gagman66

Cinemascope, A new big budget movie version of SHAZAM, The original Captain Marvel, was supposed to have been released last year? I think it has been completed? At one time Dwain "THE ROCK' Johnson, was expected to be cast in the role of "The Big Red Cheese"! Not sure who eventually got the part? I have not heard anything about the project in a long time? There was also talk of Bruce Campbell, portraying Will Eisner's THE SPIRIT! Campbell is today clearly much to old for the part. The only way to do THE SPIRIT right on the big screen is to have a fully animated version, not live action.

Actually, REED RICHARD'S did know VICTOR VON DOOM in College in the original FANTASTIC FOUR Comic series, back in the early 1960's. In addition, GWEN STACY was killed by THE GREEN GOBLIN in 1973, not by THE SHOCKER. MARY JANE WATSON, soon took Gwen's place as PETER PARKER'S main love interest, though FELICIA HARDY (The Black Cat), certainly gave her a good run for her money! After a long engagement, Peter and Mary Jane, were eventually Husband, and Wife. I always loved THE BLACK CANARY and her fishnets! She looked great In JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED! Ollie too! Interest in THE GREEN ARROW character, has certainly been revived by this season's SMALLVILLE as well.

Lester Dent's DOC SAVAGE, and Will Eisner's THE SPIRIT, are my two all time favorite fictional charecters! Both of them have been sadly neglected by HOLLYWOOD! Each one should literally have had dozen's of adaptions on film, both live and animated! Doc Savage directly inspired the entier Super Hero genre that was to come in the early 1930's! Eisner meantime is the father of the American comic book! The most influiential catooniest/writer in the History of the medium! Many plans for movie, and TV adaptions over the past 4 decades for both characters never came to be! The 1986 ABC TV Piolt for THE SPIRIT was mediocer at best. The Spirit is a character of the 1940's, and to have him running around in the present day, just does not work! When I was a kid I loved George Pal's DOC SAVAGE: THE MAN OF BRONZE back in 1975, but there were plenty of inaccuracies in the film. To my knowledge, neither of these Warner Brothers Productions have been released on official DVD anywhere! Here are two big post's I wrote about Doc Savage, on another board awhile back in 2005. They are pretty in depth. First Post: As Professor William Harper Little John would say, ?Well I?ll Be Super Amalgamated!? ?Holy Cow!? To quote Colonel John Renwick, was I ever happy to see this post! DOC SAVAGE is the greatest adventure hero of all time, period! In-fact, along with Maxwell Grant's (Walter Gibson) THE SHADOW, these two extraordinary characters inspired the entire super-hero genre that was to come! They are directly responsible for it! Simply put with out "THE MAN OF BRONZE", DOCTOR CLARK SAVAGE JUNIOR, there would have been no "MAN OF STEEL" SUPERMAN (Clark Kent), since Doc himself was the original Superman! Somehow years later, Superman seemingly moved right into Doc's "FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE!" There would have been no BATMAN either, since Batman is essentially a amalgamation of Doc Savage and The Shadow! Years after the fact, Ian Fleming's James Bond blatantly stolen all of Doc's gadgets and took credit for them! What a jerk! Benjamin J. Grimm?s ?THE THING? of Fantastic Four fame, also finds his true origin?s in Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Blodgett ?Monk? Mayfair from among Doc?s aids! As do his frequent quarrels with partner Johnny Storm, echo Monk?s habitually "stormy" relationship with worst enemy/best friend crack Harvard Lawyer General Theodore Marley ?Ham?Brooks! Again even INDIAN JONES is heavily influenced by the world of Doc Savage! Unfortunately, HOLLYWOOD has failed "The Bronze Knight Of The Running Board" and his equally worthy Fabulous Five. If you ask me, there should have been literally dozens of Movies and TV shows based on Doc Savage over the years! He is the most influential and heavily ripped off literary character ever created, but that character himself and his fantastic adventures has been sadly ignored! Not that plans were not made. TV's popular "Riflemen" Lucas McCain (Chuck Connors), was supposed to be the first big screen Doc way back in 1966. This never happened as the Quinn-Martin production of "THE THOUSAND HEADED MAN", was cancelled. Then in 1968 Quinn- Martin obtained the rights to produce a DOC SAVAGE weekly Television series. That idea also fell through. In 1970, ITC International had a plan for a future Doc syndicated show. That changed in 1971, while several studios were bidding for the rights to make a feature film, producer George Pal was granted the exclusive rights to produce a series of motion pictures based on the Savage novels. Eventually, TV's former Tarzan 6' 5' 230 lbs. RON ELY was chosen for the part. Pal set out to film DEATH IN SILVER in 1972, and was well into production of the picture as a serious minded adventure, when for some unclear reason he decided to scrap it and make THE MAN OF BRONZE first? After the opening few sequences, someone (I have forgotten who it was) who had a vested interest in the production demanded that the remainder of the picture be more light hearted, and humorous fair, and somehow proceeded to turn a very promising production into something that more or less resembled TV's 1960's BATMAN! This was his intention apparently. Warner Brother's after delaying release for some half a year in 1975, stupidly killed the picture at the box office by demanding it be re-edited (it was cut by nearly an hour!) removing some good action sequences, and released it with a very unexpected G-rating! The film was very loosely based on the first Doc Savage story THE MAN OF BRONZE published in February 1933, and contained some minor and a few major incongruities! Even as a kid I recognized that Doc's Bronze helicopter should have been an Auto-Gyro! The date of the story was way off too! Firstly, the film takes place in 1936. That's much to late for this adventure to take place! The literary tale takes place in 1931! Doc's hair was supposed to be bronze slightly darker than his skin, not blonde! His eye's Gold-Flecked, not Blue! Never the less, Ely feature wise bore a staggering resemblance to way Doc looked on the covers of the Street and Smith pulps of the 1930's! My major quips with the picture were Major Thomas J. "Long Tom" Roberts dark hair, which should have been blonde, and the made up name of the lost Indian tribe Doc's father