The Digital Bits' Call to Action for John Wayne's The Alamo

[Snicket]

Originally Posted by s.jorgens1

what people act like is what they are



very true and academic smarts does not mean crap in the real world.



those 2 ONLY care about film preservation IF THEY ARE MAKING A HUGE BUCK FOR THEMSELVES, they are very self centered, IF they were for preservation just for preservation they would not care if they made a buck or not



THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN 99.9% of college graduates who get into


studios (and every other industry) are drones / sheep / non-thinking people.
because in there marketing classes and such is what they are told makes the most sense, when it clearly the opposite, those colleges responsible for these graduates should be fined.

Someone didn't get into Phi Kappa Psi...

[Flex Mentallo]

Originally Posted by gpn

Actually, MGM is doing quite well lately with their share of profits from Skyfall and the Hobbit films, so it would be nice to see them channel some of that money towards preservation.

MGM has definitely made a buck from that but that too is part of the problem. They need something else beyond James Bond films and if MGM was in a position to produce The Hobbit series themselves they would have done so or at least work out some deal for North America theatrical and home video distribution. Instead they're just another name in a long series of names listed at the opening credits and no matter what, WB, is still taking the lions share of the profits. But at least MGM gets something out of that.

Still, no amount of profits from those two series is going to plug up the financial issues of MGM and unfortunately it's not going to be enough to start funding multiple preservation projects. I'd assume at this point it's all about maintaining what they have as a library (sans full on restorations), work on more licensing deals and try to exploit those properties for possible future remakes (ie Robocop). Kinda sucks but makes the most sense (and I'm so up for a remake of RobotJox ... c'mon MGM ... lol)

Originally Posted by Snicket

Someone didn't get into Phi Kappa Psi...

Maybe try Lambda, Lambda, Lambda?

[rewak]

In 2009 it was estimated it would cost $1.4million to restore the film, that can only have increased - http://in70mm.com/news/2009/the_alamo/index.htm

It's worth noting this restoration effort is only referring to the "roadshow" version of the movie, the theatrical version is believed safe on 35mm. So basically for the sake of preserving an extra 25 minutes of footage and the 70mm elements for the rest of the movie, that would have cost them $1.4million to restore back in 2009, of course they passed!

[kristoffer]

I have never seen this, but really hate when a movie is lost!

[s.jorgens1]

Originally Posted by Snicket

Someone didn't get into Phi Kappa Psi...

I graduated Magna Cum Laude and everything I learned in College pales to what learned in life by watching others and then doing it for myself / aka college is a waste

[BillieCassin]

Originally Posted by Canada

That is just sad that the MGM has the film just sitting there disintegrating, I was going to say before there very eyes, but apparently not. Why not get either Martin Scorsese or Steven Spielberg on the project they're always going on about preserving film history.

Because they only care about the cinema that they care about. Same with Lucas, et al.

That's why Debbie Reynolds had to sell her absolutely stunning collection of Hollywood memorabilia. She went hat in hand to all of them, and while they politely listened, not a single one of them offered to help her with putting it in a museum. The 10-20 million it would have cost is nothing to those folks who have billions, but they just didn't care enough about classic Hollywood cinema to want to keep the collection whole and preserve it.

So she ended up selling it all off in auctions - which was great for her pocketbook, but you could see as she went all over the media (from Oprah on down) talking about it that she would have much rather had someone help her finally get it all in the museum it deserved. Now it's scattered to the wind, sitting in hundreds/thousands of homes and most of it will never be seen by the public again. The Speilbergs and Scorseses and Lucases didn't care about it because it was largely classic Hollywood, which to them is beneath the "artiste" movement that came next. Considering that John Wayne was one of the last of that era, while Brando was moaning and grunting all over the place in the "important" cinema - I doubt they think much of "The Alamo".

[Monroville]

Originally Posted by Flex Mentallo

Maybe try Lambda, Lambda, Lambda?

Or "I Phelta Thai"?

[Christian Muth]

Originally Posted by Tom Servo

I saw this movie on TCM or AMC within the last few years and it looked nothing like that purple mess in that screenshot. I guess they were airing it from an old DVD or something. Aren't there any existing elements of the movie, even if they are inferior and not the originals? What did they make the DVD from?

