Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]
Welcome to In The Balcony. We hope you enjoy your visit.

You're currently viewing our forum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use. If you join our community, you'll be able to access member-only sections, and use many member-only features such as customizing your profile, sending personal messages, and voting in polls. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free. Plus, you'll be eligible for the monthly $1 million prize. (Not really.)

Join our community!

If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features:

Username:   Password:
Add Reply
Fu Mangrood!
Topic Started: Mar 13 2010, 05:46 PM (22,166 Views)
Pa Stark
Charter Member
[ *  *  * ]
Laughing Gravy
Oct 7 2017, 10:06 AM
T38, Shadows is one of my favorite serials: No, really!
Let us get this straight, SHADOW OF CHINATOWN is one of your favorite serials but you have said that KING OF THE ROYAL MOUNTED is a lousy serial. OK, that is interesting. ^o)
Honest and Lovable Pa Stark
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Laughing Gravy
Member Avatar
Look for In The Balcony on Facebook!
[ *  *  * ]
Pa Stark
Oct 9 2017, 01:57 PM
Let us get this straight, SHADOW OF CHINATOWN is one of your favorite serials but you have said that KING OF THE ROYAL MOUNTED is a lousy serial. OK, that is interesting. ^o)
I don't recall ever saying it's lousy, although possibly: I've said a lot of things over the past 12 years discussing serials. My memory of it is that it was routine: no memorable hero, no memorable villain, and although the stunts and cliffhangers were up to par for Republics of the era, you can see those stunts and cliffhangers (or very similar ones) in chapterplays that had more interesting heroes and villains.

I liked the sequel much better.

Chinatown I liked because it's goofy as hell. Serials like this and, oh, The Galloping Ghost or Pirate's Treasure are gems because they're so different from other serials.

"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
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Pa Stark
Charter Member
[ *  *  * ]
Laughing Gravy
Oct 9 2017, 05:06 PM
Pa Stark
Oct 9 2017, 01:57 PM
Let us get this straight, SHADOW OF CHINATOWN is one of your favorite serials but you have said that KING OF THE ROYAL MOUNTED is a lousy serial. OK, that is interesting. ^o)
I don't recall ever saying it's lousy, although possibly: I've said a lot of things over the past 12 years discussing serials. My memory of it is that it was routine: no memorable hero, no memorable villain, and although the stunts and cliffhangers were up to par for Republics of the era, you can see those stunts and cliffhangers (or very similar ones) in chapterplays that had more interesting heroes and villains.

I liked the sequel much better.



I do remember you posting that several years ago. Not a memorable hero? Allan Lane was a very strong hero. Maybe Robert Strange wasn't the most powerful villain, but Harry Cording sure was.
The sequel was faster paced, slicker, had better fights, and had interesting gimmicks, like the Falcon plane, and the volcano hideout, but the direction and production values in the first serial were among Republic's greatest.
Honest and Lovable Pa Stark
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
turan38
Balcony Gang, Foist Class
[ *  *  * ]
I've so far watched the first 9 chapters of Shadow of Chinatown. It's actually not bad, moderately entertaining, and more interesting than many other serials that I've seen. Most of the cliffhangers have been very modest, as might be expected from a poverty row product. Lugosi is Lugosi, Herman Brix (Bruce Bennett) has an easy presence, and many of the supporting players are professional. Luana Walters, as Lugosi's minion, is somewhat stiff. Joan Barclay, as the spunky reporter who is Brix's romantic interest, is terrible. Her acting style might charitably be described as "high school declamatory." She started in silents, and apparently never took acting lessons or had any stage experience, and probably got her start because of her looks and pantomime skill. The Sinister Cinema DVD set is (according to them) sourced from the only known 16mm print, but the quality is relatively good.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
The Batman
Member Avatar
Charter Member
[ *  *  * ]
turan38
Oct 16 2017, 09:15 AM

The Sinister Cinema DVD set is (according to them) sourced from the only known 16mm print, but the quality is relatively good.


If this is true (and I have no reason to doubt them) then I wonder if Alpha uses the same print for their DVD release?

I only ask because the Alpha version is only $15 (for a two-disc set) on Amazon North, while the Sinister Cinema version would set me back $40, plus shipping (it's from a 3rd party seller).

Does anyone have the Alpha version that can speak to its audio/visual qualities?

I see Alpha also offers the feature version, I like checking those out, any good?


Always be yourself! Unless you can be Batman...then always be Batman!
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
riddlerider
Member Avatar
Balcony Gang, Foist Class
[ *  *  * ]
The Batman
Oct 16 2017, 10:10 AM
Does anyone have the Alpha version that can speak to its audio/visual qualities?

I see Alpha also offers the feature version, I like checking those out, any good?



I haven't seen Alpha's Shadow of Chinatown, but I believe it's simply a dub of Sinister's. Alpha has a long history of copying Sinister releases, even "bumping up" the latter's VHS versions to DVD. You can't really call it pirating since the films involved are mostly in the public domain. But Alpha's copying is the sole reason Sinister's Greg Luce started watermarking his releases.

