Spielberg/Harris restoring Godfather trilogy
08-22-07, 02:27 AM
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Robert Harris restoring Godfather trilogy
From Hollywood Elsewhere:
Blue-chip restoration guru Robert Harris has been working on a photo-chemical restoration of all three Godfather films for the last few months, and the results may be digitally viewable as soon as December (a Danish DVD site is stating that restored DVDs of the first two Godfather pics are due for release on 12.6.07). Harris declined comment, but Francis Coppola said after a Godfather III screening at the Academy's Samuel Goldwyn theatre that Steven Spielberg is the restoration project's financial savior.
Coppola said that Paramount was initially not interested in funding the restoration (deemed necessary due to the original negative having been "purposefuly damaged by idiots...misued, cut up") but all that changed when Spielberg stepped into the breach and said, "This is going to happen."
Coppola showed up on Monday August 6th, after a screening of Godfather III at the Academy's Samuel Goldwyn theater. He didn't arrive until about an hour into a six person q & a with a variety of people in or attached to the film. He said it was a bit surreal to be there after we've been watching Godfather III because he had just come from the first viewing of the new restoration of the original Godfather, which he said 'it looks 'incredible.'
"Coppola also mentioned that the negative was basically going to dissolve, or very close to complete loss and it would have cost millions of dollars to restore. Paramount was not going to foot the bill for it, he said, but that after Paramount became Dreamamount Spielberg himself made sure they knew they had to restore The Godfather, and the restoration went forward.
Blue-chip restoration guru Robert Harris has been working on a photo-chemical restoration of all three Godfather films for the last few months, and the results may be digitally viewable as soon as December (a Danish DVD site is stating that restored DVDs of the first two Godfather pics are due for release on 12.6.07). Harris declined comment, but Francis Coppola said after a Godfather III screening at the Academy's Samuel Goldwyn theatre that Steven Spielberg is the restoration project's financial savior.
Coppola said that Paramount was initially not interested in funding the restoration (deemed necessary due to the original negative having been "purposefuly damaged by idiots...misued, cut up") but all that changed when Spielberg stepped into the breach and said, "This is going to happen."
Coppola showed up on Monday August 6th, after a screening of Godfather III at the Academy's Samuel Goldwyn theater. He didn't arrive until about an hour into a six person q & a with a variety of people in or attached to the film. He said it was a bit surreal to be there after we've been watching Godfather III because he had just come from the first viewing of the new restoration of the original Godfather, which he said 'it looks 'incredible.'
"Coppola also mentioned that the negative was basically going to dissolve, or very close to complete loss and it would have cost millions of dollars to restore. Paramount was not going to foot the bill for it, he said, but that after Paramount became Dreamamount Spielberg himself made sure they knew they had to restore The Godfather, and the restoration went forward.
Last edited by Premise; 05-18-08 at 12:48 AM.
08-22-07, 07:17 AM
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We'll see what these guys can do. Everything I read about the condition of the print contains the phrase "beyond repair". But if anyone can do it, it's Harris.
08-22-07, 07:32 AM
#7
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Originally Posted by Premise
......stating that restored DVDs of the first two Godfather pics are due for release on 12.6.07.......
08-22-07, 10:22 AM
#11
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Originally Posted by Admiral7
Unfortunately, if it comes out in the next 18 months, it will now come out in HD-DVD ONLY. 3 hour HD movie on 30 GB disc.
08-22-07, 11:34 AM
#12
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I would hope the new releases of 1 and 2 would contain their original mono mix,then I would buy them instantly!
And Paramount must be pathetic to think allowing a famous classic/important film like this rot away is no big deal! Wow,I guess the money people really are clueless cheapskates looking to save a buck no matter what.
And Paramount must be pathetic to think allowing a famous classic/important film like this rot away is no big deal! Wow,I guess the money people really are clueless cheapskates looking to save a buck no matter what.
Last edited by Julie Walker; 08-22-07 at 11:36 AM.
08-22-07, 12:50 PM
#14
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So the news is that someone posted information on HTF and someone on some website I've never heard of quoted it?
Doesn't mean it not true but what it does mean is this is an unconfirmed rumor.
Doesn't mean it not true but what it does mean is this is an unconfirmed rumor.
08-22-07, 01:33 PM
#15
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We've heard rumblings from someone associated with Paramount about a "major" trilogy being restored. So I would take this as a rumor, but a very likely one. 
08-22-07, 02:26 PM
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Originally Posted by zombiezilla
And now they'll have walkie-talkies instead of guns.
08-22-07, 02:39 PM
#18
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I'm sure it was. It is the internet, don't take anybody seriously.
And yeah, I agree about the comment of a 3 hour movie in relevance to a 30 gb disc. King Kong is arguably still the perfect-ish image on both formats, and that's one heck of a long movie as well.
And yeah, I agree about the comment of a 3 hour movie in relevance to a 30 gb disc. King Kong is arguably still the perfect-ish image on both formats, and that's one heck of a long movie as well.
08-22-07, 02:40 PM
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Originally Posted by PatrickMcCart
This is actually true from what I've heard. Not walkie-talkies, but they're going to digitally remove a lot of the gorier violence (like Moe getting shot in the eye) and the bullet holes in Vito's back. That's part of the compromise when Spielberg came on to help.
08-22-07, 04:03 PM
#22
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Originally Posted by Admiral7
Unfortunately, if it comes out in the next 18 months, it will now come out in HD-DVD ONLY. 3 hour HD movie on 30 GB disc.
08-22-07, 04:07 PM
#23
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Originally Posted by DVD Josh
The transfer sucked.
Originally Posted by jmj713
And what was wrong with the original trilogy set?
08-22-07, 04:08 PM
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Originally Posted by Mr. Salty
No, it didn't. The condition of the films sucked.
08-22-07, 11:52 PM
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From the AFI website:
Screenings of THE GODFATHER and THE GODFATHER PART II are cancelled. The films have been pulled from circulation in anticipation of their restoration and re-release in 2008. We apologize for the inconvenience.
Screenings of THE GODFATHER and THE GODFATHER PART II are cancelled. The films have been pulled from circulation in anticipation of their restoration and re-release in 2008. We apologize for the inconvenience.