I wonder how many of you would like to see any of Errol’s films colorized with today’s technology? I would start with Captain Blood and see what happens. Objective Burma would be another. How do you think they would look? I am sure better than what Ted Turner did back in the VHS days.
— twinarchers
I have seen captain blood in the older colourization and I must say I liked it. Especially his Jacket which of course is a ruby red.
I have seen captain blood in the older colourization and I must say I liked it. Especially his Jacket which of course is a ruby red. Genene
The colored photo above from They Died With Their Boots On is actually quite striking…..hmmmmm
This shot popped up on Facebook and unless someone knows better I am thinking this is a still photo that was shot in color. It looks too good to be colorized. I have seen many colorized still shots that look great but not this good.
I did see a few colorized films back in the day on TV The Sea Hawk was one, and there were other classic films done, too. They often left parts of the shot uncolorized which was a little disconcerting. But supposedly was logical. The process looked fairly good in some films and others was so odd you didn’t really like it. It took away much of the drama and intrigue of noir type films but would actually enhance others. You knew the colors of clothing, etc. were all guessed and not what was actually there. Today’s technology would certainly look much better but back then it was something new and a novelty.
I agree Zaca – It is absolutely beautiful – If none would have ever seen its original B/W, they would have thought that this colorized form seen here was the original.
I am not a fan to those that are snobs to a colorized versions, especailly the “Critics” – heck if those same people accept movies today of a bastardize remake (in color) of a classic and think its ok, yet not accept the original version colorized, to me there’s something wrong with the remarks they make against it….
Definitely there are certain ones that should not be touch, that’s for sure. yet when taking adventurer type movies especailly, it should be the more the merrier.
Who doesn’t like to see the beauty of the oceans and the ships with full sails and flags – all those wonderful wardrobes, gorgeous landscapes, etc. not to mention beautiful starlets.
Here s a good example; Maureen O’Hara, one of the screens most beautiful woman, ever!
How beautiful she looks in B/W films, but as soon as she was put into a color film, especially Technicolor, Wow! What a difference; those eyes, the hair, just sheer amazing beauty radiating on screen. Now can you imagine if we were denied that beauty? Not ever knowing how much more gorgeous she was, man what a travesty that would have been.
So why not colorized today? I am sure we will see things in those same movies we have loved throughout our life’s in a different and exciting perspective.
I have all of Errol’s films, as I am sure everyone else here does too, in its original form, but I also have them all those done in its prior attempt of the colorizing system somewhere in boxes in my loft. I remember liking them pretty well, although when you put them up to something as you have posted here (Boots) it as night and day – for the one above is by far amazing in comparison.
The first time I seen the movie Robin Hood was in 1962 and it was in B/W, on our little TV screen. Right then and there then, I fell in love with Errol Flynn,(mind you not in the real sense of the word “love”) and of course the best movie ever, for me anyway.
Anyway I was glued to the TV throughout the whole movie, absolutely loved it and him, he was my new hero!
Years later I had the opertunity to see it again, in its original color version, and Wow! as much as I loved that movie in B/W, how much more did I love it now in color.
People need to remember the majority of the time they made them in B/W was not for artistic purposes, but simply a means of funds. The moguls wanted to save money, that’s all; cheap bastards! I have also heard that when they do color processing as in the past they had gotten the original wardrobe descriptions and so forth, so I am sure they are pretty right on when they do colorize the films…
So there is a lot to be said about it and I am for it. and you can sign me up, I got my money already in my hand to buy when released…Cheerio!
When I was young we too only had a B&W set and it was still great. I never knew for example that The Wizard of Oz turns to color and still loved it. But once you know….. As I said before I think this photo is a color still shot off camera because it looks too good. In a way I hope it is because that is great news for the future.
I agree TWIN – would be great to see anew…
The problem with colorizing an B&W image is that the greys are still there and you are coloring over it like a wood fence that has been stained without power washing first, it still looks dirty. I hear that NASA get its images back from Hubble in B&W and somehow the computer knows how to change it to color. Hollywood, call NASA!!
Very interesting topic and question(s), twinarchers.
For me personally, I think it would depend on the film. wouldn’t alter black & white masterpieces like those of Sol Polito’s (like Se Hawk), but wouldn’t be s opposed on less artistic, more run of the mill b&w’s (like Four’s a Crowd, etc.)
It’s a Wonderful Life came up with a good approach by proving a copy of each on one dvd.
Here’s a split-decision, reverse spin on that dvd:
Maybe Abe can help:
[img]http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uDFgHpiSxDw/UGMGtwF1ZGI/AAAAAAAAGrQ/4YbVb266qN0/s1600/LincolnColorized.jpg[/img]
Here is some superb information on this fascinating topic:
www.rogerebert.com…
After seeing the YouTube explanations from the University of Nebraska professor – I still feel if colorization is done as good as the pic we see above (Boots) – I am in to have some redone for sure….
