CagleMtnVol
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I wanted to make everyone aware on how shameful MGM is treating this film.
Tell MGM it's time NOW to save John Wayne's The Alamo before it's lost forever
Alamos Loss is MGMs Shame
Someone created a Facebook page to try and get the word out and possibly put pressure on MGM.
Facebook.com/SaveTheAlamo
Tell MGM it's time NOW to save John Wayne's The Alamo before it's lost forever
Tell MGM it's time NOW to save John Wayne's The Alamo before it's lost forever
So... you might recall that last week I had dinner with film restoration expert (and former Bits contributor) Robert A. Harris and some other friends.
Robert, as it happens, is in town working on another fine classic film restoration project which will be announced in due course. But during our conversation last week, Robert alerted us to the fact that another beloved classic film is not faring nearly so well. That film, as you might already suspect, is The Alamo (1960), directed by and starring the legendary John Wayne.
Robert posted a column here at The Bits back in 2009 (see this link), detailing exactly what would be required to restore this film to its proper glory. At that time, the film was already in dire condition. But it was hoped that MGM could be convinced to mount a restoration effort. Unfortunately, MGM decided that they were unwilling to spend the money required. A second option was presented to MGM let outside corporations or the public fund the restoration effort. This was considered for a time, until MGM apparently decided that letting outsiders fund the restoration (because they were unwilling to) might be seen a negative light. So nothing happened.
In the years since, Robert has repeatedly made attempts to get MGM to allocate the resources needed to restore this film, knowing all the while that the films archival elements were continuing to deteriorate. Then, last week at dinner, Robert informed us that not only had another recent effort to get MGM to reconsider failed, there will very likely never be another one. Robert has just conducted a test of the elements, and discovered that theyre nearly gone. Heres an edited compilation of his latest statements over at The Home Theater Forum on the matter:
There is no restoration effort at this time. Which means that there may never be a restoration effort.
Several people have raised the concept of going to outside sources for funding. MGM has no interest in the concept, even if the film is lost.
It appears that MGM has chosen to allow the film to die, as no immediate action will be taken, with elements just one stage above that of industrial waste. A pity, but one of many in the library.
Not the way that fairy tales should end.
RAH
To give you a sense of the seriousness of this, heres how the 70mm film elements looked back in 2009. Theyre in far worse shape today...
Roberts told me personally that if a last-ditch restoration were started today, the best that could be achieved would be to return the film to perhaps 60% of its former glory. But 60%, while disappointing, is certainly better than nothing.
It is deeply shameful that MGM thinks so little of its film library that theyre willing a beloved John Wayne classic film be lost forever, even if saving it means suffering a little embarrassment or spending a modest sum of money. Especially in this, the studios 90th anniversary year.
Were going to try get an official statement from MGM on this matter, but regardless of anything the studio says officially, Robert has seen the elements firsthand. His expert opinion (and there are no better experts in the business on the topic of proper film restoration) is that the film is very nearly gone. There is no more time for delay, foot-dragging, or excuses.
MGM needs to step up NOW and give The Alamo the restoration it desperately needs. Or make excuses and forever be known as the studio that disgracefully let the film be lost.
Do you agree? Then we suggest that you all politely but firmly tell MGM that on Twitter: @MGM_Studios.
MGM Studios can be found here on Facebook as well.
Spread the word far and wide. Get people to politely contact MGM on this in any way they can. And act fast. The film is out of time.
Stay tuned
- Bill Hunt
Alamos Loss is MGMs Shame
Alamos Loss is MGMs Shame
Restoration guru Robert Harris recently stated that in terms of a potential decent-quality restoration, the photo-chemical elements of the 202-minute, 70mm roadshow version of John Waynes The Alamo (60) are all but half-ruined. Hes told Digital Bits editor Bill Hunt that [even] if a last-ditch restoration were started today, the best that could be achieved would be to return the film to perhaps 60% of its former glory, Hunt writes. But 60%, while disappointing, is certainly better than nothing.
Is The Alamo a great film? No, but its a pretty good one watchable, sturdily performed and generally well-constructed. In my view the fact that it was shot on 70mm mandates a proper preservation. But a petty Catch-22 imposed by rights holder MGM is standing in the way. They wont fund a restoration on their own (okay, fine) but they wont allow a crowd-funding effort either because itll make them look like pikers.
There is no restoration effort at this time, Harris has said on Home Theatre Forum. Which means that there may never be a restoration effort. Several people have raised the concept of going to outside sources for funding [but] MGM has no interest in the concept, even if the film is lost. It appears that MGM has chosen to allow the film to die, as no immediate action will be taken with elements just one stage above that of industrial waste.
This is absolutely deplorable on MGMs part. These ass-clowns are essentially saying, Its better to allow the elements of this film to disintegrate into dust than for us to permit a Kickstarter-funded restoration because our egos wont permit it. Well look like nickel-and-dime misers in front of our friends in the executive dining room. Its a far, far better thing that the large-format lusciousness of The Alamo is lost forever than our corporate pride suffers even a slight diminishment.
The situation is further complicated by two factors.
One is that The Alamo is handsomely shot, beautifully scored and emotionally engaging as far as it goes but its not a classic film or even, really, a first-rate one. (Decent staging and a sense of epic bigness but a lot of right-wing sentiment.) The most memorable thing about it, arguably, is Dimitri Tiomkins score and his Green Leaves of Summer melody.
The other is that MGM is on the ropes financially and isnt much more than a low-rent licensing and catalogue business at this stage. Theyre not just in deep doo-doo but deep denial about how theyre perceived. It would cost them nothing reputation-wise to allow others to fund an Alamo restoration because theyre already seen as two-bit pikers.
From the Wiki page: The Alamo premiered at its 70mm roadshow length of 202 minutes, including overture, intermission and exit music, but was severely cut for wide release. UA re-edited it to 167 minutes. The 202-minute version was believed lost until a Canadian fan, Bob Bryden, realized he had seen the full version in the 1970s. He and Alamo collector Ashley Ward discovered the last known surviving print of the 70mm premiere version in Toronto. It was pristine. MGM (UAs sister studio) used this print to make a digital video transfer of the roadshow version for VHS and LaserDisc release.
The print was taken apart and deteriorated in storage. By 2007 it was unavailable in any useful form. MGM used the shorter general release version for subsequent DVD releases. The only version of the original uncut roadshow release is on digital video. It is the source for broadcasts on Turner Classic Movies. The best available actual film elements are of the 35mm negatives of the general release version.
The overture and musical intermission in the film are usually omitted from TV broadcasts.
Someone created a Facebook page to try and get the word out and possibly put pressure on MGM.
Facebook.com/SaveTheAlamo
