8mm Forum: Different Blackhawk releases of same titles ...

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Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on September 05, 2018, 11:21 AM:

I've run across a second copy of "The Great Train Robbery", and it's a Blackhawk release, but the funny thing is that it's an "Alternate cut" of the film! It not only ends with the close-up of the cowboy shooting at the screen, it also begins with that shot, (right after the original title card, "The Great Train Robbery"), and then, after the film has ended, 9I don't thnik that I'll get this exactly right, verbatim), there are two title cards after the cowboy shoots at the screen ...

"Now, if you don't think that this happened ..."

"Ask Dad ... He knows"

(which is a play on an old commercial "tag line")

Has anybody else ever run across this alternate version?

Posted by Panayotis A. Carayannis (Member # 1220) on September 05, 2018, 02:45 PM:

This is perhaps a later copy,made to satirise "the old silents". I have an old dramatic reel,perhaps a Griffith, where suddenly,in the middle of the action a title card was inserted saying something like "please wait until the projectionist changes reels". Of course I took it out.

Posted by Steve Klare (Member # 12) on September 05, 2018, 03:16 PM:

If I remember correctly, that shot was meant to be left to the projectionist's choice whether it was used at the beginning, end or at all.

-sounds like you got the bonus edition!

Posted by Joe Caruso (Member # 11) on September 05, 2018, 03:38 PM:

I got one too - Shorty

Posted by Panayotis A. Carayannis (Member # 1220) on September 06, 2018, 01:31 AM:

Osi and Steve- isn't this obvious that the two title cards are "satirical" and not put in the film by Edwin Porter in 1903?

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on September 07, 2018, 11:16 AM:

Yes, i noticed that too. I'm assuming the one I just got is an earlier edition as the subtitles are obviously not in the original film of 1903, (commenting on such things as the use of a "dummy' in one shot and others talking about the other actors in the film.

The one i already have, that has the color footage in there too (sadly, turned eastman pink), was taken from a later frame by frame restoration of the original 35Mm negative and is a big improvement over this one.

the curious thing is that the edit of the two films is so different. in the earlier edition, the shots are longer in most cases and the story flow is quite different, even without the subtitles.

I must say that the "special edition standard 8mm taken from an improved negative process, is one of those very sharp standard 8mm's that Blackhawk was so legendary for producing! [Smile]

Posted by Steve Klare (Member # 12) on September 07, 2018, 03:56 PM:

I have the "colorised" edition of this one.

I helped a friend in the UK import a US purchased straight black and white print. I screened it before I shipped it over just in case it needed to be kept stateside and returned.

That particular print was really nice, and based on how they both had aged I'd have ditched mine for it any day.

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