City Lights 1931

On Sat, 28 Apr 2007 17:55:39 GMT, "Matt Barry" <barrys.DeleteThis@bellatlantic.net> wrote:

>
>"Phil P." <phil.DeleteThis@nospam.com> wrote in message
>news:ekh5331srnil7f0iumkg58c9hind72cbcp@4ax.com...
>> On Fri, 27 Apr 2007 20:52:53 -0700, Phil P. <phil.DeleteThis@nospam.com> wrote:
>>
>>>On Fri, 27 Apr 2007 23:31:43 GMT, "Matt Barry" <barrys.DeleteThis@bellatlantic.net>
>>>wrote:
>>>
>>>>
>>>>"David Totheroh" <dtotheroh.DeleteThis@aol.com> wrote in message
>>>>news:1177652509.617199.215560@u32g2000prd.googlegroups.com...
>>>>> On Apr 26, 5:02 pm, "Matt Barry" <bar....DeleteThis@bellatlantic.net> wrote:
>>>>>> "Richard Carnahan" <rfcsac6....DeleteThis@aol.com> wrote in message
>>>>>>
>>>>>> news:1177621623.245389.117980@n15g2000prd.googlegroups.com...
>>>>>>
>>>>>> > On Apr 26, 10:16 am, David Totheroh <dtothe....DeleteThis@aol.com> wrote:
>>>>>> >> On Apr 26, 12:02 am, LateSile....DeleteThis@gmail.com wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> >> > Anyone know what sound process what used in this Synchronized
>>>>>> >> > Picture? Was it released with the Sound on Disk format?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> >> Yes. And so was Modern Times.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> > Do some of these disks still exist? I've heard that sound quality
>>>>>> > on
>>>>>> > them was actually better than most optical tracks of the period.
>>>>>
>>>>> I know someone who has a set of disks for Modern Times.
>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Also, do we know at what point those discs were transferred to optical
>>>>>> soundtrack?
>>>>>
>>>>> Both City Lights and Modern Times were originally released with
>>>>> optical tracks. As far as I know the sound on disk versions were made
>>>>> for the special cases of theaters that didn't yet have optical
>>>>> capabilities.
>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I've read, for instance, that the version of THE JAZZ SINGER that we
>>>>>> see
>>>>>> today had its discs transferred to optical soundtrack sometime in the
>>>>>> 50s,
>>>>>> and that a process is underway to use the original discs to create a
>>>>>> new
>>>>>> soundtrack for the DVD, and it's evidently of far superior quality
>>>>>> because
>>>>>> of the quality of the transfer from those original discs.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Do we know if anything like this has been done for re-mastering the
>>>>>> Chaplin
>>>>>> soundtracks for these two films?
>>>>>
>>>>> Unfortunately I didn't learn that the disks existed until after the
>>>>> latest DVDs were already completed. To my knowledge the estate did not
>>>>> have access to disks for these films. I think I remember correctly
>>>>> hearing that Tim Brock worked from optical tracks and score notes to
>>>>> recompile the scores that are being used for "live" screenings. I
>>>>> assume that if disks of superior quality had been available, he would
>>>>> have used those instead.
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>I have the 1972 soundtrack album that was issued for the film's
>>>>re-release,
>>>>and I noticed there are several tracks on this album that feature pure
>>>>music, where in the film, there are sound effects (gears, sirens, etc.)
>>>>over
>>>>the music. An example is the music that plays during the scene where he's
>>>>arrested waving the red flag-in the film, the last notes of the song are
>>>>covered with the sound effect of the police siren, whereas on the
>>>>soundtrack
>>>>album, we just hear the music (with no effects overdubbed). It's a really
>>>>nice way to hear the original score recordings. What was the source of
>>>>the
>>>>1972 soundtrack album, since it sounds like it came from original music
>>>>discs before they were mixed down with the sound effects as we hear them
>>>>in
>>>>the film. It would be nice to use these original music elements to
>>>>produce a
>>>>CD version of the soundtrack album, as its one of Chaplin's most
>>>>memorable
>>>>scores.
>>>>
>>>>Matt
>>>>
>>>Actually your 1972 lp is a reissue of the original 1959 mono version, of
>>>which I
>>>have a couple of copies. You can still get them on ebay. They have a
>>>gatefold
>>>cover rather than a single sleeve. I've already burned one of mine to cd.
>>>No
>>>sense wearing out the lp.
>>>
>>>By the way, I've been experimenting with web hosting for the first time
>>>and my
>>>article on the music of Modern Times is up complete with sound clips.
>>>http://members.axion.net/~phil/
>>>
>>>There are a few other pieces up there too. I'd be interested in anyone's
>>>comments.
>>
>> I forgit to add: these are all works in progress website wise. I'm a real
>> newbie at this. How's that for a pre-apologia?
>>
>>>
>>
>
>Great piece on THE IMMIGRANT! There's something about that last scene of
>that film that sums up all the reasons I love Chaplin's work, and why it
>stays in my memory longer than other films. The seemingly dull, ordinary
>setting combined with that magical charm and humor is timeless.
>
>I enjoyed your outlining of the score from MODERN TIMES, as well. I've
>always wondered about that one track titled "At the Picture", too, wondering
>just why in the world it was given that name.
>
>I'm looking forward to checking out your site in the future! What are your
>plans for the filmography? Will it be descriptions of each film, or mainly
>cast and crew listings?
>
>Matt
>
All of that. The synopses will be somewhat more expansive than the All Movie
Guide let me be, depending on who was in charge of editing during the time I was
writing and submitting them.

Thanks for your comments Matt.

On 28 Apr 2007 15:21:44 -0700, Shush <shushfilmseznospam.TakeThisOut@yahoo.com> wrote:

>Phil P. wrote:
>
>> By the way, I've been experimenting with web hosting for the first time and my
>> article on the music of Modern Times is up complete with sound clips.http://members.axion.net/~phil/
>>
>> There are a few other pieces up there too. I'd be interested in anyone's
>> comments.
>
>
> The mystery actress of all those Chaplin Keystones is a fascinating
>topic. She's not necessarily a beauty queen, but I have to wonder if
>Chaplin had more than a professional interest in her, since he cast
>her in so many films. He became involved with a number of his
>actresses later on... why not here too?
>
> Brent Walker, are you out there? Do you know who she might be?
>
>
>
>--Shush--
>
>
Not out of the realm of possibility, I suppose. We've heard he was seeing Peggy
Pierce of "His Favorite Pastime" at some point, but who knows? Far be me from
it (as Gracie Allen used to say) to impugn the lady's reputation.