8mm Forum: Amazing image recovery from deteriorated film reel

This is topic Amazing image recovery from deteriorated film reel in forum General Yak at 8mm Forum.

To visit this topic, use this URL:
https://8mmforum.film-tech.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=8;t=004643

Posted by Gary Sayers (Member # 5545) on December 31, 2017, 11:14 AM:

Here's a link to a 3 part blog that details the recovery of images (and possibly short clips) from a 16mm print of a 'missing' 1968 BBC Morecambe and Wise show.

The method and results are nothing short of amazing!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/rd/blog/2017-12-morecambe-wise-video-film-archive-restoration

Posted by Brian Fretwell (Member # 4302) on January 01, 2018, 04:30 AM:

Thankfully the sound has been found as an off air recording from an Australian broadcast, so if the can get the pictures back they can combine them.

I wonder if this is the same technique they have used to read papyrus scrolls that have been cut up and re-used to make masks as in reported in recent news. It seems very similar to me.

Posted by Terry Sills (Member # 3309) on January 01, 2018, 05:21 AM:

Thanks Gary for that post. Little short of miraculous. The advances of technology are a wonder to behold and it seems that almost nothing is impossible these days.

Posted by Mark Mander (Member # 340) on January 01, 2018, 06:00 AM:

Wow an incredible amount of work to put that together,the technology is amazing so gives hope for other films to be pieced back together given the same circumstances,Mark

Posted by Maurice Leakey (Member # 916) on January 01, 2018, 06:18 AM:

So there's no need to bin that vinegar print, but only if it would be worth the effort. Congratulations to all involved.

Regarding the comment that Morecombe & Wise would not renew their ITV contract in 1968 because they wanted their programmes in colour and at that time only BBC2 was in colour.

I always understood that when colour was on the horizon American TV shows were already filming in colour to await the great day. Also, Lew Grade, who exported at lot of his shows also filmed in colour, knowing full well that he could show them in black & white, and eventually colour when the time came.

Posted by Dave Groves (Member # 4685) on January 01, 2018, 06:51 AM:

What an astonishing piece of work.

Posted by Brian Fretwell (Member # 4302) on January 01, 2018, 09:05 AM:

I have seen on another forum that they only have funding for recovering the first 8-10 minutes of this at present. The rest will be kept refrigerated until they have more funds.

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

Amazing!!

UBB.classic^TM 6.3.1.2