8mm Forum: Doctor Zhivago

This is topic Doctor Zhivago in forum General Yak at 8mm Forum.

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Posted by Graham Ritchie (Member # 559) on November 23, 2007, 07:03 PM:

I recently watched this film the entire 192 minutes [Eek!]

on DVD, first time since watching it at the movies long long ago, [Roll Eyes]

the incredible scenery, sets, and film making, also made me think how much films have changed over the years, today we talk about blockbusters and frankly they are not very good compared with films like "Doctor Zhivago", also I imagine being a projectionist in those days with two projectors, changeovers every 20 minutes plus all the lighting and intermission stuff you had to do "it must have been something", going to the movies has certainly changed, has anyone got this film full length on Super8, and what is it like? I do have the Scope trl which I intend to re-record from the DVD. well here is a still from the movie, can you guess what the snow was made off?

Graham.

Posted by Hugh McCullough (Member # 696) on November 24, 2007, 05:58 AM:

I showed "Doctor Zhivago" in 70mm.
Two projectors, carbon arcs, and single reels. Got no idea of the weight of the spool when it had film on it, but an empty 70mm one weighed about 10 Lbs.
Lifting a full spool up to the top spool box was quite a feat. Mind you, the excersise did you good.
I think that the snow was made of paper, mixed with some liquid chemical, dried, and then sprayed over the set.

Posted by Graham Ritchie (Member # 559) on November 24, 2007, 07:29 PM:

Hugh
Over 3 hours of "Doctor Zhivago" on 70mm, I bet the image looked great, [Smile]

how long was each reel?, I dont think any cinema out here projects 70mm anymore "pity", was it 4 track stereo magnetic stripe.? The last time I watched 70mm was in the cinerama theatre back in the 70s, sadly the cinema has long gone, instead of going video projection, myby they should screen it instead, [Wink]

is it still used much in the UK?.

Graham. [Smile]

Posted by Claus Harding (Member # 702) on November 24, 2007, 10:32 PM:

Ah, "Zhivago"; one of the ones I think of simply as one of the 'big, beautiful films' along with 'Lawrence' 'Passage to India' '1900' and a very few others. I have never watched them on DVD, and I don't know that I would want to try to do justice to them at home in 16mm, even in 'Scope (after going broke buying a print 192mins long.)

I did see it first in 70mm at the Uptown here in Washington; like you said, Hugh, pity noone circulates those prints anymore, especially since here the Uptown still has the same Centurys capable of running the format.

'Zhivago', to me, is one of very few films to get "winter cold" right, emotionally, on film.

Best,
Claus.

Posted by Hugh McCullough (Member # 696) on November 25, 2007, 06:35 AM:

I can not remember how many reels "Doctor Zhivago" had, but I do remember that some ran for only about 16 mins, and others up to 20 mins.

Mind you, "Ben Hur" had some 10 min reels, and MGM would not allow us to join them together.

We projected onto our scope screen of 45ft wide, but for 70mm the top masking was raised by about 3ft.

Having retired, and only working part time in a small cinema in the countryside, I am not sure if 70mm is used much these days in the UK, digital seems to be the latest craze at the moment, but I believe that when it is projected there is no longer any mag stripes. The film sound is played back using the DTS system. Mag striping is deemed to be not Green.
Must be a joke there somewhere as mag stripe is brown.

I have always thought that mag sound, be it tape or on film, is rather an odd idea.
Scraping a layer of rust over a piece of brass with a hole in it.

For more information about mag striped 70mm please go to my web site at
http://www.cinephoto.co.uk/misc_film_9.htm

Posted by Michael Hyde (Member # 748) on November 25, 2007, 11:57 AM:

I must confess to buying a full lenght scope print on 8 about five or six years back. i cleaned it,put it on the shelf and never watched it sadly,it`s still there now,one day perhaps....

Posted by Michael O'Regan (Member # 938) on November 25, 2007, 02:08 PM:

To Michael Hyde,

Geez Michael,

Get it off the shelf and watch it!!!!!

-Mike.

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on November 28, 2007, 03:09 PM:

Believe it or not folks, Docor Z. was an optical feature, for the long flights overseas and was in two parts, (as each part could only be a little under two hours.)

Posted by David Park (Member # 123) on December 07, 2007, 11:22 AM:

Hi Graham, yes 70mm still used at the Picture Ville cinema, Bradford, it is part of the National Media Museum. I attend the annual w/s weekend each year.

Posted by Graham Ritchie (Member # 559) on December 10, 2007, 02:24 AM:

Hi David
Pleased to read that 70mm is still used I have never seen anything else that has come close to 70mm quality, its a pity it is not used a lot more.

Graham. [Smile]

Posted by Claus Harding (Member # 702) on December 10, 2007, 11:22 AM:

Graham,

I couldn't agree more, and I consider myself lucky to have arrived in the US in time to see both premieres (like 'Alien') in 70mm and also the great re-runs (Zhivago, Ben-Hur and others)
in that beautiful format before the money men decided that it wasn't worth the expense anymore.

Pity.

Claus

Posted by David Park (Member # 123) on December 10, 2007, 11:49 AM:

When the re runs done how do they handle the sound?
The orginals had 5 tracks for behind the screen, do they mix into the normal 3 of today?
I've a feeling only 3 behind the 70mm screen at Pictureville.
I'm trying to remember I saw the 70mm rollup and then the speakers went up prior to the deep curve Cinerama being used.
Regards
David

Posted by David Park (Member # 123) on December 17, 2007, 09:07 AM:

70mm etc.
Just been made aware the web pages for the 2008 W/S W/E as come up.
Book mark for future use.
http://www.nationalmediamuseum.org.uk/bff/2008/widescreen.asp
I note Windjammer is on its 50th aniversary, saw it a few years ago, but sadly all colour had gone from the print.

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