Am I insane, or didn't Universal release a colorized version of "Frankenstein" on VHS back in the '80s or '90s? I believe it was done just so that Universal could renew the copyright on "Frankenstein"...or, am I dreaming this all up?
Sent from my HTC PH39100 using Tapatalk 4
Quote from: Count_Zirock on September 07, 2013, 10:30:00 PM
Am I insane, or didn't Universal release a colorized version of "Frankenstein" on VHS back in the '80s or '90s? I believe it was done just so that Universal could renew the copyright on "Frankenstein"...or, am I dreaming this all up?
Sent from my HTC PH39100 using Tapatalk 4
What the flippity f***?! Really? I have a colorized version of NOTLD. But that film is in public domain. If Universal did release Frankenstein colorized? Shame, shame. :o
I never heard of such a thing and Universal doesn't seem to be having any copyright problems with the B/W version. I think you were dreaming.
IMDb.com lists a "colorized version" under Alternate Versions of the film. Maybe this is something that was PLANNED, but never happened, because Sonny Bono was able to get the Copyright Extension Act passed? It was my understanding that was the real reason behind the Phillip Glass score for "Dracula," was to renew the copyright. Once Laserdisc and DVD came around, they could automatically renew just by releasing them in those formats.
I swear, I didn't pull this out of thin air. I read it SOMEWHERE. I just can't recall the source.
Sent from my HTC PH39100 using Tapatalk 4
Quote from: Count_Zirock on September 07, 2013, 10:30:00 PM
Am I insane, or didn't Universal release a colorized version of "Frankenstein" on VHS back in the '80s or '90s? I believe it was done just so that Universal could renew the copyright on "Frankenstein"...or, am I dreaming this all up?
Sent from my HTC PH39100 using Tapatalk 4
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0021884/alternateversions (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0021884/alternateversions)
There apparently was a green tinted copy at the time.
Quote from: Tremere on September 07, 2013, 10:50:39 PMhttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt0021884/alternateversions (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0021884/alternateversions)
Unfortunately, it gives no release info.
Sent from my HTC PH39100 using Tapatalk 4
All I know is, I've never heard of colorized versions of the Universal monster movies. Like noir films and Marx Bros., Universal monsters should never be colorized!
Quote from: Mike Scott on September 07, 2013, 10:53:34 PM
All I know is, I've never heard of colorized versions of the Universal monster movies. Like noir films and Marx Bros., Universal monsters should never be colorized!
Like, totally. I could not imagine.
Quote from: Mike Scott on September 07, 2013, 10:53:34 PMAll I know is, I've never heard of colorized versions of the Universal monster movies. Like noir films and Marx Bros., Universal monsters should never be colorized!
Completely agree. I'm wondering if it was planned, then scrapped, when the cut scenes were found and reinstated into the film. For "Dracula," they went ahead with the Kronos Quartet score.
Sent from my HTC PH39100 using Tapatalk 4
Quote from: Count_Zirock on September 07, 2013, 11:02:46 PM
I'm wondering if it was planned, then scrapped,
If so, they made the right decision! :)
I wish I could remember WHERE I read about this, because the article even featured a picture of the proposed video box art.
Sent from my HTC PH39100 using Tapatalk 4
Quote from: Count_Zirock on September 07, 2013, 11:08:39 PM
I wish I could remember WHERE I read about this, because the article even featured a picture of the proposed video box art.
Sent from my HTC PH39100 using Tapatalk 4
Of you do find out more info? Please post. ;D
Quote from: marsattacks666 on September 07, 2013, 11:11:21 PMOf you do find out more info? Please post. ;D
Count on it!
Sent from my HTC PH39100 using Tapatalk 4
Quote from: Count_Zirock on September 08, 2013, 12:37:43 AM
Count on it!
Sent from my HTC PH39100 using Tapatalk 4
Sorry. * if, not......of you do. ;D
I may be able to shed some light... Let's see if my memory is working.
Many years ago (early 90's?) I saw a news article on TV in which they spoke about how old BW movies and TV shows were now able to be colourised (note the spelling - I'm from Australia!).
During the clip they showed some samples, and one of them was from a Universal Frankenstein movie - although I don't know which one.
The article was talking about how computers were used to do this and there was an old time movie buff exclaiming that it was sacrilege (fair enough).
Anyway, the other clips were an old Ma and Pa Kettle film (I think) and some other war movie I can't remember the title of. So, they may have released clips of examples and as Frankenstein was such a well known BW film, I guess they used it as a test.
I guess this is when the technology was first introduced.
Hope that helps.
As an aside, I just wanted to say that I own the colourised version of The Thing - and I really enjoy watching it. I've probably seen it more than the BW version. Blasphemer!
Interesting. ;)
As long as pristine copies of the black and whites exist---I wouldnt mind seeing color version out there. Its no different than reprinting old comics. Some people arent going to watch old movies regardless if they are color or black and white, so its only going to be for nerds like us anyway. I saw a colorized version of White Zombie once. Other than the fact that they cut out many major sequences of the flick---the colorization wasnt half bad.
