kelsci
01-11-2006, 05:23 AM
I recently purchased these DVDs on these two Republic serials from 1937.
The Painted Stallion appears on dvds on a few different labels. This is a two disc set from Madacy. This is IMO a great Republic serial. Unfortunately, there is a lot to be desired on the discs. The print is faded and unsharp. It is barely watchable. The two channel audio is blary particulaly the dialogue. It is annoying to listen too. I have 11 of the 12 chapters recorded on video tape from a PBS station that I made 5 years ago. The broadcasted audio was fine and the picture though sort of faded was at least sharp. I cannot recommend the film on this label on this disc.
Zorro Rides Again is also on a few different labels. This label is Troma Team Video under the Roan Group. The package states the film is digitally mastered from the finest elements. The picture is somewhat faded and unsharp but is watchable. I own a Laserdisc version of this film. That version's picture quality is "gorgeous" for its time. One would not think that there was not good audio back in those days, but there was. This discs two channel mono dolby digital track is really quite excellent. Voices are clear and sound like they were recorded yesterday. Bass response is excellent. If you like Republic's musical score in their serials, the music on this disc sounds great. The audio level is consistent through all of the chapters. The reason why I say this is that on the laser disc edition, the audio level did vary through the first 6 chapters and was consistent on the last 6 chapters. The whole serial is on one disc. I can only conditionally recommend the disc; it should have had better picture quality.
The Painted Stallion appears on dvds on a few different labels. This is a two disc set from Madacy. This is IMO a great Republic serial. Unfortunately, there is a lot to be desired on the discs. The print is faded and unsharp. It is barely watchable. The two channel audio is blary particulaly the dialogue. It is annoying to listen too. I have 11 of the 12 chapters recorded on video tape from a PBS station that I made 5 years ago. The broadcasted audio was fine and the picture though sort of faded was at least sharp. I cannot recommend the film on this label on this disc.
Zorro Rides Again is also on a few different labels. This label is Troma Team Video under the Roan Group. The package states the film is digitally mastered from the finest elements. The picture is somewhat faded and unsharp but is watchable. I own a Laserdisc version of this film. That version's picture quality is "gorgeous" for its time. One would not think that there was not good audio back in those days, but there was. This discs two channel mono dolby digital track is really quite excellent. Voices are clear and sound like they were recorded yesterday. Bass response is excellent. If you like Republic's musical score in their serials, the music on this disc sounds great. The audio level is consistent through all of the chapters. The reason why I say this is that on the laser disc edition, the audio level did vary through the first 6 chapters and was consistent on the last 6 chapters. The whole serial is on one disc. I can only conditionally recommend the disc; it should have had better picture quality.