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Author Topic: The African Queen - Super 8 Complete Feature
Lee Bombard
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 139
From: Santa Clarita, CA, USA
Registered: May 2013

- posted July 02, 2013 10:16 AM      Profile for Lee Bombard   Email Lee Bombard   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I just purchased a complete print of this title on eBay the other day. I'm still waiting for it to arrive.
In the mean time, does anyone have any info on this title and super 8? Are you aware of a legitimate release or what I might expect from a quality standpoint?
Thanks,
Lee

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Steve Klare
Film Guy

Posts: 7016
From: Long Island, NY, USA
Registered: Jun 2003

- posted July 02, 2013 11:15 AM      Profile for Steve Klare   Email Steve Klare   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I have it.

It's not badly faded, but the colors aren't perfect. (Miss Hepburn's eyes are blue, but they don't exactly sparkle...)

-I have worse prints...

It's not super sharp, but not too soft either.

-ditto...

My print is a Viacom release: 5x400ft re-mounted on a 1200 ft. and an 800 ft.

Just once I wanted to hear Bogey say "For crying out loud: that's my BOAT! Blow up yer own boat!"

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All I ask is a wide screen and a projector to light her by...

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Osi Osgood
Film God

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

- posted July 02, 2013 12:39 PM      Profile for Osi Osgood   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Just a note for curiosity ...

This classic feature (along with 1939's "Stagecoach" and the musical "Showboat" and no doubt, others), was released as a super 8 optical sound feature. being that it's an originally mono soundtrack, you really aren't losing anything with the optical sound super 8.

I have the Viacom feature as well, mine has lovely colors, but I have always been curious as to whether they used the same negative material for the super 8 optical feature, or perhaps a better negative with sharper image?

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

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Lee Bombard
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 139
From: Santa Clarita, CA, USA
Registered: May 2013

- posted July 02, 2013 12:47 PM      Profile for Lee Bombard   Email Lee Bombard   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I'm anxious to see what it looks like when I get it.

I paid less than $100 for it and it comes on 2 Elmo 1200' reels. Those reels alone add to the value...

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Hugh Thompson Scott
Film God

Posts: 3063
From: Gt. Clifton,Cumbria,England
Registered: Jan 2012

- posted July 02, 2013 02:06 PM      Profile for Hugh Thompson Scott   Email Hugh Thompson Scott       Edit/Delete Post 
There were various versions of this feature put out over the years
from Peak Films, Viacom etc, but the best print came from Derann. My own print is the Viacom version,its okay, colour has
orangey reds and suffers from colour bleeding not as good as the 2reel version, or the print from Peak Film, which ran a second to DFS copy, having very good colour.

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Akshay Nanjangud
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 637
From: Dallas, TX
Registered: Nov 2011

- posted July 02, 2013 02:34 PM      Profile for Akshay Nanjangud   Email Akshay Nanjangud   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
This repeatedly comes up on stock that is prone to fading. So I haven't ever bid high on this one. I have seen this online, so a Derann print is out there, which is likely to be low-fade. Considering that Derann got several negatives from Kempski and Red Fox (if I am right?), other companies may have released this too. Correct?

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Hugh Thompson Scott
Film God

Posts: 3063
From: Gt. Clifton,Cumbria,England
Registered: Jan 2012

- posted July 02, 2013 02:58 PM      Profile for Hugh Thompson Scott   Email Hugh Thompson Scott       Edit/Delete Post 
Hi Akshay,the only companies I can mind doing this title are the ones I mentioned above. Osi knows of an opt. print,there may even be foreign prints like German or Italian versions.Whichever
version you get,it's a gem of a film.

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Luis Caramelo
Master Film Handler

Posts: 494
From: Funchal
Registered: Feb 2011

- posted July 02, 2013 03:02 PM      Profile for Luis Caramelo     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
hi!fellas i also have a print of african quenn,it,s in 4x600ft with good colors,i think all we know ,the quality of super 8 it,s very inconstant,even the same negative in the same lab,some times give us some surprises,too us collectores there,s also the factor of luck,

regards:
luis caramelo

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Winbert Hutahaean
Film God

Posts: 5468
From: Nouméa, New Caledonia
Registered: Jun 2003

- posted July 02, 2013 07:45 PM      Profile for Winbert Hutahaean     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Lee, did you get this?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/130921059485

Having seen the last three pictures, it seems they are good in color. I have asked the seller and that is confirmed that the last two reel have excellent colors.

--------------------
Winbert

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Hugh Thompson Scott
Film God

Posts: 3063
From: Gt. Clifton,Cumbria,England
Registered: Jan 2012

- posted July 02, 2013 07:52 PM      Profile for Hugh Thompson Scott   Email Hugh Thompson Scott       Edit/Delete Post 
Hi Luis, the DFS print was released as 4x600', it is so far, the BEST
print available of this title, although it must be pointed out that the spooling is not a guide, as some collectors have mounted their prints similarly.So caution is the watchword if you seek the Derann
print, you could be buying something else.

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Akshay Nanjangud
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 637
From: Dallas, TX
Registered: Nov 2011

- posted July 02, 2013 08:19 PM      Profile for Akshay Nanjangud   Email Akshay Nanjangud   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Since the print being talked about is on Elmo reels, it is likely this one: Link.

