DERANN FILMS SUPER8 RELEASES. Review of full lenght features and shorts.

Many collectors consider Derann Films film editions to be the ultimate in quality in Super-8, truly non-plus ultra, impossible to beat. 

Derann Films closed down in 2011, 9 years after the death of his founder, Derek Simmonds, a lover of cinema who had founded the company in 1964, with his wife Ann.

Derek Simmonds (photo by Ged Jones)

When, in the 1980s, Super-8 distribution was considered dead, Derek kept the flag flying and was even able to convince major studios, such as Fox and Disney, to distribute their feature films in this format. Derek always tried to obtain the best internegatives for his print runs.

Derek Simmonds and, on the left, my very good friend the late John Wright (photo by Ged Jones)

However, sometime around 1990, Derann's releases stopped being distributed regularly on the superb Kodak LPP stock and were instead distributed mainly on AGFA stock, which at the time was considered an even better low-fade stock than LPP. However, the years have proven this belief to be false, as Derann's releases from the early 90s on AGFA began to show signs of fading in 2020: they maintain all the colours BUT the black is turning brown. 

Derek, the man who puts the name of Dudley in the world (photograph in the Photokina by Ged Jones)

Is it a problem with the AGFA stock or is it a consequence of poor washing by the laboratory after processing, as an expert suggested to me? Be that as it may, the reality is that all of Derann's AGFA film runs have an expiration date, so collectors should enjoy them while they can (or stop the fading with the O.R.S. subtractive chemical treatment).

Week by week I will be adding my review of the Derann Films films, grouped by Short Films,  Feature Films and Disney Feature Films, after projecting each print. 

Ged Jones

Ged Jones, whose entire working life was spent at Derann Films, runs a Facebook group, The Derann Vaults, with interesting information and memories of this immortal British label.

• FULL LENGHT FEATURES

ALIEN

Excellent picture quality but... this feature film was printed on colour stock from AGFA, with the blacks slowly fading to brown!

Test with a Beaulieu Studio Stereo. 

CASABLANCA. Derann Films struck this black and white positive on colour film stock, fortunately Kodak LPP, so the blacks are still perfect after 3 decades, with no any fading to brown.

Test with Fumeo 9145 Xenon 500 Stereo.

DIE HARD, full lenght feature unfortunately struck by Derann Films in AGFA. All the colours are present but blacks faded to brown. Really sad as picture quality of this positive is girst class.

Test with a Beaulieu Studio Stereo.

DIE HARD 2, full lenght feature fortunately struck by Derann Films in Kodak LPP. Also, trailer of J.J. Abrams' "Star Trek" also LPP. Anamorphic print.

Test with a Beaulieu Studio Stereo.

DRACULA (1958). Struck on AGFA stock and blacks are starting to turn brown. Test with Beaulieu Studio projector.

 

DRACULA HAS RISEN FROM THE GRAVE,  with Christopher Lee, directed by two times Oscar winner Freddie Francis. Derann release, with German titles!, is on AGFA stock but colours are perfect, and density near perfect.Test with Fumeo 9119 TT projector with Bolex Multicoated f 1.2 12.5 - 25 mm. with micrometrical focusing.

GONE WITH THE WIND. split in two 800 meters reels, of 2 hours each. In late 80's or early 90's, Derann Films sent me the first hour, or so, in poliester Kodak LPP and the rest in poliester AGFA. 30 years later, Kodak LPP footage is so beautiful as the first day, but now blacks in AGFA looks brown, needing treatment with O.R.S. chemical substractive treatment. Projector Fumeo 9119

GULLIVER'S TRAVELS. This Max and Dave Fleischer feature, premiered in 1939, was struck by Derann Films in Kodak LPP. Print looks a bit "dupey" but colours are intact with deep blacks.

Feature is archived in a rare Supaspool.

Test with Fujicascope SH30 with the glass masterpiece Fujinon 1.2 20-40 mm.

HALLOWEEN. My Derann print of this beloved title was struck on AGFA stock, so, has the blacks severely faded to brown, but at least it's anamorphic, not pan & scan like the Spanish edition on Fuji. Derann release is on AGFA stock with some early fade in blacks. Test with a Beaulieu Studio Stereo.

HOPPITY GOES TO TOWN. This feature from 1941 directed by Dave Fleischer was struck by Derann Films (from a dupe) in late 80's on unmarked film stock: looks a bit brown.

Projector: Fujicascope SH30 with the top quality Fujinon f 1.2 20-40 mm.

MIGHTY JOE YOUNG. Derann Films struck this positive with the only AGFA print stock superior to Kodak: black & white in poliester (Kodak B&W print film was triacetate in those times ). Taken from the Mountain/Kingston 16 mm negative, according to Ged Jones and Phil Sheard.

