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Watching Any Good Serials?
Topic Started: Apr 12 2006, 09:28 AM (88,421 Views)
riddlerider
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I recently finished RED BARRY. It's been a decade or more since I last saw this one, which is sloppily scripted and loaded with lapses in logic and editorial mistakes -- but I love it anyway.

Right now I'm four chapters into UNDERSEA KINGDOM, which I'm seeing for the first time in 20 years or more. I know a lot more about how these things were made than I did when last I saw KINGDOM, and now I can more fully appreciate the effort that went into this serial. Its production values are quite impressive for a picture of this budgetary class. Nat Levine got plenty of bang for his buck on this baby.

I'm also struck by how ingeniously Republic's screenwriters copied FLASH GORDON. KINGDOM's basic plot structure and character types are markedly similar to those of the earlier serial. In fact, since this is the first film in which Ray was billed as Corrigan instead of Benard (his real name), I'm convinced that the scripters came up with "Crash Corrigan" just to have a name that sounded like "Flash Gordon."
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Frank Hale
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I always wondered if there was a 'Wrong-Way Corrigan" connection?
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rodney
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The Batman
Jun 28 2006, 10:50 PM
Over the past couple of weeks I have received practically all of AC Comics’ serial output, so I think I will go with one of them next. Probably SPY SMASHER, as I still have not seen that one.

Oh, you're in for a real treat! That's one of my all-time favorites! Just a super great serial.

I've not seen the AC Comics print (mine is very good), but I hear it's excellent. I wonder what their source material is for their serials.
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The Batman
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I am looking forward to SPY SMASHER, Rodney, I have heard the same praise from many others.

I don't know much about source material for DVDs, but the picture and sound for AC's version of MANHUNT OF MYSTERY ISLAND was excellent, which I forgot I had watched when I brought their serials up earlier.
Always be yourself! Unless you can be Batman...then always be Batman!
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John Doe
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I've read elsewhere that the source material for AC comics serials is just the old Republic Home Video vhs tapes. If that's true, ir seems rediculous to charge that much for them.

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The Batman
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John Doe
Jun 29 2006, 01:17 AM
I've read elsewhere that the source material for AC comics serials is just the old Republic Home Video vhs tapes. If that's true, ir seems rediculous to charge that much for them.

If this is true, JD, I don't have a problem with it. I don't have any of the Republic VHS versions, and to be honest, at this point I don't want them. VHS has gone the way of the Dodo bird, and tapes just don't last. So if I can get that quality on a DVD (that's labeled) and a DVD case (with a nice insert) for $25, that's good enough for me. I am sure those out there that can copy DVDs willy-nilly are not too happy about it, because they can make themselves copies cheaper than that. But I can't be bothered with all that; it is easier just to buy it from someone else. And quality is the top priority for me.
Always be yourself! Unless you can be Batman...then always be Batman!
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SuperRog
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They have used laserdiscs as source for at least some of their serial DVDs. I can't vouch for all of them, however.
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riddlerider
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The Batman
Jun 29 2006, 02:38 PM
I don't have any of the Republic VHS versions, and to be honest, at this point I don't want them.  VHS has gone the way of the Dodo bird, and tapes just don't last.  <snip>  And quality is the top priority for me.

Batman, it turns out that VHS tapes are a lot more stable than DVDs -- especially DVD-Rs, some of which have been known to begin breaking down after a mere half-dozen plays.

And if quality is indeed your top priority, you'd be just as well off with Republic's VHS versions, especially if you could find copies that hadn't been played often. VHS analog transfers "bumped up" to a digital medium aren't that good, believe me. I haven't seen any of the AC discs, but I've heard that they don't look any better (and in some cases are worse) than the source materials from which they were copied.

Of course, they're a lot easier to get than unopened VHS tapes or laserdiscs (or laserdisc players which still work, for that matter). So you might as well enjoy SPY SMASHER and the others to whatever extent their quality will allow. But don't underestimate the reliability of good tapes: I have VHS cassettes that are now more than 25 years old, and they still play just fine. (Of course, getting optimum performance out of tapes depends to a great extent on proper storage and regularly cleaning the player heads.)

