TCM going show Big Parade in May

[kelly]

BUT Gagman I don't know it going be restored version of one lame version they play rest of schedule at TCM website

www.tcm.com/thismonth/article/?cid=297162

Look like they showing Big Parade on Memorial Day weekend

[Midge]

I don't care how "lame" the version is, I just want to see the Big Parade again!

[Hedvig]

Compared to other films from the same period, the lame version's not that bad-looking. And the soundtrack is one of the better ones. It does seem a bit silly that a restored version has been sitting around for six years without being broadcast on TCM though doesn't it?

[kelly]

It is weird is King Vidor estate giving them problems or something

Remind me why Flicker Alley haven't release Howard Hughes the Racket silent movie on DVD YET because one of Hughes heir didn't like the restoartion of something

[gagman66]

Nothing has changed. The reason TCM hasn't run the 2004 restoration is that the it has never been made available to them from Warner's in a broadcast format of any kind. Of course it also lacks a matched score, or does it? Jack says that the 35 millimeter rental prints were looped with the 1931 Re-issue track? What ever the case, I'm sure it's going to be the same Thames version from the early 80's that runs next week again. Otherwise, Chuck Tabesh would have said something that this was a new master, fresh transfer, whatever when I spoke with him back in March.

:huh: Incidentally, I wanted to be sure to mention, did anyone else catch this? Just before the Prime-Time hour on TCM yesterday evening, they ran a clip from the 1931 sound reissue of THE BIG PARADE during a MGM Parade extra from the 50's. Much of the epic "Jimmy Leaves for the Front" sequence joined in progress, minus a few key frames and some title cards, was shown. The William Axt- David Mendoza, Maurice Barron music was so drowned out by excessive sound effects tracks that it was highly distracting. I sure hope that when we finally see the new restoration on TCM, or DVD, that it does not have all those garbled sounds completely overpowering the music.

I'm all for a new recording of the original 1925 Axt-Mendoza score, while at the same time if possible keeping the 1983 Carl Davis one. But We definitely don't need all those annoying effects tracks in the way. They are just not complimentary to the greatness of the film.

[kelly]

I wonder if they going show that again yeah I did see it

[robin]

The Great Escape gets shown every Christmas here - but that's only once every twelve months - it seems to me that where you are The Big Parade is shown every twelve days!

[Midge]

May 15, 2010 20:54:11 GMT -6 robin said:

it seems to me that where you are The Big Parade is shown every twelve days!

I wish!

[gagman66]

Hey, based on this comment by Richard May former chief of Warner's Film and Archival branch posted earlier today, We could actually be seeing the new version of THE BIG PARADE tonight! Or at least a brand new tinted print with the same Carl Davis score.

"When I supervised the restoration at WB in 2004 we used the original negative housed at Geo. Eastman House. Photoplay was supplied with a new print from this restoration, with original tinting reproduced based on the cutting continuity from the MGM editorial files."

Richard P. May


I asked TCM to please confirm or deny if it was going to be the new version for the past two or three weeks, and nothing has been said.

But nothing was said about THE VANISHING AMERICAN of THE LAST MOHICANS being new versions on the TCM sites either. I had to find that out elsewhere, in this case David Shepard, and the thread was quickly buried. Most people probably would not have known if I hadn't posted it all over the place well in advance. Anyway, be prepared. after 6 years this could finally be it!

[kelly]

HEY Gagman I did DVR I haven't see it I see it tonight when I get home from work yeah I hear about on TCM forum I was trolling around during this weekend