Optical Sound Film List

[Melvin England]

Doug - May I , therefore, for the right reasons, suggest that you close both this thread and Maurice's "A Suggestion For Doug" thread so that any future additions to the list are directed to your new index and not to either of these threads?

Thanks for your time and effort on this matter. It is really appreciated by myself, and I am sure lots of others here on this forum.

[Douglas Meltzer]

The 8mm Print Review section has a new sticky topic: Index Of Super 8mm Optical Sound Prints. This thread has been a great resource. Thanks to all who contributed!

[Ricky Daniels]

If it’s not already been mentioned then add a very rare one, AMERICAN GRAFFITI, to the list.
I sold the print, it’s Flat 2:1 ish letterboxed… sadly turning red.

[Osi Osgood]

Ones I don't have. The Man Called Horse, The Man Who Would Be King, El Dorado, The Man Who Loved Cat Dancing.

[Osi Osgood]

A few more that I do not have, but I know that they exist, at least one print existing. The Princess Bride, The Last Unicorn, High Road to China. (Gawd! I would LOVE to find these!!!!)

[Osi Osgood]

My print of " Hooper" from the late 70's has Japanese subtitles, but I don't find them too intrusive and there are long periods where it's just action anyhow. It's a lovely unfaded Fuji print, and, being that standards are not the same in Japan, (I assume), all the cussing appears to be in there.

[Barry Attwood]

I know of 2 rare ones, but they came with big red Japanese sub-titles, they were "Batman" (Michael Keaton + Jack Nicholson) & "Back to the Future", these were sold when I used to work for Gary Watson at CEC.

[Kenneth Horan]

The two main laboratories that printed Super 8 optical sound features were Rank in the U.K. and Technicolor in the U.S.A. and U.K. I am referring only to films printed on color stock. Technicolor coated their tracks with silver so they could be read as a standard b&w (silver) track. For some reason, probably cost, Rank did not. Silver tracks sound good. Dye tracks, not applicated, do not. This is why some super 8 optical tracks reproduce well while others do not.

[Osi Osgood]

It sounds like you have been to Classic Home Cinema, Russ!😀

[Russ Green]

Some more to add to the list

CHC currently have these on their we site

HOW TO BEAT THE HIGH COST OF LIVING

THE WOMAN IN RED GENE WILDER ROMANTIC COMEDY

LASSISTER TOM SELLICK 1930'S HEIST

THE FAR PAVILIONS ALL STAR UK CAST IN INDIAN SCANDAL DRAMA

THE PURPLE ROSE OF CAIRO WOODY ALLEN COMEDY

3 COINS IN A FOUNTAIN VERY RARE FOX DRAMA FROM 50'S

[Osi Osgood]

Eberhard is right, Broadway Daany Rose is EXTREMELY sharp!!!! It really is an amazing print. I forgot to list my Danny Rose, so that elevates my feature list to 70. Vera Cruz was another re-release, as the film was released in 1954. But then, one whole series of films was released, literally from Beginning to end, the James Bond Series. In truth, I don't think that it is possible to relate how many features were released as super 8 optical sound features. I don't think that even a complete list of optical sound features that made it into collectors hands can ever be known. Micheal, yes, earlier optical sound prints were not as good on the audio department, sometimes due to a fading optical sound print. Hey, if it is a printed optical track, it can fade, but the audio really improved in the 80's and, as some others have said, if only super 8 optical sound prints could have survived just a few years longer, as, they would have made it into the digital audio age, and the sound quality would have improved out the roof!!

[Brian Fretwell]

I believe from an article by Osi (or maybe a post from Ged in Facebook) sound quality depended on the lab used.

[Michael O’Regan]

Impressive lists. I had no idea so many optical sound titles had made their way into the wild. I don’t own any but I have a question. From what I hear, the sound on these is sometimes quite poor. Is this the case, or is it only poor in comparison to mag sound?

[Mike Newell]

It is possible, Mike. The optical sound feature made its debut in 1967, so any films after that are a possibility. But some studios rereleased some films in the late sixties, due to Frank Sinatra's late 60's success. Therefore, Von Ryan's Express made it onto super 8 optical, but also the Sinatra war film Never So Few was also released, and that film was 59, so it is possible.

Osi

Could be a possibility then as a release. I’m sure your print of Vera Cruz is a rare one.

Apart from High Noon and For Whom the Bell Tows there are not too many Gary Cooper releases I can recall.

Mike

[Eberhard Nuffer]

Another:
Broadway Danny Rose (Woody Allen): bw print on colour stock (so now looks a bit like „sepia“) - but outstanding sharpness. Looks like a 16mm print.