8mm Forum: Movieland International

This is topic Movieland International in forum General Yak at 8mm Forum.

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Posted by Mike Newell (Member # 23) on September 13, 2015, 09:48 AM:

Old sales list from Movieland International which was run by the late Roger Lilley.

Posted by Dave Groves (Member # 4685) on September 13, 2015, 10:40 AM:

Amazing just how many folk were involved in film sales when the whole thing was in it's hey day. We little realised what riches were at our disposal (as long as we had the money). I look back with a certain longing and was glad I enjoyed the best of times.

Posted by Andrew Woodcock (Member # 3260) on September 13, 2015, 10:52 AM:

I actually thought some of the more mouthwatering releases only came about after the majority of distributors left the hobby upon the arrival of VHS.

This somewhat later era was the "hey day" of Super 8mm feature films as far as I'm concerned in terms of the quality of titles and quality of the releases available.

Some of the Master material used in this later era as well as the film stock used is the very best to be found on eight.

Posted by Mike Newell (Member # 23) on September 13, 2015, 11:31 AM:

I would date the best golden era of Super 8 to be 1986 to 2001 which coincides with the first Derann release to death of Derek Simmonds the company hung on until 2010 but the interest in Super 8 had really passed with him. The only other era of Super 8 worth noting would be 1975 to 1982 when package movies became readily available in 400 2x400 3x400 formats and in some cases full length . This would be when Disney MGM Marketing (Paramount ) Ken (20th Century Fox) Universal 8 and Columbia had their own Super 8 departments. The likes of Mountain Derann Perrys Ivy Nile and Jeff releasing all the other material .
Columbia were the first to announce the release of 50 400 digest titles which was mind blowing when there had only really been 200 digests. The big year if memory serves me right was 1977 when a certain movie came out called Star Wars created the massive demand for not just a 400 but a 2x400 release. The other companies seeing the big sales suddenly started releasing longer versions. It would have been interesting if video had come out even 5 years later to see what titles would have seen the light of day. I think the last big studio release was Raiders of the Lost Ark by Marketing which I think they planned originally to release a s a 3x400 version as well as a 400 digest. Xanadu or The Incredible Shrinking Woman both noticeable by their poor print qualities might be the last Universal 8 releases. I think Clash of the Titans was MGM last super 8 release.

[ September 13, 2015, 04:04 PM: Message edited by: Mike Newell ]

Posted by Andrew Woodcock (Member # 3260) on September 13, 2015, 11:38 AM:

Your best era is mine also Mike.

Posted by Mike Newell (Member # 23) on September 13, 2015, 11:41 AM:

Yes Andrew if Derann had not raised the quality barrier with their releases I think Super 8 collecting would be a different world today.

Mike

Posted by Andrew Woodcock (Member # 3260) on September 13, 2015, 12:25 PM:

agreed Mike. poles apart from those grainy sub standard 70s prints.
These really are the ones to collect!

Posted by Adrian Winchester (Member # 248) on September 13, 2015, 08:01 PM:

I'd say the 'golden era' started slightly earlier because the item on Film 86 was shot when the revival that Derann started was already in full swing, so it was around 1984 that it was taking off.

I think the comparative desirability of releases from this era is indicated by their scarcity at conventions nowadays. It would be interesting to know how the sales of 400' and 2 x 400' releases from Univeral, Ken, etc, compared to the sales of the later Derann best sellers.

Posted by Mark Silvester (Member # 929) on September 14, 2015, 01:09 PM:

Great post Mike - your insight, observations are brilliant.

I agree with your post..I did love the exciting time of the early 70's - for me - when the only way you could "own" a movie..excerpts or otherwise...was via a cine projector...for me, personally that was the "magic" and best time...the time had a feeling! Wating for the postman to deliver of those wonderful bumper packs of colourful" Mountain/Mailmaster catalogues! Gazing through the window of a photographic shop looking at the boxes of 8mm films with their brilliant artwork...just priced out of our reach..so we all took up paper rounds and saved and pleaded with our parents..just to save and get our first projector...that was the best time for me. Once it became a race of projection quality..definition etc...that was when I moved to video projection...cine and collecting home movies was a different bag altogether..I just have a tiny bit of cine (8mm and a few shorts to show my son) - thanks to "Toddy" who I believe deserves a "knighthood" via this forum for services rendered. Great days indeed. And below is my first projector...and Derek Simmonds did forgive me..for running a couple of 8mm films from his library through it... [Smile]

Posted by Mike Newell (Member # 23) on September 14, 2015, 01:43 PM:

Mark

Your illustration is my first super 8 projector from Mailmaster!! The infamous Royal Super 8 Sound. Made in Italy £79.95 plus post

Mike

Posted by Mark Silvester (Member # 929) on September 14, 2015, 01:58 PM:

Mike, don't you just love it...

selling features..."robust carrying handle"..."rapid rewind"..it was great stuff and it fed...our dream from those days ago..a "real" film show..in our home...I must admit the very first means I had of watching 8mm films was the following "movie viewer" ...can you remember those - "mail-master" did them...a 200" "hand cranked" was tough on the wrist...but that worked...great days..

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