What 8mm films did I watch last night?

[Brian Fretwell]

Melvin, I think the film is The Curse of the Crimson Altar, not Alter - despite listing on the Derann used films lists having that spelling several times. Or was that a subtle joke from you or indication that you bought it from one of this listings?

[Brian Fretwell]

A couple of Walto 200ft reels, Pink on the Cob (a Pink Panther Cartoon) and Black Beauty on Agfa and late Fuji resoectively, bith had perfect colour and sharpness.

[Melvin England]

No, Brian. Just a genuine spling mistak on my behalf.

Good edit, though.

[Melvin England]

A mixed bag tonight in the Man Cave.

The list looks like this....


The Treasures of Chartwell - 1x 200' - A look at the house and grounds where Sir Winston Churchill lived from 1922 onwards.

Girls Girls Girls - 1x 400' - Elvis Presley. Just picked up the soundtrack cd so thought it would be good to "watch" the songs, too !

Alien - 1x 400' - Sigourney Weaver and friends.

The Poseidon Adventure - 1x 400' - A good edit, not withstanding the voice over narration. Nice to see Mr. Hackman at his best. Still great colour, too !

The Lady Vanishes - 4x 400' - Margaret Lockwood in the Hitchcock classic. A Walton film.

.

[Philip Hamilton]

Those AWFUl voice over narrations... I have yet to see a digest that had one where it added anything. A total distraction and it’ll take you right out of enjoying a pretty good digest.

[Steve Klare]

We had a contest at CineSea 12 for the absolute worst narration job on a digest film! (-kind of like an ugly sweater contest...)

The winner was Paul Suchy's Columbia Bye Bye Birdie Digest.

Paul won the contest without actually having to watch the thing! (He stayed home and mailed it in...)

[Chip Gelmini]

DIE HARD II DIE HARDER scope/stereo
after a short break
MAXIE in optical sound

[Lincoln Thorn]

Screened my new Japanese print The Haunted Castle (1969) in scope!

[Graham Ritchie]

Last night and its been a while since I last used my old ST1200 this projector I had bought second hand way back in 1979. A few years ago I went through the guides and sorted them out for wear. The projector ran like a swiss watch, it was a bit of a trip back in time. First of was the 400 footer of "Star Wars" which really didn't look that back fade wise, Second was "Buck Rogers" U8 2/400ft, plus the 200 footer that was spliced on the front, all on one 800ft reel. I will have to some do more screenings with the ST1200 later on.

[Melvin England]

Tonight was Humphrey Bogart night up in the Man Cave, with no sign whatsoever of Rick Blaine !


Report From The Front - 1 x 100' - Humphrey promotes the work of the Red Cross during the war. Rare footage of him speaking to camera.

Key Largo - 1 x 400' - Trapped overnight as a guest in a hotel during a storm, with gangster Rocco (Edward G. Robinson) and his gang.

The Maltese Falcon - 2 x 400' - I think my copy has been re-edited in sequence as it made sense !!

Stand In - 5 x 400' - An early comedy where Humph. plays a supporting role as a producer in a film company.

.

[Melvin England]

It was a "Double Feature" night tonight up in the Man Cave. Everything in black and white.


Sir Winston Churchill - 1x 200' (+)! - A Walton documentary film of the man. I don't think they could have fitted any more film onto that spool even if they tried. The take up spool read 240'

The 39 Steps - 5x 400' - The 1935 version starring Robert Donat, Madeleine Carroll, John Laurie (Private Fraser - Dad's Army) and Peggy Ashcroft

Casbah !- 4x 400' - Peter Lorre, Yvonne De Carlo and Tony Martin. Was actually the 5x 400' version but discovered reel 2 is missing. Please also refer to the post "Casbah!.... Length Query" which elaborates on this.

.

[Osi Osgood]

Just watched last night our new acquisition, " Frankie and Johnny ", from 1934. Blackhawk print. While the Laurel and Hardy features by Blackhawk could sometimes be dodgy on sharpness and all, they're varied feature prints were pretty darned good. This one has really nice grey tones throughout and an OK sharpness, but the sound is really good, especially for 1934, it's really sharp, not like what you'd expect for 1934.

[Steve Klare]

Journey Into Spring

Tonight I observed an old custom: right around the vernal equinox I watch my DCR 600 Footer of Journey Into Spring, which I got from the Derann used film list easily 15 years ago now.

Early Spring has always been a great time of the year for me, yet not so much now as in college days. Back then I spent my winters immersed in the howling winds of a campus that somehow managed to have the Artic Circle dip a couple of thousand miles south: just for me! Since I graduated, I motor to work in a heated car: it certainly takes the edge off! I still look forward to not driving in the snow for a while and that April day when I stow the snow blower and shovels and revive the lawn mower.

Journey Into Spring celebrates the change of seasons in Selborne in the English Countryside in honor of Gilbert White, a pioneering Naturalist whose studies of the area are foundational to the science. It's everything from right around now in March, with the wreckage of last year still everywhere outside to the beginning of summer: full of life and warmth.

I'll have to say, I'm looking forward to it myself! This time of the year, "Springtime" pretty much only recognizes that the day and night time are both 12 hours, but the grass is still brown and going out without a coat on is still a pretty poor idea!

So here's to the coming warm days! It's a great time to anticipate the freedom and possibilities of Spring and Summer. Will I camp as much as I plan, or canoe or bike? Of course I won't! (I never have!)

-but at least I can dream!

[Brian Fretwell]

I dug out my old, second hand, Derann 4x400ft of What's Good for the Goose. A Norman Wisdom film with Sally Geeson. It had a surprisingly sharp picture but sadly even more pink than the last time I watched it. No edge markings and this edit has very little nudity except distant back views of Norman and Sally. Still it only cost me £20 - I don't think I could get the empty reels and the case it came in for that nowadays!