BACKGROUND INFO:
I am not a ‘film enthusiast’ and my past working life has revolved around electronics (many fields including communications, industrial and audio) and “The Arts”, more specifically, creative arts such as handcrafted fine china, ceramics and landscape artworks.
An associate has asked me to help find new owners for HIS large collection of photographic and film items … this is yet another one of those items. I am frequently asked “THE QUESTION”
So how many films do you have, Russ?
My response is … boxes and boxes of them, perhaps 350+ films are now left for me to look through … plus a few projectors
Another question I am often asked “Can I come and have a browse through the films?” Sorry, but the answer has to be a flat NO!
ALL film stock is safely away in my storage units, nice n cool and out of harms way, each day (or so) I will retrieve a few films, take a look (and smell!) at each film … absolutely NO ONE can just casually “browse” the collection. My associate wouldn’t like that and neither do I.
There is a lot of detail on this page plus even more HERE … I strongly suggest anyone who is interested in this film to read everything carefully, including looking at the link. To not do so is at your own peril!
Vinegar Syndrome “smell test” = Negative
AN AMERICAN IN PARIS
MGM Home Movies (Selected Scenes)
Title: An American In Paris (1951)
Catalogue # M-6
400 Feet Blue PLiO MAGiC (Made in USA) reel
In the original MGM styrofoam case with front & rear graphics
Leader film is fitted
Colour
Sound (Mono)
Three friends struggle to find work in Paris. Things become complicated when two of them fall in love with the same woman, it’s the old love triangle theme!

COSMETIC CONDITION:
USED
CLEAN
The original case is in very good condition with no damage, no hinge seam split and no marks or extraneous stickers/labels and it doesn’t smell!
The reel is not cracked or damaged
NO personal writing on the film reel or the packaging
Leader film is fitted.
NO film clip is fitted
TESTING:
Test machine: ELMO 1200ST
The projector film path has been completely cleaned prior to running this film through the machine. I now have a “running sheet”, my maintenance schedule if you like – I record when each maintenance is performed because I am running a lot of films through the machine.
Film stock on the reel, including the sprocket holes, appears to be physically undamaged – at least on the first section that I examined and ran through the projector for testing.
I ran the film through the projector for approximately the first five minutes, to observe the picture and check that the sound quality.
The colour representation is not good! The opening MGM Lion screen gives a big hint at what is to come … lots of Pinks & Reds, whether viewed with the left eye, right eye or both eyes! The Blues are nowhere to be seen and the Greens have practically left the village as well … still watchable but the colours are obviously not right.
On the up side, the sound is fine with the audio being crisp, clear and of a good level …
SPECIAL NOTE: I felt I needed to add this little note … whilst viewing the film on the screen, it actually looks “less Red” than the photographs would indicate but still … pretty Red, there is no hiding this fact. My antiquated digital camera (very old, one of the very first ‘point n shoot’ models!) just isn’t up to the task in regard to colour representation nor the ability to portray contrast properly. The screen shots I take are now taken with the film on pause which gives an improved image but the light is dimmer and quite blurry as it is difficult to stop the film at “just the right spot” These photographs are only a very rough guide for what to expect in any case.
This film is now stored in a cool, low humidity environment while it awaits a new projector to bring it back to life again!