Preorder: "Around the World in 80 Days" WAS IT RESTORED PROPERLY?

[freeflyt]

I just found this on Amazon; the original version in a special two disc set:
Product Details

Starring: David Niven, See more

Encoding: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. This DVD will probably NOT be viewable in other countries. Read more about DVD formats.)

Format: Color, Closed-captioned, Widescreen

Rated: NR
Studio: Warner Home Video
DVD Release Date: May 18, 2004
DVD Features:
Audio Commentary

Documentaries

Introduction

Newsreel

Outtakes

Photo gallery

TV Special

Theatrical Trailer

Widescreen anamorphic format

Number of discs: 2

List Price: $26.99
Price: $18.89 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. See details.
You Save: $8.10 (30%)

[Oatsdad]

It's a pretty solid presentation of the movie. My review will go up next week...

[Steve Hoffman]

I worked on a little of it.

Do you have a total time?

[Oatsdad]

I worked on a little of it.

Do you have a total time?

??? Total time of what - the movie?

[Steve Hoffman]

Of course. There are five different versions. Which one did they finally end up using?

1956 30 frame version.
1956 24 frame version.
1968 30 frame edited version.
1968 24 frame edited version.
1983 24 frame even more edited version.

Since the movie was shot twice, the 24 frame version has been considered the "rehearsal" version BUT since the 30 frame version was printed in Eastman Color 70mm, ALL THE PRINTS HAVE FADED TO BEET RED, while the 24 frame version exists in nice 35mm Technicolor. So, no way to properly restore the 1956 30 frame version unless parts of the 24 frame version are spliced in. See? This is really a lost film in its original Oscar winning form.

Problem is, most people call the 1983 version THE edited version and the 1968 cutting the LONG version. Sigh. The 1956 version is like 45 minutes longer but the outs were tossed in 1968 because they cut up the camera negatives, both 30 and 24 and USED THEM TO MAKE 500 new prints. Of course, they didn't make YCM seps FIRST, only after the negs were trashed. Sigh.

I tried to make some of the goofballs in charge understand the above but I got a lot of blank stares, even from people who should know better!

So, that is why I'm asking what is the timing of the movie on the DVD.

[dcooper]

Rats. I thought was about the Michael Palin BBC show. I would love to own that on DVD!

[zardozislove]

182 minutes according to DVD Planet.

[Ken_McAlinden]

It should be as close to the 1956 30 FPS roadshow version as possible in 2004.

http://www.in70mm.com/news/2004/80_days/dvd.htm

I'm not sure if they have actually done a full-fledged film restoration (more than likely a $2 million proposition), but they have techniques available to correct for yellow layer fading in the digital video domain that could still produce a fine looking DVD from an element (or elements) completely non-viable for projection.

For instance, the 35mm IP that was used for the WB DVD of North by Northwest was apparently terribly faded ("In Glorious Magenta-color" ;)) and unsuitable for projection, but the colors for the DVD were spot-on.

Interestingly, Oklahoma! seems to be facing a nearly opposite situation in that the 65mm 30FPS negative is in much better shape than the corresponding 35mm 24fps negative. It also never saw the massive cutting from its original large format presentation that "Around the World..." did.

Regards,

[Ken_McAlinden]

BTW, if you are into epic films on DVD, it looks like May 18 will be a good day for you as WB and MGM will be releasing 2-disc SEs of "Around the World in 80 Days", "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (Extended Version)", and "The Great Escape".

Regards,

[Ken_McAlinden]

It should be as close to the 1956 30 FPS roadshow version as possible in 2004.......or maybe not. I have heard from at least one person who did a little work on it that they used exclusively 35mm elements. It should still be as close as possible to the original editorial assemblage, though.

Regards,

[Steve Hoffman]

An interesting review:

http://www.dvdfile.com/software/review/dvd-video_8/aroundtheworldin80days.html

[freeflyt]

An interesting review:

http://www.dvdfile.com/software/review/dvd-video_8/aroundtheworldin80days.html


Thanks for posting this Steve, it really has some great stuff. I'm looking forward to the arrival of my copy...just wish I had a large, 16:9 TV.

Steve

[Steve Hoffman]

WB did it's best, but they didn't go all the way, which is typical because they HATE dealing with collectors (even if the collector isn't charging them a DIME!)

At any rate, this is what my restoration partner just emailed me:

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Steve,

Apparently, the new DVD of "80 Days" is 90% from the 30 fps element and 10%
from the 24 fps element.

The silly, ridiculous, stupid thing about this is, of course: We have
offered...several times...to provide Warners with the 30 fps print, which
has the "missing" 30 fps footage.

Oh, well.

Jeff

[Steve Hoffman]

Nah, I'm wrong.

I think what happened was this: The 30 fps 65mm neg was very worn, since all 70mm prints in the original and reissue were struck from this element. The 24 fps neg, however, was only used to make Technicolor matrixes, so it's in better shape. They made a new 35mm IP from this element; that's what the transfer is from. When there were worn shots or other issues, they went back to the 30 fps element. Some parts are scratchy, indicating that at least some is from print material. Better than nothing!