discovered in the dense Central American Jungle! I knew that they had to be Mayans, because Doc and his fab five often communicated with each other using ancient Mayan! This way the villains never had a clue what they were saying to each other! That was disappointing! None the less, as a wide eyed nine year old, I still loved DOC SAVAGE THE MAN OF BRONZE when I first saw it! This was probably the first movie I ever attended for repeat showings! To my knowledge This movie has not been released on DVD so far? I for one would certainly buy it if it were! Somewhere hidden away in the Warner Brother?s vault is ton?s of discarded footage from DEATH IN SILVER, and what a great DVD extra this would make! I still like the film as pure entertainment, and to some extent I feel it has gotten a bad rap. It has managed to emerge as something of a minor cult classic today, which I think is great! Some have dismissed it as pure camp, which I disagree with! It still has it?s merits! Not the least of which is this is the only theatrical version of Doc Savage that has ever been released over the years! Therefore it is must viewing for any Savage fan! DOC was already my hero, even at nine! I knew him from the paperbacks, and the Marvel Comics color, and black and white series. (I actually had seen a number of the original pulps as well!) My friends and I never imagined for a second the film would flop! This never even entered our heads! We couldn't wait for the planned sequel DOC SAVAGE: ARCH ENEMY OF EVIL! It was expected to be based on the Dent novel ?SECRET IN THE SKY? and according to George Pal would have contained allot of the unused footage from both the productions of DEATH IN SILVER and THE MAN OF BRONZE! Regrettably, it never was made! Though Pal was determined to make another Doc Savage picture in 1979! Unfortunately, he died in early 1980, before that project could ever get off the ground! NBC had aired THE MAN OF BRONZE as a possible series pilot in 1977. There have been several other plans since the 70's to bring Doc back to the big and small screens including in animated form! Not the least of which was the glaring exclusion of Doc, Monk and Ham from the 1991 production of Dave Stevens THE ROCKETTEER! Who did you think designed that Rocket pack anyway? Why "The Man of Bronze" of course! Read the books and there all in their! Other than a short lived and very well done Radio program in 1985, nothing has to date, ever come of the rest! There have been several different comic adaptations since then, published by several companies. Even new Savage novels! At present though Doc is about as low profile as you can get! What a shame! Most recently CASTLE ROCK ENTERTAINMENT it appears canceled it's plans for a big budget DOC SAVAGE feature! When will the original super-hero, and the most sadly neglected major fictional character ever created finally receive his proper respect and just due in the movies? I hope it still happens one day! Second Post, Response. ?Let us strive every moment of our lives to make ourselves better, and better, to the best of our ability. So that all may profit by it. Let us think of the right, and lend our assistance to all who may need it. With no regard for anything but justice! Let us take what comes with a smile, without loss of courage. Let us be considerate of our country, our fellow citizens, and of our associates in everything that we say and do. Let us do right to all, and wrong no man.? The Doc Savage Oath ( March, 1933) Ktrek, I have audio CD?s of all the episodes from the FEAR CAY and THE THOUSAND HEADED MAN radio broadcast?s. I do not have any of the others. I felt these were both very good. I was anxious to hear more of them. If you have them, boy would I be interested! Incidentally, this was not the first Doc Savage radio program, as there were two others back in the 1930's and ?40's! I have not heard any of the originals! Surely at least some of them must still exist? Another interesting foot note is Columbia pictures showed some interest in producing a Doc Savage adventure serial in the late 1930's! Easy to understand why it didn't happen. After all, how could Doc possibly be "The Man Of Bronze" in black and white? Wouldn't it have been great if the series had materialized? Yes, the James Bama paintings were very striking, and impressive! Unfortunately, Bama forever altered the perception of what Doc was supposed to look like. He added the Widow?s peak, and the older harsher appearance that has become part of the Doc Savage tradition. This is far from the way Doc was depicted in the pulp illustrations. Doc was actually very handsome youthful in appearance, with dimples, and had a comparatively conventional hair style on the often equally impressive Street and Smith covers! I can?t for the life of me recall an artist?s name at the moment?). I?ve always resented the fact that brilliant as they were Bama?s painting's presented Doc's features so differently! I never cared much for the ?widows peak?, and I still don?t, to this day! Also bare in mind, that Doc along with his cousin Patricia, and his five famous assistants, were all taking the here to fore unknown medicinal herb, from FEAR CAY, that prolonged youth, and thus were ageing much slower than ordinary mortals were! So Doc definitely would not have look so old as he did, on the first Bama cover, and many of the others that were to follow! I neglected to mention that another note worthy error in the 1975 movie version of DOC SAVAGE: THE MAN OF BRONZE, concerned Doc?s secret ?Crime College? in up state New York! This was a hidden institution were Doc engaged in brain surgery techniques that he himself developed, and rehabilitated harden criminals. In the movie though, there is a big flag waving and bronze letters at the front gates proclaiming it as the DOC SAVAGE REHABILITATION CENTER! Now this would never be the case, since in the original stories, the college was not even known, (for good reason) to the authorities! Worse still, the decision was made to depict "The Chrysler Building", rather than the 86th floor of what was clearly defined by Lester Dent as "The Empire State", as Doc's headquarters! Long time Doc fans balked at this! The amazing biography DOC SAVAGE: HIS APOCALYPTIC LIFE, by Phillip Jose? Farmer first published in 1972, is still the definitive biography on Doc and his crew. However, it is not the only one, more recently another book was published called THE BRONZE AGE (in believe in 1991?) Unfortunately, I have never run across a copy, and don?t have the publisher, or the authors name handy.

