allthumbs Posted September 6, 2013 Share Posted September 6, 2013 i just finished watching Vertigo (today's Sep 5, and there's one more airing on Sep 15), and the restoration copy used by TCM didn't seem crisp all the time. from time to time, a scene would be a hazy white (like my computer when there's a problem with the "cloud"). the scene would play out, and then return to the next scene with the film clear and crisp. now there's one scence with Kim Novak where she's made-over to look like Madeleine, and then approaches the camera from out of a hazy cloud. that was intentional. what i'm talking about is the random change that happens when it's not supposed to happen. for example, Scottie and Midge go to the Argosy Book Store to get the low-down about Carlotta from the owner, Pop Leibel. that scene was a hazy affair when it should have been clear. i've heard that there have been difficulties with restorations (the 1983 effort has been said to have been a poor job) because the original elements have deteriorated. tonight's copy was of erratic quality and makes me wonder if a truly good (if not perfect) restoration copy exists, or even if such a thing is possible with Vertigo. anybody know anything about the copy used tonight? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slaytonf Posted September 6, 2013 Share Posted September 6, 2013 >allthumbs: >anybody know anything about the copy used tonight? No, but I almost posted about the print myself. The color also seemed desaturated at points. At the end of the film, when the restoration credits came up, I laughed to myself and wondered, "What restoration?" I hope this isn't the same print they'll use when they show it again later this month as part of the Hitchcock series. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hibi Posted September 6, 2013 Share Posted September 6, 2013 I'm sure it'll be the same print............ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DownGoesFrazier Posted September 6, 2013 Share Posted September 6, 2013 Since the whole thing is kind of hazy experience for Stewart's character, maybe this is apprropriate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kid Dabb Posted September 6, 2013 Share Posted September 6, 2013 Maybe I'm seeing things.. or not. There was no noticeable 'haze' or diminished color when I viewed it on TCM last night. I was more focused on the ambient sounds (which I believe make this movie special), but I'm sure I would have noticed a change such as this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlyBackTransformer Posted September 6, 2013 Share Posted September 6, 2013 The nun shoulda said *oops!*. I guess Miss Novak finds the company of RO superior to llamas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MovieMadness Posted September 6, 2013 Share Posted September 6, 2013 Suffering from Vertigo watching this, lol. I have noticed a haze myself, it happened with *The Birds* too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John2Bad Posted September 6, 2013 Share Posted September 6, 2013 I didn't notice anything particularly hazy about the scene in the bookstore, just that it seemed a bit dark and shadowy, which fit in with the conversation. On a related note. Some people in the past, when talking about the plot holes in Vertigo, have mentioned that the saleswomen at the shop should have been suspicious since this was the third time someone came in looking the same and wanting the same grey suit. But we only see Judy wearing the suit when Jimmy is trying to recreate Madeleine. We never see anyone else buying the dress suit. Mystery solved. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DownGoesFrazier Posted September 6, 2013 Share Posted September 6, 2013 I'm waiting for one of those hard-to-get classic film stars, who hasn't been interviewed in years, to say, "I'm willing to be interviewed on TCM, but it has to be Ben. I don't want RO". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGrandMaster Posted September 6, 2013 Share Posted September 6, 2013 I've seen Vertigo multiple times on TCM, and it's always looked great, but didn't see the most recent showing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
misswonderly3 Posted September 8, 2013 Share Posted September 8, 2013 I own the DVD of *Vertigo*. It comes with special features, including one of those "voice over commentaries". You know, something you'd only select if you know the movie well. As I recall, it's the restored version on the DVD, and the people commenting on it, are the ones who restored the film. They DO comment on the darkness in the book shop scene, saying they had to re-do it (?) and it was extremely difficult and complicated. These guys actually go into quite a bit of detail on *Vertigo's* restoration, and how they went about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandenot Posted September 9, 2013 Share Posted September 9, 2013 I'm dating myself, but there was a time during the 1980s when the only way to obtain a copy of "Vertigo" was to record it with a VCR off television, so that was all I had until perhaps the early 90s, when Universal finally realeased it on VHS. It wasn't until then, that I was able to watch the exquisite flower shop