8mm Forum: North by Northwest?

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Topic: North by Northwest?

Christopher Quinn
Film Handler

Posts: 66
From: .
Registered: May 2007

posted May 27, 2007 12:25 PM

Is there anyone who has seen the Derann full length print of North by Northwest and can comment on the quality? I’ve searched around for reviews or comments but couldn’t find any.

Many Thanks!

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James N. Savage 3
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1375
From: Washington, DC
Registered: Jul 2003

posted May 28, 2007 07:55 AM

I saw the RED FOX print, and it is beautiful!

I know that DERANN is using the same negative from RED FOX (Derann purchased most of their negatives when they closed in the late 80's).

So, its really up to the lab that Derann uses. I have seen some outstanding quality stuff from their lab in recent years, so a high quality print of NORTH BY NORTHWEST should be very acheivable.

James.

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Christopher Quinn
Film Handler

Posts: 66
From: .
Registered: May 2007

posted May 28, 2007 11:19 AM

Thanks for your reply James. Sounds like it might be worth saving up for!

Can you remember if the Red Fox print was letterboxed at all?

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James N. Savage 3
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1375
From: Washington, DC
Registered: Jul 2003

posted May 28, 2007 12:59 PM

I'm pretty sure it was full-screen, Chris.

If I find out the contrary, I'll let you know.

James.

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Robert Wales
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 100
From: Toronto
Registered: Nov 2005

posted May 29, 2007 05:16 PM

Like all Vistavision titles, this would be a full-frame print that was matted to various aspect ratios during projection. You could mask of the top and bottom of your image to get the correct 1:66 or 1:85 framing, as Vistavsion allowed for both.

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Christopher Quinn
Film Handler

Posts: 66
From: .
Registered: May 2007

posted May 30, 2007 07:37 AM

But weren’t original Vistavision prints hard matted at 1.55:1 (due to the horizontal negative process) and then further matted in cinemas to their desired ratio? Were the actual prints full frame? I thought the native widescreen aspect ratio of Visitavision was one of the advantages of the format over standard Academy prints.

Either way, the loss would be too slight to put me off watching a full frame print. But I’d be interested to know for certain!

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Tony Milman
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1336
From: United Kingdom
Registered: Jun 2003

posted May 30, 2007 01:47 PM

I have that print but I am not certain if it is a Derann or not. The print quality is very good and I thought it was full screen but you have me wondering now!.

I will take another look if I can get chance and see what I can see

--------------------
Tony

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Joerg Niggemann
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 127
From: Germany
Registered: May 2006

posted June 02, 2007 02:11 AM

My print of "North by Northwest" is full screen and has beautiful colours and good sharpness. I don't know if it is a Derann or Red Fox print.

Joerg

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Lars Pettersson
Master Film Handler

Posts: 282
From: Stockholm, Sweden
Registered: Jan 2007

posted June 02, 2007 03:50 AM

I have the Derann print of "North by Northwest" -It´s full screen 1,33:1. I couldn´t swear if it´s not actually cropped a bit, as I don´t know exactly what was included in the actual VV images. I usually project it slightly cropped top/bottom to about 1,5:1.
Rich deep blacks and strong colours and good sharpness and detail, good strong mono sound. The negative it was printed from has some wear here and there, but it doesn´t detract from the viewing pleasure. NbyNW is one of the All Time Classics, not ONE weak scene in over two hours, and of course a handful of Iconic Set Pieces (first four minutes, corn field, Mt Rushmore, etc). [Eek!]

Cheers,
Lars

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Douglas Meltzer
Moderator

Posts: 4554
From: New York, NY, USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted June 02, 2007 09:27 AM

Since this is not an actual review of "North by Northwest", I've moved this topic from the review neighborhood to the regular Forum neck of the woods. Lars, would you consider expanding your post into a review?

Doug

--------------------
I think there's room for just one more film.....

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Lars Pettersson
Master Film Handler

Posts: 282
From: Stockholm, Sweden
Registered: Jan 2007

posted June 02, 2007 10:15 AM

Doug, I´d love to write a review of the Derann print of "North by Northwest"

Hopefully things will slow down a bit for me now beginning of June and I´ll get some spare time and post it! [Smile]

Cheers,
Lars

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Michael De Angelis
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1261
From: USA
Registered: Jul 2003

posted June 02, 2007 04:39 PM

Lars,

I don't know if this helps but
Turner Classic Movies broadcasted this
recently. The print used was
immaculate and it was aired as
wide screen.

The scene in which Cary Grant and
Eva Marie Saint meet in the
tree filled wooded forest
has them both standing on opposite
the far ends of the widescreen at one time,
and the station wagon car is in the off
center of the shot without any pan and scanning.

Is this the same in the full
format 8mm print?

--------------------
Isn't it great that we can all communicate about this great
hobby that we love!

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Lars Pettersson
Master Film Handler

Posts: 282
From: Stockholm, Sweden
Registered: Jan 2007

posted June 02, 2007 05:08 PM

Yes, actually this device is used in another scene earlier as well -Grant and the man waiting for the bus at Prairie Stop are also at the edges of the frame, exactly like Grant and
miss Saint in the forest scene. All this is included in the 8mm print (no pan/scan). What I´m referring to when I say I´m not sure if the image isn´t slightly cropped when compared to the Vistavision original, is VV is about 1,5:1 and the 8mm print is 1,33:1 so the right-left edges are bound to be cropped some. Overall, NbyNW is full of beautiful compositions, it was shot by Hitchcocks ace cameraman Robert Burks.

Cheers,
Lars

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Christopher Quinn
Film Handler

Posts: 66
From: .
Registered: May 2007

posted June 03, 2007 09:01 AM

Screenshots of the 1.78:1 DVD can be found here . I'm pretty sure the TCM master is the same as the DVD.

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Robert Wales
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 100
From: Toronto
Registered: Nov 2005

posted June 03, 2007 09:22 AM

The DVD, which was heavily praised when it appeared a few years ago, is the result of much digital tinkering to restore colour, contrast and remove dust and scratches. At the time it was revealed that there were no longer elements good enough to make acceptable prints or a DVD transfer that would be up to expected standards. Hopefully some work has been done to upgrade the negative materials on this title since then.

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Brian Hendel
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 902
From: New York, New York
Registered: Jun 2003

posted January 08, 2013 07:32 PM

I ordered North By Northwest on Ebay thinking it was the usual 400' MGM digest but it turned out to be a Red Fox 2 X 400' digest in the original box. The print is stunning... was wondering if this is rare since I had never seen a two reel version of this film.

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Douglas Meltzer
Moderator

Posts: 4554
From: New York, NY, USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted January 08, 2013 08:03 PM

Brian,

Wow! I never knew that this existed. I am fairly certain I've never come across it in the Red Fox catalogs. I like the MGM edit, however it would have been better if the scenes were allowed to breathe.

Doug

--------------------
I think there's room for just one more film.....

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Brian Hendel
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 902
From: New York, New York
Registered: Jun 2003

posted January 08, 2013 08:17 PM

Oops - just got to the second reel and realized - it's not a digest - it's just the first two reels of the feature. I was wondering why the scenes were going on so long! Now I just have to find the rest of it...

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Gary Crawford
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 979
From: Manassas, VA. USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted January 09, 2013 11:20 AM

My print is the Red Fox feature....and is gorgeous. Funny though...there are some scenes with some slight matting top and bottom....others are full frame. Same with my Derann print of Goldfinger. Doesn't bother me since the sound and print quality of both are tremendous. I will bring a reel of Northwest to Cinesea and to Syracuse , in case anyone would like to see what it's like.

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