Cinemascope, Yes, The Thames version from 1987, is what you will find on the MGM/UA Laser-disc. It contains the Carl Davis score. I am not aware of any other version? Blackhawk films may have had one years ago? I do not have a laser-disc copy, but I know someone who does. I got my recording from TCM, afew years back.

Izcutter, The print itself might have been in great shape, when you saw it at a live screening. I do not know? However, the Video presentation produced back in 1987 is very soft looking when seen on today's Television sets. It was probably processed at 320 lines of horizontal resolution. This was roughly the broadcast standard at the time, most networks and TV stations used. Old VHS tapes have only 240 lines! I have not watched the Brownlow-Gill Thames edition, in a couple years, but I do not recall much if any color-tinting? I will have to look at it again. I have this on a DVD-R, I made up as the second feature after CAPTAIN SALVATION (1927). Maybe it's just my lingering crush on Marceline Day, could be? What ever the reason I really love this movie! Terrific score by Philip Carli too! Hey, I tint all the background capture stills on my own DVD-R's, if you like tinting so much? HOLLYWOOD was completed in 1979. I think I first saw it on PBS, back in 1981? I have the entire series, on DVD-R, from Laser-disc! It may never see the light of day on official DVD, due to stupid rights issues! If you are interested in a any of these on DVD-R, I would love to hear from you via the private messages.

I have to be honest, this movie has never really been one of my favorites. Call me sentimental, but I think that Lillian Gish's character had already suffered enough for the grim ending that was planned! I personally like the happy ending, and see nothing wrong with it. As Lars Hanson films go, CAPTAIN SALVATION (1927), is probably my favorite, and to me superior to THE WIND. The Thames, Photo-Play Productions restoration of THE WIND, is now 20 years old! It is one of the poorest looking efforts that Kevin Brownlow and David Gill ever produced for British TV! Right up there with OLD HEIDELBERG (1927), which to me is a much better film! These presentations look rather soft, by today's broadcast standards. I'm sure both still exist in much better condition, sharpness wise. Hopefully, both will be re-mastered soon, with the Carl Davis scores kept in-tact? Both titles are in need of fresh transfers from the original print material. I don't know if the initial negative's are still around, or not? I know that this can be done. Warner re-mastered FLESH AND THE DEVIL (1926) brilliantly for the DVD release, while retaining that great Carl Davis score! Adding some newly discovered footage, here, and there. The difference between the 20 year old Thames print is incredible! The new master, is so much sharper, and clearer. Some improvement was made with BEN HUR (1925), as well, over the 1988 Thames edition. It is clearly a little sharper, but probably not given as much re-mastering as with FLESH AND THE DEVIL. Apparently, much the same thing was done in 2004, with THE BIG PARADE, but for some reason TCM has yet to broadcast the results for all to see? As for Lillian Gish movies, when is TCM going to unveil the new restoration of THE WHITE SISTER (1923)? I have heard some rumors that it might debut sometime later this year? I have heard similar talk concerning BROWN OF HARVARD (1926), starring William Haines. Wish I knew if they were correct?

I had already mentioned this last year, but the Coppolla scored version was released on DVD in Australia. I am fortunate to own a copy. It is in Pal format, and not NTSC. This is not a bootleg, but an official release! Although, it is now out of print. The restoration being from 1981, it could stand a fresh transfer, and re-mastering with today's technology. Although, portions of it still look quite good. With respect to Carl Davis, the Coppolla score is truly outstanding!

