Desperately Needs...


and deserves restoration. The print shown on TCM today was truly sorry!



"Believe not what you only wish to believe, but that which truth demands."

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Desperately needs and deserves restoration. The print shown on TCM today was truly sorry!


It may excite you to know that 11 years after you wrote this message, TCM is now showing a restored version. I'm watching it now and it looks great!

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You didn't read the date of the OP's message right. He didn't write it 11 years ago (2003) but one year ago (2013). He was writing about the restored version, which unfortunately does have its flaws. Even the best film restoration experts can only work with the material they have.

[Posted August 16, 2014 -- just to be clear for future readers!]

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You didn't read the date of the OP's message right. He didn't write it 11 years ago (2003) but one year ago (2013). He was writing about the restored version, which unfortunately does have its flaws. Even the best film restoration experts can only work with the material they have.


Gotcha! Completely misread. He's been a MEMBER SINCE 2003. Ha!

In that case, I'm not sure what to tell him. The version I saw on TCM earlier today looked pretty good.

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The print TCM used today must be the one the OP was referring to last year. I saw it today also and it's pretty good, but I can see that there are some picture issues. The color sequences at the end are a bit ragged though the colors are good. The film itself in that portion is clearly damaged, even after restoration. There are also a few parts of the film where a word or two of dialogue is lost because of quick splices in the film. One of the title cards was an obvious insert from what must have been the film's theatrical re-release (I believe in 1948), apparently substituted in place of the original to include the name of the company re-releasing it.

If this is the best material available for a restoration then the original 1942 release must either be completely lost or beyond repair. Yet even with some flaws still evident, the film is basically in decent shape. At least the color and sepia sequences, while not perfect, have been reclaimed.

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