Why are trailers always crappy quality on DVDs of older films?
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Why are trailers always crappy quality on DVDs of older films?
I was watching the Friday The 13th today, and watched the trailer of the film that was included on the DVD. It reminded me that on DVDs of older films, when a trailer is included, it's always of crappy quality. I actually like that, because it makes it more authentic, and it's fun to watch that way. But, why is it like that? Aren't the trailers on the same medium as the original film? Trailers are on reels just like the film, right? Why are they not cleaned up for DVD?
Just curious.
Just curious.
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The film is probably duplicated from the original negative, which is likely kept in best storage condition. As others noted, a trailer is a generation or two removed from that. It's digitized from either a later generation negative or even a print that's been sitting around and fading. Trailers are included as artifacts of the time the movie was released, so it fits that the trailer looks as old as the movie actually is. The graphics, editing, and voiceover script and style tend to place them in whatever era they come from, too.
#8
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Until DVD, there really wasn't a market for trailers after their use in theaters so they weren't kept in as good condition. I have dozens of trailer compilations and almost a 1000 trailers and 90% of them are in terrible condition.
#9
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I don’t really think trailers should be cleaned up, some things should look bad. I agree with you erichbergen, having the trailer not cleaned up makes it feel more authentic & gives you that nostalgic feel. That & some stuff in the trailers doesn’t appear in the film sometimes.
#11
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Originally Posted by caligulathegod
Until DVD, there really wasn't a market for trailers after their use in theaters so they weren't kept in as good condition. I have dozens of trailer compilations and almost a 1000 trailers and 90% of them are in terrible condition.
There's a company that only specializes in selling movie trailers. They're the company that put on the 3-D Film Festival a few years back in Hollywood. I can't think of the company's name.
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I'll agree I prefer the trailers are left looking scratched, flawed and full of grain. It feels weird to watch a trailer for a movie from 1983 and have it looking pristine. I just recently watched the trailer for The Burning on the DVD and it looked awesome. Straight outta the 80's quality!
#13
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Originally Posted by nateman241
I don’t really think trailers should be cleaned up, some things should look bad. I agree with you erichbergen, having the trailer not cleaned up makes it feel more authentic & gives you that nostalgic feel. That & some stuff in the trailers doesn’t appear in the film sometimes.
#15
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Originally Posted by NoirFan
It also gives you an appreciation for how good the actual film looks in comparison - sort of the equivalant of those restoration comparisons Fox put on their Monroe titles.
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I have to agree with a lot that was said here:
1. Occasionally, some material doesn't make it into the film.
2. It may contain a spoiler, but a good trailer doesn't (that's my take)
I have always liked those grainy scratched up versions...it adds a certain mystique to it. But also, in the case of Grindhouse, it has that certain "I found this on the last page on the internet and I feel dirty for watching it" vibe to it.
Lastly, that scratched look also helps to (at least for me) build up what the film is about. Friday the 13th for instance, the trailer feels like this great POV slasher flick that someone found in the woods. Make the ending all the more shocking. But again, that is me.
1. Occasionally, some material doesn't make it into the film.
2. It may contain a spoiler, but a good trailer doesn't (that's my take)
I have always liked those grainy scratched up versions...it adds a certain mystique to it. But also, in the case of Grindhouse, it has that certain "I found this on the last page on the internet and I feel dirty for watching it" vibe to it.
Lastly, that scratched look also helps to (at least for me) build up what the film is about. Friday the 13th for instance, the trailer feels like this great POV slasher flick that someone found in the woods. Make the ending all the more shocking. But again, that is me.
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There's a company that only specializes in selling movie trailers.
Yes, there's something to be said for the fact that most trailers come from a 2nd party source and they're generally from projection prints that are timed for theaters, whereas the features are made usually from elements or prints timed for telecine purposes.
Trailer elements generally don't survive at the studios from the classic era because (with some exceptions) most trailers were outsourced to companies like National Screen Service that made them. So in some cases, you're looking at the only existing print of a trailer because someone just happened to hold onto it.
Trailers sometimes include alternate footage because the independent companies were sent alternate takes or camera angles since the actual camera footage for the film was being used for the actual feature negative. Intermediate stocks were so-so (and usually reserved for later reissue trailers), and since most trailers were prepared before the feature, sometimes deleted scenes found their way into the trailers.
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Originally Posted by LoPan5705
It maybe on both the first release and SE, but the trailer on the Young Guns dvd gets my vote for the worst quality trailer ever!
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Turner Classic Movies has a section of their site devoted to trailers. They don't have much horror or exploitation there, but some very nice ones for musicals and other genres. My faves in looking over the site are for Woody Allen's "Bananas" and "Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex," which about as funny in two minutes as the movies are in 90:
TCM Trailers Page
TCM Trailers Page