I have the Roan dvd. I have no idea what I ever did with the colorized vhs. Probably in a landfill.
Colorized monsters would be kind of cool as a distaraction....but not as a replacement.
I think you guys might be thinking of the colorized clips used in WEIRD SCIENCE?
Oingo Boingo - Weird Science (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jm-upHSP9KU#)
Quote from: Wich2 on September 10, 2013, 01:09:51 PM
I think you guys might be thinking of the colorized clips used in WEIRD SCIENCE?
I don't think there were any. I think that brief shot of the monster on the slab was a recreation.
Nope, Mike:
http://monsterkidclassichorrorforum.yuku.com/topic/42987 (http://monsterkidclassichorrorforum.yuku.com/topic/42987)
Best,
-Craig
Quote from: Wich2 on September 10, 2013, 07:33:30 PM
Nope, Mike:
So, why didn't you post those shots to begin with?
??
I didn't have them!
I recalled the film had colorized segments, but didn't have examples at hand.
(Sheesh! A little trust in a long-time member might be in order here. Why would I make something like this up?)
-Craig
Quote from: Wich2 on September 10, 2013, 09:25:22 PM
(Sheesh! A little trust in a long-time member might be in order here. Why would I make something like this up?)
I didn't mean to suggest you were making anything up.
I dunno what the controversy with colorizing is anyway. Just another way to enjoy them.
I loved the Mirage black and white TMNT comics. But when First comics collected them in graphic novels and put them in color---I bought those as well.
Walking Dead comics have all been black and white. But if they put them in color---they would sell.
I would enjoy seeing them in color....but I am probably in the minority on this. Honestly thoguh---what's the harm? The days of making films in black and white intentionally are long gone anyway except for occasional off the wall projects like Sin City.
Its all about $$$$$$$. If it would make money, then Universal would do it. But honestly, I dont know if it would bring them any profits. Which is probably the real reason we havent seen it happen yet.
And you have to take into account the fact that the technology has grown by several orders of magnitude since those decades-old crayola clips:
"Easy to dance with" Holiday Inn 1942 Colour. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0021ndWy4M#noexternalembed)
That clip looks pretty good colorized. Kerry Gamill did some clips of various Universal snippets colorized that were floating around here for awhile. They looked good too. Like I said---so long as I have access to my original black and whites, the colorization wouldnt phase me. I'd buy them.
I have no problem with colorized versions being offered as "special features" on discs with the regular features.
I don't see any great difference from that and the fact that some classic movies are offered with optional newly created "stereo" soundtracks created from the original mono.
Just as long as the original film is presented as close to the original theatrical experience as possible.
Same thing with "Director's Cut" editions.
I really loved the original "THX1138". But the "Director's Cut" was the only version released on DVD. For my money, it is far inferior to the claustrophobic original theatrical version.
I was just watching Weird Science and rushed on here to tell you guys about the colour segments - seems I was beaten to the punch!!!
After reading this thread, that cause me to have a flashback of seeing this colorized VHS copy (same cover!) of Maltese Falcon at bookstore couple days ago. Completely forgot about until today, I wish it should stay forgotten in my head. Thank goodness I watched only B&W version of it!
Idea of many film noir films out there to be colored like this, THIS IS MADNESS!!
(http://i1149.photobucket.com/albums/o581/Sly_werewolf/511S7F8QSQL_zps620534a8.jpg) (http://s1149.photobucket.com/user/Sly_werewolf/media/511S7F8QSQL_zps620534a8.jpg.html)
Maltese Falcon in 'color'?
That sounds SO awful!
Quote from: Monsters For Sale on September 14, 2013, 10:28:07 PM
Maltese Falcon in 'color'?
That sounds SO awful!
I kid you not. This version actually exist on a VHS tape!
Film noir are meant to be shown in black and white for much better film visuals! German Expressionism style such as found in film noir films works better in B&W.
Quote from: Sly Wolf on September 14, 2013, 10:34:03 PM
I kid you not. This version actually exist on a VHS tape!
Film noir are meant to be shown in black and white for much better film visuals! German Expressionism style such as found in film noir films works better in B&W.
I just think of all those incredible German impressionist films of the late 20's and early 30's in color!
"White Zombie" in color!
(Quick, someone gouge my eyes out!!)
I hope you don't mind me steering this topic in another direction. My friend and I were discussing the original Phantom Of The Opera with Lon Chaney. This came up because Svengoolie was showing the Claude Rains Phantom this Saturday. To settle an argument, instead of another remake which we might all hate. if Universal took the original and colorized it (remember there was already a hand tinted scene for the Mask of the Red Death segment) and added a sountrack and got actors to do voice overs (maybe Ron Chaney to keep it in the family and make nice with him because of the lawsuit) and maybe a little touchup of the Phantom in CGI. Would you go see this? I am not a fan of colorization (never was) but I would be curious on how it turned out. Chaneys make up is iconic and the only vision I see when someone mentions The Phantom Of The Opera. It would be a great way to introduce him to a new generation. What do you think?
