8mm Forum: "It's a Gift" starring Snub Pollard

8mm Forum

my profile | my password | search | faq | register | forum home

next oldest topic

next newest topic

»	8mm Forum » 8mm Forum » "It's a Gift" starring Snub Pollard

UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!

Author

Topic: "It's a Gift" starring Snub Pollard

Melvin England
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 707
From: Hull, East Yorkshire, UK
Registered: Feb 2016

posted April 18, 2016 03:25 PM

Send New Private Message

Edit/Delete Post

A superb 200' film from the days of the silent cinema that was available through the "collector's club" company many moons ago.
My question is,though, was it ever released on super 8 with an accompanying musical soundtrack by anyone at all? It would be great to get hold of a copy if so.

--------------------
"My name is for my friends!"

| IP: Logged

Will Trenfield
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 506
From: Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK
Registered: Mar 2016

posted April 18, 2016 03:34 PM

Email Will Trenfield

Send New Private Message

Edit/Delete Post

The answer seems to be yes. See here http://www.ebay.com/itm/Super-8-SOUND-Film-Hal-Roach-Its-A-Gift-1923-Snub-Pollard-Marie-Mosquini-/262358137934?nma=true&si=Vs7nGk3yFYZNzmfqCdIVKxsj7n0%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_tr ksid=p2047675.l2557

| IP: Logged

Paul Browning
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1006
From: West Midlands United Kingdom
Registered: Aug 2011

posted April 18, 2016 03:42 PM

Email Paul Browning

Send New Private Message

Edit/Delete Post

There is a version on Blackhawk of this, not sure if it is sound though. This is where wallace and grommet got there inspiration from for all the mad gadgets they use and a few others besides, also appears briefly in singin in the rain when he receives the brolly from gene Kelly. Mad and inventive contraptions.

| IP: Logged

Joe Caruso
Film God

Posts: 4105
From: USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted April 18, 2016 04:51 PM

Send New Private Message

Edit/Delete Post

The BLACKHAWK Super 8mm print is extant, excellent score by Wm. Perry - Shorty

| IP: Logged

William Olson
Master Film Handler

Posts: 287
From: Poughkeepsie, NY USA
Registered: Jun 2010

posted April 18, 2016 07:35 PM

Email William Olson

Send New Private Message

Edit/Delete Post

I remember this short. I borrowed a Blackhawk silent regular 8mm print from my local public library in the early 1970's. It's a funny and clever film.

| IP: Logged

Paul Adsett
Film God

Posts: 5003
From: USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted April 18, 2016 07:48 PM

Send New Private Message

Edit/Delete Post

I first saw Snub Pollard's It's A Gift on a 9.5mm Pathe Ace, back in the 1950's. I thought it was just about the best silent comedy short that I had ever seen. And I feel the same way today!
The 9,5mm print, as I recall, was excellent quality. In the 1970's, when I first got in to Super 8 collecting, It's A Gift was one of the very first prints that I purchased from Blackhawk. My print is excellent quality, and it came with a pre-recorded music track. I later re-recorded the film with some 1920's jazz music that I preferred.

--------------------
The best of all worlds- 8mm, super 8mm, 9.5mm, and HD Digital Projection,
Elmo GS1200 f1.0 2-blade
Eumig S938 Stereo f1.0 Ektar
Panasonic PT-AE4000U digital pj

| IP: Logged

Joseph Randall
Master Film Handler

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

posted April 18, 2016 08:46 PM

Send New Private Message

Edit/Delete Post

I agree it's a great one. I first saw it in WHEN COMEDY WAS KING.

| IP: Logged

Brian Fretwell
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1785
From: London, UK
Registered: Jun 2014

posted April 19, 2016 05:18 AM

Email Brian Fretwell

Send New Private Message

Edit/Delete Post

I have the Collectors Club Super 8 of this, but it is silent.

| IP: Logged

Will Trenfield
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 506
From: Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK
Registered: Mar 2016

posted April 19, 2016 05:55 AM

Email Will Trenfield

Send New Private Message

Edit/Delete Post

As a taster, there's a battered Pathescope version on YouTube.

| IP: Logged

Gary Crawford
Jedi Master Film Handler

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

posted April 19, 2016 07:50 AM

Send New Private Message

Edit/Delete Post

Yes, I have a Blackhawk print of Pollard's It's a Gift...very nice quality and pretty good music score. It's the full version. Shorty may correct me on this, but I used to have a 200ft Blackhawk print of it as well. Or did they just mount the scored 200footer on a 400 ft reel?

| IP: Logged

Joe Caruso
Film God

Posts: 4105
From: USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted April 19, 2016 02:29 PM

Send New Private Message

Edit/Delete Post

There is only a 200'(more or less) - This was a Pollard one-reeler - Correction notwithstanding

| IP: Logged

Steve Klare
Film Guy

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

posted April 19, 2016 02:53 PM

Email Steve Klare

Send New Private Message

Edit/Delete Post

I LIKE this film!

