Why do some film collectors buy and keep faded prints ?

[Dave Bickford]

I was the “film geek” in my family back in the day. Gradually moved away from film to video. I just recently rekindled my interest in film. I had no idea how badly commercially available films have degraded because my Kodachrome and Ektachrome home movies are still perfect. The two “Universal 8” color prints I bought in 1981 are long gone so I had no idea. Last year I bought a few color prints that were terrible. A couple were badly faded but had some vague resemblance of color left. I have two (Star Wars and the African Queen) that are totally pink and are not particularly watchable. Thankfully, I didn’t spend much on them. I have learned my lesson and have since bought only B&W classics (Three Stooges, Little Rascals, Abbott & Costello). Lesson learned.

[Brian Fretwell]

I don't think anyone has mentioned this, but of the print is very cheap, they might buy it for the box it is in rather than the actual film, if the box is in good condition.

[Osi Osgood]

... and yet Clark, all we are watching in our modern cinemas today, are digitally sourced prints! On a very rare occasion, you might actually have a film that, from start to finish, may be completely cine, but it is the extreme rarity.

[Ken Finch]

I did not get into collecting films on the 8 mm formats until the late 1990s being a staunch supporter of 9.5mm. It was the availability of colour and second hand prints of condensed version of more modern films that persuaded me. I think the main answer to the question must be nostalgia but also eccentricity and a refusal to have our lives controlled by the media moguls which seems to be happening today. I am only disposing of cine gear because of age.