Demetrius and the Gladiators - 03/16/12 - Limited to 3,000 copies

[rondanto]

Demetrius and the Gladiators Blu-ray order / amazon


http://www.screenarchives.com/title_...954-PRE-ORDER/

Great news that " Demetrius and the Gladiators", sequel to "The Robe,
is coming to Blu Ray in March. Saw these both as a double feature in
the early 60's. Watch them regularly

[peter008]

i already own the robe (great movie) but i never saw demetrius and the gladiators but i will try renting it on dvd to see if it is good and then buy it as soon as it will come out on blu, i hope it is good because if it is i will definitely place it in the biblical part of my blu-ray collection.

[bboisvert]

Originally Posted by peter008

i hope it is good because if it is i will definitely place it in the biblical part of my blu-ray collection.

It's a great movie, but they went for a sword-and-sandals/gladiator-type vibe on it, rather than biblical. If you adjust your expectations accordingly, I think you'll love it.

[Clark Kent]

Great movie that I can't wait to see on Blu-ray.

[arcadeforest]

I finally got around to seeing The Robe a few nights back, good timing with this coming out in a few months.

[Cinemave]

This is a great movie, I'll have to pick it up. I only wish it were a wee bit longer.

[Blu Titan]

The original theatrical poster:

Demetrius.jpg

[SpartanIre]

Yup, pre-ordered both Demetrius and the Gladiators and Bite the Bullet... Not taking the chance of missing out on either of these movies!

[Blu Titan]

When does Screen Archives usually ship pre-orders? How long does it take for it to arrive after shipment? I have bought from them before but never pre-ordered and I forgot how long is the wait time for receipt after shipment.

[oildude]

Originally Posted by Blu Titan

When does Screen Archives usually ship pre-orders? How long does it take for it to arrive after shipment? I have bought from them before but never pre-ordered and I forgot how long is the wait time for receipt after shipment.

In the past, only a few days at most after release date. However, the February 14 releaes (Swamp Water and Pal Joey) have taken an unusually long time to ship. According to Twilight Time's facebook page, there was a delay at the plant in shipping Pal Joey, and since SAE doesn't ship until an order is complete, if you pre-ordered both you likely do not have them yet. SAE still shows mine as pending a week after release.

So far, only the December pre-orders, Fright Night and Rapture, shipped early. In that case, SAE sent them out a week prior to release date. I suspect that may have been due to the large number of pre-orders on Fright Night and I suspect they wanted time to ship them all.

[HDTV1080P]

I also own the Robe on Blu-ray and have pre-ordered Demetrius and the Gladiators on Blu-ray. I am surprised that they are only making 3,000 copies of this title. You would think that they could sell 10,000 or more. Perhaps after 3,000 titles are sold this title might be selling on EBAY for $60-$100+.
Other more popular Biblical titles get 150,000 or more copies printed on Blu-ray.

Hopefully Demetrius and the Gladiators will get a minimum of a 4K scan like the Robe did (6K or 8K would be better).

The 1962 Sodom and Gomorrah was released in the United States on the Laserdisc format by 20th Century Fox but never was released on DVD in the United States (A DVD import is available). I would like to see the Sodom and Gomorrah movie on Blu-ray one day with a 4K-8K scan of the film negative. My 480i NTSC Laserdisc copy is the best version that was released in the United States. Perhaps one day movie collectors might get a 1080P version of that classic 60’s title.

[ROclockCK]

Originally Posted by HDTV1080P

[SIZE=3][COLOR=#000000][FONT=Calibrii]Hopefully Demetrius and the Gladiators will get a minimum of a 4K scan like the Robe did (6K or 8K would be better).

Not necessarily HDTV1080p. Although early 2.55:1 CinemaScope often captured breathtaking vistas, these were not the sharpest lenses, even in the day. So practically speaking, 4K scanning with 4K workflow, downsampled to 1080p is probably just dandy for what's actually in those vintage 35mm 'Scope OCNs and IPs. You just have to look at The Robe and The Egyptian for a preview of what you can realistically expect here. Same studio. Same production team. Same savvy eye for filmic detail. Yet also cool-headed enough to realize that the law of diminishing returns eventually sets in when scanning early DeLuxe 35mm 'Scope elements. Past a certain point it's just overkill, especially if the prospect for theatrical re-release is somewhere between remote...and none.

