Osi Osgood
Film God
Posts: 10204
From: Mountian Home, ID.
Registered: Jul 2005
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posted November 06, 2015 01:03 PM
This is actually, quite a "sticky subject", as the history of this film on super 8 is quite muddled in some ways ...
First, of course, there was the quite common Columbia super 8 digest. Some have retained they're color quite nicely, and the edit of the digest was pretty darned good, but it was a flat print, (now THAT would have made a most excellent "classic era" super 8 digest).
Then there was the excellent DERANN print of the full feature. This print, however, was the "Special edition" of the feature, originally released in 1980. Because of some dispute (which I don't remember all the particulars of, someone else can fill ya in on those particulars, I'm sure), only about 15 (or 16?) prints were made and released. Hence, it is very hard to come by and highly valued by collectors.
Then, there is the even more bizarre mystery!!
I was able to buy the scope feature from a collector, but was absolutely flabberghasted at what I received, the original 1977 version of the film, in scope! I knew of the existence of the Derann printed, and I had expected that, but was happily surpised with my 1977 feature, as that was the one I remembered from the movie theaters.
I have heard a great number of theories concerning this print ...
A "oil rig" print, struck just for the oil rigs, as crazy as that sounds, (which is where the equally rare "Superman the Movie" scope feature probably also arises from) ...
and perhaps it was just a one-off (which would mean that two prints were struck, as super 8 is printed side by side and then slit down the middle for the two prints) ...
But at any rate, it's exceedingly rare.
I am happy to say that my print has lovely color, a good sharpness to it and the only problems are that there are some slight end of reel wear from the original negative used, (A few short bits are printed slightly bright).
But, great good luck on finding a print of this. At least, on the plus side, these are so prized by collectors, that you are bound, once finding one, to find a print that has been kept in as close to mint condition as possible. ![[Smile]](smile.gif)
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"All these moments will be lost in time, just like ... tears, in the rain. "
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