8mm Forum: STAR WARS (400ft. SCOPE release) edited/extended

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Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on May 10, 2006, 11:59 AM:

This film has always had a soft spot in my heart, and after showing the Ken films 400ft. cutdown in scope to some friends, I felt compelled to write a nice little review of it.

There were, of course, many other scope releases on super 8 back then, but none held the magic that this film had for me. I even bought this when I didn't have a scope lense yet. I was happy to see that the color hasn't faded a bit after a long hiatus in the freezer unit.

This cut down begins with the scene in which Luke Skywalker finds the message for Obiwan Kenobi, "Your my only hope". Upon finding this, Luke goes in search of R2D2, who has went in search of Obiwan. He finds R2, but also runs into the Sandpeople, (Tuskan Raiders).

He is rescued by Obiwan Kenobi. We then immediately go to Mos Eisley spaceport, (quick and lively little cut down, isn't it?), where we see the cantina and many of the creatures therein. We also meet Han Solo. We quickly move to the Mellenium Falcon, ( I know I spelled that wrong) which escapes Tatoonine. We then move to Princess Leia being grilled by Grand Moff Tarkin for the location of the hidden rebel base. Tarkin proceeds to destroy Leia's home world of Alderann.

We then move to the capture of Han Solo's ship. Now we see the intrepid heros exiting the Death Star sucessfully, with Tarkin acknowledging his risk in letting them go.

Leia sucessfully makes it to the rebel base. They then launch they're desperate attack on the death star and blow it up. The reel ends with the triumphant hero's recieving thier medals, roll credits!!

As stated before, this is an action packed 400ft. of fun, and this is a film that must be seen in the scope format, (even on DVD, the widescreen image is slightly matted, as we notice when we watch it in scope on the big screen) and the color is fine. However, the print is slightly grainy. Which brings up a point about this film print.

I have often wondered why they never released a scope version of "part one" on super 8, and I think it's because they didn't have a scope version of number one. I have heard that the German release of Star Wars on super 8, digest version, has better color than the american release of it.

Best of all is that it has a good edited version of the last battle sequence, which must take up about four or five minutes of this 17 minute reel. It still sends shivers up my spine and I rather enjoy this cutdown as, if you have impatient guests, is much better to watch than the feature, as you get most of the best scenes from it.

The sound quality is a good mono soundtrack. There are no drop outs in the sound and best of all, it doesn't have that VERY IRRITATING narration as it does at the beginning of STAR WARS part 1, (Thank God it didn't extend further into it!) It would take some work, but this would be awesome in stereo.

I like how this begins, with the scope FOX logo, which I've always felt, was the best of the logo's, with the MGM logo coming in a very close second. On an off note, I think I enjoy these logo's the most as they, (especially MGM'S) signify a lost
time of true granduer in motion pictures. We may still see the logo's today, but they just don't seem to have the lustre of yesteryear!

Oh, one last note, the sharpness is okay, but not the absolutely best for super 8. This print is quite grainy, more grain certianly, than Part 1, which leads me to believe that
part 1 and part two, were taken from different negative masters. This could be easily said of the 200ft version as well, as I have noted that the colour on the 200ft. is better, warmer (in a good way), than the 400ft. part 1. I must confess, however, that it has been so many years since seeing part 1
with virgin colour, that the colour may have been far better on it than I remember. The Derann release of this feature is a great example of excellent color and sharpness and is definitely superior in both categories.

If anyone has some more info about this release, I'd love to hear about it. From what I've seen, this super 8 release from super 8's classic years STILL goes for top dollar, while others don't get near what they used to. LONG LIVE STAR WARS!

[ June 10, 2007, 08:52 PM: Message edited by: Osi Osgood ]

Posted by Kevin Faulkner (Member # 6) on May 10, 2006, 03:36 PM:

Osi, I wonder what years these versions were released in. I do remember the scope extract coming out quite a while after the falt version so it possible that the scope print is on LPP. Any chance of looking at the edge signing to see what the syock is. Most of the Flat versions have started to fade some quite badly.

Posted by Barry Attwood (Member # 100) on May 10, 2006, 03:57 PM:

Don't forget Cineavision did a scope version (same cut) too, and I found that to be slightly better quality than the Ken Scope print, and it's in the correct 2:35/1 ratio too, but this doesn't come up very often these days.

Posted by Adrian Winchester (Member # 248) on May 10, 2006, 05:01 PM:

Barry (or anyone),
Perhaps my mind has gone blank but I can't think of a single other Ken release in scope, part from one or two 200' b/w silent Godzilla extracts that were not advertised as being scope. Was it the only one?

Posted by Andrew Wilson (Member # 538) on May 10, 2006, 05:55 PM:

when this second two reeler was released from STAR WARS about jan/feb 1981,bill davison stated that the colour is very good if a little flat looking.the scope print was better.he was also trying to get bob lane president of ken films to release a scope print of part one;but to no avail.good review osi;of a classic super8 release.i to have heard that the german prints were light years ahead of their usa counterparts.perhaps other members could confirm this?.and yes kevin your right the flat version i have has faded badly.as for the editing of both parts well all i can say is one word carp.andy.p.s that god for derann films ltd.

Posted by Winbert Hutahaean (Member # 58) on May 11, 2006, 04:10 AM:

quote:
i to have heard that the german prints were light years ahead of their usa counterparts.perhaps other members could confirm this?.

