I'm watching right now on TCM, looking at the speckled, blasted-out print identical to what's available on Warner Archive DVD. Why does this film look so bad (negative gone?), and is there any better material out there anywhere?
shareAm watching it, too and was thinking the same thing. I suppose that we should be grateful that any print exists at all!
shareI've seen this film on TCM at least three times and they use the same shoddy print every time. I think if there is another available, they should have access to it so I guess this is the best one that exists.
I have no idea if a print can be too old or too fragile to clean up but perhaps this is the case with the film. My only guess is that Ted Turner (who I believe still owns MGM's old films) isn't interesting in putting the money into such a task. It's not a largely well known silent. It's popular among Crawford and Page fans but it's not one of the silent films that critics or film historians bring up outside of the context of the stars whose careers were launched because of it. It's a shame too because the film is quite good and I adore Cedric Gibbons' sets.
I had a much better one on vcr tape but sold it on e-bay years ago....after I copied it. Of course the copy is not so hot.
Brad...Whatcha gonna do? What are you gonna do?
I've recently purchased a bunch of Warner Archive Collection DVDs, and it surprised me how bad the print quality of this one is, if comparing to other movies made at the same period and others that are even older. I wonder why was this one so badly preserved?
Animal crackers in my soup
Monkeys and rabbits loop the loop
I watched this movie today and don't remember any problems with it. It looked pretty good to me. I also probably don't remember any problems because if I had I would have probably chalked it up to the age of the movie and accepted it for what it is.
I imagine it must be costly to redo, clean up or fix these movies. I think that should be done to archives these movies for future generations but for the sake of playing them on TV or online, they're good enough as is. If they restore them then use the restored version, won't it also degrade that version?
Part of the flecks on the screen and the less than perfect quality should remind us how lucky we are to even have a chance to see these movies; and prompt us to perhaps donate to the cause of film restoration too.
Woman, man! That's the way it should be Tarzan. [Tarzan and his mate]
I just saw it on TCM (in 2021) and they are still showing a badly scratched-up print. Apparently the film has never been restored.
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