While I agree that some films are better off as they are, many others would do well to have color. Doing a shot for shot remake of Psycho was a mistake but that does not mean that the original films would be better for it. And I don’t mean Psycho. I don’t have to read the Roger Ebert article. I remember when there was news about who was against it.
[img]http://www.theerrolflynnblog.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/robinhooderrol.jpg[/img]
Errol was such a colorful personality, that each of his films merits a new makeover. Here he is painting Sir Guy red and blue.
Yes, indeed, a very controversial topic to this very day. And for good reason.
Should an artist’s original vision be altered? Should all the works of Leonardo, Raphael, Michelangelo and Donatello be “upgraded”? (Fans of both Renaissance art and Ninja Turtle movies might well object to that.) How about Beatle records, should John’s voice be upgraded on A Day in the Life? Should Humphrey Bogart’s mustache be removed in Virginia City? (Okay, I take back that last one.)
Sydney Pollack, Woodhead Allen, Ginger Rogers and John Houston testified to this in Congress, where, as we all know, only the truth is spoken.
www.youtube.com…
Neither Flynn nor Welles look too happy about this, either.
[img]http://www.oldtimeradiodownloads.com/assets/img/serie/img_orson-welle.jpg[/img]
Ok so here’s the main problem with all this “damaging of the original films artistry ” blah-blah-blah-blah!
We hear this from the YouTube gang and millions of others – the same story over and over, but it’s not the art being damaged here, no! they are films being brought into an art form, as they should have been originally. Why? Because the GREAT majority of these films were done in B/W simply because most of the movie studio moguls were cheaper than dirt and wanted to get the most out of a buck at the box office window.
i.e./ knowing that they had a hit anytime they put someone like our Mr. Flynn in an adventure movie, regardless of B/W (much cheaper than color) – plus doing other cheap tactics, like using scenes from another flick, or soundtracks, etc. – to save MORE money, etc. etc….
So this belief in all it’s artsy-fartsy gone out the window? is plain phooey!
Again It was in B/W because it was cheaper to make, that’s all!!! so why not see it, if done correctly mind you, in a vibrant color as it should have been in the first place.
We’ve talked about the “Sea Hawk” before – originally to have bene done in color, until JW wanted to save a buck, he knew people would buy the ticket at the movies to see EF regardless, and they did! end of story..
Personally, I would love to have them digitized in beautiful colors like in the pics Tina posted; who wouldn’t want to see those two gorgeous people in color?….
No doubt there are good arguments for colorizing many films, Sergio, but I think the more masterful the black and white cinematography is, the stronger the case is for not altering the original work.
The argument against alteration does not completely hinge on whether a film could have or should have been filmed in color, but rather that they were. The artists therefore created in that medium and context. That’s what informed their artistic visions and decisions.
Someday in the future some meglomaniac may buy the entire Beatles catalog and decide he thinks all of George Harrison’s guitar parts on Sgt. Pepper would be more appealing as saxophone, harmonica, or synthesizer parts. Should that be encouraged? I think not, but I wouldn’t mind as much if it was done for Monkee or Justin Bieber albums.
I think that’s why filmmakers and film historians express such concern about so dramatically altering black and white masterpieces.
Hi Tim very well said but Errol’s Sea Haw, The Charge of the Light Brigade, They Died with their Boots On, Captain Blood etc. are not in this film noir category.
Like I said in my post to Sergio black and white has his very own important place in the film world no daunt on that one.
It’s just some of Errol’s movies where a lot of splendour is shown in the scenery and wardrobe should have been made in colour in my opinion and I think would have been great for posterity.
As we say back home: ‘C’est la vie c’est la guerre, heut’ ein bischen weniger morgen ein bichen mehr”
Enjoy the lovely pictures!
Take care!
Hi Sergio;
You are quite right about the cheapness of WB and Errol was a magnet that people wanted to see no matter what.
Of course there are many classic movies which were much better made in black and white as they do have a remarkable artistry to them and are marked by a certain mood of pessimism, fatalism, and menace.
But many of Errol’s movies had so much charisma combined with most gorgeous wardrobe which should have been shown in colour a big mistake of WB.
You said ‘Sea Hawk’ so everybody feast their eyes on these:
[img]http://www.theerrolflynnblog.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/SeaHawk12.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.theerrolflynnblog.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Sea-Hawk_gal.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.theerrolflynnblog.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Sea-Hawk-0.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.theerrolflynnblog.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Sea-Hawk.png[/img]
Just look at the work that goes into making these intricate costumes, the design, the stitching – one just can say: WOW. Can one imagine how those poor designers must have felt not to put their magnificent creations into colour, my heart goes out to them.