Ollie T, The first film is the Two-reel short ONE WEEK (1920). The second is the classic feature STEAMBOAT BILL JUNIOR (1928). Ironically, Keaton's first independently produced short's and final independently made feature, respectively of his career. Buster actually made THE HIGH SIGN, before ONE WEEK, but did not release it until later, as He was not entirely satisfied with the project. I honestly feel that the THE HIGH SIGN is among his better Two-reelers. My favorite is probably THE SCARECROW, also released in 1920.

I honestly had never heard of it before, but I thought this movie was really good! Great score too! Excellent restoration by Lobster Films as well! Although Robert Osborne gave no indication, this must have been a TCM premier? I had never seen it before, and I don't think that it is available on DVD in this country either? I could be wrong?

metsfan, It's a mediocre looking print, but I have definitely seen worse. The music sounds like one of those canned 1960's PBS TV scores? What else do they have on this site?

Unfortunately, The latest word from Warner gave no indication that THE BIG PARADE, LA BOHEME, THE PATSY, SHOW PEOPLE, THE CROWD, all highly anticipated King Vidor Directed Silent's would be out on DVD anytime soon? No target dates are even being given at the present time? Last year they claimed that all these films, and a few others would be out next year? Now they are making up more excuses? Hope, that they change their minds, about this? Apparently, most of these titles are not ready to go in the minds of the powers that be? The last restorations of SHOW PEOPLE, and THE CROWD, were done back in the late 1980's by Thames. THE BIG PARADE was recently restored, but the new version has yet to debut on TCM? I fully expected to see it sometime in 2007! I certainly hope that we still will? I honestly thought it would air in 2006! The second Lon Chaney set, will not be coming this year either! It is currently slated for 2008? A new documentary on Tod Browning is presently in production. No word, on any potential John Gilbert, or Ramon Novarro collections either? This is disappointing. I had been holding out hope for THE STUDENT PRINCE IN OLD HEIDELBERG to appear. The 80's Thames release could stand a fresh transfer, it is very soft looking by today's standards. Not even a second set of Greta Garbo titles are in the works at this time!

Getting frustrated! I moved this post from another thread. It has been here all month, and I have not gotten a single response yet! No one appears to have read it earlier? Well, hopefully someone will read it now? Come on people, surely someone must have recorded this movie, and seen it by this time? Granted, the last two times it has aired on TCM, was in the wee hours of the morning! Maybe you even saw it when it debuted back in December 2004? ( I missed it than.) None the less, looking for at least a few comments? Here is the post again from about 3 weeks ago. I wrote a big review of TWO ARABIAN KNIGHTS (1927), on another forum several months ago. I really love this movie, in-fact it has become one of my favorite Silent films! I hope it will pop up on official DVD later this year. Here is most of my review. Though portions now, seem to be missing. I don't think I have posted it here before? TWO ARABIAN KNIGHTS (1927) : ("Boyd and Wolheim are Hilarious!" Astor is "Hubba, Hubba!" ) 1927 was a gigantic year in the movies! Some of the finest, and most enduring films of the decade where released during that year. Chances are, even the most rabid Silent film fan may not be familiar with TWO ARABIAN KNIGHTS, however. The primary reason for this being that the filmed was believed to be lost for decades! Then Miraculously in 2000, a print was uncovered stashed away in Co-producer the legendary Howard Hughes vault! A significant find! Flicker Ally Company, with funding from Turner Classic Movies, set out to restore as much of the film as they could. The results for the most part where impressive, and they reveal to us a forgotten classic rescued from the ravages of time! While about 65 percent of the restoration is pristine looking, the remainder is filled with various signs of chemical decomposition! Some of it is quite minimal, while other portions appear pretty severe! While, It's unfortunate that the entire picture, could not be fully restored, I'm sure that they did the very best they could with the existing elements? This movie was actually nominated for an Oscar in the first year of the Academy Awards. It is easy now to see why! The film stars William Boyd, best known two and three decades later as Hop?A Long Cassidy, mostly on TV during the 1950's. Long before that, Boyd, actually had a solid, if not spectacular Silent film career. Enjoying noteworthy success with films such as THE YANKEE CLIPPER (also 1927), and this one. In TWO ARABIAN KNIGHTS, Boyd plays William Dangerfield Phelps The Third, a Wealthy playboy who is not enjoying his time at all as an American Soldier during World War One! A homely and brutish Sergeant ?Taxi Cab? ?Pete O? Gaffney? (Louis Wolheim) has made Phelps time in the infantry all the more unpleasant for him! When these two bitter rivals find themselves "Out In The Middle Of ?No Man?s Land?, they would rather tackle each other, than the converging Germans! Although, once taken prisoner by the Hun?s, they soon develop a respectful camaraderie between one another. Directed by the great Lewis Milestone, every one of his Silent's I have seen such as THE GARDEN OF EDEN (1928), and THE RACKET (1928) are outstanding! While A fantastic Orchestral score by Robert Israel, one of his finest efforts ever, compliments the completed restoration! I thought this was going to be another drama? Instead It is a rousing knockout comedy! Much like WHAT PRICE GLORY (1926), it doesn't even try to take itself seriously. as a war, film I certainly never expected anything remotely so funny! This movie really had me rolling, at times! What a revelation! Boyd, and Wolheim, retain their tenuous hate-love relationship, as two reluctant war buddies. in the classic "Monk" Mayfair, "Ham" Brooks mold! After fleeing the German prison camp, and stowing away from the War on a freighter, they rescue a beautiful Arab Princess (Mary Astor), from drowning. This adds increased tension to their uneasy union. Again just like "Blodgett", and "Theodore Marley", both are big time wolves, who fancy themselves as quite the ladies men! This unlikely pairing is transformed into a top flight comedy team, by Milestone! Mary Astor was arrestingly beautiful at this stage of her career. Oddly She is somewhat underutilized in this picture. Not making her first appearance until the film is nearly half over. The two determined Romeo's both try their best to romance the lovely Princess Mirza. All the time under the totally false impression that She is unable to understand a single word that they are saying to her! Before long The Princess not surprisingly loses her heart to the significantly better looking of the persistent twosome. Soon it?s revealed that She is already Betrothed to another man! The handsome, and charming Shevket. (Ian Keith), Who likewise happens to be a real Stinker, personally selected for Her by Mirza?s powerful Emir of a Father! The dastardly Fianc?e arrives in a motor boat to take his ?Bride To Be? back home. Just then, William, and Pete beat a hasty retreat from the Captain of the ship! They owe him the dough for their entire voyage, and He intends to collect! Regrettably, these guys are woefully devoid of funds at the moment! Now the fun really begins! Mirza?s dad The Emir, is horrified to hear that his pride and Joy was seen fraternizing with two unidentified American servicemen while on the boat! Even worse, He is informed that the Princess even ?Lifted Her Vail For One Of Them!? A dreaded No, No! Upon receiving word, The Emir immediately orders both their deaths! Not good, for you see the duo is headed straight for The Palace and is fully expecting not only to be welcomed with open arms, but a big reward, for saving Mirza?s life! Won?t give the rest of this one away! Tentatively scheduled to have been released by Flicker Ally on DVD, last year, this has yet to happen? Perhaps it and the other two newly discovered and restored Howard Hughes produced Silent Features of the 1920's, THE RACKET (1928), and THE MATING CALL (also, 1928), will still be released before the end of the year, or in early 2007? With any luck, it is only a matter of time before these three excellent films, are introduced to Silent film fans everywhere!