On the other hand, with the larger neg CinemaScope 55 format (The King and I and Carousel) or VistaVision, you're absolutely right, 6K and 8K scanning will definitely pay off there...just as it has for other large format pictures (e.g. the Camera 65 Ben Hur , Ultra Panavision It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, and still to come Super Panavision 70 Lawrence of Arabia). Some of these already have - but all of them could - play beautifully projected digitally at theatrical scale.

Originally Posted by HDTV1080P

The 1962 Sodom and Gomorrah was released in the United States on the Laserdisc format by 20th Century Fox but never was released on DVD in the United States (A DVD import is available). I would like to see the Sodom and Gomorrah movie on Blu-ray one day with a 4K-8K scan of the film negative. My 480i NTSC Laserdisc copy is the best version that was released in the United States. Perhaps one day movie collectors might get a 1080P version of that classic 60’s title.

Funny, I was just thinking about Sodom and Gomorrah the other day while running through the list of Fox CinemaScope titles (two others that popped into mind were Orson Welles' Compulsion and Ferry to Hong Kong).

Although Sodom and Gomorrah wasn't a 'Scope picture (spherical 35mm masked to 1.85:1 domestically, and 1.66:1 for the Euro market if I recall correctly), it's another great example of a lost-in-the-vaults picture that TT should consider if good quality elements exist*...especially since, as you say, it was never released domestically on DVD. I last saw it in Black & White, full frame on ABC's "Wednesday Night Movie" series back in the late 60s, and even then thought it was pretty cheesy, but great fun. In fairness though, that broadcast version was whacked down to barely 90 minutes, and yet I've heard its running time varied rather wildly from territory to territory worldwide, with the original cut up to 2 1/2 hours! So that's definitely a title I'd be curious to see again, especially with an isolated score by Miklós Rózsa. Indeed, bring it on!

* But again, I have no illusions that any studio production chief would pop for 6K or 8K scanning on something as niche-within-niche as that. We'll be lucky just to see it on Blu someday.

[HDTV1080P]

The Sodom and Gomorrah movie was released international in theaters in 1962. In 1963 it received a USA release in theaters. The Sodom and Gomorrah Laserdisc version is the full 154 minute cut. The movie is in color and presented in Widescreen on the Laserdisc.

There are lots of classic movies I would like to see on Blu-ray. Paramount Pictures Cecil B. Demille’s Samsung and Delilah movie from 1949 is another Laserdisc I own but never saw a USA DVD release (Only a DVD import is available). A 1080P Blu-ray of Samsung and Delilah would most likely sell a lot of titles since it is a classic Demille movie.

[Douglas R]

Originally Posted by ROclockCK

Although Sodom and Gomorrah wasn't a 'Scope picture (spherical 35mm masked to 1.85:1 domestically, and 1.66:1 for the Euro market if I recall correctly), it's another great example of a lost-in-the-vaults picture that TT should consider if good quality elements exist*...especially since, as you say, it was never released domestically on DVD. I last saw it in Black & White, full frame on ABC's "Wednesday Night Movie" series back in the late 60s, and even then thought it was pretty cheesy, but great fun. In fairness though, that broadcast version was whacked down to barely 90 minutes, and yet I've heard its running time varied rather wildly from territory to territory worldwide, with the original cut up to 2 1/2 hours! So that's definitely a title I'd be curious to see again, especially with an isolated score by Miklós Rózsa. Indeed, bring it on!

SODOM AND GOMORRAH is certainly a title I'd like to have - and with the Overture, Entr'acte and Exit Music. The film also originally had some showings with a stereo soundtrack. It's surprising that it wasn't made in 'Scope format. When I saw the film on first release I was disapppointed about that. I have a German DVD of the film which has a running time of around two and a half hours. In reply to my request for the film, TT replied recently on their Facebook page as follows:

"while "Sodom and Gomorrah" is one of our 100 list, the elements are not in good enough shape for a release at this time...we're hopeful, but will be a ways down the road".

[Deciazulado]

Originally Posted by SpartanIre

Regarding 4K and Higher resolutions, I found the following articles through HDGuru.com interesting:

http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-33199_7...?tag=cnetRiver

That article is stupid

says 4K good for theaters but not good for our home theater. I guess we don't want to recreate the field of view and quality of real theaters and the theatrical experience in our home theaters.. I thought that was the name of the game

I remember when people said a 35" 4:3 TV was too big.

And we're talking about a CinemaScope movie here which is a format that benefits the wider and more "Scope" the screen has.

