Tweet ALL QUIET Restored???

Sorry, but IMHO this goes beyond "restoration" and veers into tampering with the original.

From the LA TIMES (link to full article below):

In a theater on the lot at Universal, Schade and O'Neil demonstrate before-and-after scenes from several of the titles. In "All Quiet on the Western Front," the unrestored version features a scene in a classroom that shook during a pivotal camera move, while the background images were faded and flat. In the restored version, the stabilization issue was corrected and the images were sharpened.

http://articles.latimes.com/2012/apr/30 ... d-20120430

More disturbing, the article makes no mention of KING OF JAZZ being restored.

[Mike Gebert]

Or of The Big Parade being released on DVD.

What does THE BIG PARADE on DVD have to do with Universal's 100th anniversary?

Regarding KING OF JAZZ, I think it's too early in the restoration process for them to be talking about it yet. From what I've read it's going to be a year or longer before there anywhere near completion.

Regarding KING OF JAZZ, I think it's too early in the restoration process for them to be talking about it yet. From what I've read it's going to be a year or longer before there anywhere near completion.

Thanks for the info on KOJ. I'm glad to hear it's still in the works. Too bad the big U wasn't ready for them on the band' first visit in '29 when Bix was onboard.

now if we can only get the uncut 14 reel lilac time WITH synchronized experimental stereo discs

What does THE BIG PARADE on DVD have to do with Universal's 100th anniversary?

That was a poke at Gagman, I'm afraid.

It is nice to see they are releasing a film from each decade for their 100 Years. But it is only 82 years since they were formed? Right? What happened to the decades before 1930? All that stuff they burnt in the late 40s etc? It would have been nice to have something from those 18 years but not another Blu Ray of Phantom, though.

Sorry, but IMHO this goes beyond "restoration" and veers into tampering with the original.

From the LA TIMES (link to full article below):

In a theater on the lot at Universal, Schade and O'Neil demonstrate before-and-after scenes from several of the titles. In "All Quiet on the Western Front," the unrestored version features a scene in a classroom that shook during a pivotal camera move, while the background images were faded and flat. In the restored version, the stabilization issue was corrected and the images were sharpened.

http://articles.latimes.com/2012/apr/30 ... d-20120430" target="_blank

What's next? Digitally removing the shadow of a boom microphone? ...you 'gotta wonder...

Sorry, but IMHO this goes beyond "restoration" and veers into tampering with the original.

I agree. To me, that's not restoring... it's changing.

Do these guys have George Lucas as a technical advisor?

Sorry, but IMHO this goes beyond "restoration" and veers into tampering with the original.

From the LA TIMES (link to full article below):

In a theater on the lot at Universal, Schade and O'Neil demonstrate before-and-after scenes from several of the titles. In "All Quiet on the Western Front," the unrestored version features a scene in a classroom that shook during a pivotal camera move, while the background images were faded and flat. In the restored version, the stabilization issue was corrected and the images were sharpened.

http://articles.latimes.com/2012/apr/30 ... d-20120430" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank

The shaking was a stabilization issue with the film. A common issue with old prints. The directors intent was not to shake the camera as its the film that is shaking due to film shrinkage. If you see the before and after footage its easily understandable. This is restoration not manipulation. Now the sharpening is a different matter.

As far as the background images. In the unrestored version you can't see anything outside the classroom windows because of the age of the print just blackness. Even though a huge procession march of troops and a crowd are outside. Obviously the director would not go through all of the trouble to choreograph this if it wasn't meant to be seen.

I thought the restoration was wonderful for this film. Although I'm not a fan of sharpening.

shook during a pivotal camera move..."

implies that the camera dolly shook while the scene was photographed, not that the film media itself was affected by age or damage which caused the footage to stutter through the gate. "Restoration" should be restoring the film to what it was like in pristine condition as first released -- not correcting something simply because it doesn't match modern motion picture technology.

I'm in favor of any restoration that enhances the original without changing the content. In any event, the filmmaker's intent should be considered, where it is known with some certainty.

I see nothing wrong with steadying an image if it was indeed a technical error. As for sharpening an image, I would have to see why, since not every cinematic image has to be razor sharp. If it helps the content, fine. If you're merely playing with the technology, leave it alone. I've seen some films sharpened to the extent that the perspective looks unnatural, and that should not be.

I'd have to see the "before" and "after" effects of restoration in ALL QUIET to render an honest opinion, but on the whole, it sounds like they are trying to get everything as right as humanly possible.

It is hard to know who's intent it was when talking about some of the older pictures. Many pictures were edited better by editors who knew how to improve upon a poor director - so by the same account, restoration should be seen as an improvement - provided it does not blatantly alter the picture out of all recognition.

As the processes these days don't do anything to destroy the original - the purists can still watch scratchy, out of focus, hard to see images and be happy to their heart's content.

Me? I like to see what audiences might have originally seen.

ALL QUIET plays this Friday at the UCLA Film and TV Archive as part of their Universal Pictures centennial event. I bet it's the restored version that plays. Arthur Gardner, who played a very small role in the original, will attend.
http://www.cinema.ucla.edu/events/2012- ... front-1930

I need to go back and look at both the restored and original. I assumed the pivotal camera move is when the camera pans across the classroom and focuses on the outside window. From what I saw it looked like this scene was shaking all over the place originally. Looked like film stabilization issue to me. I assumed this is what they meant by it shaking not that the shaking of the camera was the issue fixed. Either way I thought they breathed new life into this film. It looks exceptional compared to previous releases I've seen.