I'm perplexed by the sudden avalanche of Drums dissing. The second half is clearly padded and the serial would have played much better in 12 chapters, but otherwise it's so clearly superior to most other Republics that I don't see how anyone can make a persuasive argument to the contrary. Whoever chided it for car chases and fistfights that go on too long must have seen a different version than the one I'm familiar with. And by the way, there are lengthy "exterior" sequences in many of Rohmer's novels, especially Daughter of Fu Manchu and Mask of Fu Manchu, from which Republic's serial borrows extensively.

As for wondering how Eric can justify selling copyrighted serials...well, I think his behavior by now has certainly validated the pronouncements of those who long ago decided that he's somewhat deranged. Therefore there can't be any logical justification that would hold up to scrutiny. There's really nothing he can say other than, "Because I want to, that's why."

Nearly forgot to mention the feature version of Shadow of Chinatown. A commercial archive in New York some years ago obtained a 35mm nitrate print of the feature and transferred it. Since one of the partners in that archive sold transfers to Alpha, it's distinctly possible that the Shadow of Chinatown DVD utilizes his master.
Edited by riddlerider, Oct 16 2017, 11:57 AM.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
The Batman
Member Avatar
Charter Member
[ *  *  * ]

Thanks, RR. I realize Alpha copies many of its releases from others, but for a 65% price difference for the exact same serial, I have to go Alpha.

Plus, the Sinister Cinema version is from a 3rd party seller, so it's not like Sinister is losing my sale.

Sounds like the feature version should look quite snazzy, looking forward to checking it out.

Always be yourself! Unless you can be Batman...then always be Batman!
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
turan38
Balcony Gang, Foist Class
[ *  *  * ]
The Batman
Oct 16 2017, 10:10 AM
turan38
Oct 16 2017, 09:15 AM

The Sinister Cinema DVD set is (according to them) sourced from the only known 16mm print, but the quality is relatively good.


If this is true (and I have no reason to doubt them) then I wonder if Alpha uses the same print for their DVD release?

I only ask because the Alpha version is only $15 (for a two-disc set) on Amazon North, while the Sinister Cinema version would set me back $40, plus shipping (it's from a 3rd party seller).

Does anyone have the Alpha version that can speak to its audio/visual qualities?

I see Alpha also offers the feature version, I like checking those out, any good?


Bats, I'm a bit confused. The Sinister serial is $16.95 U.S., and on two discs. Don't they sell/ship to Canada?
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Pa Stark
Charter Member
[ *  *  * ]
riddlerider
Oct 16 2017, 11:52 AM


I'm perplexed by the sudden avalanche of Drums dissing. The second half is clearly padded and the serial would have played much better in 12 chapters, but otherwise it's so clearly superior to most other Republics that I don't see how anyone can make a persuasive argument to the contrary. Whoever chided it for car chases and fistfights that go on too long must have seen a different version than the one I'm familiar with. And by the way, there are lengthy "exterior" sequences in many of Rohmer's novels, especially Daughter of Fu Manchu and Mask of Fu Manchu, from which Republic's serial borrows extensively.

As for wondering how Eric can justify selling copyrighted serials...well, I think his behavior by now has certainly validated the pronouncements of those who long ago decided that he's somewhat deranged. Therefore there can't be any logical justification that would hold up to scrutiny. There's really nothing he can say other than, "Because I want to, that's why."

Riddle Rider, I totally agree with you on DRUMS OF FU MANCHU. No other sound serial equals it for direction, mood, music, and production values. I don't agree that it would have been better as 12 chapters, I only wish that the first part of the serial would have lasted a couple of chapters longer. I'm surprised that I have never seen any one else point out that Henry Brandon had such a strong presence, that the focal point of several cliffhangers was Brandon. I have never seen as many extreme closeups of an actor in any serial as here.

As for Grood, I have been friends with him on and off for 15 years, and I don't ever try to figure him out.
Edited by Pa Stark, Oct 16 2017, 07:45 PM.
Honest and Lovable Pa Stark
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
The Batman
Member Avatar
Charter Member
[ *  *  * ]
turan38
Oct 16 2017, 06:32 PM

Bats, I'm a bit confused. The Sinister serial is $16.95 U.S., and on two discs. Don't they sell/ship to Canada?


Thanks, Turan.

First off, I was referring to Amazon.ca (the Canadian version) when I quoted my pricing.

Amazon U.S. does ship to Canada, but it's $6.98 per item, no free shipping, no matter how much you order.

That, plus exchange, make it a $30+ item, and that doesn't factor in possible Customs Charges.

So, the Alpha version is still my best bargain (and it is also on two discs, making it more likely that it is the same version as Sinister).



Always be yourself! Unless you can be Batman...then always be Batman!
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
ZetaBoards - Free Forum Hosting
Create your own social network with a free forum.
Learn More · Register for Free
« Previous Topic · Continued Next Week · Next Topic »
Add Reply