[yellowcakeuf6]

Originally Posted by Deciazulado

I wish my basement was big enough for that screen!

[ROclockCK]

Originally Posted by Deciazulado

That article is stupid

says 4K good for theaters but not good for our home theater. I guess we don't want to recreate the size and quality of real theaters and the theatrical experience in our home theaters.. I thought that was the name of the game

I read it more as a practical guide for those hearing the buzz phrase du jour, "4K", and fretting that their investments in 1080p and Blu-ray are now obsolete. What I took away from that piece is that unless your monitor is 80 inches and above, and you're watching at a 'reasonable' viewing distance, your eyes are physically incapable of resolving the difference in pixel count. Resolution isn't the only factor contributing to an exceptional quality picture...the human eye is both our friend and enemy in that regard.

True, his language was too broadly "debunking" and "dismissive", but I thought he made some valid points about the practical limits of human vision vis-à-vis video in a typical home setting. He was at least careful not to claim that someone with a 100" plus home theatre wouldn't see any benefit from 4K components and content.

Originally Posted by Deciazulado

I remember when people said a 35" 4:3 TV was too big.

And I do too Deciazulado, which is why I agree that what we currently consider a 'normal' screen size will problably seem 'quaint' in a few years. I mean, these days I have 46" monitor in my bedroom - something I would have once drooled over as my principle display. Average expectations aren't average anymore.

But I'm a pragmatist too. If 1080p Blu-ray got ahead of the content, representing enormous technical challenges and expense for restoration and remastering of catalogues, which is why high quality Blu-rays of vintage titles like Demetrius and the Gladiators have been slow to come, if at all, then I can only imagine how much of a niche-within-a-niche 4K will become for the home market...at least for the forseeable future. Will studios even be willing to touch anything that started life on film unless it has "Oz", or "Blade", or "Hur" or "Arabia" in the title?

Originally Posted by Deciazulado

And we're talking about a CinemaScope movie here which is a format that benefits the wider and more "Scope" the screen has.

[Show spoiler]

I'm a huge 'Scope fan from way back. But even I can admit that sure, it was BIG, and often breathtaking in its field of view, but it wasn't terribly sharp. With 4K and above scanning, we're already at the outer limits of what's actually in those vintage 'Scope OCNs and IPs. When downsampled to 1080p Blu-ray for the viewing environments most of us routinely use, they still look dandy, but at some point, an increased resolution harvest and display will just be overkill.

As they used to say in the music industry, "there's nothing left in the grooves."

However, for native 4K content, with 4K workflow, output on 4K systems, via 100" plus displays...well, that's another story. And that's not stupid. It's the future.

[HyperRealist]

Robert Siegel's in depth article.


The Cinemascope Sequel: Demetrius and the Gladiators
https://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=8290

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by ROclockCK

I read it more as a practical guide for those hearing the buzz phrase du jour, "4K", and fretting that their investments in 1080p and Blu-ray are now obsolete. What I took away from that piece is that unless your monitor is 80 inches and above, and you're watching at a 'reasonable' viewing distance, your eyes are physically incapable of resolving the difference...

‘Reasonable’ viewing distance might be what Joe6Pack watches his movies in at home. ‘Reasonable’ sound for them might also be what the television provides with its attached speakers.

For serious home theater enthusiasts, who strive to emulate the theatrical experience by trying to get that immersive *look* by purchasing the largest display they can afford, as well as the best sound system, etc., the technology to bring 4K into the home should be applauded rather than dismissed as it will allow, even with displays < 80”, the ability for folks to achieve that immersive and detailed experience without seeing pixel artifact structure, if they are willing to move their chairs or sofas a few feet forward. In their next purchasing display go-around, I think some home theater enthusiasts would actually like to have that choice rather than being excluded from it by lack of advances in advanced home display technology.

b.t.w., the Sony guy quoted in the above linked post in regards to encouraging the industry to use ‘new display technologies’ rather than the time honored gold standard CRTs for HD mastering is also an advocate of the value of 4K for consumer displays far less than 80” in size.

But, what does he know ?…he must be “stupid” too, for the move from CRTs to flat panels in the mastering suite did more to identify and alleviate (for those operators and studios willing to do so) the most common digital artifacts that home theater enthusiasts complain about, namely DNR and EE, from making their way to HD masters and from thence to Blu-ray packaged media than probably any other single improvement in the imaging chain.

[Blu Titan]

My copy should be shipping soon (hopefully). Would love to have it in time for the weekend.