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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 (21,475 Views)
moodyhound
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The Batman
Jun 18 2014, 10:35 AM
rodney
Jun 18 2014, 09:19 AM
The Cheezy Flix Monster and the Ape is probably a 6. It's a VHS transfer (which I heard was bought at a Western film convention in North Carolina, but I suspect Fred Shay's print is the source) that they cropped the blurry lines off of the bottom of the screen.

Extras include a trailer, but I didn't watch it so I don't know if it looks any good.

Thanks, Rodney. Would you say the Cheezy Flix version of MONSTER AND THE APE is the best available at this moment?



I have the Cheezy Flix version of Tht Monster and the Ape. I dont have anything to compare it to, but I like it well enough. Something I do like about Cheezy Flix, I ordered mine through Amazon, when I started watching it, it a very "unique" problem in the first disc. I called Cheezy Flix directly and told them of the "problem", they immediately apologized and sent me a new copy. Very well done of them. The way a business should be run. B)
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rodney
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The Batman
Jun 18 2014, 10:35 AM
rodney
Jun 18 2014, 09:19 AM
The Cheezy Flix Monster and the Ape is probably a 6. It's a VHS transfer (which I heard was bought at a Western film convention in North Carolina, but I suspect Fred Shay's print is the source) that they cropped the blurry lines off of the bottom of the screen.

Extras include a trailer, but I didn't watch it so I don't know if it looks any good.

Thanks, Rodney. Would you say the Cheezy Flix version of MONSTER AND THE APE is the best available at this moment?



It's difficult to say. It wouldn't take much for there to be a better copy. If anyone has a straight 16mm transfer, I'd rather have it, honestly.

I'd say it's the best, unless someone else can say otherwise.

One big plus, is that it's available on Amazon for $3 (along with a bunch of their other serials for $5-$6 a piece).
Edited by rodney, Jun 18 2014, 10:54 AM.
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The Batman
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Thanks Rodney (and Moody), I will put in the Cheezy Flicks version, as a 6, until someone can dig up a better copy.


Always be yourself! Unless you can be Batman...then always be Batman!
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rodney
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How about The Master Key? VCI or Serial Squadron?

And Prince Barin sold some really nice stuff, but I can't remember the name of his enterprise. He had a nice Scarlet Horseman from what I recall.
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The Batman
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rodney
Jun 18 2014, 11:19 AM


And Prince Barin sold some really nice stuff, but I can't remember the name of his enterprise. He had a nice Scarlet Horseman from what I recall.

Yes, he was offering several titles of decent quality, but unfortunately, he had retired and closed the business down, which was called Hermitage Hills Media, LLC.

The titles he had, included the following, which I've started to post, as they were some of the best quality for those titles, and could still be available on the third seller market:


CALL OF THE SAVAGE
CLANCY OF THE MOUNTED (only the first 6 chapters)
THE SCARLET HORSEMAN


There were at least two or three more, but I can't recall the titles offhand.




Always be yourself! Unless you can be Batman...then always be Batman!
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Don Diego
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Bats - try Trev for The Monster and the Ape his Columbias are as good as any other and often better I've got it and it is fine
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williejg
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Prince Barin's site was HERMITAGE HILL. The other titles he offered were:

THE RED RIDER
RED BARRY
DON WINSLOW OF THE NAVY
THE MYSTERIOUS MR. M
HEROES OF THE WEST

All of these titles were in very nice shape, 8-9 for all of them.

He also offered several other titles via email to friends and family. Do we want to list those here? I think we should, but will wait for approval.

Trev's DOWN UNDER DVD has a copy of THE SECRET OF TREASURE ISLAND that is the best print that I have seen. I rate it an 8. I would give it an 8.5, but it's an old worn print with a lot of wear on it. But the picture is still as sharp as a tack. Barin released the same title, but even though it was just as sharp, it showed a lot more wear and tear so I'd only rate it a 7.5

willie
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Don Diego
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The Batman
Jun 18 2014, 10:23 AM
rodney
Jun 18 2014, 04:54 AM

Why buy a DVD from Company A for $25 when you can take your Republic VHS tape and make your own DVD-R that'll be the same quality, except without the bonus features and cool packaging?

Alas, I have never owned any of the Republic VHS tapes, nor do I have the equipment to transfer a VHS to DVD. So, for me, that is my only route.


Bats to transfer the tapes you can get a DVD recorder with a memory from Best Buy and use it to record your tapes - I purchased the VHS tapes in Sherway and for a few I had to travel to Buffalo
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The Batman
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Don Diego
Jun 18 2014, 12:29 PM
Bats - try Trev for The Monster and the Ape his Columbias are as good as any other and often better I've got it and it is fine

Thanks, Don. I've been looking for a title to buy from Trev, that will do the trick.

Always be yourself! Unless you can be Batman...then always be Batman!
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The Batman
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williejg
Jun 18 2014, 12:32 PM

He also offered several other titles via email to friends and family. Do we want to list those here? I think we should, but will wait for approval.


Willie, I don't think we should list the "friends and family" serials, mainly because they aren't available to the general public, so there is no point in listing them. We are trying to make this the list of the best available DVD releases for each serial. But if enough people want us to list them, I will.


