- Joined
- Feb 8, 1999
- Messages
- 18,429
- Real Name
- Robert Harris
Some filmmakers and actors took awhile to become comfortable with new technologies. Or never used them at all.
When it came to sound, and it appeared by 1929 that it was going to hang on, the hold-outs began to join and assimilate their way into talkies.
It took Douglas Fairbanks until very late in 1929, Chaplin until 1936, and Garbo 1930 (shot in late 1929) with one of the most repeated lines in all of cinema.
"Give me a whiskey baby, ginger ale on the side. And don't be stingy."
That was 15 minutes into the film, which until then - even though she receives star billing above the title - was a Marie Dressler / Francis Marion film.
From her first American production for M-G-M in 1926, she appeared in ten silent films, and beginning with Anna Christie (twice), and then another fourteen films, ending with Two-Faced Woman in 1941.
For those counting, that's twenty-four films in fifteen years. The studio system in high gear.
Like many of the M-G-M nitrate productions, the OCN was lost to the Great Fire, which means that Warner Archive's new Blu-ray is derived from a fine grain, but it appears fine for the era. The film has an admirable gray scale, decent grain structure, and an overall appealing texture. No problems.
The audio is still early. The camera does no swooping or other major movements. But the film, based upon the play by Eugene O'Neill, still works, and once you get over the early sound attribute still entertains.
Produced entirely on the M-G-M lot, and without a huge budget, you'll probably note the painted backing in the first sequence, including a large coil of rope. Once the camera gets out Dressler's little home, the camera picks up depths nicely.
The German language version, shot on the same sets appears as an extra in HD, derived from a 35 fine grain - unrestored, but not something I'd spend budget upon. It's wonderful reference.
Image – 7.5
Audio – 8
Pass / Fail – Pass
Plays nicely with projectors - Yes
Worth your attention - 10
Slipcover rating - n/a
Upgrade from DVD - Absolutely
Very Highly Recommended
Thank you for supporting HTF when you preorder using the link below. As an Amazon Associate HTF earns from qualifying purchases. If you are using an adblocker you will not see link.
When it came to sound, and it appeared by 1929 that it was going to hang on, the hold-outs began to join and assimilate their way into talkies.
It took Douglas Fairbanks until very late in 1929, Chaplin until 1936, and Garbo 1930 (shot in late 1929) with one of the most repeated lines in all of cinema.
"Give me a whiskey baby, ginger ale on the side. And don't be stingy."
That was 15 minutes into the film, which until then - even though she receives star billing above the title - was a Marie Dressler / Francis Marion film.
From her first American production for M-G-M in 1926, she appeared in ten silent films, and beginning with Anna Christie (twice), and then another fourteen films, ending with Two-Faced Woman in 1941.
For those counting, that's twenty-four films in fifteen years. The studio system in high gear.
Like many of the M-G-M nitrate productions, the OCN was lost to the Great Fire, which means that Warner Archive's new Blu-ray is derived from a fine grain, but it appears fine for the era. The film has an admirable gray scale, decent grain structure, and an overall appealing texture. No problems.
The audio is still early. The camera does no swooping or other major movements. But the film, based upon the play by Eugene O'Neill, still works, and once you get over the early sound attribute still entertains.
Produced entirely on the M-G-M lot, and without a huge budget, you'll probably note the painted backing in the first sequence, including a large coil of rope. Once the camera gets out Dressler's little home, the camera picks up depths nicely.
The German language version, shot on the same sets appears as an extra in HD, derived from a 35 fine grain - unrestored, but not something I'd spend budget upon. It's wonderful reference.
Image – 7.5
Audio – 8
Pass / Fail – Pass
Plays nicely with projectors - Yes
Worth your attention - 10
Slipcover rating - n/a
Upgrade from DVD - Absolutely
Very Highly Recommended
Thank you for supporting HTF when you preorder using the link below. As an Amazon Associate HTF earns from qualifying purchases. If you are using an adblocker you will not see link.
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