lzcutter

Warners has been doing that for some time now. It is one of the reasons that Sea Wolf is not available on DVD. They are searching archives around the world for footage that was cut out after the initial release. Also, they delayed City of Conquest until they could find the missing prologue. City of Conquest was finally released last year with the missing prologue.

I didn't mean to imply that they had found the lost footage. But from the wording, it sounds like they found elements that they were searching for. Elements in a foreign archive that will produce better prints? A long lost fine grain? Both of those are much more likely than the lost footage. The question I am hoping to find the answer to is what was wrong with the elements in the RKO library? Was the original negative destroyed in a fire? Thrown out for shelf space? What happened to the fine grain? But the way the response was worded during the chat, it will have people thinking they found the lost footage. Message was edited by: lzcutter

I missed the forum. Would you happen to know what this means? Elements for The Magnificent Ambersons has been found.>> Lydia, It's a good question because it is an odd way of wording one's response. Especially since the lost footage is one of the holy grails of cinema. I'll do some asking around and let you know what I find out.

Anyway, given Rob Reiner's recent track record I'm already concerned; but the idea of Jack and Morgan Freeman together has some appeal. What do you think?>> I, too, would be concerned considering Reiner's track record of late. I like the idea of Jack and Morgan Freeman starring in a film together. I hope maybe somebody can shed some light on Jack's new look because I would like to know what that's all about. My first thought was he might have the same health problem as Jerry Lewis and is on prednisone which would explain his recent weight gain. I hope instead it's for a movie.

Brian, There is a wonderful documentary on Technicolor called Glorious Technicolor that is part of the The Adventures of Robin Hood box set. The documentary does show up on TCM from time to time. There is also a companion book that has the same title. Also Aljean Harmetz has written two books: On the Road to Tara and The Making of the Wizard of Oz and if I recall correctly, both books do talk about the technicolor process and Natalie Kalmus.

Izcutter, hun, nobody is saying that there aren't ANY good films being made and released in America. Nobody, absolutely nobody, as far as I can see in this thread.>> And I didn't say anyone was saying that. What we've said is that the quality of the average movie has decreased since the Golden Era...>> No, that's what you said and I responded to it. You and I don't agree on this subject. That's fine. There's plenty we don't agree on. This is just one more subject.

but the quality of the average American movie has decreased significantly since the Golden Era..>> I think the films of the late 1960s to the mid-1970s represent a second Golden Era of Hollywood filmmaking. The quality of the subject matter of films has decreased since the late 1970s. But, we as a culture and as a society, share in the blame of that. The changing business climate in American also shares in that blame. By being owned by large corporations, the demand is greater that films make a profit and so there is less opportunity to take risks with subject matter. But having said that, it is still possible for good films to get made and released.

Al, They had one. I think it was in the last hour of the telecast. It was well done.

you'd have to be blind to claim that the American movies you're seeing are as good as the foreign? >> Call me crazy, but I think there are some good, even great American movies being made these days and I think they can rival the good, even great, foreign films being made. I like movies from all decades, including this one.

On the other hand, wanting a competitive Oscar after winning an honorary Oscar might strike some as maybe a bit much. I've mixed feelings about it,>> Don't forget, Paul Newman won his only Oscar the year after he received his honorary Oscar.

Klondike, Wanted to let you know that I read an interview with Scorcese that he did last night after winning the Oscar. Looks like the Film Foundation (the film preservation foundation he started a few years back) is going to be restoring The Red Shoes sometime this year. The Hollywood Foreign Press is helping foot the bill for the restoration.

where was Chuck Workman this year? Did he do the "in memory of "montage?>> Ben, His name was in the credits but I don't know if it listed what montage he did. The credits for the show aren't up on the Oscar website yet but when they are, I'll check it out and let you know. The In Memory montage is not usually done by Workman. He may have done the Writers in Movies montage that I forgot about. I'm still trying to find out more about Jack Nicholson. Is he sick or is his new look for an upcoming movie? Today's LATimes wrote about him being backstage but didn't say anything about his new look.

