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Topic: "The Last Starfighter" on Film

Graham Ritchie
Film God

Posts: 4001
From: New Zealand
Registered: Feb 2006

posted May 19, 2018 02:24 PM

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Well last night was a real treat. I missed it upon its release in the cinema back in 1984, but later in the 80s bought the VHS tape. As the years went by, it wasn't until I bought the Blu-ray that I would at last watch this 80s classic in its proper Scope format.

Thinking well I cant get better than that, I found myself in the position to borrow for a short time, the actual 35mm print that I missed back in the 80s. The owner of the print had only ever watched Reel One, so this was a chance for him to later watch the complete film next month, for a non-stop screening using my old platter and Ernemann 2.

Over the last few days I checked the reels of film and loaded it onto the platter. On inspection the film does show a bit of fade, but is still very good color wise. Last night I thought I would watch it. I was surprised how good the film print was, and in particular the Dolby Stereo soundtrack through the reverse scanning IR soundhead and Yamaha multi channel input of the amp, sounded fantastic.

It was amazing to screen this 35mm Scope film, even better than my projected Blu-ray [Big Grin]

[Big Grin]

Anyway here are a few screen shots...hope to hang onto this print for a wee while longer, and be able to screen it a few more times this year.

Its a pity you folks live so far away, you would really enjoy some of this stuff.

Last night....

...Robert Preston...

[ May 19, 2018, 06:01 PM: Message edited by: Graham Ritchie ]

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Tom Photiou
Film God

Posts: 4837
From: Plymouth U.K
Registered: Dec 2003

posted May 19, 2018 02:59 PM

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Superb Graham, i have only seen this once and that was in the cinema when it came out. [Wink]

[Wink]

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Janice Glesser
Film Goddess

Posts: 3468
From: Sunnyvale, CA USA
Registered: Sep 2011

posted May 19, 2018 04:57 PM

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This movie was a favorite of both my son's growing up...and I liked it too. Great print Graham!

--------------------
Janice

"I'm having a very good day!"
Richard Dreyfuss - Let It Ride (1989).

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Graham Ritchie
Film God

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From: New Zealand
Registered: Feb 2006

posted May 19, 2018 05:58 PM

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Thanks Tom and Janice.

Here are a couple more screen shots [Smile]

[Smile]

What really impressed me that the Ernemann2 is now 92 years old and can still project a rock steady image. With the print of "The Last Starfighter" it ran through the projector really smooth and quiet...you cant ask for more.

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Janice Glesser
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Posts: 3468
From: Sunnyvale, CA USA
Registered: Sep 2011

posted May 19, 2018 11:59 PM

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Starlite.... Starbrite [Smile]

[Smile]

--------------------
Janice

"I'm having a very good day!"
Richard Dreyfuss - Let It Ride (1989).

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Graham Ritchie
Film God

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From: New Zealand
Registered: Feb 2006

posted May 20, 2018 03:24 PM

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Janice

I still have a couple of photos left from the other night [Smile]

[Smile]

. I was going to post them then earlier, but didn't think anyone here would recognize what they were about [Smile]

[Smile]

[Smile]

The number plate...

One of only a few VHS tapes we have left, bought back in the 80s

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Patrick Walsh
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 723
From: Christchurch, New Zealand
Registered: Jul 2006

posted May 20, 2018 04:57 PM

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looks good Graham! ill have to come over and watch it!

--------------------
"Raise The Titanic!", It would of been cheaper to lower the Atlantic!

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Graham Ritchie
Film God

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From: New Zealand
Registered: Feb 2006

posted May 20, 2018 08:17 PM

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Absolutely Pat.. we will arrange a time very soon [Smile]

[Smile]

I have put on the front of the feature Scope trls of Peter Jacksons "Tin Tin" long version, followed by Johnny Depp "Pirates of the Caribbean" and finally and its a must "Super 8" the movie all in wonderful Scope...

I noticed this "modern look" trailer on you-tube....this person did a nice job....very well done.. [Cool]

[Cool]

https://youtu.be/l55LwfcPfWM

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Alan Gouger
Master Film Handler

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From: Florida
Registered: Jun 2003

posted May 20, 2018 08:45 PM

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Love this movie, what a treat to screen this on 35mm. Look at that contrast wow,very nice Graham.

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Barry Attwood
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1411
From: Enfield, U.K.
Registered: Aug 2003

posted May 21, 2018 01:07 AM

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I love this film also, I've got the region 1 DVD and the American trgion free Blu-ray, I often watch it.

It also seems there's a possibility of a remake, there's even a CGI mock up of the main ship on the internet, it's a shame they never did a second film, as it was left open at the end for a sequel!

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Graham Ritchie
Film God

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From: New Zealand
Registered: Feb 2006

posted June 03, 2018 01:57 PM

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Barry

I also wonder why a sequel was never made, as it was wide open for one. [Smile]

[Smile]

I contacted the owner of the print last week and on a wintery Friday night I screened it for him. He had never watched the complete film print and was thrilled with it.

After some tough negotiation [Smile]

[Smile]

we did a swap with some film stuff I had, including me throwing in the Blu-ray. [Big Grin]

[Big Grin]

Anyway the film will be always be kept complete and ready for platter screening at a moments notice. Yesterday being a wet Sunday, I ran it for Yvonne my better half, cant think of a better way to spend a wet afternoon [Cool]

[Cool]

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Dave Groves
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 508
From: Southend on Sea, Essex, UK
Registered: Feb 2015

posted June 04, 2018 03:43 AM

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Graham, you've convinced me I ought to watch it. Always admire your pictures.

