GREED - Sound reissue?

[Nick_M]

While browsing Wikipedia:

In the early 30s, MGM reissued some of its earlier, pre-1928 silent films with prerecorded music soundtracks and sounds; such films included Greed (1924), Ben-Hur (1925) and Flesh and the Devil (1926).

Two of those sound believable, but for Greed to get a sound reissue after all the crap it got in its initial release sounds unlikely. Was it?

[Mike Gebert]

I don't know much about these sound reissues except that they must have existed because years later, in the 16mm film society market, those were the versions that Films Inc. and others distributed, because they had those existed sound tracks. Which meant until restorations in the 80s and beyond, they were also only seen in cut versions. Anyway, Greed was, I think, one of those titles; another is The Big Parade.

[silentfilm]

MGM reissued The Big Parade (1925) and Ben Hur (1925) in November/December 1931. According to Richard Koszarski's The Life and Films of Erich Von Stroheim, Greed was screened at the New York Museum of Modern Art in 1938. Neither this book or William Drew's The Last Silent Picture Show mention a sound reissue.

[Scott Eckhardt]

After scouring magazines from 1930-31 in the Media History Digital Library, I found ads and announcements for several sound reissues, but nothing for GREED.

[Jack Theakston]

Welcome to Wonkypedia!

[Frame Rate]

I don't know much about these sound reissues except that they must have existed because years later, in the 16mm film society market, those were the versions that Films Inc. and others distributed, because they had those existed sound tracks. Which meant until restorations in the 80s and beyond, they were also only seen in cut versions. Anyway, Greed was, I think, one of those titles; another is The Big Parade.

Back in those good ol' Film Society Days, Mike, Films Inc. had a near-lock on the U.S 16mm distribution of MGM titles, and their "silents catalog" consisted mostly of mute prints. (THE BIG PARADE and BEN-HUR were among the happy exceptions.) The company's 10-reel reduction prints of GREED were all sans music tracks.

[Mike Gebert]

Okay. Obviously my memory of early 80s 16mm screenings is not infallible, believe it or not.

[earlytalkiebuffRob]

I remember THE BIG PARADE reissue being shown on BBC around 1970, although unfortunately I had to miss the last section as being a schoolboy at the time I had to go to bed! That version was shown at London's NFT in the mammoth MGM season in 1980, and the BBC showed it in the early 1980s as I saw it whilst at college. After that, it was the Brownlow / Carl Davis version...

BEN-HUR was also scheduled at the NFT in 1980*, although I didn't see that version and then the Brownlow / Davis replaced it in circulation.

I also recall reading that William K Everson planned to show in 1959 it as a riposte to the Wyler film, but I think his copy was mute. I'm not sure if the show took place as someone informed on him and the police turned up!

*A repeat showing was scheduled with a new recording of the original score, but not sure whether that was shown earlier or the 1931 reissue

[robertelee]

I remember THE BIG PARADE reissue being shown on BBC around 1970, although unfortunately I had to miss the last section as being a schoolboy at the time I had to go to bed!

Man, if my son was interested by a silent, I would let him stay up any day of the year to watch it!

[radiotelefonia]

The confusion is because in non American countries movies took a very long time to be released. The reason for that was that European films were also released at the same time, causing delays on some ocassions.

Here are samples from Uruguay.

This was a 1929 release and NOT a reissue.



A 1928 release.



A 1930 release.



And for fun, another 1930 release.



But a film can be released late in one country, but more or less on time in a neighbor one.

This ad is from 1928.

[Dave Pitts]

OMG, London After Midnight playing in Uruguay? I'm flying to Montevideo (translation: video inside mountain) tomorrow. Somewhere in those mountains is a stack of film cans with L.A.M. just waiting to be rediscovered. And if it's not in a mountain, I'm going to investigate every filled-in swimming pool in the country. If Cleopatra, Red Hair, and Divine Woman are in there, I'm bringing them back, too. I'm open to requests. Uruguay, who knew.

[robertelee]

The Mircale Man 1919 would be my personal desire, but I will take anything with Chaney in it!

[radiotelefonia]

OMG, London After Midnight playing in Uruguay? I'm flying to Montevideo (translation: video inside mountain) tomorrow. Somewhere in those mountains is a stack of film cans with L.A.M. just waiting to be rediscovered. And if it's not in a mountain, I'm going to investigate every filled-in swimming pool in the country. If Cleopatra, Red Hair, and Divine Woman are in there, I'm bringing them back, too. I'm open to requests. Uruguay, who knew.

Mountains in Uruguay????????

[boblipton]

Well, the name of the capital is literally "I see a mountain".

Bob

[radiotelefonia]

Well, the name of the capital is literally "I see a mountain".

Bob

Monte does not refer to a mountain, but a natural elevation of a terrain of considerable height.

[daveoz00]

I don't know much about these sound reissues except that they must have existed because years later, in the 16mm film society market, those were the versions that Films Inc. and others distributed, because they had those existed sound tracks. Which meant until restorations in the 80s and beyond, they were also only seen in cut versions. Anyway, Greed was, I think, one of those titles; another is The Big Parade.

I'm holding out for the TCM restoration GREED Warner Archive release with the restored Edward Van Sloan prologue..."So if you feel you do not care to subject your bottom to such a running time, now's your chance to, eh...well, we've warned you..."

[earlytalkiebuffRob]

I remember THE BIG PARADE reissue being shown on BBC around 1970, although unfortunately I had to miss the last section as being a schoolboy at the time I had to go to bed!

Man, if my son was interested by a silent, I would let him stay up any day of the year to watch it!

I came across the film by accident and though fascinated did not want to be knackered in the morning as hadn't realised it was such a long movie. Hopefully reissues of both THE BIG PARADE and BEN-HUR will become available again, although both Bob Fells, Mike and the late Danny Burk confirmed the existence of 16mm prints when I enquired back in 2013 and 2016...

[wich2]

Hopefully reissues of both THE BIG PARADE and BEN-HUR will become available again, although both Bob Fells, Mike and the late Danny Burk confirmed the existence of 16mm prints when I enquired back in 2013 and 2016...

They were released on Laserdisc.

[radiotelefonia]

Here is a photo of the premiere of THE BIG PARADE, in 1927, in Brazil.



An ad featuring an illustration of the same theater.



And a caricature of John Gilbert.