markfp2
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Posts posted by markfp2
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If you put the details here, you will have told him. The TCM programmer reads these posts regularly. It's a pretty good bet that he already knows what's out there, however, keep in mind, that just because a better print may exist, it doesn't mean that it's available for TCM to show. That's especially true if the better print is in an archive.
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Well, I don't know who decides what in the postal service, but any way you look at it dropping delivery one day a week will be a problem for somebody.
This thread got me thinking how when I was a kid in the 1950's everybody got _two_ deliveries a day. We sure won't see that again.
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Bruce, you make some very good points. I remember reading someplace that when Germany invaded a country, one the first things they did was gather up all the American films and destroyed them. However, distributors and theater owners risked their lives to hide as many American films as they could. As a result, just days after the Germans were pushed out of say a major city like Paris, American films would start running in cinemas again. True they were all old, prewar releases, but nobody cared. All that mattered was that they were American films. That was a true sign that freedom had returned.
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> {quote:title=schabelf wrote:}{quote}
> Does anyone know if the upcoming showing of Uncle Silas is the original British version or the cut American version released as the inheritance?
I had never seen it before TCM ran it a couple of weeks ago so I can't comment on different versions, but it starts with the J. Arthur Rank "gong" followed by the Two Cities Films bridge logo with the notation Released by General Film Distributors and the main title is UNCLE SILAS, not THE INHERITANCE so I'd guess it was the British version.
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> {quote:title=HollywoodGolightly wrote:}{quote} Also, I believe a lot of Hollywood movies produced at the time didn't make it to Europe until after the end of the war.
That's true too. American films were banned in Germany and German occupied countries so distribution was limited to allies like Britain and neutral countries such as Sweden, Ireland and Switzerland.
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That's an interesting question. I don't know if this was the case for every American film, but a lot of times the studios just sent over one dupe negative and made the prints over there so a lot of space wasn't needed. Remember, while we all think of the convoys we've seen in movies, there were still commercial passenger liners going back and forth that also took cargo so I doubt that any vital war supplies were left on the dock to make room for the movies.
I used to know an old projectionist who was stationed in England during the war and assigned to the Army Motion Picture Service. He said that the 16mm prints sent to show to the troops were given the same priority as mail because of the morale value. He also said that they usually were flown over either in cargo planes or sometimes in brand new bombers that were being sent over to be put into service. Again, because they were relatively small, a couple of hundred cases of film wouldn't take up that much room.
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> {quote:title=redriver wrote:}{quote} But I rarely get anything Saturday either.
Feel lucky that you get anything on Saturday. If the top management of the USPS has it's way, there will only be delivery five days a week. I can't see them ticking off big businesses (who could switch to other carriers) by cutting out a weekday so it would probably end up being Saturday. That would certainly hurt Netflix customers especially when there's a holiday on a Monday. Three whole days without a movie fix. Ouch!
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> {quote:title=clore wrote:}{quote} The channel will probably follow the now accepted one-third ad time as AMC and TV Land do, so that means about 80 minutes of movie for 120 minutes of broadcast time.
I doubt that TWC will have their own editors so I imagine they'll just run the standard, pre-edited version that's syndicated to local stations. All films are cut to 91 minutes with 29 for commercials. Still, for a 130 minute movie, that's nothing short of butchery.
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I'd be very surprised if this set were released in the U.S. As we both know there are many American films released on DVD in Europe and other parts of the world that never see the light of day in this country. While a lot of us on these boards know Allan Dwan and those titles, I'll bet that Sony will think it's a little too obscure for the American market (meaning they can't make enough money on it) and will pass. If the films were owned by Warner, I'd say there might be a chance, but Sony I doubt it. I could be wrong, and I hope I am, but I've seen it happen many times before.
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> {quote:title=Chipper wrote:}{quote} Just one more channel to cave in and change their format and change from what it once was. Keep holding the faith for TCM.
This one really surprises me. What next, CNN running films like BROADCAST NEWS and NETWORK? You can also bet that films shown on The Weather Channel will be heavily edited and pan and scan.
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> {quote:title=DougieB wrote:}{quote} How many time have all of us been caught up in something unexpected, and therefore all the more rewarding?
While I love all the well known major classics on TCM, over the years I been very rewarded by the lesser known films that turns up. I always tell people not to be afraid to watch films they don't know with stars or directors they may not have heard of because many times they'll be in for a very pleasant surprise.
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Many of use have gotten into that habit of checking the online schedule frequently. When a film is changed for any reason the schedule is updated. This is especially important if your looked at the schedule two or three months in advance. TCM is the only network I know of that releases their schedules so far ahead. They do it as a courtesy to us, but it's understood that it's a "work in progress" and as such is always subject to change.
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That's one of the great things about TCM, they listen to complaints and when possible try and resolve the problem. In the scheme of things this was a minor issue and, because it was required by the post office, most other companies would have ignored it, but look how quickly TCM stepped up with a workable compromise. Thanks TCM.