I have seen a few of them. But it has been quite a few years.

dfordoom. Yes, Two films that She made in 1921, LITTLE LORD FAUNTLEROY, and THROUGH THE BACK DOOR. Both of these movies are tremendous! So are the scores! Listen to them! They are on DVD from Milestone. You will be completely swept away! TESS OF THE STORM COUNTRY (1922), is wonderful. Of Course MY BEST GIRL (1927), seems to be everyone's favorite. DADDY LONG LEGS (1918), and STELLA MARIS (1919), are definitely worth checking out.

TCM has run this movie before. It last aired in April of 2005, with the Donald Hunsberger score. His score isn't bad, but I was used to the Carl Davis one. For those who didn't know, this film has been recently released on DVD over in the United Kingdom in Pal format, with that amazing Davis score. While I have not seen this DVD, (which also features the Thames, Davis scored version of THE GENERAL), unfortunately, it's my understanding that these have not been re-mastered from the late 1980's Thames British Television release's at all? This is disappointing. I was hoping for fresh from film transfers, and a complete restoration. Although, the prints used in the Thames editions were still pretty good to begin with. I had made DVD-R's from Laser-disc of those two editions at least a couple years ago. To be frank, from waht I have heard, they probably look better than the official release. I must have at least 6 different versions of THE GENERAL, and I still do not like the film nearly as well as most other fans seem to do? I hoped that would change when I finally saw the Carl Davis scored version, but it didn't serve to alter my opinion much. Personally, I perfer OUR HOSPITALITY, among the two, and several other Keaton titles above them both! Give me SEVEN CHANCES (1925) anyday! This film used to air from time to time on the old AMC back when, but for what ever reason has never been shown on TCM. Surprisingly, vintage reviews of SEVEN CHANCES, were not all that positive! As for SHERLOCK JUNIOR (1925), there once was a version with a great score by Vince Giordano, and The Nighthawk's Orchestra. I am proud to say I have that too, and it is so much better than the atrocious sounding Club Foot Orchestra score found on the Kino DVD. The print is about the same. Finally, the Kino Box set score to Buster's GO WEST (1925), is not nearly as good as the older Bill Frazzel orchestral score that was found on the old laser disc release! I have no idea why Kino replaced that score when this picture came out on DVD? It was a veery poor decision on their part. The Frazzel score was one of the best I have ever heard to a Keaton feature!

I have heard of this DVD before. I was never really all that interested in buying a copy though, since I already owned the Laser-disc version. I am curious, does this un-authorized release have the Gaylord Carter Wurlitzer score? If not, what sort of a score does it have? Thanks.

Scottman, Say, I have seen and own copies of all of these films with the exception of THE FARMER'S WIFE, and STORMS OVER ASIA. I am not familair with these two movies? I wonder if you could please tell us more about them? Thanks.

