In our first
issue I made some comments regarding films on DVD. Some people out there
seem to have got the idea that I prefer DVD to film; that I think it superior
in some way; that film is dead etc, etc
They missed the point by a mile, so I will try to clarify my position
- speaking as a member of the cinema-going public who buys his tickets
like everybody else and is therefore entitled to have an opinion about
what's on offer these days.
First let's
separate the two issues involved here. They are "film" and "films".
The former is the medium - like the paper that novels are printed on;
the latter are the novels themselves - the words, in other words! So,
lets consider "film" first. It has been around for a long time
now - over a hundred years - and it has served us well and continues to
do so. Its chemical make up has been altered and improved over this period
to provide clearer, sharper images, greater durability of the stock and
enhanced image stability. Ingenious technicians have created the wonderful
widescreen processes (that this magazine was created, in part, to remember
and celebrate) so that the movie going audience might experience an even
greater sense of involvement in the action on bigger and wider screens.
And this has been a good thing. Nothing, it is said, comes close to film
when it comes to the quality of the projected image. Most technical people
I speak to feel that the new DLP (Digital Light Projection) technology
is not yet up to the quality of conventional film projection. I've only
seen theatrical digital presentation on two occasions, the "films"
being shown were Toy Story 2 and Vertical Limit, and they looked OK to
this viewer - and I was looking for faults, but what do I know? Well,
what I do know is that theatrical DLP equipment is hugely expensive, so
exhibitors will not be rushing to embrace this technology until the cost
comes way, way down.
But to return
to "film". From the basic principle of motion picture technology
evolved the glorious wide screen systems that we know and love and were
only available in cinemas. TV just couldn't compare, and still can't really.
But we didn't
just go to watch the systems, did we? We went to watch "films".
Back in the fifties and sixties, when most towns had at least a couple
of cinemas, they would probably be independents that had more flexible
programming than the big chains such as Odeon or ABC. They would often
rerun older films when they couldn't get a new release - I saw Doris Day
in Calamity Jane in one such cinema, and Kirk Douglas in Ulysses in another
(yes, I know they weren't widescreen features) - in 1962! These were also
the days of the Double Feature and the supporting film was often a much
older one than the main feature. The point is that films were still circulating
years after they were first made, and were being presented in their original
aspect ratios. With one or two rare exceptions, this just doesn't happen
today. With the rise of the multiplex cinema, double features disappeared,
and we had to rely on the TV for reruns, until the advent of home video,
and widescreen was out of the question! At least, since the advent of
letterbox videos and subsequently laserdiscs and DVD's, the film makers
get the chance to see their work presented to an audience in its correct
shape, if not size. Which, as an aside, reminds me of another modern cinema
experience. A couple of years ago, I went to see 13th Warrior in a Manchester
multiplex. I sat through the adverts and trailers etc. - on this fairly
small screen - in anticipation of this film which I knew to be in a 2.35:1
ratio. When the main feature starts, instead of the screen getting wider,
the masking rose up from the bottom of the screen, making it even smaller!
And of course, as an added bonus, the sound system practically blew my
eardrums out. Cinema is supposed to be a visual medium, after all, but
when these kinds of presentations are inflicted on a paying audience,
the original purpose of Panavision/CinemaScope is defeated.
And here's
another fact to consider. When film restorers use their considerable skills
and infinite patience to retrieve a classic movie from the point of extinction,
practically frame by frame, it will more than likely not appear at your
local multiplex anyway. You will probably have to travel a considerable
distance to see it unless you are fortunate enough to live near a specialist
venue.
(I am speaking of the United Kingdom here - I don't know about the rest
of the world.) So all that care and painstaking work would be for precious
little audience return. But when those restorations are transferred to
DVD - along with commentaries, outtakes, documentaries and all the other
fascinating stuff they often put on them - the films in question then
have a real chance of, once again, reaching the audiences they were made
for.
No, it's not
the genuine "cinema experience", I agree; it's a compromise.
But having them available in this form has to be better than not having
them at all. As I said in issue one, it is estimated that around eighty
percent of all the films that were ever made are gone forever; a depressingly
awesome situation that must not be allowed to continue. I also made a
comment about "cynical clean ups of a single print for DVD while
the negative continues to rot in the vaults", and on reflection I
think I was a little harsh to use the word "cynical". It really
all comes down to cost in the end, and most films were made on strictly
limited budgets in the first place, so a full, frame-by-frame restoration
of the vast majority of films would cost more than they did to make in
the first place, so it's simply not going to happen. But if "films"-
any films, not just the high-profile productions or "classics"
can be saved, albeit in a different format, then what's wrong with that?
