I went to the screening at the Ziegfeld in NY and much of the picture was "soft" and focus was not very good, especially in CU. Same thing with the DVD. Pix looks lousy.
I remember seeing the show when it aired originally on TV in '72 and seems to me pix was sharp as a tack (most of the time). I expected the restoration to make it immaculate.
Anyone else feel this?
Well, considering the TV set I saw it on in '72, as well as the faded, boot-leg VHS copy I've owned for a while now, I'm not complaining about the DVD restoration.
shareI remember it being clear and clean when it aired back in '72.
What I think happened is that they did not have the original negative, only a used print.
Liza had the rights to the show, but that doesn't mean she necessarily had all the original materials.
When a print is restored as opposed to an original color negative, the copy ends up looking somewhat blurred/soft-focused - almost as if the movie was filmed while playing on a screen.
But as bad as the visuals are, it's still a thrill to watch.
(I saw her on tour in this a year after this special aired - obviously, NOTHING can top attending a LIVE PERFORMANCE BY LIZA!)
"Don't call me 'honey', mac."
"Don't call me 'mac'... HONEY!"
Hrmm it was 16mm, and I also know that Fosse often favoured a slightly fuzzy look (check out Star 80).
The one part I'm disappointed in is the bonus Mein Herr where the image flickers--do others notice this? I guess it can't just be my copy but is becuase this was cut material salvages as best they can but hey--i"m paranoid about that kinda thing ;)
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The more I watch it the more I also suspect they blew up the 16mm to 35mm in the restoration process. This also would cause a softening of the image (particularly if a print and not the original color negative was used). I remember those red sequins on her dress sparkling clean and distinct on the original broadcast.
And you're right - I think Fosse used a little "soft focus" on the original. In which case, the subtlety of the original ends up overdone when a print rather than the original negative is restored.
"Don't call me 'honey', mac."
"Don't call me 'mac'... HONEY!"
Yep--and I think sadly that's largely what we were left with wasn't it? a 16mm print blown up to 35mm?
But is it just me or does the Mein Herr extra footage kinda shimmer oddly --I guess cuz it was even in worse condition?
Anyway being stuck with the bootleg video of this I had for years I really can't complain
Watched the DVD extra of the Toronto panel discussion in 2004, and Liza herself declares that the film was blown up from 16mm to 35mm ("35L" is what she specifies - does anyone know what the distinction is?).
The Mein Herr footage seems like it was shot while lit mostly with red light, then subsequently left to deteriorate/discolor as the years went by. The "shimmering" may be a combination of the red sparkles/reflections and uneven dye quality (since the film reel most likely faded in some places more than others).
Nowhere on the DVD is there is a discussion of the original negative - which, if available, is always stated upfront since it means that the picture quality will be of a high level.
I still enjoy the show because her energy has certainly not been comprised by the loss of picture quality.
But - who knows - someday maybe the original negative will be found and we can then enjoy "Liza With A 'Z'" in all its pristine glory? (As Sally Bowles in "Cabaret": "Stranger things have happened.")
"Don't call me 'honey', mac."
"Don't call me 'mac'... HONEY!"
I hate to sound like I'm b****ing about the DVD quality because I love this show and am very grateful it is back in circulation again.
BUT - I just thought I'd offer yet one more observation about why I think the restoration started with a print and not the original color negative: I noticed the text of both the beginning and ending credits is not crisp in any way, but, rather, each letter "bleeds".
Now, even if Bob Fosse had used a "soft focus" for the filming of the show, this would not have affected the credits (since they are burned on in post-production). But "bleeding" text is more than likely the result of a print being transferred to a new negative via an optical printer (the light shining through to the new negative diffuses slightly).
"Don't call me 'honey', mac."
"Don't call me 'mac'... HONEY!"
I remember watching this on its first broadcast on our 1965 RCA console with the rounded sides, so I'm not complaining how it looks now :)
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