Colorized UTOPIA and FLYING DEUCES

[cseguin]

Okay, I'm asking about colorization...let the brickbats fly! :)

Now that THAT'S out of the way...I'm wondering if anyone out there has
ever come across the colorized version of THE FLYING DEUCES and UTOPIA
prepared for the syndicated "Laurel & Hardy Show". And, if so, are
there any copies out there?

Thanks,
Chris

[scott]

On Tue, 20 May 2008 19:58:14 -0700, cseguin wrote
(in article

Post by cseguin
Okay, I'm asking about colorization...let the brickbats fly! :)
Now that THAT'S out of the way...I'm wondering if anyone out there has
ever come across the colorized version of THE FLYING DEUCES and UTOPIA
prepared for the syndicated "Laurel & Hardy Show". And, if so, are
there any copies out there?
Thanks,
Chris

I haven't seen the colorized versions you're referring to, but, on somewhat
the same subject, I was fooled the other day watching on itunes colorized
versions of Bewitched seasons 1 & 2. At first I thought I was viewing a later
season, then I started thinking to myself that maybe they were shot in color
but never before shown that way.

I have to admit, after viewing these, colorizing has come a long way. I
don't like it for movies but maybe it works for a regular sitcom that looks
better in color anyway.

scotto

[Jim R.]

Gee whiz. I had no idea that "Flying Deuces" or "Utopia" had ever been
colorized. Not in my experience in a professionally produced home
video version anyway.

[[e-mail]]

Post by Jim R.
Gee whiz. I had no idea that "Flying Deuces" or "Utopia" had ever been
colorized. Not in my experience in a professionally produced home
video version anyway.

Well in all fairness, it would be awful hard to keep track of the many
video releases of "Flying Deuces" and "Utopia" from the past twenty
years or more.

Cartoonguy

[Jimmy Fin]

I've seen a ton of Utopia home video releases but not any that were
colorized.

While I don't like colorization, the latest colorized version of March of
the Wooden Soldiers is very nicely done.

Post by Jim R.
Gee whiz. I had no idea that "Flying Deuces" or "Utopia" had ever been
colorized. Not in my experience in a professionally produced home
video version anyway.

[cseguin]

Apparently the colorized versions of UTOPIA and DEUCES were broadcast
as part of the 1980s "Laurel & Hardy Show", but never released to
video. The only evidence I've seen is a short clip from DEUCES in the
documentary "Tribute To The Boys"

Chris

Post by Jimmy Fin
I've seen a ton of Utopia home video releases but not any that were
colorized.
While I don't like colorization, the latest colorized version of March of
the Wooden Soldiers is very nicely done.

Post by Jim R.
Gee whiz. I had no idea that "Flying Deuces" or "Utopia" had ever been
colorized. Not in my experience in a professionally produced home
video version anyway.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

[Shark]

Post by cseguin
Apparently the colorized versions of UTOPIA and DEUCES were broadcast
as part of the 1980s "Laurel & Hardy Show", but never released to
video. The only evidence I've seen is a short clip from DEUCES in the
documentary "Tribute To The Boys"
Chris

When "The Laurel & Hardy Show" premiered in 1986, three films were
colorized: "Way Out West," "Helpmates" and "The Music Box." "The Music
Box" also appeared in a different show in black and white.

The package aired on Comedy Central in the early 1990s. It was
essentially the same package, except that now, all of the films were
colorized. I believe this version of the show was the source for those
Cabin Fever VHS tapes which included one colorized short on each. (I
still wonder how that company could give us such a beautiful Little
Rascals series, yet not do right by Laurel & Hardy.) I never bought or
rented any of the colorized Cabin Fever tapes, but I have read reports
that some were edited, which would make sense if they came from the
revised TV shows.

Comedy Central also showed "The Crazy World Of Laurel & Hardy." Once.

[cseguin]

I've never seen any of the colorized Rascals, but perhaps refinements
in technology accounted for a better product. After all, the Laurel &
Hardys were among the first titles to be colorized. They're included
on the Universal UK DVD collection, where they're a true eyesore --
garish and blurry. (And, yes, edited for time to conform to the Laurel
& Hardy Show timeslots.)

Compare the more recent efforts on some of the Stooges shorts and
specifically Legend's recent MARCH OF THE WOODEN SOLDIERS, and you can
see the massive leap the technology's taken. Whether you agree to the
need/ethics behind it is a different story, but it's pretty
remarkable.

