8mm Forum: Escape From Alcatraz 1 x 800ft Marketting Films

This is topic Escape From Alcatraz 1 x 800ft Marketting Films in forum 8mm Print Reviews at 8mm Forum.

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Posted by Tom Photiou (Member # 130) on May 28, 2017, 03:17 PM:

First of all the Plot, edited here for this version on Super 8.
Frank Morris (Clint Eastwood) arrives at the maximum security prison Alcatraz. Soon after arriving, he is sent in to meet the warden (Patrick McGoohan), who curtly informs him that no inmate has ever successfully escaped from Alcatraz. Among the inmates, Morris makes acquaintances with the eccentric Litmus, (Frank Ronzio) who is fond of desserts, and the elderly artist and chrysanthemum grower Doc (Roberts Blossom).
Morris also makes an enemy of the rapist Wolf (Bruce M. Fischer), who harasses him in the showers and later attacks him in the prison yard with a knife; both men spend time in the hole. When the warden discovers that Doc has painted an ungainly caricature of him, he permanently removes Doc's painting privileges; in response, a depressed Doc hacks off his own fingers with a hatchet from the prison workshop and is led away. Later, Morris meets bank robber brothers John and Clarence Anglin (Fred Ward and Jack Thibeau), he makes the acquaintance of the prisoner in the cell next to his, car thief Charley Butts (Larry Hankin). Later, during mealtime, Morris places one of Doc's chrysanthemums at the table in honour of Doc, but the warden stops by and crushes it. Litmus is enraged, but as he reaches out to grab the warden, he suffers a fatal heart attack. The warden coldly reminds Morris that "some men are destined never to leave Alcatraz—alive."
Morris notices that the concrete around the grille in his cell is weak and can be chipped away, which evolves into an escape plan. Over the next few months Morris, the Anglins and Butts dig through the walls of their cells with spoons (which have been soldered into makeshift shovels), make papier-mâché dummies to act as decoys, and construct a raft out of raincoats. On June 11, 1962, the inmates decide to leave. Wolf has been released from solitary confinement and prepares to stab Frank with a knife, but English, (another inmate), is able to intercept him. That night, Frank, John, Clarence and Charley plan to meet in the passageway and escape. Charley panics and fails to rendezvous with them. Carrying the flotation gear, Frank and the brothers access the roof and avoid the searchlights. From there, they scramble down the side of the building into the prison yard, climb over a barbed-wire fence and make their way to the shoreline of the island where they inflate the raft. The three men enter the water; partially submerged, they cling to the raft and use their legs as the primary propelling force and kicking. When their escape is discovered the following morning, a massive manhunt ensues. The warden does not want to blemish his perfect record and insists that the men drowned, despite no bodies being found. On a rock on the shore of Angel Island, he finds a chrysanthemum and throws it in the water after being told that they do not grow there.

Originally on 3 x 400ft spools this, like all our other
marketting 3 x 400s,s are joined up onto 1 x 800. A great entertaining cutdown and also very well edited considering its marketing. Colours on this one have held up very well, only the lightest red hue on some of the very dark scenes but only in some scenes which is well odd. Clearly taken from a spotless source as there is not a single mark or negative sparkle anywhere. For once reel 2 follows on perfectly from reel one as well which is unusual for the editors at marketting. Defiantly one of the best along with war of the worlds and The hunter, (both reviewed on here).

Originally supplied on 3 x 400ft spools this, like all our other marketting 3 x 400s, is joined up onto 1 x 800. A great entertaining cutdown and also very well edited considering its marketing. Colours on this one have held up very well, only the lightest red hue on some of the very dark scenes but only in some scenes which is well odd. Clearly taken from a spotless source as there is not a single mark or negative sparkle anywhere. For once reel 2 follows on perfectly from reel one as well which is unusual for the editors at marketting. Defiantly one of the best along with war of the worlds and The hunter.

Posted by Andrew Woodcock (Member # 3260) on May 28, 2017, 03:44 PM:

I really do love this film Tom and yours still looks fantastic.
One I never see these days or else I'd love to have had it in my own collection.
Marathon Man is another seldom seen now in this era yet there were plenty always for sale on the used lists back in the day.

Posted by Brian Fretwell (Member # 4302) on May 29, 2017, 05:12 PM:

The Marketing films were often issued on thin Polyester stock so 400ft would nowhere near fill the reel. This was very convenient for editing onto one 800ft reel.

Posted by Tom Photiou (Member # 130) on May 30, 2017, 06:53 AM:

and they do,(to be fair), make excellent 40/45,(some slightly longer) minute films and with no breaks. Just a shame they were not very good at editing, especially the titles. [Wink]

Posted by David Roberts (Member # 197) on May 30, 2017, 12:06 PM:

I have this and war of the worlds 800 ft versions and the colours are very good , some redness on dark scenes being the only issue.
they both get viewed regularly.

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on May 30, 2017, 12:22 PM:

You're print looks exactly like my print, except I have the feature version of this super 8 release and yes, an excellent print. One of Marketing films better ones! The feature is flat, non letterboxed but not edited in the slightest. it IS on Kodak SP, but fortunately i can barely see a hint of the blacks changing to browns, (even more-so in the last reel, when it's nearly all at night.

Lean and MEAN Eastwood! Yum!!!!

Posted by Tom Photiou (Member # 130) on May 30, 2017, 01:11 PM:

This would be a great full feature.Lucky for anyone who has this, Or the Warriors.

Posted by David Hardy (Member # 4628) on May 31, 2017, 11:32 AM:

Tom ... yeah lucky if they have not FADED ! [Wink]

Posted by Tom Photiou (Member # 130) on June 01, 2017, 04:38 PM:

thats the only problem now David, trying to get these on cine unfaded is almost impossible now.

Posted by Douglas Meltzer (Member # 28) on June 01, 2017, 10:22 PM:

Tom,

Excellent review of an excellent film. Your print is far superior to mine. I will now have to check the colors on my Warriors feature.

Doug

Posted by Tom Photiou (Member # 130) on June 02, 2017, 06:41 AM:

Hope its still OK Doug, especially the Warriors, id love this one but not if it was fading,(which i think they all seem to be now).

Posted by Andrew Woodcock (Member # 3260) on June 02, 2017, 08:30 AM:

Any I have seen since returning to the hobby, have all shown considerable fade sadly.

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on June 02, 2017, 11:50 AM:

David ...

My feature of this, "Alkatraz" has been pretty lucky, as it still looks as good as the day I bought it, (and the blacks ... are BLACK!) [Smile]

Posted by David Hardy (Member # 4628) on June 02, 2017, 12:52 PM:

Osi

That's good news about your print.
It always warms the cockles of my heart to read about prints
from that era that have not faded. [Wink]

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on June 03, 2017, 11:27 AM:

... and, if the time veer comes to re-sell them again, they have better cash value! [Smile]

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