"Club Penton" - Ask questions to Hollywood insider "Penton-Man"

[eChopper]

very well said Torsten and thanks for your insights on Richard Donner's Omen

[Oliver K]

Originally Posted by Robert Harris

All digital.

Thanks, I hope to see this done for a movie or two in the coming years.

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

That’s good to know but, keep this past post in mind, because it is exceedingly relevant to the posting mindset over there in *science* and particularly significant if you personally desire to enjoy your Blu-ray movies in your home theater, since it sums up the real-world situation…………………

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread...ng#post1329638

I am pretty thick-skinned so my enjoyment does not depend on others telling me if a title is good and I only take the info from critical threads that I need. One problem that I will admit bothers me lately is that there are too many speculations and too much hyperbole from both sides - TDK is a good example where some say it is really bad looking and others say it is the best disc of the year. Much too often there is no middle ground and people are drawn to extremes.

But enough about that, and on to 2009 - I wish a happy new year 2009 to all here and look forward to many stunning Blu-Rays of classic movies in 2009, may the insiders continue their good work behind the scenes and continue to post here, special thanks go to Penton Man who provides a lot of interesting info that I cannot find elsewhere and to Robert A Harris who for me is still THE man for large format.

[Robert Harris]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Well, the “Edison Trust” was also known as the Motion Picture Patents Company and essentially that’s (fleeing from the litigious nature of the MPPC for refusing to pay patent royalties...

As well as the Pinkertons.

RAH

[Bobby Henderson]

Originally Posted by dialog_gvf

What should we be wanting for Oklahoma on BD? A restoration of the 65mm 30fps presented as 1080i/60?

I would prefer 1080p/30.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Torsten Kaiser TLE

"Penton",
Your tale re: my comments on BARAKA is incorrect. Just for the record, since my name was mentioned: No content was changed by me in the posts at AVS because of "opposition" from anybody at ANY TIME. I would not and will not change my comments because someone disagrees with me on facts and/or issues;.......

That’s good to hear and sorry for my misstatement as this was reported to me by another member who frequents both forums regularly and eventually when I did get the opportunity to check it out for myself, all that was left were the edited versions so, I had no reason to question his recollection of the incident.

As to your contribution over there in *science*, for all the good it did, even as of yesterday, the ambivalence and outright sarcasm to even the idea of downconversion artifacts continues…………….

Originally Posted by Kram Sacul

It's not ee, it's ringing, and it's not dnr, it's the result of downconversion.

despite the fact that I also made a thorough post here on my thread about the topic and cited a classic article in the SMPTE journal for additional reading on the subject…..not to mention the fact that even the RedOne forum people have a whole thread somewhere on their board devoted to the very real potential problem of downrez artifacts, and that was by and large dealing with a 3.2k source to start with, rather than like 8k with Baraka.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Oliver K

But enough about that, and on to 2009 - I wish a happy new year 2009 to all here and look forward to many stunning Blu-Rays of classic movies in 2009, may the insiders continue their good work behind the scenes and continue to post here, special thanks go to Penton Man who provides a lot of interesting info that I cannot find elsewhere and to Robert A Harris who for me is still THE man for large format.

Thank you and the sum total of my knowledge regarding Oklahoma is that the picture opened with great fanfare and when it didn’t take off like a rocket at the box office, Rogers and Hammerstein openly criticized the way it had been directed by Fred Zinnemann.

Fred Zinnemann later confided to others in the industry that he didn’t do good work on Oklahoma because “it was my first musical and I was in awe of Dick and Oscar”. He later lamented that he had had years of directing experience (while Oklahoma was Rogers and Hammerstein’s first film production) and he should have followed his instincts rather than theirs.

P.S.
This *larger than life* persona of Rogers and Hammerstein at the time also caused a famous actress (known to everyone here) to essentially flub her audition for South Pacific, despite the fact that she was Joshua Logan’s ideal choice for the leading female role, namely Nellie Forbush - so, she didn't get the role.

For a humble New Year’s gift, if anyone (in the U.S.) can tell me the name of this famous [and beautiful] actress, I’ll send them my personal copy of “Josh” which is an autobiography all about his theatrical career.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by Robert Harris

As well as the Pinkertons.

RAH

You know Robert, I don’t think it was mentioned in that Wikipedia entry but, not only was the Edison Trust prone to being litigious (nailing Carl Laemmle with close to 300 legal actions) but, funny thing was………… that producers who didn’t comply to paying the patent royalties suffered “accidents” that ruined their equipment and put them out of business that way.

I wonder who/what caused those “accidents” to happen?
Those olden times were indeed rough and tumble days.

[AstroBlu]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

For a humble New Year’s gift, if anyone (in the U.S.) can tell me the name of this famous [and beautiful] actress, I’ll send them my personal copy of “Josh” which is an autobiography all about his theatrical career.

Elizabeth Taylor?

[dialog_gvf]

Originally Posted by Bobby Henderson

I would prefer 1080p/30.

Technically, you can't get that with BD. BD is either 1080p/24, 1080i/50 or 1080i/60 encoded (and some variants).

