The Silver Screen column discussion

[Robert Siegel]

Originally Posted by singhcr

You are most welcome!

As much as I am looking forward to the BD release, I'm really anxious to see it on a large screen in the 70mm format. My father saw it in India during its initial release on a giant screen that seated 1000 people and told me that while he enjoyed seeing it on DVD (that was the first time I ever saw the movie) at home, it just wasn't the same as he remembered it. Now I know why.

As great as BD is, it can't hold a candle to the 70mm format. I have seen a 70mm print before, but on a very small screen. Even then, the movie was mesmerizing. Considering how David Lean loves to make movies larger than life through amazing stories and photography, I can only imagine how impactful the movie would have been on a huge screen. In fact I am planning on going to the Czech Republic in the next year or so as there's a large 70mm festival there that shows Lawrence, 2001, Grand Prix, etc. Do you know of any 70mm festivals in the US, or Canada? I'm in MN so the Canadian border isn't that far away for me.

Check out in70mm.com, they have schedules of 70mm showing all around the world.

By the way where are you in Minnesota? I am about 90 minutes from the Canadian border.

[Templar]

Robert,
Amazing posts - thanks heaps! I just received Charade (Criterion) yesterday, and reading your post afterwards really added something else to my enjoyment of this brilliant movie!
I have a few of the movies on your list but will chase down the rest over the next few months.
Cheers!

[Blu-Dog]

Originally Posted by Robert Siegel

I am open to suggestions about titles you would like to see covered, but they must have been released or be scheduled for Blu-ray release.

Any time you care to do North By Northwest, I promised to print it, blow it up, frame it, and hang it on the wall.

Or Bringing Up Baby...

Or It's A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World...

It's a fascinating column, great writing, and always interesting. Thanks for the hard work.

[Zippyfan]

Amazing review once again.

Maybe you could do these films next:

Rebel without a Cause
Once Upon a time in America
Dirty Harry

[marshmeli]

Originally Posted by Robert Siegel

Thank you. I chose not to mention it until I can get the details, I have a few calls in to the studio and a few other sources to find out exactly why.

From what I know Universal forgot the "©" or "COPYRIGHT" on the screen with the copyright message on it, and either were required at that time. Universal did still own elements of the film (i.e. score) but other aspects (i.e. video/dialogue) where in the public domain. I am not sure if it is still that way, but that was only for the original negative, any DVD releases put out by Universal fall under a different copyright.

Would love to see more information on this topic, but that should be the basic (if I am wrong please correct me).

[singhcr]

Originally Posted by Robert Siegel

Check out in70mm.com, they have schedules of 70mm showing all around the world.

By the way where are you in Minnesota? I am about 90 minutes from the Canadian border.

I am in Apple Valley. It is a southern suburb of the Twin Cities and is about 20 miles south of Minneapolis/St. Paul. Are you in MN as well?

[Robert Siegel]

Originally Posted by singhcr

I am in Apple Valley. It is a southern suburb of the Twin Cities and is about 20 miles south of Minneapolis/St. Paul. Are you in MN as well?

Yes, I did reside in Minneapolis for quite a long time after I graduated, but 5 years ago moved back to my home town, which was supposed to be temporary, on Minnesota's Iron Range,60 miles north of Duluth. I am planning to move back to Minneapolis hopefully sometime this year, but it has been hard to find a home to rent that can accommodate my home theater, as my screen is 159". For this I need to find a home with a pretty good sized rec room or finished basement. Been looking for a while now.

[Robert Siegel]

Originally Posted by marshmeli

From what I know Universal forgot the "©" or "COPYRIGHT" on the screen with the copyright message on it, and either were required at that time. Universal did still own elements of the film (i.e. score) but other aspects (i.e. video/dialogue) where in the public domain. I am not sure if it is still that way, but that was only for the original negative, any DVD releases put out by Universal fall under a different copyright.

Would love to see more information on this topic, but that should be the basic (if I am wrong please correct me).

I am working on getting the entire story and will post it here as well as add it to the Charade column.

