8mm Forum: Walton Laurel & Hardy

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Topic: Walton Laurel & Hardy

Steve Carter
Master Film Handler

Posts: 282
From: Bristol, UK
Registered: Apr 2015

posted June 08, 2015 09:34 AM

Why are Walton Laurel & Hardy shorts so bad in quality? admitted I only have three prints, 'Hog Wild' is so dark even on outside shots and contrast is faded grey, 'The Hoosegow' is not too bad but soft focus and 'Busy Bodies' I have mentioned on another thread, features on faces are none existent.I have a silent 'Tit For Tat' and that is much better than the sound prints, is it worth me getting other Walton Laurel & Hardy's or should I look for Blackhawk prints?...

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Steve Klare
Film Guy

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

posted June 08, 2015 11:32 AM

My first L&H was a Walton "Perfect Day" off the Derann used list. The print quality has a lot of room for improvement and it turned out to only be the last half of the film.

-but getting Blackhawks is no guarantee either. Depending on the year of printing they used different source material and the sharpness in particular isn't consistent.

I have the 2x400 ft. "Music Box" spliced on a single reel. After the splice the sharpness softens considerably. It might have gone un-noticed if the last owner left it as original, but this way the change is obvious.

They are still a lot of fun to collect, and screening one for the first time is always a real treat.

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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 June 08, 2015 12:11 PM

Steve's right, Blackhawk, while top of the crop in most regards, (and film preservationists in they're own right, as they were instrumental is rescuing many a silent film print!), did vary. To they're credit, they did they're absolute best to, as time progressed, to put out better and better copies of they're big hits. Many of the Laurel and Hardy silent and sound classic shorts were better as they got closer to closure (especially the "silver box editions").

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

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Joe Caruso
Film God

Posts: 4105
From: USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted June 08, 2015 02:11 PM

Yet, even the silver-boxed MEN O WAR was about the same as the pink and green-boxed editions - I have a 200' HOOSEGOW (Walton), not bad, good sound, focus is off some - Blackhawk, by far did the best work they could with what they had and acquired after - Shorty

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Joseph Randall
Master Film Handler

Posts: 437
From: Wyckoff, NJ, USA
Registered: Jun 2015

posted June 15, 2015 08:14 PM

That supports my theory that not all the L&H negatives were upgraded for the silver box.

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Steve Carter
Master Film Handler

Posts: 282
From: Bristol, UK
Registered: Apr 2015

posted June 16, 2015 06:24 AM

Blackhawk pink box 'The Chimp' complete...
web pageThe Chimp

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Adrian Winchester
Film God

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

posted June 17, 2015 09:14 AM

I've always avoided Walton prints of L&H two reelers, having heard that they had edits. If any are known to be NOT edited and decent quality, I'd welcome the information.

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Adrian Winchester

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Joseph Randall
Master Film Handler

Posts: 437
From: Wyckoff, NJ, USA
Registered: Jun 2015

posted June 17, 2015 08:40 PM

THE FLYING DEUCES, while not a short, was issued by Walton in a slightly edited form, but it has a nice picture quality.

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Barry Attwood
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1411
From: Enfield, U.K.
Registered: Aug 2003

posted June 18, 2015 12:42 AM

I think some of you guys have been very unlucky with your Walton L&H's, as I've had many (many) prints through my hands over the years, and on some titles I think they actually have a better (if slightly shortened) print than the Blackhawk equivalent. Unfortunately Walton (like Derann) sold of their sub-standard prints cheaper, although these were labeled as a 'second' unless you have the original box, there is no way to tell on the leader etc. What I do like about the Walton L&H releases was the fact they kept the original titles, whereas Blackhawk have substituted new ones on some titles.

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Joe Caruso
Film God

Posts: 4105
From: USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted June 18, 2015 07:13 AM

Barry, I emailed you a few times about some films - Shorty

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Barry Attwood
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1411
From: Enfield, U.K.
Registered: Aug 2003

posted June 18, 2015 11:41 AM

Dear Joe,

For some reason I'm not receiving PM's via the forum, email me direct at indi8films@aol.com .

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