The Exorcist: The Complete Anthology (1973-2005)

[The Fallen Deity]

Originally Posted by TwelveVacancies

Here's a comparison image from CaptainHowdy.com:



The Blu-ray is a vast improvement over the The 25th Anniversary / Version You've Never Seen, however the original theatrical version is still far superior.

The BD definitely has the best colour timing imo.

The colour timing on The 25th Anniversary/The Version You've Never Seen DVD's is absolutely terrible.

Plus the contrast is extremely jacked up on those two DVD's as well.

It's really interesting to see the colour differences between all these releases.

[HeavyHitter]

Is it known for an absolute fact the original film (shown theatrically) didn't have a tinted exorcism?

[The Fallen Deity]

Originally Posted by HeavyHitter

Is it known for an absolute fact the original film (shown theatrically) didn't have a tinted exorcism?

I don't know how accurate the trailers are in terms of colour timing but the shots from the exorcism scenes from them aren't tinted.

I can live with the cyan tint on the BD because it doesn't look that bad imo.

Maybe the scenes looked like that originally?

After all the BD transfer was not only director approved but DP approved as well.

Now on the other hand I personally think that the blue tint that's on the 25th Anniversary & The Version You've Never Seen DVD's looks awful.

But those transfers are a mess as a whole even without the blue tint.

[ditcin]

Originally Posted by HeavyHitter

Is it known for an absolute fact the original film (shown theatrically) didn't have a tinted exorcism?

I guess you didn't see it in the theater.
It never had a tint. It never had a tint prior to the 25th Anniversary Edition for home video release.
The very first DVD release was as it should be - no tint. The director in interviews for the 25th Anniversary stated he made changes, with tint and digital additions.
Tints had become popular due to video editing at the time and have since become much overused. It's much easier to apply tints since CG. Previously any tints that might have been applied had to be done in the in the lab when film was processed.
The director, at the time, felt the blue tint would add to enhance the effect of it being cold within the room. In theory that might be nice but really not needed since the set of the room was actually refrigerated so the vapor from the actors mouths could caught on film.
The real problem with this tint is that it alters the color on many levels including the special effects make-up on Linda Blair. Detail is lost. If it was something originally considered, the make-up artist, Dick Smith would have consulted with the director to be able to take that in consideration so less detail would be lost.

[Dylan34]

Originally Posted by ditcin

I guess you didn't see it in the theater.
It never had a tint. It never had a tint prior to the 25th Anniversary Edition for home video release.
The very first DVD release was as it should be - no tint. The director in interviews for the 25th Anniversary stated he made changes, with tint and digital additions.
Tints had become popular due to video editing at the time and have since become much overused. It's much easier to apply tints since CG. Previously any tints that might have been applied had to be done in the in the lab when film was processed.
The director, at the time, felt the blue tint would add to enhance the effect of it being cold within the room. In theory that might be nice but really not needed since the set of the room was actually refrigerated so the vapor from the actors mouths could caught on film.
The real problem with this tint is that it alters the color on many levels including the special effects make-up on Linda Blair. Detail is lost. If it was something originally considered, the make-up artist, Dick Smith would have consulted with the director to be able to take that in consideration so less detail would be lost.

Agreed. I have the the old school vhs and 1997 dvd and no tint. Looks better that way.

[HeavyHitter]

Originally Posted by ditcin

I guess you didn't see it in the theater.
It never had a tint. It never had a tint prior to the 25th Anniversary Edition for home video release.
The very first DVD release was as it should be - no tint. The director in interviews for the 25th Anniversary stated he made changes, with tint and digital additions.
Tints had become popular due to video editing at the time and have since become much overused. It's much easier to apply tints since CG. Previously any tints that might have been applied had to be done in the in the lab when film was processed.
The director, at the time, felt the blue tint would add to enhance the effect of it being cold within the room. In theory that might be nice but really not needed since the set of the room was actually refrigerated so the vapor from the actors mouths could caught on film.
The real problem with this tint is that it alters the color on many levels including the special effects make-up on Linda Blair. Detail is lost. If it was something originally considered, the make-up artist, Dick Smith would have consulted with the director to be able to take that in consideration so less detail would be lost.

