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Post by Paul Vanezis on Jun 27, 2019 7:30:31 GMT
Hi all,
It's finally happened, the full restoration of Monty Python's Flying Circus from Network. There will be more detail about the release in the Out of the Archive section of this forum, but I'll focus on recovery of the lost bits here.
The entire series will be released on Bluray later this year, uncut. When I first started looking at the archive holdings back in 2006, that appeared to be impossible. Six episodes had material cut. Some were minor, some caused by tape damage, but the longest, three and a half minutes was the trickiest to recover. The restoration is ongoing but we're on track to complete this in time for the anniversary.
Paul
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RWels
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Post by RWels on Jun 27, 2019 9:02:21 GMT
Sounds good! One or two things have NEVER had their original release yet, like the Montreux episode! Half-related, I've calculated that there now are just as many hours of Monty Python documentaries, as there are in original episodes!
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Post by tom rogers on Jun 27, 2019 9:45:37 GMT
Hi Paul,
I am guessing that the "longest" bit that needs to be recovered is the "Party Political Broadcast", correct? Funny, but that particular bit is one of my fondest memories of Python. I actually saw it here in the US in the early 70s during the initial run of showings on PBS. I tape recorded it (audio only), along with all of the othet shows, and had it for years until some swine stole all of my python audio tapes when I was in college in the 80s. Even so, I had listened to it so much before that that I can still hear Idle's opening announcement and Cleese's speech in my head. I have a copy of the nth generation-dub of the bit that has circulated for years, but it would be wonderful to be able to see and hear it again in all its glory. When I got the email announcement from Network yesterday I was stunned to see the news. Thanks for all that you and the restoration folks are doing to make this happen. As Stimpy would say, "Joy!"
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Post by Paul Vanezis on Jun 27, 2019 10:16:40 GMT
Hi Paul, I am guessing that the "longest" bit that needs to be recovered is the "Party Political Broadcast", correct? Funny, but that particular bit is one of my fondest memories of Python. I actually saw it here in the US in the early 70s during the initial run of showings on PBS. I tape recorded it (audio only), along with all of the othet shows, and had it for years until some swine stole all of my python audio tapes when I was in college in the 80s. Even so, I had listened to it so much before that that I can still hear Idle's opening announcement and Cleese's speech in my head. I have a copy of the nth generation-dub of the bit that has circulated for years, but it would be wonderful to be able to see and hear it again in all its glory. When I got the email announcement from Network yesterday I was stunned to see the news. Thanks for all that you and the restoration folks are doing to make this happen. As Stimpy would say, "Joy!" You guess wrong Tom, but I can say no more just yet. Paul
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Post by tom rogers on Jun 27, 2019 10:26:40 GMT
Even better!
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Post by Richard Marple on Jun 27, 2019 11:57:13 GMT
Will the German specials be included?
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Post by Samuel Giles on Jun 27, 2019 13:59:34 GMT
...and how about the Bird's Eye Frozen Peas film from '71? Still bloody hilarious.
Come to think of it, the Labour party 25 minute film from 1970 hasn't surfaced at all, has it?
On the subject of the 3 and a half minutes to recover; methinks that might be the Undertaker sketch? As far as I know all copies are still NTSC.
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RWels
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Posts: 2,860
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Post by RWels on Jun 27, 2019 17:30:04 GMT
...and how about the Bird's Eye Frozen Peas film from '71? Still bloody hilarious. Come to think of it, the Labour party 25 minute film from 1970 hasn't surfaced at all, has it? On the subject of the 3 and a half minutes to recover; methinks that might be the Undertaker sketch? As far as I know all copies are still NTSC. Or Guinness' "Is this a record?" I guess ownership is the problem with some of these.
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Post by rmackenziefehr on Jun 27, 2019 17:47:46 GMT
Will the German specials be included? Or the May Day special? For that matter, has the original audio ever been found for that special?
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RWels
Member
Posts: 2,860
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Post by RWels on Jun 27, 2019 19:15:55 GMT
At least the May Day special was released on DVD twice.
Its original audio would probably a foreign voice-over; although I agree that for the sake of authenticity...
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Post by Nicholas Fitzpatrick on Jun 28, 2019 2:53:23 GMT
You guess wrong Tom, but I can say no more just yet. Can't wait to hear the story!
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Post by Paul Vanezis on Jun 28, 2019 8:26:11 GMT
...and how about the Bird's Eye Frozen Peas film from '71? Still bloody hilarious. Come to think of it, the Labour party 25 minute film from 1970 hasn't surfaced at all, has it? On the subject of the 3 and a half minutes to recover; methinks that might be the Undertaker sketch? As far as I know all copies are still NTSC. I've certainly never seen the Labour party film. The Undertaker sketch is tricky. In an ideal world I'd like the original tape. That is long gone. Second best would be a copy of it, next a black and white film recording. Trouble is, the BBC didn't keep any of their film recordings of series 2. I have found several (#1, #3 & #4) but sadly not episode 13. The ones I have seen are all sales prints and most sales were of the first six eps. But no, the missing three and a half minutes is not the Undertaker Sketch. So if any film collector or Python aficionado out there has a 16mm print of series 2 show 13, let me know! Paul
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RWels
Member
Posts: 2,860
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Post by RWels on Jun 28, 2019 9:04:47 GMT
...and how about the Bird's Eye Frozen Peas film from '71? Still bloody hilarious. Come to think of it, the Labour party 25 minute film from 1970 hasn't surfaced at all, has it? On the subject of the 3 and a half minutes to recover; methinks that might be the Undertaker sketch? As far as I know all copies are still NTSC. I've certainly never seen the Labour party film. The Undertaker sketch is tricky. In an ideal world I'd like the original tape. That is long gone. Second best would be a copy of it, next a black and white film recording. Trouble is, the BBC didn't keep any of their film recordings of series 2. I have found several (#1, #4 & #6) but sadly not episode 13. The ones I have seen are all sales prints and most sales were of the first six eps. But no, the missing three and a half minutes is not the Undertaker Sketch. So if any film collector or Python aficionado out there has a 16mm print of series 2 show 13, let me know! Paul Steven Sigel...? He supplied the (b/w) "Satan" animation that came bfore "How not to be seen", I think. I thought the Undertaker Sketch was reverse standards conversed from an NTSC tape, no? AFAIK "Who's there" (Labour) and "Is this a record?" (Guinness) are at the BFI.
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Post by Paul Vanezis on Jun 28, 2019 19:50:55 GMT
The NTSC master that was used for the repair was wiped in (I think) 2007. There is no broadcast master to reverse convert unfortunately.
Paul
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RWels
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Posts: 2,860
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Post by RWels on Jun 29, 2019 12:54:32 GMT
But all these things exist in some way or other, and can be seen in lower quality.
The thing on top of my list - holy grail, if you will - would be the 1989 sketch with Steve Martin, recorded for a 1989 documentary, written by John Lloyd (I think).
It was probably cut for a reason (not very funny). But it's the last time they were all together. And it has never been seen, I only know the Pythons are schoolboys asking for his autograph or something.
Neither the BBC nor Tiger Aspect (who produced the documentary) kept a copy. But wouldn't anyone else have kept it...?
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