Test with Fumeo 9145 Xenon 500 Stereo.  

MASTER & COMMANDER, was the final Derann relase, with only a handful of prints struck. Print colour is perfect, with deep blacks. I´m not sure about stock. Projector for test: Fumeo 9145 Xenon 500.

MUTINY IN THE BOUNTY. Anamorphic full lenght feature. This one, fortunately, struck with Kodak LPP stock. Only noticeable fault are drops of slurry magnetic paste in image area here and there.

QUATERMAS II. Although Derann's version has less footage, I have beautiful memories with this film because, as a student, at the College Sant Jordi, we showed it every year in 16 mm, rented from Veloz Films of Barcelona. Print quality is a bit "dupey", but stock is fortunately in poliester black & white.

Projector: Fujicascope SH30 with the top quality Fujinon f 1.2 20-40 mm.

ROBIN HOOD (1938) full lenght feature fortunately in polyester Kodak LPP. Test with Fumeo 9119 TT.

SOYLENT GREEN.

As a child, I remember the poster for this film in the MGM office-window in my city years before its release, and, despite being rated R, I managed to get into the theater, where it was shown in 70 mm.

Derann release is on AGFA stock with some early fade in blacks.

Test with a Beaulieu Studio Stereo.

THE ABYSS,  full lenght anamorphic feature split in two Fumeo 700 meters reels. Printed in AGFA film stock, starting now with a slight loss of density in blacks. The Abyss" full lenght anamorphic feature split in two Fumeo 700 meters reels. Printed in AGFA film stock, starting now with a slight loss of density in blacks.The Abyss" full lenght anamorphic feature split in two Fumeo 700 meters reels. Printed in AGFA film stock, starting now with a slight loss of density in blacks.

 

THE AFRICAN QUEEN.  I'M VERY HAPPY, as my positive of this Derann Films release was struck in beautiful Kodak LPP colour stock. THANKS, MY LORD! Test with Beaulieu Studio stereo projector.

THE 3 MUSKETEERS  (1948), stunning positive fortunately struck with Kodak LPP film.
Check done with Fumeo 9119 Twin Track projector.

THE CURSE OT THE CAT PEOPLE. Derann's version is slightly shorter than DVD version but has a very beautiful black and white on polyester stock.

Projector: Fujicascope SH30 with the top quality Fujinon f 1.2 20-40 mm.

THE CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN, of Terence Fisher. Derann struck this one on AGFA. According my files, fade is from pre-print film material. The proof: Black in tails are perfect. So, at the moment, I´m happy with this title, as blacks in tails are pure black. 

THE ELEPHANT MAN.

The screening started well, with the trailer on black and white stock, but the feature film was printed on colour stock from AGFA, with the blacks faded to brown/violet! My positive has too much contrast. What a bad luck with this one!

Test with a Beaulieu Studio Stereo.

THE FOG. Derann's print is also in AGFA, but blacks in this print are still almost perfect.

THE MUMMY (1959), this release in AGFA stock is almost perfect, with near deep blacks. Test with Beaulieu Studio Stereo.

 

THE REVENGE OF FRANKENSTEIN.  This Derann release is in AGFA still with perfect colour.  Galician dubbing ON FILM, for this British classic. Test with Beaulieu Studio. 

THE SECRET OF NIMH.

Perfect Derann release in Kodak LPP struck at Rank Labs.

Usually, I conserv all my Derann features in 700 or 800 meters reels, made in alluminium by Castells in Spain, but in some few cases, as this one, I had the feature split in the original boxes from late 80s, and, with the decades, I losted reel 3!!!

Projector: Elmo GS1200 PCom with the top quality f 1.0 zoom.

THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS, struck by Derann Films on unmarked film stock at Rank Lab in 1992 with perfect colours and contrast 32 years later. Trailer, from Bucks Laboratory, on AGFA, purchased years later is starting to fade to brown in blacks.

Test with a Beaulieu Studio Stereo.

THE TIME MACHINE. Fortunately, my favorite George Pal feature was struck by Derann Films in archival quality Kodak LPP.
Machine for test is the lovely Fujicascope SH30, the best projector ever made in Japan, with the elusive ultra sharp Fujinon f 1.2 20-40 mm lens. 

THE WIZARD OF OZ. Archived in a 800 meters Castells spool. English track. Film stock: Kodak LPP.
Not any traces of fading here. This positive looks like the first day. Very easy to check as the black and white section is struck on colour film stock. Projector: Beaulieu Studio.