Post by Shark

Post by cseguin
Apparently the colorized versions of UTOPIA and DEUCES were broadcast
as part of the 1980s "Laurel & Hardy Show", but never released to
video. The only evidence I've seen is a short clip from DEUCES in the
documentary "Tribute To The Boys"
Chris

When "The Laurel & Hardy Show" premiered in 1986, three films were
colorized: "Way Out West," "Helpmates" and "The Music Box." "The Music
Box" also appeared in a different show in black and white.
The package aired on Comedy Central in the early 1990s. It was
essentially the same package, except that now, all of the films were
colorized. I believe this version of the show was the source for those
Cabin Fever VHS tapes which included one colorized short on each. (I
still wonder how that company could give us such a beautiful Little
Rascals series, yet not do right by Laurel & Hardy.) I never bought or
rented any of the colorized Cabin Fever tapes, but I have read reports
that some were edited, which would make sense if they came from the
revised TV shows.
Comedy Central also showed "The Crazy World Of Laurel & Hardy." Once.

[bob]

Post by cseguin
I've never seen any of the colorized Rascals, but perhaps refinements
in technology accounted for a better product. After all, the Laurel &
Hardys were among the first titles to be colorized. They're included
on the Universal UK DVD collection, where they're a true eyesore --
garish and blurry. (And, yes, edited for time to conform to the Laurel
& Hardy Show timeslots.)
Compare the more recent efforts on some of the Stooges shorts and
specifically Legend's recent MARCH OF THE WOODEN SOLDIERS, and you can
see the massive leap the technology's taken. Whether you agree to the
need/ethics behind it is a different story, but it's pretty
remarkable.

Post by Shark

Post by cseguin
Apparently the colorized versions of UTOPIA and DEUCES were broadcast
as part of the 1980s "Laurel & Hardy Show", but never released to
video. The only evidence I've seen is a short clip from DEUCES in the
documentary "Tribute To The Boys"
Chris

When "The Laurel & Hardy Show" premiered in 1986, three films were
colorized: "Way Out West," "Helpmates" and "The Music Box." "The Music
Box" also appeared in a different show in black and white.
The package aired on Comedy Central in the early 1990s. It was
essentially the same package, except that now, all of the films were
colorized. I believe this version of the show was the source for those
Cabin Fever VHS tapes which included one colorized short on each. (I
still wonder how that company could give us such a beautiful Little
Rascals series, yet not do right by Laurel & Hardy.) I never bought or
rented any of the colorized Cabin Fever tapes, but I have read reports
that some were edited, which would make sense if they came from the
revised TV shows.
Comedy Central also showed "The Crazy World Of Laurel & Hardy." Once.

Back in the late 80's when Hal Roach was in his 90's he once remarked to
me at a function we were both at, that he couldn't see why anyone would
want to colorize his old films. He said " it doesn't make L&H any
funnier to be in color then they are in B&W!"
D.E.D.

[Shark]

Post by cseguin
I've never seen any of the colorized Rascals, but perhaps refinements
in technology accounted for a better product. After all, the Laurel &
Hardys were among the first titles to be colorized. They're included
on the Universal UK DVD collection, where they're a true eyesore --
garish and blurry. (And, yes, edited for time to conform to the Laurel
& Hardy Show timeslots.)
Compare the more recent efforts on some of the Stooges shorts and
specifically Legend's recent MARCH OF THE WOODEN SOLDIERS, and you can
see the massive leap the technology's taken. Whether you agree to the
need/ethics behind it is a different story, but it's pretty
remarkable.

Thanks, Chris, but that's not what I meant. What I meant was that
Cabin Fever released all 80 of the Hal Roach Our Gang talkie shorts in
a nice restored set, along with a few silents. (I would have liked for
the set to have included all the M-G-M silents that had been included
in the early TV packages, rather than only one of same plus three
public domain Pathes easily available elsewhe, but that's beside the
point.) Then they turned around and released these single-short taped,
edited and colorized.

I have only seen a couple of the colorized Little Rascals shorts. In
Chicago, Me-TV (WWME-Channel 23) was airing them, and they have now
shifted to Ch. 48 (Me-Too). The first week or two, they were aired
colorized. Afterward, they used the same tapes, but turned the color
off! (As proof of this, the credit for the colorizing was accidentally
left in a few times.) They are essentially the same TV versions of the
shorts in circulation for the last 30 plus years, but with the
original theatrical titles. There are a few odd ones in the package,
though. One or two have some weird overdubbing of the background
music, or an approximation thereof, and no audible dialogue. I also
have seen a few with altered titles, with the "contemporary" Hal Roach
Studios logo added and the name "The Little Rascals" (with backwards
"S") in place of M-G-M and "Our Gang." But only on a few shorts.
Strange.

[cseguin]

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[m***@yahoo.com]

Post by Shark
I have only seen a couple of the colorized Little Rascals shorts. In
Chicago, Me-TV (WWME-Channel 23) was airing them, and they have now
shifted to Ch. 48 (Me-Too). The first week or two, they were aired
colorized. Afterward, they used the same tapes, but turned the color
off! (As proof of this, the credit for the colorizing was accidentally
left in a few times.)

Woah, what's channel 48? When did they go on the air? I haven't used
an antenna in awhile. I know WWME has been around for a few years, but
this is a new one to me.