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Rating the DVD Releases of Sound Serials; Best picture and sound quality available on DVD
Topic Started: Jun 16 2014, 07:30 AM (21,465 Views)
The Batman
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rodney
Jun 24 2014, 04:09 AM

My copy of Jesse James Rides Again is a two disc laserdisc transfer that I picked up at a nostalgia convention about 10 years ago. It looks just fine. I think it came from Satellite Media Productions?

I'd rank it an easy 8.

Thanks, Rodney, since I can't seem to find that one online, I'm assuming it's OOP and too difficult to find to be of use for the list. Appreciate the info, though, sounds like a good copy.




Always be yourself! Unless you can be Batman...then always be Batman!
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The Batman
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LaneCarson
Jun 24 2014, 05:04 AM
Is the purpose of this thread, to rank DVD or Laserdisc releases?
Trev

Trev,

For simplicity, and because it's the most popular format for serials at this time, I am restricting this list to the DVD versions out there. This means no VHS, laserdisc and/or Blu-Ray versions need apply.

However, DVD releases that use one of the above as their source are, of course, eligible. The final product must be available on DVD.

Hope that helps.



Always be yourself! Unless you can be Batman...then always be Batman!
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The Batman
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LaneCarson
Jun 24 2014, 05:38 AM

To my knowledge The Batman hasn't rated the serial as yet
At this stage, he's requesting input - which I am attempting to provide - being careful to not offer an opinion of the relative merits of Cheezy Flicks release
Am I correct in this determination, Bats?
Trev

Correct on all accounts, Trev. I haven't rated the serial yet, because I haven't confirmed the Cheezy Flicks errors yet, and/or someone hasn't presented a better alternative for listing.

And, yes, we need input, input, input here. Any and all are welcome, on any and all DVD serial release. Let's make this list the best it can be.


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The Batman
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Barcroft
Jun 24 2014, 07:03 AM
Bats,
Something you might want to add about "Burn Em Up Barnes" is that Alpha Video has the best copy of this serial presently available. A really nice print.............
Barcroft

Bart,

One of the first ones I listed, my good man. One of my favourite Mascots and one of the better serial releases from Alpha. Appreciate the post.


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The Batman
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williejg
Jun 24 2014, 09:32 AM
Hey Bats~ You've suggested a lot of titles for us to consider, but you're not offering your own grading on any of them. Just because you're recording all this info doesn't mean that you're free of your duty to put your grading in too.

willie

Willie, I don't trust my rating ability when it comes to DVD quality, nor my memory. I'll try to add my ratings where I fairly remember the quality of the release, but since I never think to make notes on that when I am watching the serial, my memory ends up making the quality of the DVD release comparable to my enjoyment of the serial itself.


Plus, don't I have enough to do here? Sheesh. ;)







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The Batman
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Barcroft
Jun 24 2014, 10:35 AM
Bats,
Deadwood Dick is probably imho the best Columbia Western Serial and it's only available thru the Grey Markets. The copy I have is almost pristine and I can't remember if I got from Richard Orsak or Fred Shay. It's a DVD-r on 3 Discs and I'd rate this one a solid 8.5 out of 10.
Barcroft

Thanks, Bart, I'll hold off adding it until we can confirm who is the best source for DEADWOOD DICK, but good to know a great copy is out there.



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Laughing Gravy
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Well, since "sharp as a tack" refers to how quick-witted someone is and has no relation to how clear a digital image is, I'll stop pointing the argument, or vicey-versey.

I have Jesse James Rides Again; I see I'm going to have to stick it in myself. (That's what SHE said! HAW!!!!)
"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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Laughing Gravy
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Well, well, well. Here's my verdict.

Jesse James Rides Again (Cheezy Flicks, 2 DVD-Rs): 6. Extras: Movie intermission ads. Note: there's a flaw in Disc 2, you can't see the chapter titles unless you press "down arrow" on your remote, then they appear. If you do that and then click on 'em, you can go right to the chapter you want. Chapter 12 has an additional flaw, at one point the laserdisc this was ported from skips backwards a few seconds and you get to watch the same guy climb out of the same barrel twice. It wasn't that good the first time.

Aside: If Trev says the episodes lack a Republic title card, I have no cause to doubt him.



"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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LaneCarson
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Finally .... vindication
And from The Man himself: Laughing Gravy
Take a bow, Gravy!

