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
SINGIN IN THE RAIN
MGM Home Movies (Selected Scenes)
Title: Singin In The Rain (1952)
Catalogue # Unknown
800 Feet Black unbranded reel
The library case (with drop down front door) is also completely unbranded but looks very similar to a POSSO (France)
Leader film is fitted
Colour
Sound (Mono)
When the transition is being made from silent films to `talkies’, everyone has trouble adapting. Don and Lina have been cast repeatedly as a romantic couple, but when their latest film is remade into a musical, only Don has the voice for the new singing part. After a lot of practise with a diction coach, Lina still sounds terrible, and Kathy, a bright young aspiring actress, is hired to record over her voice.

COSMETIC CONDITION:
USED
CLEAN
The original box has long since gone to it’s maker and has been replaced by a library case with drop down front door. Simple side label to indicate the contents using Red dynatape.
The reel is not cracked or damaged
NO personal writing on the film reel or the library case
There is no leader film, begins with a length of blank Purple coloured film and then the reel plays into the movie itself.
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 ten minutes, to observe the picture and check that the sound quality.
The colour representation is not too bad at all, yes there is a dominance of the Reds, Browns etc but quite evident are Greens and even Blues. Pretty watchable, in my opinion.
Good news too on the sound, the audio is 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