8mm Forum: BRATS! (Laurel and Hardy), question ...

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Topic: BRATS! (Laurel and Hardy), question ...

Osi Osgood
Film God

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

posted August 01, 2017 12:10 PM

This is for those who have the "Walton" as well as the "Blackhawk" release of this ...

Is the Walton release of this better, the same, or worse than the Blackhawk? Is it sharper or the same?

I thank you for you're time.

OSI

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

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Brad Kimball
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1171
From: Highland Mills, NY USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted August 01, 2017 09:01 PM

I never saw the Walton version of "Brats", but I did own a Walton copy of "Tit for Tat" before selling it when I got a Blackhawk copy and I would say it was pretty equal. I think Blackhawk may have even lent Walton their source material. However... Didn't Walton trim EVERYTHING they put out including 7-minute Tom & Jerry cartoons? This is why I sold it when I acquired a BH copy. I didn't want to think I didn't have the entire 2-reeler. The picture and sound were fine, but Walton just tacked on very simple title cards and then went to the 1st scene. I don't think my copy even had the original "Roach" title card. It did have all the beginning music just no original credit rolls just B&W title cards providing the credits. At least BH opened with the typical "Blackhawk Films Presents..." and then went right to the original titles and credits. We just never got the original opening frames with 2 derbys perched on a coat rack with "Laurel & Hardy in" superimposed over the image. I can deal with that, but to think I may have had a truncated 2-reeler - that I couldn't bear.

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Osi Osgood
Film God

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

posted August 02, 2017 11:50 AM

That is true, Walton did that a lot, but if i could find a better source, (possibly Walton?), I'd be willing to do a splice job and have a better looking, as a general rule, print of BRATS. The BH version, no matter which generation (print run), has always had that marginal focus which is sad, as most of the BH laurel and Hardy's tend to have a very good focus to them, especially the silents.

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

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Brad Kimball
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1171
From: Highland Mills, NY USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted August 02, 2017 12:18 PM

BH L&H titles did tend to be soft on sharpness. My "Brats" from BH (in the pink box) is the same way. My "Them Thar Hills" in the silver box - same thing - good sound and so-so on picture sharpness. This is why I also collect them on 16mm. The BH 16mm prints are all dynamite.

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