I remember seeing it years ago, but was too teenaged to catch a title.

-let the quest BEGIN!

(I assume they are fairly common?)

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

| IP: Logged

Rob Koeling
Master Film Handler

Posts: 399
From: Brighton, UK
Registered: Jun 2003

posted April 19, 2016 04:12 PM

Send New Private Message

Edit/Delete Post

Steve,

I just got myself a 16mm print. So, my 8mm print is not needed anymore. It can go for little if you are interested. I thought I had a S8 print as well, but couldn't find it.
8mm prints are quite common, I haven't seen many S8 prints offered.

- Rob

| IP: Logged

Steve Klare
Film Guy

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

posted April 19, 2016 07:43 PM

Email Steve Klare

Send New Private Message

Edit/Delete Post

Thanks for your offer Rob, but I'd be interested in a Super-8 scored print. Unfortunately the one on E-bay is a little pricey for one that's missing its leader.

-I'll just keep an eye out for it.

I'm actually in the middle of this film version of Lent I practice before CineSea twice a year: buy no films now, buy quite a few when I get there. (I do stray here and there!)

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

| IP: Logged

Rob Koeling
Master Film Handler

Posts: 399
From: Brighton, UK
Registered: Jun 2003

posted April 20, 2016 03:37 AM

Send New Private Message

Edit/Delete Post

Happy hunting Steve! It's a great film!

- Rob

| IP: Logged

Joe Caruso
Film God

Posts: 4105
From: USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted April 20, 2016 06:59 AM

Send New Private Message

Edit/Delete Post

The S8-Scored versions crop up now and again - It will be well-worth the search - I've always said the scored silents, generally are excellent, Blackhawk engaged Gaylorde Carter, Wm. Perry and others to create an appropriate score to match any action - Much like what Griggs did, allowing customers to buy accompanying cassette tapes to play along with the film (synched of course), as they had no film with track on them already - I would avidly seek out the scored silent shorts (and features), particular to Blackhawk - You won't be disappointed - Prime example are the Chaplin Mutuals - Listen to the music/effects track provided by Van Beuren Studios - Excellent - These were shown on the Charlie Chaplin Theatre (WOR-TV 9) in 1970, hosted by Herb Graff - Shorty

| IP: Logged

Paul Adsett
Film God

Posts: 5003
From: USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted April 20, 2016 07:12 PM

Send New Private Message

Edit/Delete Post

Here is the 9.5mm Pathescope print:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czpnKHRRXwQ

--------------------
The best of all worlds- 8mm, super 8mm, 9.5mm, and HD Digital Projection,
Elmo GS1200 f1.0 2-blade
Eumig S938 Stereo f1.0 Ektar
Panasonic PT-AE4000U digital pj

| IP: Logged

Melvin England
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 707
From: Hull, East Yorkshire, UK
Registered: Feb 2016

posted August 02, 2017 07:32 AM

Send New Private Message

Edit/Delete Post

Well, after lots of searching, I have managed to track down a copy of this classic film with an accompanying soundtrack.
However, if this is the "official" music to accompany the silent film, then I have to say I am really disappointed. Firstly, the soundtrack...... just somebody playing a tune on an organ, which seems to bare no resemblance to what is happening on screen. No sound effects, no orchestral score.... nothing. I had a rough idea what to expect, having got orchestral music track copies of several Charlie Chaplin films, but this is nothing like it.

Now to the film quality itself..... printed on colour stock as it is sepia on screen, AND an imprint of the master film sprocket hole is printed at the side of the film much of the way through.

Can someone advise me,please, if I have got a completely dud copy... or is this it? Does anyone know what the music score on the Blackhawk print sounds like? Organ or orchestra?

Thanks very much in advance.

.

--------------------
"My name is for my friends!"

| IP: Logged

Joe Caruso
Film God

Posts: 4105
From: USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted August 02, 2017 10:55 AM

Send New Private Message

Edit/Delete Post

Blackhawk version? - Shorty

| IP: Logged

Melvin England
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 707
From: Hull, East Yorkshire, UK
Registered: Feb 2016

posted August 02, 2017 01:51 PM

Send New Private Message

Edit/Delete Post

Shorty - Please refer to Gary Crawford's post above on this topic dated April 19th 2016.

--------------------
"My name is for my friends!"

| IP: Logged

All times are Central

Move Topic

Delete Topic

next oldest topic

next newest topic

Printer-friendly view of this topic

Visit www.film-tech.com for free equipment manual downloads. Copyright 2003-2019 Film-Tech Cinema Systems LLC

UBB.classic^TM 6.3.1.2