I mourn the
passing of the fifties-style big-screen, CinemaScope experience - that's
what prompted the creation of this magazine in the first place. But I
miss the films as well; and if we never, ever get to see them again, then
they will be just something we saw a long time ago and can merely talk
about now, as some dim and distant memory. And that would be the saddest
thing of all.
|
MAN
OF A THOUSAND FACES
(Region 1)
This is a
must-have disc for any fan of classic horror/fantasy, being the (Hollywood
style!) story of the great Lon Chaney as portrayed by the equally great
James Cagney in this 1957 CinemaScope film. Chaney was the son of deaf-mute
parents and the cruel prejudice that he and they suffered coloured his
entire outlook on life, but ironically, it would also give him the drive
to succeed, first as a sad-faced clown in vaudeville and then as the creator
of the legendary silent horror film characters such as the scarred musician
in Phantom Of The Opera and the deformed Quasimodo in The Hunchback
Of Notre Dame. Cagney gives a heartfelt yet forceful performance as
the tormented actor and is ably supported by Dorothy Malone as his first
wife, the unstable Cleva, mother of his son Creighton - Lon Chaney Jr.;
and Jane Greer as his second wife, Hazel, with whom he found lasting contentment.
Chaney Jr.
is played by Roger Smith in an early role before his hit series 77
Sunset Stripas Jeff Spencer, and his subsequent off-screen role as
the manager of his wife, Ann-Margret. Robert Evans, eventually to be the
head of production at Paramount Studios in the 1960's and 70's makes his
debut as Irving Thalberg who had the same job at Universal and MGM back
in the 1930's.
The disc is
one of Universal's earlier entries into the DVD market and as such is
not encoded anamorphically, but letterboxed at 2.35:1 instead. The black
and white picture is crisp and clear, with the source print clean and
damage free. Sound is mono only, but nevertheless is as clear as the images.
Frank Skinner's score is particularly memorable also. 7 out of 10.
BARABBAS
(Region 1)
This 1961
Dino De Laurentiis production has been a long time coming to DVD. It's
been available for some time as a rather indifferent VHS transfer - pan-and-scan,
of course; but at long last this magnificent Technirama 70 epic is presented
here, anamorphically, in an aspect ratio of 2.35:1, which would suggest
a transfer from a 35mm print rather than a 70mm.
Anthony Quinn
gives one of his most powerful performances as Barabbas, the thief and
murderer who was released in place of Jesus. The plot, which is loosely
adapted from Par Lagerkvist's nobel prizewinning novel, charts Barabbas'
increasingly tormented life from the point of his release to his death,
many years later. Unable to give up his old ways, he is once again captured
and sentenced to life in the sulphur mines on Sicily. After an incredible
twenty years of slavery he emerges into the light after inexplicably surviving
an horrific cave-in - which is depicted with incredible realism - only
to be trained as a gladiator and sent to the arena in Rome. At this point
two more fine actors appear in supporting roles, Ernest Borgnine as the
slave, Lucius; and Jack Palance as the truly psychotic gladiator trainer
Torvald. Richard Fleischer's thoughtful direction is perfectly complemented
by cinematographer Aldo Tonti's lighting and designer, Mario Chiari's
colour palette. Particularly stunning is the awesome, genuine, total eclipse
for the crucifixion scene (ready when you are, Mr. DeMille!) . The cast
also includes Arthur Kennedy as Pilate, Silvana Mangano as Rachel and
Katy Jurado as Sara. Notable also is Mario Nascimbene's innovative score,
utilizing unusual (for the time) recording techniques and electronic effects.
(If you can get hold of the vinyl LP release of the score, which was extremely
rare and much sought after by collectors until its re-release in the late
1980's, there is a demonstration track on side 2, which, incidentally,
isn't on the CD version).
Sound is Dolby
4.0 and the print is fine. The trailer is included, though sadly, no documentary
or commentaries. Nevertheless, Barabbas is an essential addition to any
DVD collection. 8 out of 10
IT'S
A MAD, MAD, MAD MAD WORLD
(Region 1)
America's
funniest comedians and Jerry Lewis star alongside Spencer Tracy in Stanley
Kramer's fabulous 1965 crash, bang road movie, hereafter to be referred
to as 4Mad World.
Career criminal Jimmy Durante sails his car of a cliff, witnessed by several
drivers who happened to be following behind him.