Thanks for the reminder about Barin's other serials, I will add those to the list, as third party copies may be out there.



Always be yourself! Unless you can be Batman...then always be Batman!
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The Batman
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Don Diego
Jun 18 2014, 12:42 PM
The Batman
Jun 18 2014, 10:23 AM
rodney
Jun 18 2014, 04:54 AM

Why buy a DVD from Company A for $25 when you can take your Republic VHS tape and make your own DVD-R that'll be the same quality, except without the bonus features and cool packaging?

Alas, I have never owned any of the Republic VHS tapes, nor do I have the equipment to transfer a VHS to DVD. So, for me, that is my only route.


Bats to transfer the tapes you can get a DVD recorder with a memory from Best Buy and use it to record your tapes - I purchased the VHS tapes in Sherway and for a few I had to travel to Buffalo

Thanks again, Don, but at this point I don't even own any VHS tapes anymore. The last few that I did have, that I wanted transferred to DVD, a friend did for me years ago.



Always be yourself! Unless you can be Batman...then always be Batman!
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moodyhound
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Don Diego
Jun 18 2014, 12:42 PM
The Batman
Jun 18 2014, 10:23 AM
rodney
Jun 18 2014, 04:54 AM

Why buy a DVD from Company A for $25 when you can take your Republic VHS tape and make your own DVD-R that'll be the same quality, except without the bonus features and cool packaging?

Alas, I have never owned any of the Republic VHS tapes, nor do I have the equipment to transfer a VHS to DVD. So, for me, that is my only route.


Bats to transfer the tapes you can get a DVD recorder with a memory from Best Buy and use it to record your tapes - I purchased the VHS tapes in Sherway and for a few I had to travel to Buffalo
I have often wondered about transferring vhs to dvd. I know nothing about nor what equipment is needed. When you do transfer a serial, how do you fix up a chapter menu? Would that require other equipment besides a DVD recorder. Bats?
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Laughing Gravy
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I find some of these ratings to be all over the place.

I'd rank a 5 or less as unwatchable, a 6 as below average, a 7 as average, an 8 as good, a 9 as terrific, and a 10 as high definition. I wouldn't compare two Lone Rangers and say one is an 8 'cause it's way better than one that's a 6, if they're both actually poor.

I am going to recheck my Monster & Ape, 'cause I'd rank it as a 7 or worse from my memory, but I could be faulty. It's also tough to judge serials on my HD big screen; what might be a 6 or 7 there might be an 8 on a smaller screen, for example.

Life is full of tough cherces, eh?

The bonus material is sometimes a gem. Jungle Girl comes with over an hour of serial trailers, which I've watched with far more enjoyment than the serial itself. And of course, if you're lucky, that handsome Cliff Weimer fellow contributes shit, too.

"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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Don Diego
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moodyhound
Jun 18 2014, 01:03 PM
Don Diego
Jun 18 2014, 12:42 PM
The Batman
Jun 18 2014, 10:23 AM
rodney
Jun 18 2014, 04:54 AM

Why buy a DVD from Company A for $25 when you can take your Republic VHS tape and make your own DVD-R that'll be the same quality, except without the bonus features and cool packaging?

Alas, I have never owned any of the Republic VHS tapes, nor do I have the equipment to transfer a VHS to DVD. So, for me, that is my only route.


Bats to transfer the tapes you can get a DVD recorder with a memory from Best Buy and use it to record your tapes - I purchased the VHS tapes in Sherway and for a few I had to travel to Buffalo
I have often wondered about transferring vhs to dvd. I know nothing about nor what equipment is needed. When you do transfer a serial, how do you fix up a chapter menu? Would that require other equipment besides a DVD recorder. Bats?
You need a DVD recorder with a memory - you play the tape and record it to memory - then you divide the file into chapters - the burn the DVD. The recorder is like a PVR but when it turns out to be a great film you can burn yourself a DVD - that helped me get some great stuff off TCM for repeated viewing not blu ray quality but quite viewable
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JazzGuyy
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Don Diego
Jun 18 2014, 12:42 PM
The Batman
Jun 18 2014, 10:23 AM
rodney
Jun 18 2014, 04:54 AM

Why buy a DVD from Company A for $25 when you can take your Republic VHS tape and make your own DVD-R that'll be the same quality, except without the bonus features and cool packaging?

Alas, I have never owned any of the Republic VHS tapes, nor do I have the equipment to transfer a VHS to DVD. So, for me, that is my only route.


Bats to transfer the tapes you can get a DVD recorder with a memory from Best Buy and use it to record your tapes - I purchased the VHS tapes in Sherway and for a few I had to travel to Buffalo
There's a good chance your computer may already have a DVD recorder built-in or you can buy a USB one for under $50. There is free software available for editing and actual recording and transfer to a DVD format. The only other thing you may need is a simple file converter gadget that is hooked up between the video tape player and your computer. Here is an example: http://www.amazon.com/Diamond-VC500-Touch-Capture-Device/dp/B000VM60I8/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1403128817&sr=8-2&keywords=usb+video+capture+devices
TANSTAAFL!
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