--------------------
Dave

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Mark Todd
Film God

Posts: 3846
From: UK
Registered: Aug 2003

posted June 04, 2018 04:51 AM

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Hi Graham, its looks amazing, you are so lucky to have that set up.

Talk about best of both worlds !!!

Must get the you know what to view this as never seen it.

I wonder if the trailer is out on film ? ( 35mm yes, but something more of us can cope with !!! )

Best Mark.

PS I`ve often been tempted to collect 35mm trailers even without a projector, but got a grip.

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Graham Ritchie
Film God

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From: New Zealand
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posted June 05, 2018 03:34 AM

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Remember folks, I you are ever out this way, you are more than welcome to look us up...might even run some film [Wink]

[Wink]

[Smile]

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Graham Ritchie
Film God

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From: New Zealand
Registered: Feb 2006

posted October 13, 2018 01:30 PM

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Gave the Ernemann 2 a bit of a run last night [Smile]

[Smile]

https://youtu.be/awp0XMqQCdg

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Jason Patnode
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From: Zephyr Cove, NV, USA
Registered: Jul 2017

posted October 13, 2018 04:12 PM

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Thanks for posting Graham. Did you put everything together yourself? It runs so smooth and looks fantastic.

--------------------
Jason Patnode

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Graham Ritchie
Film God

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From: New Zealand
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posted October 13, 2018 04:28 PM

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Thanks Jason

When I was watching the film I thought I should quickly capture some scenes, then later using Moviemaker on Windows did a quick edit.

Its just a thrill to see this old projector running, I wanted to share that experience. The Last Starfighter was in fact the full 35mm feature, running to and from the platter, which is great if you don't want to stop for a reel change. [Smile]

[Smile]

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Paul Adsett
Film God

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From: USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted October 13, 2018 11:52 PM

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I've got to move to NZ! [Big Grin]

[Big Grin]

--------------------
The best of all worlds- 8mm, super 8mm, 9.5mm, and HD Digital Projection,
Elmo GS1200 f1.0 2-blade
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Panasonic PT-AE4000U digital pj

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Lindsay Morris
Film Handler

Posts: 87
From: Darlington, WA, Australia
Registered: Jul 2013

posted October 14, 2018 12:47 AM

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Great looking images there Graham. What are you using for light source??
Xenon or Halogen bulb??

Nice to see a machine that old still doing a very good job.

My Super Standard (twin shutter version) is approaching 70 years old but does have a bit of "dance" to its image but given it was ex a drive in it did a hell of a lot of work so the intermittent
has a bit of wear.
The Super Standard was made in South Australia and very very heavy.
in the 1950's

--------------------
Lindsay

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Graham Ritchie
Film God

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From: New Zealand
Registered: Feb 2006

posted October 14, 2018 02:05 PM

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Lindsay

I am using a halogen Xenophot HLX64663 36v 400w lamp another alternative is the Philips type 7787. The position of the lamp is where the arc used to strike, with full adjustments still for alinement of mirror and lamp available to obtain an even light over the 11ft wide screen. [Smile]

[Smile]

If its not been done already, if you can remove the intermittent sprocket and turn it around....it might improve things.

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Lindsay Morris
Film Handler

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From: Darlington, WA, Australia
Registered: Jul 2013

posted October 15, 2018 05:15 AM

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Graham,

Thanks for that lamp info...similar to what I am currently using.
As to intermittent sprocket it is quite new-ish so very little, if any, "hooking" of teeth.
The mech (star & cross) inside is quite worn in one spot so I have to always move the framing slightly up or down to get away from that very worn spot if I get into that position by accident.
I was always taught to vary the framing knob up and down from reel to reel so as to avoid what has happened to this intermittent mech.
I can recall working with some projectionists who would go ballistic if I moved the framing knob as I had been taught. To me they were just lazy and unprofessional as it mattered not where the knob was so long as you had some adjustment either way.
What they were on about was that they really did not have to carefully check their threading if that knob was NOT moved. So their machines just sat there reel after reel slowly wearing the cross & star more than anywhere else.
As platters came in the wear issue became even worse as one machine then was doing double the work and if never moved either way those machines got the dreaded jitter. [Roll Eyes]

[Roll Eyes]

--------------------
Lindsay

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Osi Osgood
Film God

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From: Mountian Home, ID.
Registered: Jul 2005

posted October 17, 2018 11:07 AM

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This is a film that I REALLY like, but it's also a hit film from the 80's that has sadly, because of the limits of CGI at the time, has gaed badly ...

I've often thought that this would be an excellent candidate for a studio to go in, completely replace the original CGI with brand new CGI, and then re-release it, and when putting it out on bluray, put both the original version and the "restored" version together on there!

This was a GREAT film for Robert Preston to go out on!!!!

--------------------
"All these moments will be lost in time, just like ... tears, in the rain. "

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Graham Ritchie
Film God

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From: New Zealand
Registered: Feb 2006

posted October 18, 2018 03:37 AM

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Osi

Sorry I must disagree with you, regarding the original CGI, I still think it still holds up well and feel that this is one film that's best left alone. [Smile]

[Smile]

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