Voiceover/Narration damage! Who's the greatest violaters?

[Osi Osgood]

Phillip commented on this issue a short time ago, and so that makes for a good question ... Who, in your opinion, lads and lassies, are the greatest violaters, when it comes to this nasty habit? I would vote for Columbia pictures super 8! Sometimes it almost felt like the commentator added more dialogue than the actual clips or scenes did!

[Rob Young]

Oh my goodness, definitely the star prize goes to Columbia who ruined many a digest with that awful narration!

Mind you, I recall a while back someone saying how much they hated that brief voice over at the start of the Ken Star Wars Pt. 1….”A long time ago…”

Have to say I always thought it was ok. Got quickly to the point, saved film and into the action. Horses for courses, as they say.

[Osi Osgood]

I agree Rob on that Star Wars quick bit O narration on the beginning of Star Wars, and, at least, there was none for the rest of the digest.

[Douglas Meltzer]

Columbia's narration was awful but at least it was accurate! Ken Films' narrator referred to characters by the wrong name and would just make things up. In The Crimson Cult, Boris Karloff's character is Professor Marsh, but to the narrator he's "Mr. Boris". The lead character's name is Robert but the narrator calls him Peter. The Tall Men also refers to a character by the actor's name.

[Rob Young]

“Mr. Boris”!!? Oh that’s brilliantly bad. Has to be a contender for the winner. So bad I almost want a copy now…

One that always made me laugh; Columbia’s Son of Dr. Jekyll. One of the main characters announces, “I’ll meet you later at (so & so’s) flat.”

Cut to the door of the flat with said character about to enter…and the commentator reads (wait for it)…Later, at (so & so’s) flat…” Doh…

[Melvin England]

Thank goodness Mr. Columbia voice over man kept his mouth shut during the 400' Close Encounters of The Third Kind


Or was that done on his day off ?


Or is it because Mr. Spielberg supervised that edit himself so he wouldn't have stood a chance to speak ?


Whatever....... it suited all of us, I think !

[Rob Young]

Melvin, that has now put so many bad thoughts in my head!

”There is a bad sandstorm…cars approach…”

”Mr. Dreyfuss is working late to repair the power lines…suddenly a bright light appears from above…”

”His family having left him, Mr. Roy has built a huge model mountain in his living room from chicken wire…”

Ha Ha!

[Jim Seaburg]

I’ve come across the absolute blasphemy for narration on film a couple of times now. A previous owner of said film allowed his kids to record their voices over the existing movie soundtrack. The worst was a 400’ print of Dracula, Prince Of Darkness. It absolutely ruined the film. Fortunately I was able to re-record the sound. Why would anyone allow this? I get the urge to find those kids and rip their tongues out. I’ll save the acid dunking tank for their dad. Oh my!
Another one I received for free was Castle Films 200’ sound It Came From Outer Space. Obvious teenagers did their take on MST3K for the entire film. I have to admit they thought things out before hand as it was very clever and, I hate to say this but, I enjoyed it.
I agree that studio done narration, especially Columbia, was totally wrong and unnecessary. They didn’t think those watching the film had eyes to see what’s happening on screen? Did Ted Turner have something to do with it since there was a time on TCM that one could watch their movies with narration for the visually impaired. Was Columbia’s releases a forerunner for this?

[Melvin England]

Rob - AARRRRGGHHHH! PLEEEEEEEEEZE NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO !

Jim - Ripping tongues out and dunking in acid ? Please film it ! Would make a great new 200' release !!

.

[Mike Newell]

I think Columbia were the worst offenders but I have memories of the Jesse James Ken digest being ruined by a useless motor mouth. Ironically, it is one digest that the colour has held up well.

[Edward Nicielnik]

I have that copy too very good colour digest

[Edward Nicielnik]

The narration on longest Day is all right

[Adrian Winchester]

I actually quite like the narrator heard on at least one of two Ken horror 200' releases, because he manages to sound serious and dramatic even when referring to scenes as ludicrous as on 'The Screaming Skull'! Also, I've heard the same voice on certain trailers, so he had the right credentials.