Author
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Topic: L & H films Please Advise
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Chris Quinn
Master Film Handler
Posts: 372
From: England, Bedfordshire.
Registered: Nov 2003
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posted December 19, 2003 09:35 AM
Hi, to all. Please can some one advise me on collecting Laurel & Hardy films. I have managed to obtain some of their shorts and one feature, I realise that these films are old and not to expect to much in the way of quality, but a few of the films I have got seem to suffer from two problems, poor contrast with washed out faces, little detail, and soft focus. Is this typical of most super 8 versions of these films or is there a certain brand names for instance Blackhawk or Castle etc that I should look out for, most of my collection if not all are Walton prints. I can remember being at a convention many years ago at a London venue, was it the Top Hat? Can’t remember, anyway they showed a lovely Laurel & Hardy film that was super looking. Could this have been a new Derann print, I remember them being there.
-------------------- The other half thinks i'm up to something. Shes right of course.
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Mike Newell
Jedi Master Film Handler
Posts: 826
From: United Kingdom
Registered: Jun 2003
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posted December 25, 2003 06:28 PM
Hi Chris
My personal preference in Laurel & Hardy on 8mm is the polyester prints issued by Derann in the 1980s. Despite being processed on coloured 8mm stock which gave them a slightly blue look they were miles superior in terms of print quality to Blackhawks or Waltons.
Waltons had the disadvantage of always being slightly edited and Blackhawk always hacked off the original titles in favour of their own and any I ever came across had a grainy look to them.
I accept that I have seen Betty Boop and Ub Iwerk cartoons from Blackhawk that were excellent but unfortunately can not say I have seen Blackhawks in anywhere near mint condition it just didn't exist with prints produced in the 1970's.
The polyesters produced in the 1980s were so good in quality because they came from the library prints held by a certain British television station. If you get a chance look out for titles such as Below Zero, Them Thar Hills, Fixer Uppers, Chickens Come Home(600), Helpmates and Helpmates,Tit for Tat,The Music Box (600)full length and Way Out West. They are usually always excellent.
Other titles such as Another Fine Mess (is okay )Brats and Live Ghost are soft and Fraternally Yours (3x400)has negative damage on reel 3.
Also be wary of bootleg polyesters produced about the same time.
They are all sepia in colour and are usually darker prints while still being sharp. Any Old Port, Scram and Come Clean are examples but The Music Box (600)also turns up from this source with more marks and scratches.
There are also USA polyesters which are all bright red.
Be careful what you are buying stick to dealers such as Derann,Paul Foster, Perry's Independent 8 etc.
All the best
Mike
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