cyclops for i have one good eye",and we are set for the final chase.All ends happily as the mad doctor plunges down a bottomless well and the victims regain their normal size.
A fascinating two reeler with good sound;but alas my print has faded badly.No matter this is a excellent piece of holywood
gone by.If this was made today;C.G.I.would of course be used.ARGH.
When this was originnally releasd the print had a sepia tone to
it anyway.The ideal companion to this is the JACK ARNOLDclassic
THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING MAN.A excellent two reeler for lovers of
real special effects magic.highly recommend.Andy.

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on July 22, 2006, 10:22 AM:

That was really good! I have the old 200ft sound (standard 8mm) of this, and I've always been curious to see this film on DVD. I understand that this was originally in color?

Posted by Andrew Wilson (Member # 538) on July 23, 2006, 05:12 AM:

Thanks Osi.you're old standed8 is most likely in better nick
than this two reeler.Andy.

Posted by Joe Caruso (Member # 11) on July 23, 2006, 07:07 AM:

I need the 200' S8 Sound edition myself - Shorty

Posted by Brad Kimball (Member # 5) on February 11, 2007, 12:27 PM:

I own both versions and I actually prefer the 200'er. First off, I think the film as a whole works much better in B&W. I've always found color to be a hindrance rather than a help with the old horror flicks from the 30's & 40's. Secondly, my print is also very faded and it would be a shame to show it to someone who has never seen the entire film - it may shy them away from ever wanting to view the entire feature. Paramount shot it in color strictly to fulfill a contractual obligation with Technicolor - NOT because the creative team involved felt it would enhance the narrative or visual effects and IMHO it was a big waste. The color gives everything a cheery, south seas island type of feel rather than invoking chills and thrills. Studios back in the day only used color sparingly and only with productions they could foresee gaining a big return on their investment such as musicals or splashy "period" pieces.

[ January 24, 2013, 09:22 AM: Message edited by: Brad Kimball ]

Posted by Gary Crawford (Member # 67) on April 04, 2007, 07:52 AM:

I'm not sure what print of Dr. Cyclops Andrew saw when it was first released, but I got to see an original nitrate 35mm print of that film at the American Film Institute in D.C. years and years ago...and it was anything but sepia. It had all the rich tones you'd expect from IB Tech. Just a sparkling print. I had only , of course, seen the film on b/w tv and I was blown away by the colors....especially the first scenes you see of the the Dr. Striking.

Posted by Brad Kimball (Member # 5) on January 08, 2014, 07:59 AM:

Does anyone recall if the digest ever had all of its true colors or was it always the sepia-type timbre it has now? The only scene in mine where there's any green is in the very beginning when Thorkel kills his assistant. Other than that...Brown-Red Sepia tone just like the opening scenes in "Wizard Of Oz".

Posted by Vidar Olavesen (Member # 3354) on January 08, 2014, 08:42 AM:

I bought this from Rake at BFCC and he told me they were all more or less poor in color. Mine is almost black and white :-/

Posted by Douglas Meltzer (Member # 28) on January 08, 2014, 08:52 AM:

When U-8 first released Dr. Cyclops (as Andrew said), the reviews pointed out the sepia color. If that was the best they could manage, U-8 should have put it out in B&W.

Doug

Posted by Brad Kimball (Member # 5) on January 08, 2014, 09:22 AM:

I totally agree, Doug.

Posted by Bill Phelps (Member # 1431) on January 08, 2014, 11:31 AM:

So the 400'er was in color only? I also have this print and I enjoy it but I would never show it to anyone either...no color at all. It would be nice to have it in real B&W.

Bill [Smile]

Posted by Brad Kimball (Member # 5) on January 08, 2014, 12:50 PM:

The 400'er was only released in color. However, I seem to remember a U/8 catalog specifying at the end of the description "special effects in color" which would explain a lot. It's not the black catalog that I believe was their final brochure from '79. That's the one I have. Does anyone else recall this? Doug Meltzer has every film catalog in Christendom. He could probably verify this.

Posted by Gary Crawford (Member # 67) on January 09, 2014, 06:37 AM:

Back in the 70's I got to see a 35mm IB Tech print of Dr. Cyclops at the AFI in D.C. It was gorgeous....with great use of color, particularly in the laboratory scenes. Just a lovely viewing experience. The Super 8 two reeler was an abomination. I was so disappointed with it...and I bought it new when it came out. I sent it back and got my money back.

Posted by Brad Kimball (Member # 5) on January 09, 2014, 08:18 AM:

Hi Gary. Would you be kind enough to expand upon why you hated the digest so much. I know others were disappointed with it as well. I actually didn't think the editing was too bad. My complaint is the sepia thing. Very curious what exactly it was that angered you enough to return it. I actually returned my first copy of "A & C Meet Frankenstein" back to U/8 thinking it was defective. When I watched the exchange copy they sent me - same lousy picture quality. I kept it figuring they probably used some crappy 16mm print from their rental library to print the 400'ers. It figured.

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on January 09, 2014, 12:13 PM:

I think that most of the complaints were because of the lousy color quality.

Posted by Gary Crawford (Member # 67) on January 13, 2014, 06:43 AM:

yes...having seen it in its glory in 35mm at the AFI....then looking forward to a nice super 8 color edition...and then receiving that horrid print ..... I didn't even watch the whole thing. I packed it right back up and sent it back.

UBB.classic^TM 6.3.1.2