Osi and Andi,
I have both German and Ken prints, truly they are different quality just like the heaven and earth. German (Marketing and UFA) prints are really vibrant and holding the color well. Despite, Andreas is always telling me that UFA prints were also from Ken, I don't understand why they have different quality.

cheers,

Posted by Jean-Marc Toussaint (Member # 270) on May 11, 2006, 04:23 AM:

Barry: I've had both scope versions (Cineavision and Ken). The Cineavision had turned reddish but the colours on the Ken print were stunning. I sold both when I purchased the full feature. I still have all flat versions (US and German) as I plan to splice them together. Luckily, I finally found reels with roughly the same colour and grain.

Posted by Andrew Wilson (Member # 538) on May 11, 2006, 11:10 AM:

maybe thats why the war of the worlds(1953)and most of the other paramount/marketing titles still have very good colour,while ken/universal etc are now unwatchable.andy.

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on May 11, 2006, 04:35 PM:

My print of Star Wars part 2 is on Eastman stock, I don't see any LPP markings on it, (like I see on Derrann releases), but it might be possible, It hasn't even starting getting that slightly warmish "brown" to the blacks in the image. I bought this print for 30 pounds from a british seller, and they assured me that it was stored in a cool environment and I lucked out to get a really good print!

Posted by James N. Savage 3 (Member # 83) on May 11, 2006, 09:23 PM:

Osi-

I couldn't agree more about that final battle scene in the Star Wars 2nd digest. It is very well edited, and you almost feel like you are watching the complete Death Star battle scene.

I have the Derann scope feature, but I held that digest, just so I could pop that scene on from time to time.

Nick.

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on May 12, 2006, 11:14 AM:

That's ther reason for holding onto it for me as well. I'm going to try to find that website that lists the different super 8 film stocks, as there are different grades of Eastman, (beyond the obvious regular BAD Eastman and Eastman LPP), as it has a great explantion, as well as many a picture illustrating the points.

Actually, when projecting the Star Wars SCOPE 400ft. It really depends on how I have the lense set on the clarity of it. While it isn't the shaprness of the Derann print, it's still pretty darn good! I would be curious to see the cinevision print of this same title though. The problem I have seen with the cinevision prints, (Rooster Cogburn is a good example of this, (is that so much of the image is given, that you actually get, on the screen the edit "flashes" (that's all I can call them, for lack of a better term) as the film runs, which can be very distracting, especially in dark scenes.

But I won't slam those cinevision prints much, as, if not for them, many a great Tom and Jerry, magoo or Droopy cartoons would've never been seen in thier original scope otherwise, (especially the Magoo's, as they STILL haven't been released in any other format that I know of.)

STAR WARS RULES!!!!

Posted by Mark Norton (Member # 165) on May 13, 2006, 04:55 AM:

Well if there is enough interest how about Derann releasing a new extract from Star Wars? I'd go for it.

Posted by James N. Savage 3 (Member # 83) on May 13, 2006, 03:09 PM:

Good idea Mark- I had been thinking the same thing.

A good release would be the final Death Star battle- but how about if Derann took the extract from the newly restored version (The New Hope) with the additional FX and improved digital stereo sound. That way, since most of us have this scene already in its original "pure" form, we would be getting something a little different. I bet it would out-sell even those great Matrix extracts!

Nick.

Posted by Winbert Hutahaean (Member # 58) on May 13, 2006, 03:16 PM:

Hi all,

I finally got the screen shot from Star Wars released by UFA (Germany). See what the different quality with those were released by Ken Film.

(Note: I got these pictures from Ebayer in German who also member of this forum)

cheers,

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on May 13, 2006, 04:19 PM:

Hey, hate to inform you of this, but while the frame blow-up do have exceptional color, they are from "The Empire Strikes Back", not Star Wars. I have noted with "The Empire Strikes Back", that part one was largely released on Eastman stock, while part two was Kodak SP, which results in part 2 holding up much better than part one.

Posted by Mark Norton (Member # 165) on May 14, 2006, 12:21 PM:

Yes James, I agree The Death Star sequence at the end of a new hope would be a great new release in 'scope/stereo, Deranns obvoisly got the master material as they sell the full length feature.
I've got a lovely reel made up of all the flat extracts that were available, it's a shame that the first 400ft extract has faded [and it seems they are all like that now]. The grainy 200ft has exceptable colour, while the second 400ft extract is still good. Edited in the correct sequence this flows very well and is definatly more repeatable than the full feature without loosing any of the story. Shame about the fade though.

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on June 10, 2007, 08:48 PM:

I have updated this review a little. Enjoy.

OSI

Posted by Lee Mannering (Member # 728) on October 10, 2007, 07:07 AM:

Osi.
A few weeks ago I screened the 400ft Scope version which has some nice clips in it. When projecting I did find a minute to do one of my little mobile phone video clips and have popped it on YouTube if anyone wants to see it.

Here is the link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqdIv5vOaTw

This scope version has held up very well I think, and although I have the feature I still enjoy the 400ft Scope cut-down.

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on October 10, 2007, 11:10 AM:

Great way to advertise Super 8mm!

You know, the funny thing is, most people will assume that this is from a video 8mm projection, and have little idea that it is actually a film image!

The colours have held up quite well on mone as well and, as you said, I also hold onto this, though I have the feature. This was the digest format at it's best!

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