Now, with proper de-interlacing this doesn't matter. But, it does raise an issue.

Gary

[dialog_gvf]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

Oklahoma was shot twice, in fact one version is preferred over the other because the dancing is tighter (I forget which) because they're all less tired

Yeah, that's why I asked. If they shot twice, then there are really TWO movies.

I guess we should demand BOTH.

Gary

[kpkelley]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

P.S.
This *larger than life* persona of Rogers and Hammerstein at the time also caused a famous actress (known to everyone here) to essentially flub her audition for South Pacific, despite the fact that she was Joshua Logan’s ideal choice for the leading female role, namely Nellie Forbush - so, she didn't get the role.

For a humble New Year’s gift, if anyone (in the U.S.) can tell me the name of this famous [and beautiful] actress, I’ll send them my personal copy of “Josh” which is an autobiography all about his theatrical career.

I would have to guess Judy Garland.

[Bobby Henderson]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

For a humble New Year’s gift, if anyone (in the U.S.) can tell me the name of this famous [and beautiful] actress, I’ll send them my personal copy of “Josh” which is an autobiography all about his theatrical career.

Audrey Hepburn?

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

This *larger than life* persona of Rogers and Hammerstein at the time also caused a famous actress (known to everyone here) to essentially flub her audition for South Pacific, despite the fact that she was Joshua Logan’s ideal choice for the leading female role, namely Nellie Forbush - so, she didn't get the role.

For a humble New Year’s gift, if anyone (in the U.S.) can tell me the name of this famous [and beautiful] actress, I’ll send them my personal copy of “Josh” which is an autobiography all about his theatrical career.

Jessica Alba?

Well, you said known to everyone here (referring to a BD poll on who is Ms. Blu-ray)

I'm joking of course, BTW. No clue who it really was.

[Oliver K]

Originally Posted by AstroBlu

Elizabeth Taylor?

I think we have a winner According to Joshua Logan Liz could hardly bring out a sound when she was supposed to sing in front of R&H. Doris Day and Audrey Hepburn I think were also considered at one point or another in the casting process.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by PeterTHX

Jessica Alba?

Don’t get me excited.

[Penton-Man]

Happy New Year to one and all …………..and “AstroBlu” PM me your name and address so I know where to have the book sent.

P.S. -
Don’t expect my AA to send it out until sometime after CES so, please be patient.

[wallendo]

Originally Posted by dialog_gvf

Technically, you can't get that with BD. BD is either 1080p/24, 1080i/50 or 1080i/60 encoded (and some variants).

Now, with proper de-interlacing this doesn't matter. But, it does raise an issue.

Gary

That's the way I've always understood it. I hope BOTH versions of Oklahoma are released (although the Todd AO print used for the most recent DVD was of poor quality). Unfortunately, when the Todd AO version is released, I'm sure there will be dozens of posters complaining about 1080i60.

I wonder if people would be as disturbed by 1080i if we hadn't repeatedly heard the Toshiba A-2 HD-DVD's owners rant on about how 1080i was just as good as 1080p

[Icemage]

I just have to slide in a quick thanks here to Penton-Man, Robert Harris, Torsten Kaiser, and all the other luminaries who frequent these insider threads. You bring a unique contribution to this site that can be found nowhere else, and it is a singular joy to read about your views and opinions on many of these topics (without the echo chamber elitism of another site-which-shall-not-be-named).

Happy New Year to all.

[gearyt]

here here !!

[Torsten Kaiser TLE]

Originally Posted by dialog_gvf

Technically, you can't get that with BD. BD is either 1080p/24, 1080i/50 or 1080i/60 encoded (and some variants).

Now, with proper de-interlacing this doesn't matter. But, it does raise an issue.

Gary

The whole frme rate issue on BD (as well as in the High Definition spex in general) is a bit broader and even complicated.
For instance, the specifications both for Blu-ray as well as for HD-DVD have often been quoted inaccurately in many of the "technical sheets" on the internet, even by "insiders" on the web (HD-DVD); simplifying things but as it turned out making actually things more difficult in the process not only for the public at large but also (which should not happen) for the people involved in the process itself.
While 50i 1080 is correct, the 60i 1080 referred to even in manuals is actually 59.94i 1080, which is a completely different standard altogether in the High Definition realm. The same goes for 24p(sf) 1080. Often referred to as 24 for reasons, what one "HD-DVD insider" once told me, "to make things simpler" the actual frame rate is 23.976p(sf) 1080; again, a completely different frame rate to the separately defined 24p(sf) 1080. 24p(sf) is rarely used on Blu-ray, because many players cannot properly handle it; UK discs that were encoded this way "jump" during playback due to the player trying to sync the signal. Re: 30p(sf) 1080 -- Mastering to tape or file would not be the problem; but with a literally tiny fraction of the film libraries, with many perhaps in not such a good condition (OKLAHOMA seems in good shape, AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS afaIk is for the most part no longer usable [RAH could say much more about this - which others would qualify here ?] an extra 30p(sf) standard on Blu-ray would not exactly be paramount on any of the schedules of the meetings, I suppose...