The DVD transfer was taken from a 35mm reduction dupe of the short cut.

Chris

[MEB]

I posted to MGM's Facebook page too. I'd violate my $20 rule to get a copy of 'The Alamo' that includes both the Roadshow version and the General Release version. But I have my doubts that MGM will be swayed by 200 enthusiasts raising a stink.

Mark

[NoirFan]

Originally Posted by BillieCassin

The Speilbergs and Scorseses and Lucases didn't care about it because it was largely classic Hollywood, which to them is beneath the "artiste" movement that came next.

Huh? Scorsese grew up on Classical-era Hollywood. Have you not seen his Personal Journey Through American Movies documentary? He has a deep appreciation for and extensive knowledge of the studio era, not limited to the Method era/style by any means. I was reading the recent Corman bio Crab Monsters, Teenage Cavemen and Candy Stripe Nurses yesterday, and Jonathan Kaplan recalls taking a class at NYU taught by Scorsese in the late-60's, at the very height of radicalism on campus, and Scorsese screened The Searchers for an angry classroom of students who were appalled at the 'right-wing fascism' of John Wayne. As Kaplan recounts, 'He came in and asked us our favorite filmmakers, and we all said Godard and Truffaut and Chabrol, and he said, 'Well, you need to learn about American films'. And Spielberg? He's hardly an art-house snob - he's firmly middle-brow establishment, and always has been, even as a young man surrounded by the New Hollywood collective.

[NoirFan]

Oh, and Scorsese has only appeared in about a billion DVD featurettes for Hollywood films of all genres dating back to the silent era. But you're quite right, because he passed on paying $20 million for Debbie Reynolds' memorabilia collection, that clearly and conclusively means that he is only interested in the 'moaning and groaning' (are you the reincarnation of Bosley Crowther or something?) of Brando and those other Method whippersnappers. Fortunately, their emotive hand-wringing is merely a brief, odious fad that will certainly fall out of fashion by 1960 or so.

[Emcg0211]

To say Lucas and Spielberg only care about movies from an "artiste" movement is crazy. Yes, they love those movies, but they also love non-artiste movies, which is clear from the movies they make. The only one you may be able to make a case for is Scorsese, but even he loves these American classics. They probably don't even know The Alamo is in this kind of shape. And they shouldn't, it's not their job to worry how ever film is being preserved, it's the studios.

[bluknight1]

Originally Posted by Emcg0211

To say Lucas and Spielberg only care about movies from an "artiste" movement is crazy. Yes, they love those movies, but they also love non-artiste movies, which is clear from the movies they make. The only one you may be able to make a case for is Scorsese, but even he loves these American classics. They probably don't even know The Alamo is in this kind of shape. And they shouldn't, it's not their job to worry how ever film is being preserved, it's the studios.

I see your point. However, when a studio doesn't care about saving a film that's about to be lost, someone else needs to step up to the plate.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by bluknight1

I see your point. However, when a studio doesn't care about saving a film that's about to be lost, someone else needs to step up to the plate.

Can't afford != Doesn't care. MGM isn't in the position to spend millions on a proper restoration of this. They're trying to rebuild as a company, and that woul be a completely terrible business decision. They can't do everything just because it's the right thing to do. This is why a crowd funding project is likely the best way to go about this, at least to partially fund this.

[BillieCassin]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

Can't afford != Doesn't care. MGM isn't in the position to spend millions on a proper restoration of this. They're trying to rebuild as a company, and that woul be a completely terrible business decision. They can't do everything just because it's the right thing to do. This is why a crowd funding project is likely the best way to go about this, at least to partially fund this.

But if you RTFA, you'll see - that outside attempts HAVE been made but MGM so far refuses. And I'm not talking kickstarter BS.

[noirjunkie]

Originally Posted by BillieCassin

The Speilbergs and Scorseses and Lucases didn't care about it because it was largely classic Hollywood, which to them is beneath the "artiste" movement that came next. Considering that John Wayne was one of the last of that era, while Brando was moaning and grunting all over the place in the "important" cinema - I doubt they think much of "The Alamo".

