8mm Forum: A Walt Disney Christmas

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Posted by Lee Mannering (Member # 728) on December 17, 2015, 05:19 AM:

I couldn't find this on the list of reviews so here is a contribution, retrospective even!

A Walt Disney Christmas was released to Super 8mm colour sound film in the 1970's and upon reading about it I quickly placed my order with a local stockist back then. It came in a colourful box and on a 400ft reel with a good running time of just over 16 minutes. Films contained are in abridged form and neatly cut together to make up a complete seasonal reel including Toy Tinkers 1949, Santa's Workshop 1932, Night before Christmas 1933 and Pluto's Christmas Tree 1952 the most recent on the reel.

These are all wonderful animated cartoons and the super 8 film has stood the test of time being project probably a hundred times from shows at home or out and about. Inevitably its easy to get all nostalgic about this one as its been part of the collection for decades and holds fond memories of the children enjoying it, but what a great reel Walt Disney Home Movies issued in this entertaining thousands around the world.

This is my original purchased film box.

When this was new the colour was amazing but over the years it will have shifted obviously but nice copies are still around if you hunt. Nice crisp sound track and still a joy to watch even today.

Enjoy your Christmas show!
[Smile]

Posted by Andrew Woodcock (Member # 3260) on December 17, 2015, 05:41 AM:

Yes mine still has relative good colour Lee. If I get time I will post one or two s/s here.

Of course Pluto's Christmas Tree doesn't look like the screenshots I recently posted elsewhere which was the Derann later release, but highly watchable nonetheless.
Some of the others on here were also released by Derann in the later years on low fade. I also have Santa's Workshop and the Night Before Christmas as a seperate short.

Posted by Lee Mannering (Member # 728) on December 17, 2015, 05:58 AM:

Its funny but as the years tick by the colour change issue of the old Super 8 even Std 8 films does not bother me quite so much. I'm guessing the looking back nostalgia thing is beginning to take precedence having had these films for so long. I had a nice chat with dear Keith Wilton about his film events of years past, another nostalgia trip for us both recalling the Watermans Art Centre where Mr Darth Vader came for a SW screening.
What times they were.

Posted by Steve Klare (Member # 12) on December 17, 2015, 09:16 AM:

The film companies were pretty smart issuing these compilation reels: first you bought the compilation, then you wanted the films it was made from too!

I have a nice print of this one and it will certainly get some screen time next week. I always take the week between Christmas and New Year's off and with the good mood and the early sunset, there is a lot of film happening that week!

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on December 17, 2015, 11:54 AM:

I was lucky enough to get one of the UK printings of this title, and it's on Agfa! It still looks marvelous to this very day! There's nothing like cherished memories of beautiful, colorful prints you used to watch way back in the mid 70's, and then find that they can still look just as good today! [Big Grin]

Posted by Phil Murat (Member # 5148) on December 17, 2015, 01:15 PM:

These are Great pieces of Art of Animation too (Master Pieces), showing many ideas, always enjoying to watch them every time.
The Atmosphere is charming, this is to enjoy like a famous wine or champagne (without moderation)

Normally these Derann print are pretty good as I remember, I am going to check that in a few days.

Posted by Tom Photiou (Member # 130) on December 11, 2018, 02:30 PM:

Dec 2018 review update.
I guess anyone who is looking at this will simply be reminded that they probably have a print of this film, one of the most common Disney reels in any collectors stock, especially if, like me, you have had Children or Grandchildren to show Christmas films to. I dont need to go into the content too much due to the fact of how many of these are out there and it is already within this thread. There are a few on ebay at present including my own. No, not this particular print, but the one we have had for around 25 years plus.
This print was on ebay last week and i was taken back by the images, the colours were so vivid, so i popped a bid in with a view to a high point, i added a couple of quid and it was a good job i did as i would have lost it.
Our own is showing signs of fade as many seem to be now, particularly in the darker sections during Toy tinkers and Pluto's xmas tree, a slight red hue in just a few places, aside this it isn't too bad,(or so i thought).
This new copy arrived today, a very fast delivery service from the ebay seller,willhay, and holy cow, was i happy with this. The box looks like it's just been opened from the wrapper. There isn't a mark or crease on it anywhere, i gave it a very quick check as always, popped it on and the following images will tell you everything. 100% fantastic, we are very much over the moon with this one. Great colours, no fade what so ever, pin sharp image and 1st class sound, no splices or any problems at all. The seller mentioned a very light line to the right and as this replaces our slightly fading copy this is like a brand spanking new film.
I assume this is on agfa stock or is an LPP reprint, either way there is absolutely no fade on this print and, in my view, it is one of the best Christmas films on super 8. Perfect for any audience, not too long and a great variety of shorts on one reel.

