8mm Forum: L'Atalante at David Lean Cinema in Croydon in 35mm

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Posted by Rob Koeling (Member # 35) on August 28, 2015, 08:44 AM:

In the campaign to save the David Lean Cinema in Croydon, they will be playing the beautiful Jean Vigo film L'Atalante in 35mm.

Is anyone here planning to go? It is one of those films that really benefit from being shown on celluloid. Many years ago I attended a screening of this film of a 16mm copy of the restored version of this film in a makeshift cinema on a barge (like the one that gave the film its name). A fantastic evening. A 35mm copy in a beautiful cinema sounds like another treat to me.

Let me know if you are planning to go and we could meet for a drink. And something else, if anyone knows of a 16mm print for sale, I would be much obliged!

Tuesday the 8th of September at 19.30 in the David Lean Cinema in Croydon.

- Rob

Posted by Dominique De Bast (Member # 3798) on August 28, 2015, 10:19 AM:

Is that the 2001 restored version or the 1990 one ?

Posted by Rob Koeling (Member # 35) on September 01, 2015, 11:14 AM:

The web site doesn't mention this. I think Adrian Winchester is involved with the David Lean Cinema rescue project. Maybe he can comment?

I've seen both versions, but wouldn't be able to remember what the differences are.

- Rob

Posted by Adrian Winchester (Member # 248) on September 02, 2015, 07:31 AM:

It's only the second film we have shown on 35mm since getting the cinema open again and the projectors running. It has arrived and our Chief Projectionist reports that it's a nice print on b/w stock. He says it doesn't appear to have a date, but there's a caption in fancy, Gaumont-style lettering stating that it's a "Cinearchive" restoration, so perhaps Dominique knows which version that makes it?

Plenty of seats are still available and a good audience will increase the chances of our programming more 35mm in future. Tickets £7.50 (concessions £6) and no annoying booking fees! Bookings can be made via: www.ticketsource.co.uk/davidleancroydon
The screening is part of the Scalarama festival in September. There are screenings all over the country and the organisers encourage venues to screen films on film, so UK members might like to take a look at the festival website.

Rob, you just beat me to it with regard to posting something about this! Sadly, I have a prior commitment which will cause me to miss it, although if you expect to be in in Croydon by about 6pm, you're welcome to (e.g.) join me for a cup of coffee near East Croydon station. Hopefully one or two members in reach of Croydon might come to the film. I can't claim that the David Lean is a beautiful cinema although it's a cosy 68 seat one much loved by local people, and it's located within am attractive Victorian town hall, even though it first opened in 1995.

[ September 02, 2015, 10:30 AM: Message edited by: Adrian Winchester ]

Posted by Dominique De Bast (Member # 3798) on September 02, 2015, 08:24 AM:

Adrian, the 1990 version has been made by Gaumont and the 2001 one by a cinema historian but I don't know if Gaumont released the second version as well. I understand that Gaumont made a restoration in 1990 in order to be able to keep the copyrights of the film. They included rushes that were not originally in the film. The same year a version of the film was found in London but due to time shortage it could not be completely used. The 2001 version is closer to the original release but the film has quickly been re-edited at his time so one can probably have different opinions about that. Let that to specialists and enjoy the projection :-)

Posted by Stephen Furley (Member # 5024) on September 05, 2015, 01:29 PM:

Sadly, I won't be able to go to this screening because I will be projecting it. I ran the whole print on Tuesday to check it, it's a bit unsteady during the first few minutes, but this must be printed in because the subtitles are rock steady. The rest of the film looks very good. The sound is probably as good as can be expected from a 1934 optical track. This will be a rare opportunity to see this film in a cinema.

Is anybody from this forum going?

Posted by Stephen Furley (Member # 5024) on September 05, 2015, 02:56 PM:

Sadly, I won't be able to go to this screening because I will be projecting it. I ran the whole print on Tuesday to check it, it's a bit unsteady during the first few minutes, but this must be printed in because the subtitles are rock steady. The rest of the film looks very good. The sound is probably as good as can be expected from a 1934 optical track. This will be a rare opportunity to see this film in a cinema.

Is anybody from this forum going?

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