8mm Forum: Mountain Movies? Other Euro companies?

»	8mm Forum » 8mm Forum » Mountain Movies? Other Euro companies?

UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!

Author

Topic: Mountain Movies? Other Euro companies?

Paul Kazee
Junior
Posts: 2
From: Schenectady, NY, USA
Registered: Jun 2015

posted August 15, 2016 06:51 AM

Has anyone ever managed to put together a full list of the Mountain Movie titles.. ideally one that identifies the name of the feature film that each reel was excerpted from? Ditto other Euro companies that released 8mm/Super 8 reels.

--------------------
PKz

| IP: Logged

Maurice Leakey
Film God

Posts: 5895
From: Bristol. United Kingdom
Registered: Oct 2007

posted August 15, 2016 02:50 PM

A previous post of mine may be of interest.
http://8mmforum.film-tech.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=008851#000004

--------------------
Maurice

| IP: Logged

Mike Newell
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 826
From: United Kingdom
Registered: Jun 2003

posted August 15, 2016 04:02 PM

The only full listings I have seen of Mountain releases was done by a company called Erne Films run by John Woods who's distributed everybody else's releases. He covered Mountain/ Portland Jeff Ken Columbia Walton DCR Disney etc. It was excellent reference material for years. I think ironically Derann was missing because they wouldn't cut him a discount deal. Anyway he produced this catalogue of photocopied pages proberably ripped off from everybody else. It was like a book bundled and ring bound together. I think it actually cost £5.00 (this was 1979) to get the catalogue but he took it off your first order. He must have been getting discount from the other dealers as he would always sell you a title a couple pounds cheaper than buying direct. You actually got extra pages every so often which you could add to your ring binder catalogue.

I visited his home one time and rooms were filled with films from floor to ceiling. I had about 17 titles at the time so was suitably impressed.

The only film he ever released himself was a film on the Pope's visit to Ireland 200 and 400 Colour Sound versions which he touted everywhere for sale in a demented way. I think it cost him a fortune to release and was the Heaven's Gate of Super 8 ! After that video wiped him out but apart from trying to sell his company to collectors he sold everyone's mailing details to a motley crew of people there were some weird mail shots for some years.

After that he had a religious experience and joined some religious order or cult. He still sent invites to be God's best pal with offers of invites to retreats etc Of course he was in charge of the money arrangements.

When I moved house I left his eternal post deliveries behind.

| IP: Logged

Adrian Winchester
Film God

Posts: 2941
From: Croydon, London, UK
Registered: Aug 2004

posted August 16, 2016 10:15 PM

Mike - I was interested to learn more about Erne Films but I must ask whether you're sure that the film about the Pope was actually released? It's the sort of obscure rarity that I'd be snapping up if I ever came across a copy! But I recall seeing ads in Movie Maker from when he was trying to sell the company, and these said that one thing a buyer would get was some sort of master material relating to the prospective Super 8 release of the Pope's visit, and box artwork, although I can't remember if this had been printed. So at least at this time, it sounded like he was close to completing preparations for a release but hadn't quite managed it.

--------------------
Adrian Winchester

| IP: Logged

Osi Osgood
Film God

Posts: 10204
From: Mountian Home, ID.
Registered: Jul 2005

posted August 17, 2016 11:28 AM

I saw one just a short while back on ebay. I thought it was a curious little bit of history. I can't remember if it was the 200ft or 400ft version.

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

| IP: Logged

Joe Caruso
Film God

Posts: 4105
From: USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted August 17, 2016 12:07 PM

Mountain released 200' cut-downs of RKO shorts, any list appreciated - I'm searching for a Mountain caatlog or brochure, of sorts - Don't know alot about Erne Films, please enlighten - Portland and Breakspear I have some shorts from - Chers, Shorty

| IP: Logged

Mike Newell
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 826
From: United Kingdom
Registered: Jun 2003

posted August 17, 2016 01:48 PM

Adrian, yes there were definitely copies made both Super 8 and video I remember seeing one being shown at a movie make club evening There was also a super 8 film of a service in the Sistern Chapel of priests being confirmed by the Pope apparently this was a first ever but I don't believe this was a commercial release. The business man involved part funded Woods enterprise but cannily took the video rights and made a lot of money. He also invited Ray Harryhausen and his wife over to Ireland were I met Ray at the same movie making club and he then did a informal question and answer talk and watched Jason and the Argonauts at Noel Spence's Tudor Cinema in Comber. It actually became my print later on but unlike David whilst I got Ray's autograph on a photo the print box didn't get signed.

He also turned up at a 35mm showing of 7th Voyage of Sinbad.at QFT University cinema. He brought some of his models and stayed to watch both movies in full plus took a much time as you wanted to discuss all aspects of his films.

Amazing to think I saw and met this legend three times who was totally unfazed People just listened while he talked and surprisingly very few people took photos or footage of him. Can you imagine that in the mobile phone generation.

Ray was super humble and was thrilled with the hospitality and the interest of fans particularly super 8 collectors and this ultimately led to the Derann approaching him and if I remember right he appeared at either Blackpool Convention or Pinewood. I wasn't there that year but I'm sure you can confirm if it was Blackpool I think there is some footage on one of the Armchair Odeon tapes.

| IP: Logged

David Ollerearnshaw
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1373
From: Penistone Sheffield UK
Registered: Oct 2012

posted August 17, 2016 02:33 PM

Ray was at Blackpool which I missed. Peter Rogers was at Pinewood when I went.

--------------------
I love the smell of film in the morning.

http://www.thereelimage.co.uk/

| IP: Logged

Michael O'Regan
Film God

Posts: 3085
From: Essex, UK
Registered: Oct 2007

posted August 18, 2016 12:21 PM

Erne were based in Northern Ireland, if memory serves. I remember receiving their "bumper" pack of catalogues.

| IP: Logged

Paul Dann
Junior
Posts: 7
From: Kent UK
Registered: May 2011

posted August 18, 2016 01:57 PM

Based in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland.

| IP: Logged

Adrian Winchester
Film God

Posts: 2941
From: Croydon, London, UK
Registered: Aug 2004

posted August 19, 2016 10:04 PM

Mike/Osi - thanks for the evidence regarding the Pope in Ireland film, which I'll have to look out for. In view of the ad I saw, I can only guess that a failure to sell the company caused Mr Woods to decide that it would be too sad to let the preparations go to waste and not proceed with the release.

--------------------
Adrian Winchester

| IP: Logged

All times are Central

Printer-friendly view of this topic

UBB.classic^TM 6.3.1.2