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> {quote:title=Stephan55 wrote:}{quote} But the saddest news that I heard was when she told me that unless at least 15% of their subscriber base called in about a particular problem, then it was company policy not to report or investigate.
That's one of the craziest things I've every heard. So if the cable company had say 50,000 customers, they wouldn't do anything until they had 7,500 complaints? My gosh they wouldn't have enough people to answer all the calls. And they wonder why people are dumping cable and running to satellite or FIOS.
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Hi Bingfan. Looks like you'll enjoy January 2010. TCM has a number of the older Paramount on the schedule including the Crosby/Hope Road films. Enjoy.
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> {quote:title=chinaseas wrote:}{quote} I would rather see them sent in a envelope.
While I save my copies for reference, the seals don't really bother me and I can usually get them off pretty cleanly, but I see your point . An envelope would be fine, but then I would think they'd have to increase the subscription price to cover the envelope and what I would guess would be a higher charge by the printer to insert them. I also believe that the post office charges a different postage rate for that magazines mailed in envelopes.
I know there are people who buy almost anything, but do you really think used copies of TCM's program guides will ever be worth much?
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> {quote:title=HollywoodGolightly wrote:}{quote} This is good news, because in the long run we are likely to see even more classic movies being released on the high-definition format, as well as increasingly lower prices for blu-ray players themselves.
Well, the prices for Blu-Ray players are, indeed, coming down. Wal-Mart has low end players for under $100 and I imagine that come "Black Friday" most stores will have players in that range too.
As for more classics, I'm not sure we'll see more released. Remember what happen when DVDs took over the market? Many movies that had been released on VHS never were re-released on DVD. The main reason being that they hadn't been profitable for the studios on VHS. I think to some degree we'll see that same thing happen with Blu-Ray and DVD. Sure, we'll see the major titles coming out, as we already have, but the lesser known ones and the niche titles, I'm not so sure.
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I'm of the opinion that METROPOLIS is a sci-fi film not a horror movie. I wouldn't consider it a horror film just because somebody put it in a set called 50 Classic Horror Films. No doubt the manufacturer of that set included it just to reach the 50 count.
A film like METROPOLIS doesn't deserve to be lumped in with all those other public domain films. The best way to see it is the restored version released by Kino.
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That's your problem, you've got SAP activated on your TV and it's causing you to get the secondary audio track. Check your instruction manual as to how to turn it off. TCM is one of the few channels that provides the "desciption" service to the visually impaired so you wouldn't notice it on others. However, some of the networks do use it to provide audio in a second language so if you come across one of your favorite programs and everyone is speaking in Spanish that would be another sign that SAP is on.
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> {quote:title=mvblair wrote:}{quote} Speaking of TVs, does anybody know of a good website where I can find out what's the best TV for me? I don't want something that lists the ABCs of each TV, but something that will help me figure out what's a good TV.
Well, I'm old fashion and prefer Consumer Reports magazine. I know they have a website [consumerreports.org] and I've trusted them for years. If your prefer the magazine, but don't want to subscribe, it's one of those publications that just about every public library will have. Good luck in finding the perfect TV for you.
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> {quote:title=Stephan55 wrote:}{quote} my local cable provider "service tech" passes the buck by saying it is a problem from the broadcasting station.
Your problem is that you are being jerked around by your cable provider. If the problems you're having were at TCM then everybody who gets TCM would be having them too and these boards would be clogged with complaints. In all the years I've been on these boards, I can only remember once when a the problem was TCM's end and they admitted it.
I switched from cable to satellite ten years ago mainly because of lousy customer service and the lies they told.
By all means, let TCM know about it.
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Another remake? YAWN!
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Welcome to the boards. Why not tell us a little more? Favorite, films stars, directors, genres.
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> {quote:title=lydia221 wrote:}{quote} I have always assumed that Cablevision shafts TCM because they own AMC (and once owned Bravo, when it was still a channel worth watching), and are jealous.
Well, I don't think that's exactly the case, after all, TCM's parent company also provides them with some of their most popular channels like TBS and TNT and they don't mess with those channels. I think if there's any discrimination on Cablevision's part it would be because TCM doesn't have commercials and cable companies have to pay them for the service, but aren't able to share in any commercial revenue.
The usual arrangement is for cable networks to give the cable companies time in their shows to insert local commercials. That's the reason why you'll see a spot for a local car dealer in the middle of say THE CLOSER.
I think this is also the underlining reason that many cable companies are shifting TCM from their standard packages to their more expensive ones.
DVS problem
in PROBLEMS with the Message Boards
Posted
It has to be at your end. If it was at TCM's end all of us would have the same problem. If you're sure it's not your TV then it might be your cable box or if you have one,satellite receiver. If the cable is hooked up to go through a VCR, DVR or a DVD recorder before it gets to your TV it could be that. Most of them have a SAP setting too. Sometimes it's easy to accidentally activate it.
I know it can be hard to track down because every show doesn't have a second audio channel so shows you watch may not have one. If all else fails, you can always call your cable company to send out a technician, some companies will charge you and some won't. Good luck.