Funny, I wasnt taken at my word ... corroboration from another Balconeer was required

Confirmation of the self same problems (and in greater detail, than I provided) on another Message Board (from Michael at Cliffhangers) was not accepted - despite the fact that quite a few members here also regulsrly post to Cliffhangers and would have read Michael's submissions (where were you when I needed you, Pa Stark, Bart, etc?)

Perhaps there is a pecking order within Balconeers ...

"Further-Ups" had stated:
"I thought it was determined that other purchasers here didn't have the same problems that you had?"

And:
" If we can get a couple of more people to vouch for their existence, I will definitely note them"


Maybe I'm on the bottom rung (despite the fact that Gravy & I go way back - before the establishment of In The Balcony), that I was one of the earliest to sign up to the Balcony, and that I've financially supported the Balcony when Gravy sort donations last years (US$100)
(I notice Gravy is again seeking donations at the top of this month's Home Page - time to chip in, lads!)

Perhaps there are others on the bottom rung with me?

Since there appears to be some time between Gravy and my own purchase of Cheezy Flicks' print, one may probably conclude that they have not issued a product recall or replacement

There is obviously another Cheezy Flicks version of Disc 2 out there but it still has considerable "issues"
In respect to that matter , I offer Steve Colt's post to the Cheezy Flicks Jesse James Rides Again thread - yep, Steve Colt is a Balconeer - maybe even up near the top rung - but then again, maybe his words shouldn't be trusted either:
"My copy doesn't have the chapter 12 issue that was mentioned. It does have the disk 2 menu issue. The menu is there if you push the menu button, but all the chapter titles are invisible except for the one you have highlighted, and then it starts playing chapter 7 unless you choose a chapter quickly. Weird but usable once you know the rules.
Overall it's an okay product. Maybe this serial deserves better, but you can't argue with the price"


In no way have I criticized or commented adversely on Cheezy Flicks Jesse James Rides Again
I simply provided information about a commercial product (on a pressed DVD not a DVD-R)
In Australia its called "giving a 'head's up'" - and such things must never include an opinion ...

I did not initiate the corresponging thread at Cliffhangers nor did i contribute to it at any time.

Trev (from the bottom rung - then again, maybe its not Trev at all - LOL)

Edited by LaneCarson, Jun 24 2014, 09:11 PM.
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rodney
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On what planet am I considered a "further-up"? Until recently, I haven't posted here in at least a year, probably more.

My thought was that you had a problem that was corrected in other pressings of the title. But, no, you couldn't see that. Naturally it had to be a personal slight against you. After all, what else could it be?

This is silly.

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Laughing Gravy
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What fresh hell is THIS?!?!?

Finally .... vindication
And from The Man himself: Laughing Gravy
Take a bow, Gravy!


I vindicate no one. And I'm more likely to take a bow-wow. I just gave my opinion of my own copy, perhaps it has been fixed in additional pressings, who can say?

That link for donations has been there all along. Since Web.com purchased my web server, things disappear off the site all the time, it is just closer to the top than it used to be because stuff vanished. Not my fault. I'm not happy about it. Would like to go to a better company.


"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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panzer the great & terrible
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Don't let the grumpy ones annoy you, trev. There are no higher ups, just people who put on airs.
Life is just a bowl of cherries, it's too mysterious, don't take it serious...
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panzer the great & terrible
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Poo on them.
Edited by panzer the great & terrible, Jun 25 2014, 05:52 AM.
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The Batman
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rodney
Jun 25 2014, 04:44 AM

My thought was that you had a problem that was corrected in other pressings of the title. But, no, you couldn't see that. Naturally it had to be a personal slight against you. After all, what else could it be?



That was my thinking, too, Rodney. Like I mentioned earlier, I have the first pressing of Cheesy Flick's JJRA and don't recall any of these problems. Not because I wanted to elevate this release over anyone of the other releases, I just don't honestly remember them occurring.

I will take a look at my copy, tonight.


Now, can we please get back to what this thread is about? We have a good thing going, I don't want to lose the momentum.


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Barcroft
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Bats,
I have Grapevine's 2 DVD-r version of The Adventures of Smilin'. An all new transfer with Dolby Digital sound. Another one of my favorite Universal's and the print is pretty nice and I'd rate this one 6.5 out of 10. No other extras are found on the discs.
Barcroft
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