Scorsese does not belong in this category. For goodness' sake, he founded The Film Foundation, whose entire goal is, as its website states:

"The Film Foundation is a nonprofit organization established in 1990 by Martin Scorsese, dedicated to protecting and preserving motion picture history by providing annual support for preservation and restoration projects at the leading film archives. Since its inception, the foundation has been instrumental in raising awareness of the urgent need for film preservation and has helped to save over 600 motion pictures.

In addition, the foundation also creates innovative educational programs such as The Story of Movies, an interdisciplinary curriculum designed to teach students about the cultural, artistic, and historical significance of film."

Take a look at the list of films his foundation has had a hand in saving: link. Now look at how many of them are films from the classic era and even before, going all the way back to 1895! There are literally hundreds of them.

Scorsese, more than any other current director in Hollywood, has been instrumental in preserving films from the classic era. Also, as noirfan points out, look at all of the work he has put in to various extra features on DVD releases of films from the classic era, in which he often discusses how those films influenced his own work.

In the future, please do your research before making claims like the one you just made.

[Tom Servo]

Originally Posted by rewak

In 2009 it was estimated it would cost $1.4million to restore the film, that can only have increased - http://in70mm.com/news/2009/the_alamo/index.htm

It's worth noting this restoration effort is only referring to the "roadshow" version of the movie, the theatrical version is believed safe on 35mm. So basically for the sake of preserving an extra 25 minutes of footage and the 70mm elements for the rest of the movie, that would have cost them $1.4million to restore back in 2009, of course they passed!

Check the latest update at Digital Bits. It seems ALL versions are in danger.

[rickah88]

Originally Posted by BillieCassin

But if you RTFA, you'll see - that outside attempts HAVE been made but MGM so far refuses. And I'm not talking kickstarter BS.

Where? Bill makes no references about this. We don't don't know, to what extent those "outside sources" were willing to go with their sales pitch.
I find it hard to believe that if someone knocked on MGM's door and said "Hey, we will fully remaster this as best we can and split the profits with you", why MGM would say no.

Also, Bill references RAH's article from 2009. Who knows what has changed since then? Most likely, nothing...but a Kickstarter program(or the like) could be just what this classic needs to live on.

[s.jorgens1]

Originally Posted by noirjunkie

Scorsese does not belong in this category. For goodness' sake, he founded The Film Foundation, whose entire goal is, as its website states:

"The Film Foundation is a nonprofit organization established in 1990 by Martin Scorsese, dedicated to protecting and preserving motion picture history by providing annual support for preservation and restoration projects at the leading film archives. Since its inception, the foundation has been instrumental in raising awareness of the urgent need for film preservation and has helped to save over 600 motion pictures.

In addition, the foundation also creates innovative educational programs such as The Story of Movies, an interdisciplinary curriculum designed to teach students about the cultural, artistic, and historical significance of film."

Take a look at the list of films his foundation has had a hand in saving: link. Now look at how many of them are films from the classic era and even before, going all the way back to 1895! There are literally hundreds of them.

Scorsese, more than any other current director in Hollywood, has been instrumental in preserving films from the classic era. Also, as noirfan points out, look at all of the work he has put in to various extra features on DVD releases of films from the classic era, in which he often discusses how those films influenced his own work.

In the future, please do your research before making claims like the one you just made.

he founded it to market himself and tax purposes only

because people who want to help and actually not use these foundations as ego trips, still do the work but do not publish it and A want thank you for it. Scorsese does it for tax purposes, publicity, and ego, not to actually help. do it anonymously if you are rally wanting to help

[Wireduck1]

Originally Posted by s.jorgens1

he founded it to market himself and tax purposes only

because people who want to help and actually not use these foundations as ego trips, still do the work but do not publish it and A want thank you for it. Scorsese does it for tax purposes, publicity, and ego, not to actually help. do it anonymously if you are rally wanting to help

You have to be kidding? Did you take a look at the list on that link? You can't fault his sincerity if you've ever heard an interview with the guy, he is genuinely passionate about film history.