No, I didn't see it in the theater and I am calling bullsh*t on anyone who claims to remember the exact color timing of a movie from a viewing 40 years ago. I cannot believe how many people do it. LOL

With that said, I am not saying either way if it did or didn't have the tint which is why I posed the question. I wanted to know this basis of this.

Now, if the director stated he changed it from the original film, then fine - we have credible evidence. But it is a mistake to use any DVD as the standard of color timing for a whole host of reasons - and it happens way too often. There were so many issues in workflow with NTSC.

[The Fallen Deity]

Originally Posted by ditcin

I guess you didn't see it in the theater.
It never had a tint. It never had a tint prior to the 25th Anniversary Edition for home video release.
The very first DVD release was as it should be - no tint. The director in interviews for the 25th Anniversary stated he made changes, with tint and digital additions.
Tints had become popular due to video editing at the time and have since become much overused. It's much easier to apply tints since CG. Previously any tints that might have been applied had to be done in the in the lab when film was processed.
The director, at the time, felt the blue tint would add to enhance the effect of it being cold within the room. In theory that might be nice but really not needed since the set of the room was actually refrigerated so the vapor from the actors mouths could caught on film.
The real problem with this tint is that it alters the color on many levels including the special effects make-up on Linda Blair. Detail is lost. If it was something originally considered, the make-up artist, Dick Smith would have consulted with the director to be able to take that in consideration so less detail would be lost.

Then the blue tint was changed to a cyan tint for the BD release.

Go figure.

[Filmmaker]

Originally Posted by The Fallen Deity

After all the BD transfer was not only director approved but DP approved as well.

And that's all I've been shouting at my screen. When Friedkin altered THE FRENCH CONNECTION's color timing on the first Blu-ray and Owen Roizman cried foul, the two partnered and came out with a mutually-agreed-upon release which everyone waxed rhapsodic about. But when the two are in agreement with THE EXORCIST's intended look, everyone loses their minds and says both artists are wrong. Go figure.

[The Fallen Deity]

Originally Posted by Filmmaker

And that's all I've been shouting at my screen. When Friedkin altered THE FRENCH CONNECTION's color timing on the first Blu-ray and Owen Roizman cried foul, the two partnered and came out with a mutually-agreed-upon release which everyone waxed rhapsodic about. But when the two are in agreement with THE EXORCIST's intended look, everyone loses their minds and says both artists are wrong. Go figure.

Well I certainly disagree with the naysayers.

The colour timing on The Exorcist looks great on the BD.

Still with that being said maybe they both agreed to tint the exorcism scenes?

I trust their judgement as it's their movie after all and like I already said they both approved the transfer.

[moviebuff75]

The 1997 version has too much red in the image as well...so I don't think it should be used as a guide. Also, the 1979 re-release may be what most people at this point remember. It had remixed sound and possibly different color timing from the 1973 release. As far as Dick's makeup goes, things often change in post when it comes to timing the film. How many movies do you know that are actually missing their tints because the negatives don't contain them? Several. They are often added during post (i.e. Rocky Horror.)

[sarah_wentworth]

Originally Posted by HeavyHitter

No, I didn't see it in the theater and I am calling bullsh*t on anyone who claims to remember the exact color timing of a movie from a viewing 40 years ago. I cannot believe how many people do it. LOL

With that said, I am not saying either way if it did or didn't have the tint which is why I posed the question. I wanted to know this basis of this.

Now, if the director stated he changed it from the original film, then fine - we have credible evidence. But it is a mistake to use any DVD as the standard of color timing for a whole host of reasons - and it happens way too often. There were so many issues in workflow with NTSC.

i agree. i'm not saying anyone is lying here but remembering the color timing of a movie 40 years ago when you were 10 or 15 years old is odd and hard to believe.

i'm not sure why color timing would be changed. when you transfer a movie to home video don't things like that remain the same?