scene, because the network had cut that scene in order to make room for advertisements. When I compare that old print to the newly restored print in my mind's eye, it is definitely more vivid with higher contrasts (the restored print). However, sometimes I think the older print was richer in its darker tones, but that could just be my imagination. One day I must pull that old VHS out of storage and compare the two! I only watched the last 20 mins of the film last Thursday, so I cannot comment on any noticeable haze, but it could go back to how the darker tones appear in the restoration. As a side note, I thought the interview with Kim Novak was fascinating and very touching. When Kim sent this lovesick thirteen year old a personally autographed photo, she captured my heart indefinitely! She truly is a treasure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hibi Posted September 9, 2013 Share Posted September 9, 2013 Good luck on that one! LOL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Faiola Posted September 9, 2013 Share Posted September 9, 2013 The restoration was fraught with problems. The negative had faded, affecting color balance and saturation. And, for some reason still a mystery to many, the restorers dubbed in additional Foley into the soundtrack (street noises, birds chirping, etc). I used to own a 35mm dye transfer print of VERTIGO and, unfortunately, the restoration prints don't come close. Hopefully a new digital restoration will be done that can properly correct the color and restore the original - and only the original - soundtrack. This is no slight to Robert Harris, who has admitted his dissatisfaction with the original restoration. There was a lot of studio interference and when the soundtrack had to be re-built due to the original being unusable, I believe there was some studio meddling that resulted in the additional Foley. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sepiatone Posted September 9, 2013 Share Posted September 9, 2013 Maybe they meant they "restored" it BACK to it's worn out state? Sepiatone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dothery Posted September 9, 2013 Share Posted September 9, 2013 The nun shoulda said oops! I can't understand how that nun managed to get up all those stairs without puffing and blowing loud enough to warn them she was there; or even to make it up there in the first place. She didn't look like a spring chicken. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kid Dabb Posted September 9, 2013 Share Posted September 9, 2013 >Dothery said: I can't understand how that nun managed to get up all those stairs without puffing and blowing loud enough to warn them she was there I think it's a nun thing. I noticed the same thing in Black Narcissus. Not a grunt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hibi Posted September 9, 2013 Share Posted September 9, 2013 She was probably in good shape due to having to climb to ring that bell every day..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DownGoesFrazier Posted September 10, 2013 Share Posted September 10, 2013 Being a nun doesn't mean you're not allowed to do exercise. There used to be a nun who was a top marathoner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hibi Posted September 10, 2013 Share Posted September 10, 2013 Speaking of nuns, I've heard Delores Hart (I forget her nun name) is going to make an appearance on TCM! Unsure when or in connection to WHAT..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DownGoesFrazier Posted September 10, 2013 Share Posted September 10, 2013 If RO could do a sit-down with Delores Hart, that would also be quite interesting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hibi Posted September 10, 2013 Share Posted September 10, 2013 Should be interesting whatever comes of it.......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lzcutter Posted September 10, 2013 Share Posted September 10, 2013 > Speaking of nuns, I've heard Delores Hart (I forget her nun name) is going to make an appearance on TCM! Unsure when or in connection to WHAT..... She is going to be a Guest Programmer in the months ahead and one of the films she picked is *Laura* which will be making its TCM premiere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hibi Posted September 10, 2013 Share Posted September 10, 2013 Thanks! I wasnt sure exactly how she was going to be "on"......That should be a very interesting evening. I know she's a member of the Academy and watches and votes on films......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kid Dabb Posted September 10, 2013 Share Posted September 10, 2013 >Hibi said: Speaking of nuns, I've heard Delores Hart (I forget her nun name)... She has such an interesting background. She chose the name Sister Judith for herself, then changed it to Sister Dolores when she took her vows. Here's some cool wikia: The Reverend Mother Dolores Hart is Prioress of the Abbey (since 2001), but she remains a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, having in recent years become the only nun to be an Oscar-voting member. Ha! How about that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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