Maybe we should write to WB to convert Errol’s splendor movies into colour? Anybody any ideas?
It almost makes me feel guilty about my desires looking at the Congress testimony by those on the youtube vid. I think that in many cases they will look better in b&w. I still think that in some cases with the now state of the art that we have it would be interesting to see what they could do. I never liked the results of the 1980’s versions. If they cant make them look like they were filmed in color then forget it. Otherwise lets give it a try because in most cases it was strictly a budget concern. As you may all know the movie studios did not own Technicolor but had to rent the equipment and have a consultant on hand for approval. It was the expected coin of the realm back then.
AND here is a very rare one! I would maybe even say a never seen one for you to enjoy:
[img]http://www.theerrolflynnblog.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/they-dies-with-t-b-on.jpg[/img]
Very nice indeed.
Hi twin!
Yes it is gorgeous – the wardrobe in those movies were absolutely outstanding!
It is so wonderful to see great images in colour from those black and white movies. I in particular like this one:
[img]http://www.theerrolflynnblog.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Charge-of-the-Light-Brigade-The_04C.jpg[/img]
The wardrobe – costumes where so fabulous in their colours that it is such a sham they did not make these movies in colour. What a beautiful couple!
And btw wasn’t he the most handsomest man ever!
As we can see here, it is really getting there.
Hi twin!
Yes it is getting there, really wonderful images!
Great stuff Tina, nice pics – you sure can find them….
I think most of us are in agreement that if done correctly, and to the right movies, we should have that option to enjoy.
The great thing is that, we will always have the B/W masters, so no harm done there.
I also particularly like in what you said about the those costume designers Tina – so very true.
As musician, I can think of this in the same as if someone took my film composition and decided place it far in the background, in so you could only hear faintly what may be. Not truly appreciating and/or capturing its movements of simultaneous occurrence of its film…..
@GT – The Beatle’s scenario you give does not work for me – in reality, if someone was to buy the rights and change Georges guitar say for a Sax, you would be totally altering its composition, as in the way George heard it when played and/or wrote it.
We are not asking that here; redirecting, descripting its artist performance as you would by changing a guitar for a sax. Remember the majority of films were done cheaply, not with an artistic mind set as say Film Noir…
Its being done everyday to older audio recordings, with great acceptance. I am not saying all, but the great majority.
Digital enhancement at most times makes for better sounding audio than that of it’s original recordings; crisper, sharp, clearer, etc. – same as if we were to do visually.
In dealing with music, the musicians/composition try to paint the best they can in so simplifying the listeners visual take on it, this is colorization; the listener not only hears, but also sees and feels through this.
In films however, its in our face, both visually and its audio – so we have nothing to add, its all being done for us – what we see is what we get.
Color on film can enhance our visual to better influence the total picture we often miss with B/W.
Nothing being hidden, everything is in full bloom. remember what Tina said about the Designers – we can see all their hard work…
We all don’t see the same in this discussion and that’s cool; lets just say we agree to disagree, in the end we still love our movies regardless….
Sorry for my loooong version – hopefully you did not fall asleep…LOL!!!
As always, I believe, the decisions and merits of colorizing should hinge on the quality of the work. Many great artists, from painters to cinematographers made most if not all their artistic choices based on the medium they created in. For the Pieta it was white marble, for Citizen Kane it was black and white film.
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“Resurrecting” what are already masterpieces in b&w through current colorization techiques would take a miracle.
If The Adventures Of Robin Hood or Gone With The Wind were filmed in black and white because of cost would we still be talking about them as much today? I am sure some one will bring up Casablanca but what about The Wizard Of Oz? I don’t think we would have seen an IMAX release of it a few years ago if it were in black and white.
Now here is an image from the 1935 film She. Ray Harryhausen over saw a recent colorization of some of his films for Blu Ray and this is one of his childhood favorites. I have not seen it on disc but it is obvious that we have a long way to go before it looks really good, to me anyway.
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Here is another one.
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Agree Twin – we still have a long way to go – these are to flat, dull – seems almost afraid to have pushed the color fader button a little more also, when comparing to some of the photos Tina posted.
It will come one day as I am sure – technology never stops, there’s always a Dr. Frankenstein or is that Franken”shhhtine”?
Any way, theirs always on lurking in the background waiting to make life better or at times worst, depends on ones needs and wants.
I would love to see them in a beautiful Technicolor sheen to them, especially with the new 4 k TV’s we now have, really brings out those vibrant colors…
I wonder if this technology will be used one day for films. It looks like NASA is using the basic three colors that Technicolor used in there cameras. Check out this Video.
Astronomically Awesome, twinarchers!!! A horse of a completely different colorization!