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| Serial Squadron DVDs worth buying? | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Sep 30 2014, 12:09 AM (1,762 Views) | |
| aksumner | Sep 30 2014, 12:09 AM Post #1 |
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Balcony Baby
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I was catching up on some previous topics and, while reading the Rocket Ship thread, read the following quote from Gravy (which looks like it's a couple of years old now): "Grood is capable of some of the best work (and the best taste) of anybody out there... his Gang Busters, Tailspin Tommy in the Great Air Mystery, and some others are absolutely marvelous and "must owns" for serial fans as far as I'm concerned." I know that Grood is a controversial figure in these here parts - but this made me want to ask the question: what's Gravy's complete list of Serial Squadron must-own DVDs? I'm talking about the stuff that's actively available. I'm not interested in pledge drives for future projects. For example - is Grood's Tailspin Tommy and the Great Air Mystery better than the VCI release? I bought the Squadron's Captain Marvel years ago and have always been happy with it - and I've always heard good things about his Gang Busters. All recommendations from Gravy and my fellow Balconeers gratefully received! |
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| Laughing Gravy | Sep 30 2014, 01:48 AM Post #2 |
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If that's the second Tailspin Tommy serial, yes, it's one of Grood's best releases. Gang Busters is marvelous, too. I'd vote no on his Fu Manchu or Phantom Empire. Not sure what else he even has available now. |
| "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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| turan38 | Sep 30 2014, 05:47 AM Post #3 |
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Balcony Gang, Foist Class
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I have several serials I've bought from Serial Squadron. A big negative (at least for the ones I have) is the overuse of audio noise-gating. I replaced the Squadron release of Radio Patrol when the VCI set was issued. |
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| The Batman | Sep 30 2014, 06:23 AM Post #4 |
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Charter Member
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The Serial Squadron serial releases that I recommend are: Daredevils of the West Drums of Fu Manchu The Fighting Marines Gang Busters Holt of the Secret Service The Lone Ranger The Lone Ranger Rides Again The Mystery Squadron The Sign of the Wolf The Vanishing Legion Zorro's Fighting Legion These are the ones I own that I have watched and I was quite happy with these, for the most part. THE SIGN OF THE WOLF is a little rough, but it is an early talkie serial, from an independent company, so not much can be expected quality-wise, but it is still watchable. |
| Always be yourself! Unless you can be Batman...then always be Batman! | |
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| Pa Stark | Sep 30 2014, 08:41 AM Post #5 |
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Charter Member
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Years ago I read that only one print of SIGN OF THE WOLF exists, so if the Squadron's print is a bit rough, that might be all we will see. Gravy, what is it about Grood's DRUMS OF FU MANCHU that you don't recommend? |
| Honest and Lovable Pa Stark | |
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| Laughing Gravy | Sep 30 2014, 08:46 AM Post #6 |
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I simply found the last several chapters too dark and overall, it's not worth the upgrade from the VCI one. |
| "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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| Barcroft | Oct 1 2014, 09:36 AM Post #7 |
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Charter Member
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Just a little something about Drums of Fu Manchu, the best copy I've ever seen and Pa Stark saw it also was shown by Riddle Rider at the first Cliffhanger Fest in 2010. Riddle Rider's print is incomplete but it is almost pristine. He used VCI's print to fill in the blanks of his print and when that happened it was quite noticeable. It's a shame that this print will never see the light of day because its still under copyright contrary to what VCI or Grood might say about it. Barcroft |
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| aksumner | Oct 1 2014, 02:45 PM Post #8 |
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Balcony Baby
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Thanks for your feedback everyone - your feedback is much appreciated. One final question: how does Grood's Spider's Web compare with Richard Orsak's? |
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| The Batman | Oct 1 2014, 03:55 PM Post #9 |
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I don't have it yet, but have spoken to several reliable sources who've told me that the Squadron version is a significant upgrade. I plan on getting it in my next order. |
| Always be yourself! Unless you can be Batman...then always be Batman! | |
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| Laughing Gravy | Oct 2 2014, 09:27 AM Post #10 |
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Can anyone explain to me why Grood calls anybody who sells any serials a pirate, a miscreant, and a crook but it's okay for him to do it? He sells The Spider's Web? Really? What a dick. The man has the morals of a free whore. |
| "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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| Sgt Saturn | Oct 7 2014, 09:59 AM Post #11 |
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Charter Member
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"Free whore" is an oxymoron. Come to think about it, that may have been your point ... |
| The Ol' Sarge | |
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| aksumner | Oct 21 2014, 11:46 AM Post #12 |
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Balcony Baby
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Thanks for the opinions and feedback everyone, that's all been very helpful (and entertaining)! |
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| The Batman | Oct 21 2014, 04:09 PM Post #13 |
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Charter Member
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Glad to help. Enjoy! |
| Always be yourself! Unless you can be Batman...then always be Batman! | |
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| AndyFish | Oct 22 2014, 08:29 AM Post #14 |
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Movie Watcha Foist Class
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I've got Rich's SPIDER'S WEB and it's pretty good, so an upgrade would really be something. Not sure I'll bother though since I'm pretty happy with what I have. |
| www.andytfish.com | |
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| Inspector Carr | Dec 10 2014, 06:37 AM Post #15 |
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Charter Member
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Hello all.......What I have been able to find out about the Serial Squadron Drums of Fu Manchu vs the VCI version is that The VCI print was struck from a complete 16mm print (which I find very watchable) the Squadron print is a composite of two sources in which a number of chapters were upgraded from an original 35mm print with remaining chapters from 16mm (possibly the same source material as VCI) a complete 35mm print does not exist (so far) however if you have the VCI version it is not worth the upgrade.... |
| "Life is a Crapshoot however you need a pair of dice to participate" | |
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