8mm Forum: The Black Stallion

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Posted by Graham Ritchie (Member # 559) on November 18, 2008, 01:16 AM:

The Black Stallion 1979 6/400ft Colour/sound

Cast

Alec's Father Hoyt Axton
Alec's Mother Teri Garr
Snoe Clarence Muse
Alec Ramsey Kelly Reno
Henry Dailey Mickey Rooney

Directed Carroll Ballard
Screenwriter Melissa Mathison
Cinematographer Caleb Deschanel
Composer Carmine Coppola
Film Editor Robert Dalva

Following Photos taken from the screen almost 7ft wide at a distance of 20feet please excuse the dull and slightly blurry pictures, the digital camera does not like movement however they might give you some idea of the film.

this next one was shot as the scene was changing

Note.. photos have not been improved in any way and
are much much brighter and sharper than shown..

The Black Stallion is based on the children's novel by Walter Farley and is the story of a young boy Alec "Kelly Reno" who after being shipwrecked on a deserted island along with a horse soon become friends and later to be rescued and returned home. Alec meets up with retired horse trainer Henry Dailey "Mickey Rooney" who decides to train young Alec and The Black Stallion for the race of the century.

The first half of this film was beautifully shot by Caleb Deschanel on the island of Sardinia and at such a pace "slow" that the audience can take in the story of the boy getting the confidence of the horse, in these days of fast editing this film is a pleasure to watch with nothing but the music by Carmine Coppola the second half of this film concludes with the horse race "with the microphone strapped to the underside of the horse to great effect" The Black Stallion is great entertainment and this particular print 1984 is excellent, a rock steady image and very sharp on the focus, only needed to check the focus once during the two hours of this feature, the sound was also very good. I do have this film on DVD but on this occasion feel the Super8 print is much better and its a film I would highly recomend

Graham.

PS. Came across some interesting facts regarding the making the film

Filming began in Canada in the summer of 1977. Toronto was chosen to double for Flushing, N.Y. and it proved to be one of the hottest { temperatures reached 115 degrees and wettest} {Woodbine racetrack sat in two feet of mud} summers on record.

After finishing in Toronto, the crew relocated to Sardinia for the island scenes, This tropical paradise provided a whole new set of challenges. Inaccessibility topped the list of difficulties. Ironically that inaccessibility had been the very quality the film's scouts had searched for in the beginning.

The grottoes of Cala Ganone, could only be approached by boat. Another location, the 800 foot cliffs of Capo Caccia, compelled the cast and crew to scale the treacherous cliffs with hand-carried cameras in order to film the scenes from the top.

12 year-old Roark Wearing performed the on-screen stunts for the character of young Alec Ramsay With some four years of riding experience under his jockey"s hat.

[ November 18, 2008, 02:51 AM: Message edited by: Graham Ritchie ]

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on November 18, 2008, 09:56 AM:

Not bad screen captures at all! Lovely colors on that print. I know another fellow forum member that's lucky to have that print as well, and I'd love to get that one from him.

What film stock is it? The warmth of the colors is outstanding. It doesn't appear to be Derann print, no overriding blues in the image. Nice and sharp.

Is it in stereo or mono?

Posted by Graham Ritchie (Member # 559) on November 18, 2008, 12:25 PM:

Osi

The film stock is LPP not sure if its a Derann print other marks are Y.C.M. and F.E.L. 80317 "not sure what they mean" and is dated 10/11/84 if anyone has more info to add regarding those prints that would be great.

Graham.

Posted by Robert Aragon (Member # 181) on November 18, 2008, 10:53 PM:

I have this print as well. Beautiful and pinsharp. I re-recorded mine off the laserdisc...BOOMING, THUNDERING sound...amazing in Stereo. It's by far my favorite print on super 8. I heard it was a KEN release. If you ever find this...BUY IT! You will not regret it.

Posted by James N. Savage 3 (Member # 83) on November 19, 2008, 06:06 PM:

"The Black Stallion" was originally a Red Fox release in the U.S.A. I know Derann bought Red Fox's negatives in the late 80's, but I'm not sure if Derann released this one in the U.K. or not.

James.

Posted by Robert Aragon (Member # 181) on November 20, 2008, 05:37 PM:

RED FOX!!!!!!
That's IT! Thanks James...I have an OLD red fox brochure from 83.
Rob

Posted by Graham Ritchie (Member # 559) on December 05, 2018, 02:28 PM:

Well its now been ten years...yikes what happened? Well since that review I have done some improvements in particular to increase the light output of the GS1200. This same print looks great and shows zero deterioration in fade etc over those 10 years.

In fact its looks better than it did 10 years ago...anyway here are a couple of screen shots taken last week.

Posted by Burton Sundquist (Member # 5813) on December 05, 2018, 09:34 PM:

Very nice Graham,
I too screened this recently and have to say it is indeed a wonderful print. Excellent Cinematography, good musical score
and delightful to watch. Excellent screenshots too.

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on December 06, 2018, 11:03 AM:

This is one of those "dream prints" I would love to find some day.

Posted by Bill Brandenstein (Member # 892) on December 06, 2018, 04:36 PM:

They show up, Osi, and it is truly a lovely print and film, so happy hunting.

My copy was a later Derann printing and was done "wet gate," which results in some subtle vertical streaking.

The print matches video releases (in my case, DVD) to the frame, so sync to external audio is never easier than this. And that makes a sizeable improvement in the loveliness of the experience.

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