[rvmeeker]

I've been reading your terrific individual Silver Screen reviews, and was unaware until today of this separate Silver Screen column discussion. Glad to finally find it (and see all of your reviews archived in one place). I have a couple of suggestions for your consideration:

MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY (1962) and CLEOPATRA (1963). As you know, "Bounty" is scheduled for blu-ray release this November. I haven't heard about a blu-ray release yet for Cleopatra, but have to assume that is will be eventually forthcoming. Historically, these two productions are similar in that each of them almost bankrupted their respective studios (MGM and 20th Century Fox) with lavish cost overruns. The soap operas surrounding their leading stars -- Brando in Tahiti, and Taylor & Burton in Rome -- are stories in and of themselves, and could (and have) filled books.

I'm a historical buff, and the Bounty mutiny story has been a life-long study for me. The "Bounty" film is probably my favorite picture of all time, and I have a fair amount of information about its production. You probably have considerably more poster and studio publicity materials than I do, but I'd be happy to share some of the more "meaty" back-story information if you think you might be interested.

Love your columns. Keep up the fantastic work!

[KilloWertz]

Originally Posted by Robert Siegel

Just out of curiosity, when did you all first see Charade and at what type of theater? It would be nice to see some discussion about memories of seeing these on the big screen.

I actually just watched Charade for the very first time yesterday, but not in a theater of course. I blind bought it on Blu-ray from Barnes & Noble during the last Criterion sale they had and finally got around to watching it. I loved it. It truly is something special and I look forward to watching it many more times, along with watching more of Audrey Hepburn's movies.

It's kind of a funny coincidence then that your latest article happened to be about Charade. It was a very interesting read.

[razrx]

Robert, thank you so much for your tremendously insightful review of Brian DePalma's Scarface!
I love your writing and just subscribed to this thread, altho I've read numerous of your articles already

Keep up the amazing work!

[nathan_393]

Robert,

There is some especially phenomenal writing coming from you on this site!

If I could chime in - I'm looking forward to so many of the possible articles you've described, particularly Ben-Hur, Star Wars, 2001, etc.

If I could inquire: I was hoping that you would consider pulling something together about Breakfast at Tiffany's when it comes out on Blu-ray (later this year, although I can't remember the date). I think it would go quite well with your excellent column on Charade

Keep up the excellent work; it's always a pleasure reading! Cheers!

[Aerodude73]

Wow, just finished the very long yet Extremely insightful SCARFACE column. Incredibly well done, as usual.

Can't wait to see this movie - it's been Years, so it should be almost like "my 1st time", so to speak.

[Robert Siegel]

Originally Posted by rvmeeker

I've been reading your terrific individual Silver Screen reviews, and was unaware until today of this separate Silver Screen column discussion. Glad to finally find it (and see all of your reviews archived in one place). I have a couple of suggestions for your consideration:

MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY (1962) and CLEOPATRA (1963). As you know, "Bounty" is scheduled for blu-ray release this November. I haven't heard about a blu-ray release yet for Cleopatra, but have to assume that is will be eventually forthcoming. Historically, these two productions are similar in that each of them almost bankrupted their respective studios (MGM and 20th Century Fox) with lavish cost overruns. The soap operas surrounding their leading stars -- Brando in Tahiti, and Taylor & Burton in Rome -- are stories in and of themselves, and could (and have) filled books.

I'm a historical buff, and the Bounty mutiny story has been a life-long study for me. The "Bounty" film is probably my favorite picture of all time, and I have a fair amount of information about its production. You probably have considerably more poster and studio publicity materials than I do, but I'd be happy to share some of the more "meaty" back-story information if you think you might be interested.

Love your columns. Keep up the fantastic work!

Firstr off thanks your your kind words. Mutiny on the Bounty will absolutely be covered during its release period, and so will Cleopatra, I just wish Fox would get around to bringing this epic to Blu-ray.

I would love to hear about some of the information you have, feel free to send me a private message, and I can share with you what I've got on the film, which you, as a life-long fan, probably already have hehe.