Nosferatu, I think that you must have misunderstood me? I didn't mean you had to post your mailing address here for all the world to see! Can't you contact me through the Private Messages? What is wrong with this method? Sorry, but I am somewhat confused with your statement?

Westernone, Unfortunately, THE UNKNOWN is missing at least a full reel, maybe more of footage! So is LAUGH CLOWN LAUGH, for that matter. Both are probably lost forever! This explains some of the quick jump cuts. Joan Crawford actually looks much better in WEST POINT, with William Haines, which was made the same year, than she does in THE UNKNOWN. Have you seen this movie? How about Chaney's MR. WU (1926), with Renee Adoree? TCM hasn't aired this film in sometime. If MR. WU is included in the up-coming box set, I sure hope it does not have the Maria Newman score! Most of it is simply horrid! TELL IT TO THE MARINES, surely will be included? I have never seen THE BLACKBIRD, but I do have a double feature I put together of THE MONSTER (1925)/WEST OF ZANZIBAR (1929), from laser-disc.

Sepia-tone, was generally used for day time. A light blue tint, was used for out-door night sequences. I have seen and own both the 1992 Thames BFI (British Film Institute)print, of SPEEDY, and the 2002, Harold Lloyd Trust print, I can't seem to recall much color tinting in either one, off hand? What ever aired on Bravo, was probably either the Thames version, or even the old Time-Life cut from the 70's? The Thames print has different opening and closing title designs, and a little bit of additional footage, missing from the Trust version, now out on DVD from New Line. GIRL SHY, HOT WATER, and THE FRESHMAN, in the Trust Robert Israel versions, all have some brief footage that is tinted, here and there. The Thames versions of GIRL SHY, and HOT WATER, both were straight Black and White, but had different scores, than are currently found on the New Line Box set versions. The Thames Photo-play Productions BFI editions had all original music by Jim Parker, (GIRL SHY), and Adrian Johnston (HOT WATER), respectively. However, the New Line DVD versions of these films both have Robert Israel scores. While I do enjoy Mr. Israel's arrangements, in this case I do not understand why the Trust did not obtain the rights, to the Parker and Johnston scores? In my opinion they just could not be beat. HOT WATER is much funnier with the Johnston score. While the Parker score to GIRL SHY was simply incredible. Likewise, the Carl Davis score, to THE FRESHMAN, was passed over for a new score by Israel too. I love Robert Israel's score to THE FRESHMAN, it is among his finest work. That being said, I certainly would have liked to have heard the Davis score, as well. Although the Lloyd Trust tried to reach a deal, apparently Davis wanted to much money? His late 90's score to THE FRESHMAN was released on CD, though by Faber Music over in the England a few years ago.

BARBED WIRE (1927)/THE LAST COMMAND (1928), is one of My DVD-R Double Features. The print quality of them both is very good. To me BARBED WIRE, a powerful Anti-War drama staring Pola Negri, is better than WINGS! Released the very same year, this is yet another sadly forgotten classic, that certainly deserves to be rediscovered!

Cinemascope, This is good news! Could it mean that Paramount is finally working on a DVD release for next year? How about some of the other films I mentioned in the thread just below yours? Are any of those other Paramount Silent features part of the deal, and potential candidates for DVD as well? A few others that I failed to mention earlier are STAGE STRUCK (1925), Starring Gloria Swanson. MANTRAP (1926), with Clara Bow, LEAVE 'EM LAUGHING (1926), with Louise Brooks, and Evelyn Brent. BEGGARS OF LIFE (1927), with Louise Brooks, Richard Arlen, and Wallace Berry. A GIRL IN EVERY PORT (1928), with Louise Brooks, Victor Mcglaglen, and Robert Armstrong, and UNDERWORLD (1928), with George Bancroft, and Evelyn Brent. What about these? I doubt it, but I just thought I would ask?

