PDA

View Full Version : New DVD of "Ten Commandments," thoughts?

Steve-oh
03-09-2004, 12:50 PM
Anyone pick this up? Sounds like a pretty good package. I don't have the earlier version, so I'm thinking about this one.

Also, does anyone know why the earlier DeMille version of the film wasn't included as an extra? Seems like a natural. Is it lost?
Ken_McAlinden
03-09-2004, 01:00 PM
The 1926 version of The Ten Commandments is a two hour and 16 minute epic that would have made this a three disc set. Paramount has yet to release any of their silent films on DVD for some reason. As a matter of fact, I believe "Wings" is the only Academy Award for Best Picture winner for which a studio has not yet commited to getting out a DVD by 2005.

Regards,
Steve Hoffman
03-09-2004, 04:19 PM
Paramount does not own its pre 1950 films, Universal does. I'm sure they took real good care of the Paramount silent negatives... :( :cry:
Ken_McAlinden
03-10-2004, 05:53 AM
Paramount does not own its pre 1950 films, Universal does. I'm sure they took real good care of the Paramount silent negatives... :( :cry:
Universal only acquired the pre-1950 "talkies". All of Paramounts classic silent films are still theirs, but they may have deteriorated in their care as well.

In general, Universal has all of the Paramount films from the 30s & 40s, but there are a couple of exceptions such as "The Miracle of Morgan's Creek", which Paramount retained for some reason having to do with the rights to a semi-remake "Rock-a-Bye Baby" from 1958.

Regards,
Steve Hoffman
03-10-2004, 09:02 AM
Heh, well, I've seen the Paramount (Paramutual in that Jerry Lewis movie) film vault and they don't have one silent film neg, not one...Not surprising.
Ken_McAlinden
03-10-2004, 10:38 AM
Heh, well, I've seen the Paramount (Paramutual in that Jerry Lewis movie) film vault and they don't have one silent film neg, not one...Not surprising.Yeah, they probably had the silent reels in the broom closet or stacked into a footstool in the janitor's office. :shake:

Regards,
Steve Hoffman
03-10-2004, 10:47 AM
Well, since they were all nitrate, they were probably destroyed in the 1950's. The REAL problem is that unlike sound films, they probably didn't copy to safety film any of the silent negs. Why would they? They would just take up space.

Heck, Universal destroyed all of their silent negs in 1936!!!!!!!!!!
Ken_McAlinden
03-10-2004, 11:56 AM
Steve,
Here is a quote from film restorationist Robert Harris last January on the Home Theater Forum:The majority of the Paramount silent films no longer exist.

Of the more important titles no more than about thirty have survived; half that number in 35mm elements... and complete.
It sounds like there's just enough for a footstool or two. :(

Regards,