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Lee Bombard
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 139
From: Santa Clarita, CA, USA
Registered: May 2013

- posted July 02, 2013 08:22 PM      Profile for Lee Bombard   Email Lee Bombard   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
This one...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/251294620024?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

Akshay - You beat me to it. [Smile]

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Akshay Nanjangud
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 637
From: Dallas, TX
Registered: Nov 2011

- posted July 02, 2013 08:23 PM      Profile for Akshay Nanjangud   Email Akshay Nanjangud   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I bought two B&W prints from him and they are in excellent condition. Of course, any color fade on this print is likely not his fault.

[ July 02, 2013, 10:06 PM: Message edited by: Akshay Nanjangud ]

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Luis Caramelo
Master Film Handler

Posts: 494
From: Funchal
Registered: Feb 2011

- posted July 03, 2013 05:19 AM      Profile for Luis Caramelo     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
hi!hugh thanks for the advice,it,s true what you say,but fourtunaly my print it,s from derann there,s no a single splice ,i have run it twice and i got it care with filmguard and well storage in the cool.

regards:
luis caramelo

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Osi Osgood
Film God

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

- posted July 03, 2013 12:25 PM      Profile for Osi Osgood   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Don't you hate it when they say "Film and reels are in good condition"? Most sellers wouldn't know good condition if it came up and bit them on the arse!

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

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Winbert Hutahaean
Film God

Posts: 5468
From: Nouméa, New Caledonia
Registered: Jun 2003

- posted July 03, 2013 04:30 PM      Profile for Winbert Hutahaean     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Lee,

From the pictures provided by the seller, it can be seen that the leader has "Maritz Lab" written there.

"Maritz Lab" was doing almost all Ken Films/MGM prints and it is widely known now to have faded.

The other picture has also "Safety Film" written in between sprockets, so most likely it is on Eastman or Kodak SP.

So I am afraid that when you receive this film, it will have faded.

--------------------
Winbert

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Lee Bombard
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 139
From: Santa Clarita, CA, USA
Registered: May 2013

- posted July 03, 2013 04:41 PM      Profile for Lee Bombard   Email Lee Bombard   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Fingers crossed. I did correspond with the seller and he agreed to full money back if not satisfied.

Aren't those reels alone worth upwards of $50.00 each?

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Joe Taffis
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1592
From: United States
Registered: Jun 2003

- posted July 03, 2013 04:51 PM      Profile for Joe Taffis   Email Joe Taffis   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Lee, what the Elmo 1200' aluminum reels may be auctioned for and what they are actually worth are two different things! They are HONESTLY worth about $25.00 each in excellent condition, not $50.00....

--------------------
Joe Taffis

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Akshay Nanjangud
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 637
From: Dallas, TX
Registered: Nov 2011

- posted July 03, 2013 04:55 PM      Profile for Akshay Nanjangud   Email Akshay Nanjangud   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I made the same conclusions as Winbert. And, the pics appeared red to me. But even considering the fade, isn't the winning bid okay in price? The last few auctions I followed of this print with fade all went around this price.

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Lee Bombard
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 139
From: Santa Clarita, CA, USA
Registered: May 2013

- posted July 04, 2013 09:24 AM      Profile for Lee Bombard   Email Lee Bombard   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
All this discussion makes me wonder as a newbie to this hobby...how reasonable is it to expect any of this older color material will still have not faded or turned?

Seems every digest I've run across looks pretty bad.

Has faded or turned color just become so commonplace that its expected?

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Joe Taffis
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1592
From: United States
Registered: Jun 2003

- posted July 04, 2013 11:13 AM      Profile for Joe Taffis   Email Joe Taffis   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Lee, with the older color films, the answer is usually yes. Unless it was printed on a low fade film stock and/or stored in perfect climate conditions. That being said, there are still a lot of older films that still have excellent color....

--------------------
Joe Taffis

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Osi Osgood
Film God

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

- posted July 04, 2013 12:02 PM      Profile for Osi Osgood   Author's Homepage     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
That one auction was rather interesting as the later pics show what appears to be a LPP African Queen (that early LPP that tended to be on the bluish side, but it lasts!), and the other reels being, sadly, the ole fadey eastman.

The funnt thjing about that eastman was that the eastman folks were always tinkering with they're film stock and so, while some 70's print will say eastman, it doesn't always mean quick fade eastman as some eastman film stock has held up VERY well from the 70's!

... and, of course, the care that goes into the print at a film lab can make a world of difference as to whether the eastman fades right away or lasts a good long time.

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

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Akshay Nanjangud
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 637
From: Dallas, TX
Registered: Nov 2011

- posted July 06, 2013 06:17 PM      Profile for Akshay Nanjangud   Email Akshay Nanjangud   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Lee, did you receive the feature. How is the color?

If the color is not good, I have excellent news for you. Check this out: Elmo 1200' reel auction. See the bidding history and ask yourself how high was the first bidder willing to go?

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Lee Bombard
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 139
From: Santa Clarita, CA, USA
Registered: May 2013

- posted July 06, 2013 08:01 PM      Profile for Lee Bombard   Email Lee Bombard   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I got the film today. I've looked at a little of the start of each reel and its pushing towards red... There's still color there but it's not as strong as I'd like. Ill look at it tonight once its dark and can get a better idea of how it really looks.

That's funny about that reel on eBay. They're nice reels but not THAT nice.

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Akshay Nanjangud
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 637
From: Dallas, TX
Registered: Nov 2011

- posted July 08, 2013 12:00 AM      Profile for Akshay Nanjangud   Email Akshay Nanjangud   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Lee, to conclude this thread can I ask how the color was through the entire feature? With your experience, we can know what to expect from the same seller with regard to color prints. There may be one or two other interesting titles coming up.

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