Posted by Bill Brandenstein (Member # 892) on December 11, 2018, 09:50 PM:

Whoa! Tom, that looks great!

Is this a Bucks Labs print? Curious if it's Fuji with a date code.

I've replaced a red razor-sharp Eastman print of this with a late-'70s Fuji with softer focus and about 50% color left. Maybe someday I'll find another copy that looks more like this!

It's one of our favorite holiday movies and I intend to show it regularly whatever years we do Christmas films.

Posted by Tom Photiou (Member # 130) on December 12, 2018, 03:52 AM:

Thanks Bill, ill take a look tonight and see if i can find the stock type.

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on December 12, 2018, 12:10 PM:

Yep, the Fuju or Agfa prints of this in the U.K. (I have an Agfa of the U.K. printing myself), have excellent colors. The only difference between the two is that, from what I have heard from other collectors, the Agfa, for some odd reason, is the just the slightest bit soft in focus, where the fuji print is pin sharp.

I don't know if this is because of the use of different stocks, however.

Posted by Kevin Clark (Member # 211) on December 12, 2018, 02:30 PM:

Hello Tom & Bill

This is indeed a beautiful print of my all time favourite 'digest' and one to cherish and watch over and over again.

I was fortunate to buy my one on poly LPP a few years ago and it looks exactly like yours - mine came in a plain white box so I re-used the original WDHM box - it was nice to upgrade it as the others I had were on Kodak SP, Eastman & Fuji and all turning in colour.

I loaned my LPP one to Bill Parsons last year as a soundtrack source so he could re-record his and promised him I will find him an LPP print one day - you were lucky I didn't see this on Ebay whilst I was laid low we could have had a bidding war for it!

Mr. Osgood - thankfully you have not accused Tom of any 'doctoring' of his screen shots - I would appreciate you read and reply to my comment about this in your Fox & The Hound thread asap.

Kevin.

Posted by Lee Mannering (Member # 728) on December 13, 2018, 02:04 AM:

It certainly goes back a bit this one and on the Eumig for many a year also holding many memories projecting it for the children.

Posted by Graham Ritchie (Member # 559) on December 13, 2018, 01:02 PM:

Wow [Cool]

that's a nice print Tom. Its a film we put on every Christmas [Smile]

Posted by Tom Photiou (Member # 130) on December 13, 2018, 03:03 PM:

Thank you chaps.
Kevin, i would not want a bidding war with you, I've got more 16mm's to buy yet [Big Grin]

Yes this was a very lucky find for me, i wasn't looking for it, i simply stumbled on it as a "similar items you may like".
We first bought a print of this when my Brother had his Son goodness knows how many years ago now. Last year it showed some red hue in places so i was so pleased to find this one. It is one of the best Xmas films around and the content is excellent for any audience both young and old. I used it every year at my Children's Badgers & St Johns Christmas film shows that i did for around 10 years running. Great days they were too.
Now this new, and better copy will take pride of place and will continue to be viewed every year, the box took me by surprise, it really is like it has just come out of the wrapper off the shelf. Not a mark or crease on it anywhere.
I will also keep my eyes out for an LPP or Agfa print for Bill. [Wink]

By the way, i checked my print tonight and the original leader on it states Bucks Laboratories, Slough. Still not sure what the stock is though [Embarrassed]

Posted by Bill Brandenstein (Member # 892) on December 13, 2018, 06:07 PM:

Finding any Disney titles stateside on LPP is well nigh
impossible. So Buck Labs is a close second - and my partly faded copy did come from there. I just need a "newer" one!

Christmas blessings to you all.

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on December 14, 2018, 11:25 AM:

Bill's right about that. nearly all prints stateside was on eastman film stock, and not the beloved l.P.P. Some have held up OK, but most, uh uh!

Those "Movie Milestones" releases, three of them ...

The Band Concert
The Old Mill

depending on how they were stored, have held up Ok, but strangely, the third one, "The Ugly Duckling" has tended to more faded than the other two.

Just a thought ...

I've always wished that Disney had plunged into the scope releases with they're "Black Hole" 400ft digest! I have a very nice Fuji print of this, but I have always wished that it was scope. [Frown]

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