I am not to sure where you heard that TCM has the Paramount Library? It's true that they are now showing more Paramount films than they used to, but they do not own them? I don't think they have aired any Paramount Silent's that are still the property of the studio? If they were going to show WINGS, it would have likely turned up this month during the Oscar tribute? I have WINGS (1927), on DVD-R. It was made from the late 1980's-early 90's laser-disc release. I have re-authored the program several times. The prints pretty good quality, but allot softer, than most of my other Silent programs. Very recently, just a few months ago. I got a much sharper and clearer transfer from a long time acquaintance. The difference from what I was able to achieve before is simply staggering. I could hardly believe my eyes! The same print now looks almost pristine! I did not think that the film was released in that good of a condition to Laser-disc? In-fact, in the past I had been remarking, how the film needed a fresh digital transfers, and general restoration. There is no question that it still does, but somehow, my friend was able to achieve amazing results, without any of that? I honestly, had been under the impression previously that Wings was not in as good a condition as several other Paramount Silent's such as THE COVERED WAGON (1923), OLD IRONSIDES (1925), BARBED WIRE (1927), THE DOCKS OF NEW YORK (1928), and THE LAST COMMAND (1928), for example? Well, maybe it is? My older transfer was fed into a GO DVD Video Stabilizer than encoded through my PC's ATI ALL IN WONDER TV-Tuner card, at MPEG 2 DVD Medium setting. While A lower bit rate, it is still generally, very good for authoring this type of project. I rarely lose much in the way of resolution, and I can get the entire film on a single disc. That approach did not even come close though to producing the kind of results my friend achieved a few month ago! He used a combination of enhancing equipment, a Laserdisc-Player with S-Video out (Mine has just Composite), and a Panasonic DVD recorder on Flex-Record setting. Since the film runs well over two-hours using SP mode on most DVD recorders won't allow you to fit everything on a single DVD-R or DVD+R. The Flex-record feature on the Panasonic, someway manages to capture everything to a standard DVD-R, without losing picture quality, or your having to spring for expensive Dual-layer media! I probably will use this new plain menu master to re-author WINGS, again. For at least the Third time, probably sometime with in the next few weeks. My current program has over a 20 page menu, of thumbnails, with tinted background stills. The new one will have 3 or more 20 second motion thumbs on each page, and the tinted background stills. I will have to re-generate all the stills from the fresh transfer. So It will take some time to complete it. The laser-disc release had only a Gaylord Carter Theater Organ score. Carter scores are not always my favorites, but this one of the very best scores He ever produced. That being said I had been told by a few people over in the U. K. that a Carl Davis Orchestra scored addition of WINGS, once aired on British Television in the late 80's, or early 90's? I have searched in vain for that version for the past few years, and found nothing? It appears it may not have been released even on VHS? However, it's very possible that the Thames edition of WINGS actually does exist. I honestly did not believe that there was a Thames Davis scored version of Erich Von Stoheim's THE WEDDING MARCH (1928), with Fay Wray. I thought the UK people were mistaken. A few months ago, I confirmed that there actually had been such a version of this film! This despite the fact that the Paramount VHS release, had just a Gaylord Carter score? Is there anyone here on this board who knows anything about a Carl Davis scored Thames, and, or Photo-play productions version of WINGS, and might even own a copy? How about anyone who has a recording of the Davis scored THE WEDDING MARCH? If so, I would be extremely interested! WINGS needs to be on official DVD, and so do the other films that I mentioned. So far the only Silent film in the Paramount Library that has seen the light of day on DVD is De Mille's THE TEN COMMANDMENTS (1923). There are a number of other Paramount Silent's in print on DVD, but those are apparently no longer owned by the studio? I would love to see WINGS, and these other Paramount titles shown on TCM. I do not know if or when this will happen? I am a little surprised that they have not aired THE TEN COMMANDMENTS yet? since it was released on DVD almost a year ago? The print quality is outstanding too? Though the Two-Strip Technicolor sequences were not restored, and even mislabled as hand -tinted. Faded footage was included in the extras.

Everyone, Please note, my sincere apologies to NOSFERATU and anyone else on this board, who may have been offended by my statements. I am sorry for the outburst, but I was having a very rough night. My Dog which I had for 14 years passed away on Sunday. This is I realize no excuse for my tone however. It was beneath my dignity to act in such a manner! I am truly sorry, and I assure you that it will not happen again. That being said, I would still be happy to send you a recording of this film, as a gesture of good faith. Thank you.

