8mm Forum: Film Distributors.

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Topic: Film Distributors.

David Hardy
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 955
From: Johnshaven Village , Montrose, Scotland
Registered: Jan 2015

posted April 11, 2019 04:02 AM

In the not so distant past there were quite a number of Film Distributors and Companies world wide releasing 8mm and 16mm prints.

My top three favourites were :

( 1 ) Castle Films.

( 2 ) Ken Films.

( 3 ) Walton Films.

Which one's were yours ? [Smile]

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" My equipment's more important than your rats. "

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Lee Mannering
Film God

Posts: 3216
From: The Projection Box
Registered: Nov 2006

posted April 11, 2019 04:44 AM

In no particular order.

Perrys Movies
Ian was always good fun when I travelled some distance to shop and Arthur was the man if you wanted to know anything about film printing.

Derann Films
Hundreds of varied titles and a huge amount of knowledge from the staff. Gary was always funny, Ged of course and our Derek Simmonds who will never be forgotten.

I will have to include David Guest here and one of our more recent prominent professional traders sadly now gone. He had secured so many collections in his time we always had a constant run of new films to choose from on a visit. A very warm welcome always and a fascinating family. David resurrected the North West Film Fair taking a huge financial risk all for the love of film.

Those names here in the UK we will never see the like of again regretfully.

US wise I must take the liberty of including Steve Osbourne who has shown a commitment to film for a long time now and I can speak for others saying we truly appreciate his efforts.

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David Hardy
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 955
From: Johnshaven Village , Montrose, Scotland
Registered: Jan 2015

posted April 11, 2019 08:06 AM

Cheers Lee.

I think i would have to add Perry's to my list too. Perry's had a great selection of Silent films and early sound rarities.

I liked some of the Derann Titles in the early Standard 8mm days but was not too interested in their later Super 8mm releases such as the Walt Disney Feature titles and Die Hard , Speed etc. With the exception of the Hammer releases and a handful of shorts and some newsreels and a couple of cartoons that was it for me so i never really bought much from them at all.

Therefore to be honest i don't really mourn the demise of DFS like some others here in the UK do.

Classic Home Cinema has also released some rare and great titles more in in keeping with my interests.

Of course all credit to Steve Osbourne in the USA for his releases.

[Wink]

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" My equipment's more important than your rats. "

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Leon Norris
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 958
From: Elkins Park, PA, USA
Registered: Jun 2012

posted April 11, 2019 10:51 AM

The film companies I did business with were Blackhawk films, Niles, Thunderbird, ken, castle, Columbia, Derann, Reel to Reel, Reel Images, Canterbury, Red fox, Disney,more craft,they were the main ones I supported! And its a good thing I kept some of there catalogs! It brings back a lot of memories!

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David Hardy
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 955
From: Johnshaven Village , Montrose, Scotland
Registered: Jan 2015

posted April 11, 2019 12:33 PM

Yes Leon Blackhawk Films had some brilliant releases too. Their print quality was a lot better than some UK distributors i could name.

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" My equipment's more important than your rats. "

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Joe Caruso
Film God

Posts: 4105
From: USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted April 11, 2019 12:51 PM

Steel Valley (some quite rare titles), Griggs/Moviedrome/Essex, of NJ, Willoughby=Peerless, ESO-S (Harry Hilfinger, late out of Missouri way, Ken Films, Niles (dupey occasionally, still some great titles from them), Glenn Photo had some of the earliest and best looking prints in all gauges...Blackhawk #1, always - Shorty

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David Hardy
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 955
From: Johnshaven Village , Montrose, Scotland
Registered: Jan 2015

posted April 11, 2019 04:08 PM

Cheers Shorty for your listings. I agree about Blackhawk. [Smile]

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" My equipment's more important than your rats. "

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Mike Newell
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 826
From: United Kingdom
Registered: Jun 2003

posted April 11, 2019 05:20 PM

1 Universal 8 Super Digests and cut downs

2 Marketing Brilliant releases and prints if you didn't get a pinky version.

3 Perrys The 1st release I bought was funeral of Queen Victoria. I do wonder was it a reprint or was Messr and Young Ian there actually filming it. I also have fond memories of Santorini travelogue and that poor donkey going up that mountain.

4 Derann digests were generally crap in early days between Horror of Frankenstein and the United Artist edit them together jobs but they did get the hang of it in the end and their features were the best print and sound wise produced even those cute Disney ones. Mind you it was better to buy from the other dealers and get discount rate rather than buy direct from them.

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Mark Silvester
Master Film Handler

Posts: 282
From: England
Registered: Oct 2007

posted April 12, 2019 02:20 AM

Hi all

nice little thread - and keeping in the title of Film Distributor's.

1/ Derann - head and shoulders in front.

2/ Mountain Films

3/ Walton

4/ Universal 8 ( I agree with Mike best cut downs and digests by a country mile).

Its always enjoyable to think back to those early ..exciting days of the hobby...mind you I have to say I think that box art for Mountain films was absolutely brilliant,

Best

Mark [Smile]

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Mark Silvester

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David Hardy
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 955
From: Johnshaven Village , Montrose, Scotland
Registered: Jan 2015

posted April 12, 2019 11:22 AM

Thanks Mike and Mark. This thread is getting to be very interesting indeed. I am glad you guys are giving the reasons why too. [Smile]

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" My equipment's more important than your rats. "

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