[Robert Siegel]

Originally Posted by nathan_393

Robert,

There is some especially phenomenal writing coming from you on this site!

If I could chime in - I'm looking forward to so many of the possible articles you've described, particularly Ben-Hur, Star Wars, 2001, etc.

If I could inquire: I was hoping that you would consider pulling something together about Breakfast at Tiffany's when it comes out on Blu-ray (later this year, although I can't remember the date). I think it would go quite well with your excellent column on Charade

Keep up the excellent work; it's always a pleasure reading! Cheers!

Well that's a fine compliment and very much appreciated Nathan.

Ben Hur will be getting the maximum treatment on The Silver Screen, and I will eventually be doing 2001 a Space Odyssey. I am trying to pull together information on Star Wars. Most of my collection of memorabilia covers 1945-1980, I just happen to have material on Scarface as I have always loved the film. But finding information on Star Wars that isn't already out there has not been easy, however I am hoping to have something around release day. As you know, Breakfast at Tiffany's falls within my collection period and that will be covered around its release date.

It's great to see all of these movies coming out on the format now. If I had tried to start this column two years ago, there would not be many newly released classics to write about, but things have surely changed for the better, and how exciting it is! Also, West Side Story is in the works too.

[Robert Siegel]

Originally Posted by Aerodude73

Wow, just finished the very long yet Extremely insightful SCARFACE column. Incredibly well done, as usual.

Can't wait to see this movie - it's been Years, so it should be almost like "my 1st time", so to speak.

Thank you. Speaking of Scarface, I watched it tonight, and I was in heaven as far as the picture quality and sound. I've never seen Scarface look so good, and the quality of the soundtrack is what I'd always hoped for, being a fan of the musical score and songs. I really wish Universal would have gone out of its way on this one and provided an isolated score track. It sounds to me like this was remastered using the original music stems.

[nathan_393]

Originally Posted by Robert Siegel

Well that's a fine compliment and very much appreciated Nathan.

Ben Hur will be getting the maximum treatment on The Silver Screen, and I will eventually be doing 2001 a Space Odyssey. I am trying to pull together information on Star Wars. Most of my collection of memorabilia covers 1945-1980, I just happen to have material on Scarface as I have always loved the film. But finding information on Star Wars that isn't already out there has not been easy, however I am hoping to have something around release day. As you know, Breakfast at Tiffany's falls within my collection period and that will be covered around its release date.

It's great to see all of these movies coming out on the format now. If I had tried to start this column two years ago, there would not be many newly released classics to write about, but things have surely changed for the better, and how exciting it is! Also, West Side Story is in the works too.

Think nothing of the compliment; it is well-earned.

I have to say I'm very excited for Breakfast at Tiffany's coming up as well then; that's fantastic news!

West Side Story is one of those films that I saw but could never get into. That being said, I am very interested in reading about it. Regardless of the films, I find there's a lot of value in learning about their histories.

Thanks again for providing such insightful reads!

[rickantel]

Originally Posted by Robert Siegel

Thanks for the compliment.

Of course, some of the upcoming columns will remain a "surprise." but I can tell you I have already been working on Scarface and Charade, and possible titles include King of Kings, The Sound of Music, The Music Man, 2001 A Space Odyssey, Forbidden Planet, Star Wars, The Magnificent Seven series, Doctor Zhivago, Battle of the Bulge, Green Berets and among many others. It all depends on the materials available and the timing. For instance, this holiday would be a great time to cover "White Christmas." And of course upcoming Blu-rays such as My Fair Lady, West Side Story and Ben Hur.

I am open to suggestions about titles you would like to see covered, but they must have been released or be scheduled for Blu-ray release.

how about my all time favorites army of darkness and the lion king

[Robert Siegel]

The new column is up for Citizen Kane 70th Anniversary, enjoy:-)

https://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=7303

[Pirate King]

Your insight and commentary about Citizen Kane is practically perfect... as is the movie. Once again, thank you for all your dedication and hard work. Bravo!