Truthfully, I don't mind anything they do to bring these classics films to a broader audience.
But, as an old-timer, I would not go see it.
Quote from: Universal Steve on September 15, 2013, 12:43:33 AMI hope you don't mind me steering this topic in another direction. My friend and I were discussing the original Phantom Of The Opera with Lon Chaney. This came up because Svengoolie was showing the Claude Rains Phantom this Saturday. To settle an argument, instead of another remake which we might all hate. if Universal took the original and colorized it (remember there was already a hand tinted scene for the Mask of the Red Death segment) and added a sountrack and got actors to do voice overs (maybe Ron Chaney to keep it in the family and make nice with him because of the lawsuit) and maybe a little touchup of the Phantom in CGI. Would you go see this? I am not a fan of colorization (never was) but I would be curious on how it turned out. Chaneys make up is iconic and the only vision I see when someone mentions The Phantom Of The Opera. It would be a great way to introduce him to a new generation. What do you think?
It was already attempted, actually..
Quote from: WikipediaAfter the successful introduction of sound pictures during the 1928-29 movie season, Universal announced that they had secured the rights to a sequel to The Phantom of the Opera from the Gaston Leroux estate. Entitled The Return of the Phantom, the picture would be in sound and color. Now under contract at MGM, Universal could not get Chaney, and unbeknownst to the studio, Chaney was already sick from throat cancer, the disease which would ultimately kill him the following year.
Universal scrapped the sequel idea, and instead opted to re-issue The Phantom of the Opera with a new synchronized score and effects track, as well as new dialog sequences. Directors Ernst Laemmle and Frank McCormick re-shot a little less than half of the picture in sound during August 1929, while the remainder of the film was scored with music and sound effects, with music arranged by Joseph Cherniavsky. Mary Philbin and Norman Kerry reenacted their roles for the sound re-shoot, and Edward Martindel, George B. Williams, Phillips Smalley, Ray Holderness, and Edward Davis added to the cast to replace actors that were unavailable. Universal was contractually unable to loop Chaney's dialogue, but "third person" dialogue by the Phantom was looped over shots of his shadow. (The voice-overs are uncredited, but are probably Phillips Smalley.) Because Chaney's talkie debut was eagerly anticipated by film-goers, advertisements emphasized, "Lon Chaney's portrayal is a silent one!"
The sound version of Phantom opened on February 16, 1930 and grossed another million dollars. This re-issue of the film is lost, although the soundtrack discs survive.
The other complication is that Universal Pictures no longer has the copyright to this film, as they failed to renew it (or "The Hunchback of Notre Dame") in 1953.
Sent from my HTC PH39100 using Tapatalk 4
>(remember there was already a hand tinted scene for the Mask of the Red Death segment)<
There's more than that to remember - there were the several Technicolor scenes in the original!
Which puts the lie to the theory that the makers of Horror or Noir films back then only envisioned them in B &W; more often than not, the decision was technical and/or financial.
-Craig
Quote from: Count_Zirock on September 15, 2013, 02:23:57 AM
It was already attempted, actually..The other complication is that Universal Pictures no longer has the copyright to this film, as they failed to renew it (or "The Hunchback of Notre Dame") in 1953.
I thought they did renew it because whenever there is a Phantom figure or Hunchback for example from Diamond Select there is the Universal Seal with Frankenstein on it which indidcates a licensed product.
Quote from: Wich2 on September 15, 2013, 08:39:42 AM>(remember there was already a hand tinted scene for the Mask of the Red Death segment)<
There's more than that to remember - there were the several Technicolor scenes in the original!
Which puts the lie to the theory that the makers of Horror or Noir films back then only envisioned them in B &W; more often than not, the decision was technical and/or financial.
-Craig
Indeed, both "Son of Frankenstein" and "The Wolf Man" were originally envisioned as Technicolor films. I think it was also considered for "Son of Dracula."
Quote from: Universal Steve on September 15, 2013, 10:34:21 PMI thought they did renew it because whenever there is a Phantom figure or Hunchback, for example, from Diamond Select there is the Universal Seal with Frankenstein on it which indicates a licensed product.
They're actually licensed through Chaney Enterprises, hence the current lawsuit. Universal allowed both "Hunchback" and "Phantom" to lapse into public domain. And, technically, Lon Chaney Sr
isn't protected by the Celebrity Rights Act, as he died prior to 1938. Chaney Jr, however, is protected by the CRA. Try putting out unlicensed Chaney Sr merchandise, and then try to license Chaney Jr, though. Most companies are interested in both Chaneys, so they license both through the family, and license Chaney Jr characters like The Wolf Man and Count Alucard through the studio. That's why the 1943 "Phantom" is on the Universal Monsters Blu-ray collection, and not the Chaney version.
Sent from my HTC PH39100 using Tapatalk 4