blamingmame, Silent films will simply never be aired on TCM or any other station for that matter, without some form of Musical score. It just is not going to happen. You were asking for opinions on scores, likes and dislikes? Well. I have heard all kinds of Silent film scores over the past 25 years, or so. Some were quite poor, but the vast majority I have heard were pretty good. I am definitely more the traditionalist when it comes to taste. I still enjoy and sometimes even marvel at the original piano scores of a guy like William Perry, found on so many of the old Blackhawk/Killiam Shows owned prints. In my opinion, all his many scores should be digitally re-mastered. They deserve to be. Sadly they have been largely ignored, or presented with the same old muffled Mono track as they have had since the late 60's and early 70's. Some Gaylord Carter Wurlitzer Theater Organ scores such as wereworked up for Harold Lloyd's FOR HEAVENS SAKE (1926), William Wellman's WINGS (1927), and Eric Von Sternberg's THE DOCKS OF NEW YORK (1928), are very good. However, I do not like all of the late Mr. Carter's scores. His arrangement's for Buster Keaton features such as COLLEGE (1927), and STEAMBOAT BILL JUNIOR (1928) for example, seemed rather weak and uninspired by comparison. Must say, I have been very impressed with many of the young composer's who have entered into this field in recent years. Here is a general overview. Robert Israel generally gives us a score made up a vintage selections, the type of Music you would have actually heard as accompaniment during the 1920's His selections and arrangements are very diverse, occasionally He may toss in an original composition, or two, but the bulk of his scoring is Photo-play mood music authentic to the era. Carl Davis is a master and about 75% of his scoring is original compositions, with some public domain themes used in moderation. While original Davis manages to keep his scoring very much in the spirit of the times that the films were first made. His scores could easily pass for Vintage ones. Rodney Sauer's MONT ALTO MOTION PICTURE ORCHESTRA, has done some very nice scores, for Mary Pickford's AMARILLY OF CLOTHESLINE ALLY (1917), several of The DeMille, Swanson titles, and D. W. Griffith's THE BATTLE OF SEXES (1928) among others. Mont Alto is very traditional, and are not to be confused in any way with THE ALLOY ORCHESTRA, who's modernistic sounding scores I do not care for much at all. Ditto, for Maria Newman, who has scored allot of Silent's. Sometimes, She comes up with some good things, but I am just not very fond of her type of scoring. All those heavy strings and such. That heavy oriental flute, on her score to Lon Chaney's MR. WU (1926) with Renee Adoree, is simply dreadful! Some highly underrated contemporay Silent film score composers who should be called on more often would be, Donald Davidson, who wrote a terriffic score for the William Haines, Joan Crawford feature WEST POINT (1927), a few years back. Philp Carli, who turned out suberb scores for Mary Pickford's STELLA MARIS (1919), and the Lars Hanson's feature CAPTAIN SALVATION (1927) . Jeffrrey Mark Silverman, wrote excellent scores for Pickford's TESS OF THE STORM COUNTRY (1922), and Rex Ingram's SCARAMOUCHE (1923), starring Ramon Novarro, and Alice Terry. Nigel Holton who I know nothing about, wrote one of the best Silent film scores I have ever heard for the Milestone DVD release of Mary Pickford's LITTLE LORD FAUNTLEROY (1921). Surely this guy has done other scores, this is the only one I have heard! Can't imagine his not being in demand to score many more Silent's! He's fantastic! John Lanchbery composed a magnifcant orchestral score for the Thames Photo-play Productions version of John Ford's THE IRON HORSE (1924). Sadley the exceptional Thames scores edition scores for Harold Lloyd's GIRL SHY (1924), and HOT WATER (1924), by Jim Parker, and Adrian Johnton respectively, where not included with those films on the New Line Entertainment Harold Lloyd comedy collection Box set. I like Israel's scores, but theose to Thames scores are tough to top! I enjoyed Eric Beheim's score to THE CAT AND THE CANARY (1927), I have heard three orchestral scores, to this film Two are on the Image DVD release, the other by Franklin Stover. And the Photo-Play productions score by Neil Brand. All three are pretty good. Many folks did not care for Mr. Brand's score for PICCADILLY (1929), but I have heard allot worse Silent film scores. Another Brillant score was composed for Milestone's DVD. of Pickford's MY BEST GIRL, by David Michael Frank. With the exception of maybe Carli and Beheim, none of these second tier guys I mentioned guys are really all that well know Silent film composers. I honestly have been pretty impressed with pretty much all of the TCM Young Film Composers contest winners work. Marcus Sjowell, and Micheal Picmon's scores the previous two years were both fabulous. The more I hear of Darrel Raby's score for THE SHOW (1927), the more I like it. I didn't think so earlier, but it is almost as good as last years score was for SOUL'S FOR SALE (1923). I'm impressed! The guy as I understand it entered the Young Composers Competition four years in a row, and was even runner up last year. So he probably deserved to win it! I spent the better part of last weekend authoring a big DVD-R program of this feature, and my appreciation grew of young Mister Raby's effort. I'm honestly liking the film itself quite a bit more than I did. Admittedly, some of it clearly went past me the first time I saw it. The film is sort of deep in some respects. The bottom line is their is plenty of good solid talent around, to score many more neglected and forgotten Silent's that have been sitting stashed away in vaults for decades! Give Warner, and TCM credit, they are doing far more than the other studio's to resurect the Silent's in their Library. The bottom line is there is plenty of good solid talent around, to score many more neglected and forgotten Silent's that have been sitting stashed away in vaults for decades! Give Warner, and TCM credit, they are doing far more than the other studio's to resurrect the Silent's in their Library. Certainly, much more than Paramount, or Fox! That being said I do hope that THE BIG PARADE, and maybe a few more John Gilbert, or King Vidor titles are finally released on DVD later this year. We have been hearing this for some time, that they would be? I can scarcely believe that big name Silent features like Paramount's THE COVERED WAGON (1923), and Fox's WHAT PRICE GLORY? (1926) for instance, have not been properly restored and scored! These film should be on DVD! Fox in particular, has really let some great classics collect dust! John Ford's FOUR SONS (1928)), is an amazing film that deserves a proper DVD release! So does his great awesome Western THREE BAD MEN (1926). To my Knowledge Fox movie channel has never even aired SEVENTH HEAVEN (1927), with Janet Gaynor, and Charles Farrell? Though the film did tour last year in new pristine prints for a Janet Gaynor film retrospective. The impression being that it must have been recently restored, or a fresh digital transfer was made? Cinemalover, I actually grew up on Silent Blackhawk film prints in the 70's. The lack of music didn't really bother me. But soon I was adding records of Silent film music to my screenings. Ranging from Ragtime, to 20's Jazz, to Photo-Play Mood type selections. Some lone Piano, a little Wurlitzer, and Kimball Theater Pipe Organ, some house band some Orchestra. Blackhawk used to sell all kinds of different LP's of Silent film music. I would tape certian selections and arrange my own scores. I had allot of fun doing it too!