MovieChat Forums > Frenchman's Creek (1944) Discussion > What is wrong with the print?

What is wrong with the print?

posted 8 years ago by belalugosihouse
10 replies | jump to latest

Watching now on TCM...not a bad movie but I am so distracted by the bad print...too much light, bad color, poor film quality, etc. I can't help thinking what a better movie it would be if it was swathed in MGM-type quality. Reminds me of the cheap 1960s or 70s films. Makes you really appreciate the better-filmed movies.
Robert Osborne would know the answer. I always wish I could ask him film questions...lol.
Btw, Joan Fontaine has never looked lovelier...at least I think so, a bit hard to tell.

[–] DarthBengal 8 years ago

I'm watching it now too. The color doesn't look right to me either. Maybe this is a film in need of restoration.

[–] belalugosihouse 8 years ago

I agree!

[–] lnoft97-412-316846 8 years ago

It is too bright, harshly so. Gorgeous, though.

[–] belalugosihouse 8 years ago

Yes, I was thinking too much light...the shots in shadows are much better.

[–] Casey-52 8 years ago

This is a TV print prepared by Universal Television decades ago (note the Universal Pay Television logo opening). The recent screening of KITTY (1945) was from a similar source. Pretty disgraceful, if you ask me, and TCM should have refused to air it. Universal just released both as MOD DVD's, and I hate to think these are the masters they used. Has anyone seen them to compare?

[–] dmdiamond 8 years ago

Agree with all of the comments above....This film desperately needs a Technicolor restoration....Tried watching this on TCM on demand and the condition of the print was very distracting....What would Natalie Kalmus and Henri Jaffa say if they saw this?

[–] Chiscully 8 years ago

It's washed out!

[–] drmccormack 8 years ago

Yes, it looks like it's a bad print. I came here to find out what's going on. We're watching it now and we switched over to HD and it looks a bit better.

[–] fguerra1 8 years ago

bad print? no just bad audience. Have you guys ever attempted to accomplish such a feat. Love it all the way.

[–] joeparkson 8 years ago

It's a terrible print. Looks like a pirated copy. Not only is the color washed out, it's grainy as well, like it was shot on 16mm stock. What a massive disappointment. I wonder if the original print was lost and all we have left are third or fourth generation copies?
Ironic that this movie won an Oscar for art direction and color! I would like to see the movie the Oscar committee saw!

Soy 'un hijo de la playa'