8mm Forum: Once Upon a time in the West 3 x 400ft Marketing

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Posted by Tom Photiou (Member # 130) on February 01, 2018, 02:08 PM:

I have begun a new topic on this movie as the previous review was for the 400ft edition.
This is the 3 x 400ft version joined onto a full 800ft spool.

This is a film that needs no introduction. Classic Sergio Leone at his very best, and a classic score thats instantly recognised by the Maestro Ennio Morricone.
One of the first batch of releases from Marketing this is a very good release on our gauge but while it's fine i have to say Marketing manage to bollocks it up as always. The 200ft edition of this film could easily have been the opening section where the family is murdered by the outlaws and for those who bought this could have added it onto the start but unfortunately this edition opens up straight to the funeral. However, it is a good edition and while ours is virtually unmarked there is some fade. Fortunately, much of this film is in nice bright outdoor settings so the fade isn't so bad. over all ours is in much better shape than many others i have seen for sale with many of them looking awful and red. A full length version would be a great find in scope on either 8 or 16 but it's a long feature so reputability would be limited. Any one looking to add only one or two westerns would have to include this title.
We bought this one brand new upon its release, we also sent off some months later, for the paramount logo that was offered free by marketing due the amount of complaints about the poor way they decided to omit any end title of any kind.
While the story is botched together the one thing that stands out about this longer version is that reel three is almost entirely taken up with the duel between the Frank,(Henry Fonda) & "Harmonica", (Charles Bronson), this sequence is where eventually Frank finds out who "Harmonica" is with a flashback sequence. The music in this part alone is worth the whole film.

Posted by Oliver F. R. Feld (Member # 1911) on February 02, 2018, 08:05 AM:

Sadly, marketing-film tried to tell the main story here instead of trusting the metaphorical language of Sergio Leone.
I don’t miss the opening sequence of this 3-reeler because of its coolness,
but because it’s the important metaphor of the whole movie.
Maybe a letterbox version had been better.
Not even the Pan&Scan is really good.
You need to look into both eyes of „Harmonica“ before the flashback begins, not only into one.
I am a fan of marketing-film, but in my opinion this title is only acceptable

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on February 02, 2018, 12:07 PM:

At least you're print hasn't faded too much.

As you had mentioned, there is a full feature of this in scope on super 8 and from the screenshots that I have seen from it, it has a very good image.

Thanks 4 the review! [Smile]

Posted by Tom Photiou (Member # 130) on February 02, 2018, 01:22 PM:

Thanks chaps, it definatly should have been letter boxed at least.
I guess we should be thankful to have at least had this version, i still enjoy this one even after 39 years. [Wink]

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on February 03, 2018, 12:01 PM:

Tom ...

Does this 3X400ft include the train sequence, (with Jason Robards on the top of the train, shooting through his boot?)

Posted by Oliver F. R. Feld (Member # 1911) on February 03, 2018, 01:08 PM:

Yes, it is included

Posted by Tom Photiou (Member # 130) on February 03, 2018, 02:18 PM:

I should have put the run order up, sorry chaps n girls, It is edited very chopsy in my opinion. I am pleased that they didnt wreck the duel sequence in reel three or the whole film would have been ruined like they did in for a few dollers more.

Posted by Phil Murat (Member # 5148) on February 05, 2018, 11:01 AM:

Hi Tom,

It's funny, as I just had the opportunity to get it in full feature version (Very rare Marketing, English language, 9x120 reels as I remember....), a few days ago.
The vendor was selling it and some others titles too. They were property of his father who died a few times ago.
Examining the movie with a magnifying glass, no scrath appears, but colors were more or less faded ..... So I decided to let it, even he was ready to make me a bargain price.
I tried to determine film code , but it seems this is not Agfa or kodak

As this film is in Scope format, I only bought him the anamorphic lens , a Sankor 16C model, as new for 60 euros.
Also, The owner was using a GS1200 which was already sold.....

The vendor was selling "California" (With G. Gemma, Full feature, Italian print, flat version) for 90 Euros maximum. Colors were good , but there was many scratches, so I decided to let it to..

It's sad to observe that many movies collections are sold off once the owner have died now..... Speaking with the seller who was collector's son, I understood his father had a big collection (All Film Office catalog content, almost all Marketing Titles...)

[ February 06, 2018, 12:07 AM: Message edited by: Phil Murat ]

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on February 05, 2018, 11:34 AM:

as yes but Phil ... it makes all these soon to be rare titles available for us die hard collectors! [Smile]

If there has not been any posting of the scope version of the feature, could someone put up screenshots of the scope feature, just for reference?

By the way, I've often thought that just the whole credit sequence to this film would have made a GREAT little 200ft digest, of course, in scope.

One of the only complaints I had with the edited feature of "My Name Is Nobody" in scope, was that I SO WISHED that they would have included that whole "Shave and A Haircut" sequence from the beginning of the film ... then, it would have been a PERFECR edited feature. [Smile]

Posted by Tom Photiou (Member # 130) on February 05, 2018, 02:56 PM:

Phil, i think you were wise to pass it on, for me a full scope film of this stature needs to be a good colour print, sitting through this length a film in red would be a waste of time.
We do have the super 8 scope trailer which is superb in colour. I will pop up a few images later on this thread.

Posted by Phil Murat (Member # 5148) on February 06, 2018, 11:16 AM:

I share this point of view Tom.

Commercial strategy of former big companies involved in super 8 prints production is a mistery.....
Such a master feature, very, very expensive in the past should deserve the best negative available and a film stock based on the very best low fade material.
Ruining the result is just an other way to accelerate super 8 fall down.....

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on February 06, 2018, 11:59 AM:

The film stock is low fade on the super 8 scope full feature, (yay!), AND I believe that it was a German film print.

(those German collectors really luck out on a LOT of great features we rarely see over here!)

However, I don't see many people who have bought that scope feature, wanting to part with it.

Posted by Tom Photiou (Member # 130) on February 06, 2018, 12:38 PM:

I would hate to think how much it cost, it must be around 500/600 upward. Cant say i would pay it, not for a movie.
Here is a couple of small screenshots from the scope trailer,

Posted by Phil Murat (Member # 5148) on February 06, 2018, 12:45 PM:

Thanks for this info Osi.

I don't remember to have observed more information on leaders.

Normally, I assume it could show more indications as Laboratory name, etc.....

Kempski prints were lalbelised "Dietrich Kempski", looks like hand engraved

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Thanks Tom , super screenshots, super colors!!! far away better than what I saw on the feature

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