Software companies always exaggerate the quality, longevity, and indestructability of their products. In 1981, when laserdiscs were first beginning to appear, I had on my weekly New York TV show a guest who worked for one of the top consumer-electronics magazines. He fulsomely praised laserdisc and brandished one during his segment. At one point he said, "...and, of course, they're also unbreakable." For emphasis, he tapped the disc on his knee...and it broke neatly in half. I laughed so hard I could barely keep the show going. Moral: don't believe all the hype about this stuff.
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rodney
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I agree that some of the hoopla about VHS not lasting is bunk (my collection of radio shows is still largely on cassette, and will remain that way for various reasons), but if you're using a name brand DVD-R (my customers prefer Verbatim, so that's what they usually get), you're not going to hear of examples of them breaking down. At this point, most agree that a DVD-R that is properly cared for (not left in high heat areas is the biggee here) will last at least 25 years.
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The Batman
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Riddle Rider & Rodney, I thank you both for your input on this subject.

I will admit I am a complete rookie when it comes to transfers, film quality, analog this and digital that. And I guess I have fallen for some of the hype, thanks for that anecdote from your TV show, RR, it was a riot.

I have nothing against VHS, and I would have loved to have the whole Republic collection on tape at one time. But I am one of the ones that have decided to go DVD all the way, so it rules out future VHS purchases.

RR, I especially appreciate your input on AC's quality. I have only watched MANHUNT OF MYSTERY ISLAND so far, and the quality was superb. I just assumed that the rest would be comparable, and you know what assuming gets ya...

Hopefully the rest of their serials will be of the same, or close to it, in quality.

Always be yourself! Unless you can be Batman...then always be Batman!
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rodney
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While I find DVD a much nicer format in terms of general quality, space saved and over all convenience, there is a reason why the Library of Congress still uses tape for their archives. Microfilm is expected to last for over 500 years, and it has the same basic make up as video and audio tape. Just something to think about.....
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Paul
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rodney
Jun 30 2006, 06:55 PM
While I find DVD a much nicer format in terms of general quality, space saved and over all convenience, there is a reason why the Library of Congress still uses tape for their archives. Microfilm is expected to last for over 500 years, and it has the same basic make up as video and audio tape. Just something to think about.....

Well, maybe the carrier base is similar, but the media in which the information is stored is different: for microfilm, a photographic emulsion consisting of metallic silver compounds suspended in an organic gelatin substance. For tape, it's a metallic oxide coated on the base. It's certainly true that photographic film, properly stored, can last over 100 years. It can also deteriorate, both the base, particularly with the old nitrate stock, and also the emulsion itself rotting away or dissolving. Magnetic recordings have been around for about 60 years, and many of that age have survived. The problem there is with the oxide flaking off or wearing down, plus the gradualy buildup of stray magnetic impulses which can add noise and mask or even erase the recording.

On the other hand, both have proven lifespans; for the newer media, we have only projections (read: guesses).

Anyway, a standard (or even hi-def) DVD isn't an archival item; the original films have much higher resolution than either. A good question is how the full-resolution digital scans of films that they're beginning to do now will be stored and preserved. Note that they always output the digital scans back to film in addition to retaining the files themselves. I wonder which will survive in a playable form the longest?
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The Batman
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Paul and Rodney, I want to say thanks for contributing these posts, this is good learning.
Always be yourself! Unless you can be Batman...then always be Batman!
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Laughing Gravy
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Ah-hah. The ol' "photographic emulsion consisting of metallic silver compounds suspended in an organic gelatin substance" routine...

Seriously, isn't this fascinating? The stuff ya learn 'round this jernt if you just keep yer ears open...
"I'm glad that this question came up, because there are so many ways to answer it that one of them is bound to be right." - Robert Benchley
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George Kaplan
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riddlerider
Jun 29 2006, 09:03 PM
And if quality is indeed your top priority, you'd be just as well off with Republic's VHS versions, especially if you could find copies that hadn't been played often.  VHS analog transfers "bumped up" to a digital medium aren't that good, believe me.  I haven't seen any of the AC discs, but I've heard that they don't look any better (and in some cases are worse) than the source materials from which they were copied.

But don't underestimate the reliability of good tapes: I have VHS cassettes that are now more than 25 years old, and they still play just fine.

I wish I knew more about this stuff. You guys amaze me. Riddlerider makes a good point about VHS tapes, though. I still watch my Republic Pictures Home Video tapes of The Fighting Devil Dogs, Daredevils of the Red Circle, and Spy Smasher--the quality is very good on all of them.

I can't comment on the AC discs because I don't own any, but I do hope to replace all of my tapes eventually. For me, the convenience of DVDs, with chapter indexing, etc., is unbeatable; it's the question of transfer quality that makes me gnash my teeth in fear before every disc purchase.

So keep those reviews and comments coming!
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