[Clark Kent]

Originally Posted by sarah_wentworth

i agree. i'm not saying anyone is lying here but remembering the color timing of a movie 40 years ago when you were 10 or 15 years old is odd and hard to believe.

i'm not sure why color timing would be changed. when you transfer a movie to home video don't things like that remain the same?

It's one of the most popular movies of all time. Some people saw it repeatedly in first-run theaters during its day. I would find it stranger if people had completely forgotten how something looked for their favorite movies. Some people have very good visual memories.

[ditcin]

Originally Posted by Clark Kent

It's one of the most popular movies of all time. Some people saw it repeatedly in first-run theaters during its day. I would find it stranger if people had completely forgotten how something looked for their favorite movies. Some people have very good visual memories.

Actually I saw it 12 times through the years in the theater. The tint was never there. I have also owned it in Beta/VHS, Laserdisc, DVD and BD.

Also, don't be too sure about timing and color, tint, or otherwise, things changing.
There have been some major screw-ups when it comes to home video through the years with many films.
I have been a consultant for all the studios and minor release companies and there are horror stories. So much can happen to a master as it goes along the line until a final glass master is cut and finally replicated.
There have been techs who along the way feel it should be this way or that. ... and by the time a test disc is set and checked by the studio releasing it, depending on the timing, it will be released due to cost and not to break the street date.
Hell, the first release of the Disney film, THE BLACK HOLE on DVD through Anchor Bay had major sound problems. It went by all concerned until I had gotten my early copy (early, as consultant). I reported it to Anchor Bay who then had me talk to Disney who admitted to their mistake. They had to supply a new master. Anchor Bay released the DVD with red round stickers on packaging, on the back. If anyone complained to a store a replacement would be provided from the new master.
Yes, these thing happen.

[HeavyHitter]

Originally Posted by Clark Kent

It's one of the most popular movies of all time. Some people saw it repeatedly in first-run theaters during its day. I would find it stranger if people had completely forgotten how something looked for their favorite movies. Some people have very good visual memories.

I'm sorry, but there is no human memory that can recall exactly and precisely how a specific skin tone color was, for example, or the exact shade of color in a particular room and how it exactly matches up to a release 40 some years later. There are inherent limitations to the memory in this regard. I am surprised this is even being debated. It's comical really.

[moviebuff75]

And only first run prints should even be considered. Even those would not look the same now.

[sarah_wentworth]

Originally Posted by Clark Kent

It's one of the most popular movies of all time. Some people saw it repeatedly in first-run theaters during its day. I would find it stranger if people had completely forgotten how something looked for their favorite movies. Some people have very good visual memories.

actually visual memory doesn't last long. that is why witnesses to a crime need to give descriptions of people and events within 48 hours. over time peoples memory changes fast. thats what i learned on an episode of Law and Order. *tee hee*

[Beauvoir]

Originally Posted by sarah_wentworth

actually visual memory doesn't last long. that is why witnesses to a crime need to give descriptions of people and events within 48 hours. over time peoples memory changes fast. thats what i learned on an episode of Law and Order. *tee hee*

Was the episode tinted?

[y2jman]

ya know if i would have like other exorcist movies i'll prob would had waited and not go ahead order exorcist digibook fye website a little while ago

[moviebuff75]

Knowing you, you probably won't like 2...but will like the other sequels.

[y2jman]

Originally Posted by moviebuff75

Knowing you, you probably won't like 2...but will like the other sequels.

well i actually saw the other 3 movies dvds rented netflix this month to see if i want anthology or not decided i just didn't care much about them very much

i was having such a hard time figuring out digibook or 40th anniversay i think i'll be good with digibook

i actually never owned exorcist on dvd 1 of those advoided things i have seen both theater and extended a few years ago btw