Finding him
conscious, but close to death, this motley bunch, comprising such talents
as Mickey Rooney, Sid Caeser, Edie Adams, Milton Berle, Phil Silvers,
Jonathan Winters and Buddy Hacket, all hear him gasp out the location
of some buried loot "
underneath a big 'W'
". Cue
the craziest car chase you've ever seen as they try to outrace each other
to Los Angeles and the buried riches - the original 'equal shares' idea
rapidly cast aside.
Kramer wanted
to make the biggest, noisiest, most action-packed comedy of all time -
hence the big-star line-up and the 70mm Ultra Panavision photography -
and was largely successful. How successful, of course, depends on the
viewer's opinion of the various comic talents on show. But funny it most
certainly is, and the film is helped tremendously by Spencer Tracy's laid-back
performance as the cop who watches them all from a distance, never upstaged
for a second by some of the most notorious scene-stealers in the business.
Presented,
allegedly, in a 2.55:1 anamorphic transfer, "
from the original
35mm theatrical version" - OK, we'll let that go, for now; the print
is fine and clean, with good colour. Sound is Dolby Digital 5.1. It comes
with the original trailer, the 1970 reissue trailer and a great documentary;
Something A Little Less Serious. It also has the added bonus of
Jerry Lewis only being in it for three seconds. Lose two marks for the
"Original 35mm theatrical print" - where's the 70mm one?? 8
out of 10.
THE
PHANTOM (Region 1)
I make no
apology for being the only person to see this 1996 film, or buy the DVD.
Discussing The Phantom with some of my more intellectually minded
friends, I have often said that I can't understand why this film didn't
perform better at the box-office. "Because it's crap" is the
usual explanation offered. I beg to differ. It has Billy Zane in a purple
rubber suit, and there's yummy Catherine Zeta Jones striding around in
a jumpsuit, hitting people - what more could you want?
Kidding aside,
though, The Phantom really deserved to be a success. Relying more
on action and humour for its thrills, rather than special effects, director
Simon Wincer delivers a high-speed adventure from the Indiana Jones era.
The cast play it with their tongues firmly in their cheeks - and have
a ball in the process! And speaking of cast, you can spot the underrated
James Remar (remember him in The Warriors - the one who gets handcuffed
to the park bench?) as an associate villain, and there is also a delightfully
vicious performance from Treat Williams - another underrated actor - as
ruthless tycoon, Xander Drax. Also featured is a voice-over and brief
appearance by Patrick McGoohan as the Phantom's ghostly dad.
I reckon that
its lack of success is really down to two other factors, rather than the
quality of the production. The aforementioned paucity of effects (though
what there are are first-rate), usually expected in super-hero films,
is probably one reason; and the other is the character of The Phantom
himself: he is simply of another age and today's kids are simply not in
tune with him. The same condition afflicted the excellent Alec Baldwin
vehicle, The Shadow, with similar results.
However, all
that notwithstanding, don't let this one pass you by without checking
it out. Anamorphic 2.35:1 framing and a beautifully rendered image, with
excellent Dolby 5.1 sound, let down only by Paramount's usual policy of
giving you zilch in the way of extras - apart from the theatrical trailer.
Slam Evil!
with The Phantom - you'll enjoy it! 7 out of 10.
HELL
IS A CITY (Region 1)
I could not
let the release of this classic crime thriller (in December 2002) pass
unnoticed. The redoubtable Anchor Bay have brought us a splendid transfer
of this 1961 Hammer Films production, directed by Val Guest. Shot in and
around Manchester, and starring Stanley Baker, as the hard-bitten police
inspector Harry Martineau, Hell Is A City was considered shockingly
violent in its day, though it's actually no worse than an average episode
of The Sweeney. That said, the casual brutality of gangster-on-the-run,
Don Starling, played by John Crawford, would probably have been an eye-opener
at the time.
A jewel robbery
that turns into the senseless killing of a young girl triggers a manhunt
that draws Martineau onto the trail of his childhood adversary, Starling.
These two equally ruthless protagonists embark on a deadly game of cat-and-mouse,
each determined to outwit the other, no matter who gets in the way. Val
Guest's taut screenplay was nominated for a British Academy Award, and
the film is still powerful today with its gritty, realistic portrayal
of life in a provincial city in the mid-20th century. Mancunians who were
around then will have some fun spotting the locations in a city that has
changed more than most in the forty something years since this film was
made! Shot in black & white CinemaScope, the print used here is crisp
and damage-free and is presented anamorphically in a 2.35:1 aspect ratio,
with clear, mono sound. The disc also includes an entertaining commentary
from Val Guest with journalist, Ted Newsome; an alternate ending; trailer
and talent bios. An extremely welcome package for fans of the old British
crime thrillers. 9 out of 10.
|