Martin (Romero) Second Sight

[Yami]

This public sale is hopefully a positive development - if they're concerned that Second Sight aren't offering as much as they'd get from someone else, they're about to find out!

[drush9999]

Originally Posted by Mr. Thomsen

Here's the owner's website for the sale (if someone feels like putting in an offer): https://www.georgeromerobwmartindirectorscut.com/

[AllNight]

Yeah, I can't see them getting that much for this at auction when the film is in an unappraised condition. I have to wonder why they didn't get it appraised.

[dallywhitty]

Second Sight employees conspiring to sneak into the auction and win the reels for chump change:

[Foggy]

Rubinstein in there bumping up the price like:

[chip75]

Originally Posted by WaverBoy

I would think that if the owner wants to sell the print then they can damn well come clean about the state of the print. “For sale by owner: unique uncut print of George Romero’s masterwork MARTIN in mystery condition! Is it usable? You’ll find out!”

Probably best that folks who aren't experienced with such things not go popping open the cans and eyeballing things. Let experts do it.

[WaverBoy]

Originally Posted by chip75

Probably best that folks who aren't experienced with such things not go popping open the cans and eyeballing things. Let experts do it.

Which is why they should have gotten it appraised by experts before putting it up for sale.

[chip75]

Originally Posted by WaverBoy

Which is why they should have gotten it appraised by experts before putting it up for sale.

I'd imagine they're hedging their bets, if it's borked then restoration is going to put bidders off.

[WaverBoy]

Originally Posted by chip75

I'd imagine they're hedging their bets, if it's borked then restoration is going to put bidders off.

Yes, how ethical of them, eh?

[AllNight]

Originally Posted by chip75

I'd imagine they're hedging their bets, if it's borked then restoration is going to put bidders off.

Then it needs to be made extremely clear to bidders that the actual film condition has not been checked, graded, or appraised, and is being auctioned as is.

[Monkey Ballz]

No one knows what's in the cannisters?

Worst case scenario: It's not Martin

Best case scenario: It's Magnificent Ambersons

[ZombieTwin2]

This whole thing - the tacky website, the lack of concrete proof, the general vagueness - smells fishy, and that’s not just the possible vinegar syndrome that may have affected the contents of the cans.

Kev W

[CompleteCount]

You have to wonder how the mercenary b@$t@rd is legally allowed to auction this particular item, as he's technically fencing stolen property. There's no doubt that the print of Martin was half-inched from their offices, and it miraculously pops up for sale years later over the internet with a flimsy story of how they came by it. It just sounds rather strange that the law isn't involved in this.

When the only surviving print of the extended version of The Blues Brothers was put up for sale in similarly clumsy fashion, Universal and John Landis jumped straight in and reclaimed their stolen property - in this case, from the son of a theatre manager who stole the print when it was previewed at his father's establishment (and subsequently re-cut). Given how Rubenstein never lets a chance to make money go unexploited, it's odd that he hasn't had the law down on this guy for selling his stuff.

OK, it's probably the prescription medication I am currently zoned-out on talking, but it's funny that the guy takes pains to mention that he received it as "gift" from a friend who was also an attorney-of-law, as if to deflect any possible blame by saying he didn't nick it, and that it might be protected by some form of legal privilege afforded an attorney to a client.

Probably total crap, but Tramadol is a hell of a drug.

[chip75]

I'd imagine it a case of let the next guy deal with it.

[Mr. Thomsen]

Someone in the 4K forum mentioned that the asking price was around $500,000!

Take it with a grain of salt, though, as apparently it is "based solely on a comment in the Facebook, someone said 5k and the MOD who is in the know said to add a couple zeros."

[Kyle15]

Gotta wonder when this print "vanished" if these guys are the ones who've had it this whole time, or an individual affiliated with whomever is responsible for it missing. Gee!

[chip75]

Originally Posted by Mr. Thomsen

Someone in the 4K forum mentioned that the asking price was around $500,000!

We've got to thank peak DVD sales for these ludicrous estimates. Folks don't realize or don't want to think that their prized possession is going to be a 5,000 copy limited edition surrounded by all types of tat just get over the finish line.

And you have to imagine that they buyer is thinking the same thing unless they're super altruistic.

[CompleteCount]

Originally Posted by Monkey Ballz

No one knows what's in the cannisters?

Worst case scenario: It's not Martin

Best case scenario: It's Magnificent Ambersons

Should be easy to distinguish between the two, though, as one tends to stand out like a brass band at a funeral.

[WaverBoy]

The print should be taken from the current possessors by law enforcement and returned to the rightful owners. It’s stolen property.

[moreorless]

Originally Posted by chip75

We've got to thank peak DVD sales for these ludicrous estimates. Folks don't realize or don't want to think that their prized possession is going to be a 5,000 copy limited edition surrounded by all types of tat just get over the finish line.

And you have to imagine that they buyer is thinking the same thing unless they're super altruistic.

Although really peak DVD sales didnt tend to draw out a lot of this kind of stuff because the market was much more casual and the difference between a bog standard cut and an extended cut was much less in terms of sales.