Cinemascope and Jim2, O'Toole received an honorary Oscar for his body of work in 2003.

A Personal Journey Through American Film

Hate to say this to a friend but... you're mistaken. >> No problem. Now I remember it. Thanks to all!

Thanks Ayres, I must have thought it was the one on America by Michael Mann. Duh! I guess why it didn't really register with me is that there was no lead-in introduction about screenwriting and the joys and pain the writers go through. On a different note, what was up with Jack Nicholson? Is he currently filming a new film or about to? I almost didn't recognize him.

But there was a montage about writers in the movies, wasn't there?>> Not during the show. There was a montage of characters from different movies answering the phone but that was an Apple commercial (and quite a good one). There was a montage for Ennio, a montage of America by Michael Mann and the montage of those who passed away.

I remember it, too. I believe it is a remake of a Will Rogers film. Either way, I saw the film in question on the afternoon movie on either the NBC affilate or CBS affiliate in Las Vegas during the 1960s and have been looking for it ever since.

Larry, I think Yvonne De Carlo passed away in 2007 and the montage usually highlight those who passed away in the previous year. I would hope they include Ms De Carlo in next year's montage.

Replying to the topic, Don't get me wrong, I've been watching the Oscars for forty years. For a year when the Oscar promoted screenwriters and famous quotes: where was the love during the ceremony. They couldn't spare a montage? Half way thru the evening I turned to Mr Cutter and asked where are the film montages that usually celebrate their film history. Boos to whoever did the Ennio tribute. Next time, hire someone who appreciates his music and his contribution to film scores. The montage of those who passed was actually quite moving. More so than in years past. Liked the Michael Mann tribute to American film but it ended too abruptly . I love Alan Arkin but Eddie Murphy should have won. As for the Best Song, should have been "Listen" from Dreamgirls. It is really a great moment in the film. As for "Patience" one of the other songs from the film, why wasn't Murphy there on stage singing with them? Hope Ellen gets invited back next year. We really enjoyed her as the MC. No matter what, I'll be watching next year.

Couple of things, I hope everyone else's broadcast of the ABC half hour leading into the Oscars is in sync because out here on the West Coast the sound is so badly out of sync as to be almost unwatchable. Also, I miss Roger Ebert. Regardless of anything else, the man knows film and he knows the questions to ask the men and women on the red carpet. The quota of vapid questions being asked is almost as painful as the out of sync sound. I think the Producers of the show did us all a favor by having that exhibit of Golden Age Oscar fashions on display this winter. With the exception of Sally Kirkland, it looks like the ladies took the exhibit to heart. And, I may be the only one, but I like that Meryl Streep went with a Southwest look. She probably thinks she doesnt' stand a chance to win so why not be comfortable for five or six hours this evening. Get well, Roger!!!

Melanie, I have seen the prints since 1967 and prefer the 2005 restoration. So far.

Cinesage, I was wondering if it was possible if Selznick tied up a couple of cameras to have as back ups in case of malfunction? Just thinking out loud....

Hollis, I think the problem may have been a shortage of Technicolor cameras available. Selznick used all seven Technicolor cameras in Hollywood to film the burning of Atlanta. It took over two years to shoot the film and over a half a million feet of film was shot. So, I am sure other films that were slated to be shot in color may have been shot in black and white because the cameras weren't available. Also, being shot during this time was The Wizard of Oz, another Technicolor extravaganza. So, I think there may not have been enough cameras to go around.

Melanie, Back when GWTW was made, the standard format for films was 1:33. From wikipedia; The aspect ratio of an image is its displayed width divided by its height (usually expressed as "x:y" or "x?y," with the joining colon or multiplication symbol articulated as the preposition "by" or sometimes "to"). For instance, the aspect ratio of a traditional television screen is 4:3, or 1.33:1. In the 1950s, the standard format for most films became 1:85. So, for the 1967 re-release of GWTW, the picture had to be blown up and cropped to accomodate the bigger frame size. By most accounts, this was not done properly for the 1967 re-release resulting in cut off body parts.