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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 (21,460 Views)
The Batman
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Thanks guys. I agree with both of you. Like I've done with a couple of other entries, I will continue to list Trev's copy, where applicable, along with the next-best release, offering choices to viewers.


Always be yourself! Unless you can be Batman...then always be Batman!
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panzer the great & terrible
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I'm with Barcroft. The guy deserves credit, and his stuff may turn up on the resale market.
Life is just a bowl of cherries, it's too mysterious, don't take it serious...
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Barcroft
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Bats,
I have 2 versions of Ghost of Zorro, one from Richard Orsak and the other from the late dealer Frank Langley. Of the 2 versions I'd rate quality wise the Langley version the better of the 2 but each is missing some film. Langley has the complete chapter 9 while Orsak's is missing roughly 35 to 40 seconds right at the start of the chapter, but he has the complete chapter 12. Langley's chapter 12 is missing roughly 25 seconds. Serial wise I rate the serial a solid 6.5. I'd rate it higher if the chapter endings were a little better. There is lots of stock footage from Daredevils of the West which they are able to blend into the story but too many chapter endings have Clayton Moore diving or rolling out of the way in the chapter resolutions.
Barcroft
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Laughing Gravy
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Several years ago, the cliffhanger serials group voted their members and ranked all sound serials (not for disc quality, as we are, for serial quality) and while cleaning yesterday I found the list, which I'd printed out, apparently.

For those of you (if any) who'd like to try a serial, here are the top vote getters:

1. Adventures of Captain Marvel
2. Flash Gordon
3. Spy Smasher
4. Zorro's Fighting Legion
5. Perils of Nyoka
6. Dick Tracy vs. Crime, Inc.
7. Daredevils of the Red Circle
8. Drums of Fu Manchu
9. The Spider's Web
10. Gang Busters

I was surprised Gang Busters was so high, but we're sure enjoying it. Seeing how high Nyoka ranked, I'm thinkin' I should schedule that for 2015...

"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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williejg
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Bats~ I agree with Don Diego and Barcroft too. Leaving Trev's listings up is fine. Even adding other of his titles is fine too, as they may turn up again via different sources. And I also agree that having multiple choices is fine, as long as they're close in rating as the best available.

willie
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williejg
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I've decided to change my grading system. Like I had said, I'm more used to using the Fair to Excellent system, so the 1-10 system is a bit different for me.

Here's my original 1-10 system:

5 or less = unwatchable
6 = Fair-watchable but you'll get a headache or double vision
7 = Good-watchable but still tough on the eyes
7.5 = G-VG-watchable but just shy of a sharp picture
8 = VG- A clear fairly sharp picture but still some flaws
8.5 = VG-E-A clear very sharp picture but still not perfect
9 = E - A very clear very sharp picture without any flaws
10 = High Definition

And here's what I'm changing it to:

1-5=Fair or less. Mostly unwatchable
6=Good
7=VG
8=VG-E
9=E
10=High Definition

I hope that's closer to everyone else's use of the 1-10 system, and easier to understand. Especially Mr. Hale. LOL!!

I don't know why Gravy listed 10 as Hi Def because I doubt we'll ever see a serial in that condition. But I've followed suit with his example.

willie
Edited by williejg, Aug 2 2014, 10:00 AM.
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williejg
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I just got Grapevine's CUSTER'S LAST STAND. It's a habit of mine to check every disc I get thoroughly before I actually watch it. I check intros and endings and a few minutes of each chapter on serials. So I did that check, but haven't actually watched the entire serial yet. But I have to disagree with Creepy Girl's rating of 7. I give it an 8. It's a beautifully sharp print, and the only thing stopping it from being a 9 is the black rain as Creepy Girl puts it. Just wear marks in the print, but they don't take away from the sharpness.

willie
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williejg
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I just finished watching 2 serials from Richard Orsak. THE IRON CLAW and CODY OF THE PONY EXPRESS. I rate both of these a 7.

willie
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Barcroft
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Williejg,
Richard Orsak sold very nice prints of serials and b-westerns. I bought quite a few over the years and was never disappointed. He would even say before you ordered anything whether it was very good or so so. When I ordered the Ghost of Zorro he told me he wished he had a better print but from what I had to what I bought from him it was the difference between day and night. And until I picked up the same serial from Frank Langley, Orsak's copy was the best available.
Barcroft
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Creepygirl
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williejg
Aug 2 2014, 10:12 AM
I just got Grapevine's CUSTER'S LAST STAND. It's a habit of mine to check every disc I get thoroughly before I actually watch it. I check intros and endings and a few minutes of each chapter on serials. So I did that check, but haven't actually watched the entire serial yet. But I have to disagree with Creepy Girl's rating of 7. I give it an 8. It's a beautifully sharp print, and the only thing stopping it from being a 9 is the black rain as Creepy Girl puts it. Just wear marks in the print, but they don't take away from the sharpness.

willie
Thanks Willie.

I may have rated CUSTER a 7 but do agree it could be an 8. I guess I was being conservative.

That black rain remark was just a way of saying tiny thin black scratches. It's as though one has to look just beyond the light rain to see the movie underneath.

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williejg
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Hi Creepy Girl. I'm glad you didn't take offense at my post, and upping the grading to an 8. Glad you agree.

About the "BLACK RAIN". I know that it's just wear marks on the back side of the film. I thought it was such a perfect term to describe it the first time you used it, that I adopted it and use it all the time now. Thanks very much!

willie
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Pa Stark
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I have heard that Alpha's MYSTERY MOUNTAIN was supposed to be very good, so I bought it, and would give it only about a 6.5.
Honest and Lovable Pa Stark
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Barcroft
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Pa,
Grapevine Video's version is superior to Alpha's release as I have both. Quality wise I'd rate there version and easy 8 to 9. Plus it's on 2 dvd-r's instead of 1 like the Alpha's version.
Barcroft

Bats,
I guess you can use the info for your list.
Barcroft
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Pa Stark
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Sinister Cinema's WOLF DOG is very choppy, so I give it a 5. Unfortunately, I know of no better print floating around.
Honest and Lovable Pa Stark
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Barcroft
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Bats,
Junior G-Men of the Air

VCI - 1 DVD Serials Inc. rather than the Universal logo - Quality wise 8.5 out of 10

Extras:
Junior G-Men of the Air Trailer

Photo Gallery

Bonus Cartoon
Daffy Duck The Commando

Barcroft

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