Superdaddy

I don't own it personally, but apparently part of the problem is that the grain you are talking about does not look natural; the contrast is supposedly ridiculously pumped up as well.

Superdaddy

I remember quite a bit of discussion of the heat damage on Lawrence's negative around the time the Harris restoration first hit DVD. At the time, I still didn't know what caused it; I assumed it was an artifact from the shoddy treatment of the negative post-production. I was surprised to find it dated back to the original shooting.

When the new master screens, I am sure that Mr. Harris will get some questions thrown his way if this has been digitally tweaked.

Josh Z

Discussed in this thread.

The grain in Ghostbusters is exaggerated on the Blu-ray due to electronic manipulation.

CRM114

To those knowledgeable about how the movie theater business works: Why are screenings of films like LoA and 2001 so few and far between? Do theaters have to be given permission to show these films? Is there some place where theater owners can rent a film to be shown in their theaters? How does the business side work?

Oh, and can someone fill me in, in layman's terms, about "projected video" and specifically Taxi Driver?

Giles

you need to live in the Washington DC area, the AFI Silver shows both (in 70mm) on a somewhat regular basis

it might have to do with availability of actual prints

in regards to Taxi Driver, when Sony finalized the master for transferring onto bluray they also made a DCP (Digital Cinema Package) hard drive version so that theaters that have Sony 4K digital systems could present the movie at it's highest resolution, sharpness and clarity. Remember all 4K work flow transferring has to be downrezzed to 2K for bluray hidef.

Some studios along with Fathom Events have transmitted programming (i.e, Classic film titles) via satellite transmission - visually it's inferior to DCP presentations both in terms of it's picture quality and audio quality.

Does that explanation help at all??

For 'Lawrence' rerelease of the restoration, Sony is going all out and creating 2K and 4K DCP's - the former for theaters that don't have 4K projectors as well creating new 70mm prints

whatever the reason it's flat out hideous, I tried watching twenty minutes of it and had to stop

Supermallet

The studios own prints. Theaters can rent them for a fee. The reason they're not showing 70mm all the time is that prints are few and far between, and you may need a special projectionist who's handled 70. Also, you're talking about arthouse/revival theaters, and they have to create a dynamic schedule. Can't just show the same 70mm prints over and over.

The Aero theater in Santa Monica does a screening of Lawrence in 70 every year, and it always sells out. If they did it multiple times a year, it might not sell out.

E Unit

We have the Paramount Theater here in Austin and every summer they do a film series. Usually in this series, they have a 70mm week where they show My Fair Lady, 2001, Lawrence of Arabia, etc. The projectionist who works there specializes in handling 70mm and is the last in Texas to be part of the Projectionists union.

Doctorossi

Commercial theatres with working 70mm projectors are few and far between these days, as well.

Superdaddy

What I wouldn't give to see 2001 in 70mm...my #1 film of all time.

My Fair Lady would be no slouch either.

Who am I kidding...a second viewing of Lawrence would be okay too!

bluetoast

Had a quick look at the AFI Silver...the only 70 mm for the next few months is Patton. I hope they get this one though. I saw West Side Story there last year, looked good.

Giles

did you miss last month's 'Hello, Dolly!' in 70mm (second time seeing it). Word is that a 70mm Festival at the AFI Silver might happen later in the year - so a whole smorgasbord of films will be shown

JackBurton

I saw 2001 in 70mm at the AFI Silver a few years back and it was awesome. I'd definitely be down for a festival.

bluetoast

Nice! Yeah I didn't see Hello Dolly...in fact I've only been there twice, once for West Side Story and the other time for The Artist. I should go there more often.

CRM114

Giles - Thanks.

I guess I just don't have a local theater interested in or capable of 70mm. I'll have to look for LoA in Philly or NY.

CRM114

I missed the part about Maryland and figured the AFI Silver was in LA. It's 3.5 hours from me. Might be worth an overnight stay in Silver Springs for LoA. You are so lucky to have a theater like that.

E Unit

Restored Lawrence of Arabia to Premiere at Cannes

International distributor and sales agent Park Circus will have a strong presence at this year's Cannes Film Festival with two titles selected as part of the Official Selection – Cannes Classics. The first is Sony Pictures Entertainment's 50th Anniversary restoration of David Lean's epic Lawrence of Arabia.

From Metro Goldwyn Mayer Studios, Andrei Konchalovsky's cult thriller Runaway Train, starring Jon Voigt, Eric Roberts and Rebecca De Mornay will also be screening as part of the Official Selection - Cannes Classics to mark the director's presence at the festival.

In addition to the films taking part in the Official Selection, Park Circus will also present a selection of other titles available for licensing, including Nicholas Ray's restored We Can't Go Home Again and Susan Ray's documentary Don't Expect Too Much. Distribution deals for these films have already been concluded for the USA and France.

Also coming to Cannes for all rights licensing are restored versions of major Harold Lloyd films including Safety Last, Speedy, Girl Shy and many more features and shorts by "the third genius'. Agreements for France and UK have already been concluded.

Superdaddy

Side note: A newly mastered, longer cut of a film by this guy named Leone is premiering there as well:

http://www.hitfix.com/blogs/in-conte...iere-at-cannes

Solid Snake

About goddamn fucking time. I've been waiting for that cut for years now. Guess his daughter was really serious about getting it out. Fucking awesome.

Giles

so is the Cannes presentation 4K digital projection or actual 70mm?

Gerry P.

It's Cannes. I'd be shocked if it was anything but 70mm.

E Unit

Then be shocked.

http://www.festival-cannes.fr/en/article/58952.html

To mark the 50th anniversary of the production and release of LAWRENCE OF ARABIA by David Lean (1962, 222'), Sony-Columbia have made a new restoration of the film in 4K.
Restored by Sony Pictures Entertainment in 4K at Sony Pictures’ Colorworks.

Doctorossi

That doesn't mean it's going to be shown in 4K; just that restoration work was done to produce a 4K master (from which 70mm prints could be struck).

That said, I expect it probably will be projected digitally.

E Unit

Me too. I'm going by the other films on the page I posted. Most say if they're being projected via film or digital. Pretty dissappointing.

CRM114

So 4K digital is inferior to 70mm I take it?

Doctorossi

Not necessarily.