THERE´S NO BUSINESS LIKE SHOW BUSINESS, anamorphic print in Kodak LPP for the first musical feature shot in CinemaScope: this positive looks like the first day decades ago.

Test with Beaulieu Studio Stereo.

...

• DISNEY FULL LENGHT FEATURES

101 DALMATIANS. Positive from Derann is AGFA but contrast and colour are still perfect, without traces of fade.  with pure blacks in tails.
Track one is in Spanish, track 2 is in English (but very narrow in this print, so, sounds very low).Test with Fumeo 9119 Twin Track with Bolex f 1.2 12.5 - 25 mm Multicoated.

DUMBO. The only Disney feature film, distribuited by Derann, in my film archive, on immutable LPP, from the good and old Kodak, is "Dumbo". According to Alberto Vangelisti (sic): "this one is very rare to have in this state, because shortly after the very first prints the negative was damaged at the lab in Derann, so subsequent prints had worse quality with lots of lab scratches". All other titles are struck with AGFA stock, whose black stability is only 30 years (it can be solved, at least partially, with the O.R.S. chemical system). "Dumbo" was the first Disney feature I ordered from Derann. Track one in English, track two in Spanish. Check with the rare Elmo GS1200PCom projector.

CINDERELLA. Other Derann Films release struck on AGFA film stock than ages no well, with black turning to brown.

FANTASIA 2000. Derann struck this one on AGFA but colours are still perfect with deep blacks, without any fading to brown at this moment. Sound is only so so because the grey track used. Also, here and there, some drops of paste is inside the picture. Print quality is first class, truly A1. "Fantasia 2000" was the only film distribuited legally in all the film formats: 70 mm 15p, 70 mm 5p., 35mm, 16mm and Super8. Test with Fumeo 9145 Xenon 500

Stereo.

LADY AND THE TRAMP. Tip top high quality anamorphic feature struck by Derann Films in AGFA colour print stock fortunately with perfect colour (still), with deep blacks.
Test with a Beaulieu Studio Stereo.

PETER PAN. This positive is unfortunately in Agfa stock, with some fade already. 

Check is done with the Beaulieu Studio Stereo with Schneider f 1.1 11-30 mm lens. Spanish Latin America Stereo dubbing.
I archive same title in 16 mm too, in a Kodak LPP print with perfect colours and contrast.

POCAHONTAS, full lenght feature, struck in AGFA. Very sharp positive, beautiful colours but with first steps of missing density in blacks.

SNOW WHITE.  Derann release is on AGFA stock but colours and density are perfect.
I archive this title also in 35 mm (Kodak LPP, triacetate) and 16 mm too.

Test with a Fumeo 9119 TT projector with Bolex Multicoated f 1.2 12.5 - 25 mm. with micrometrical focusing.

THE BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. Unfortunately, my positive was struck on Agfa film stock and it's starting to fade. Some others film buffs, as Andrew, has the same title in Kodak LPP, and colours are perfect. Bad luck here! Film archived in an 800 meter Castells spool, dubbed to Stereo. Test with a Beaulieu Studio Stero projector.  

THE LITTLE MERMAID, other Derann release on Agfa with blacks faded to brown.

THE JUNGLE BOOK is the first Disney feature film released after Walt's death. Unfortunately, my Derann Films release is struck on AGFA film and the blacks are starting to turn brown, although all the colors are present.

THE SWORD AND THE STONE.

This Derann Films release was struck in AGFA. Blacks are still OK but slightly starting to fade in the worst possible way: in an irregular manner, which makes O.R.S. chemical treatment impossible. This irregular fading is an indication that makes me suspect a poor wash in the processing after processing. Test with Fumeo 9145 Xenon 500 Stereo.

WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBIT? Archived in a 800 meters Castells spool. Dubbed to Spanish. Stock: Agfa. Trailer purchased years later is OK, but feature is starting to fade. All colours are present but blacks starting to going to brown. Projector: Beaulieu Studio.

• FEATURETTES

A GRAND DAY OUT WITH WALLACE & GROMIT (1989). This stop motion featurette directed by Nick Park was struck by Derann Films on unmarked film stock: as the colours are perfect, could be LPP? Only a handful of film prints of this title survives as negatives were burned, someone told me.

Projector: Fujicascope SH30 with the top quality Fujinon f 1.2 20-40 mm. 

MICKEY'S CHRISTMAS CAROL, stunning print quality but AGFA poliester stock, from the first print run, shows first phase of fade.

SUPERMAN II. As a young man, after left university, I spent years ordering only cartoons and shorts from Derann, until I finally dared to invest in a featurette, in the late eighties. In Kodak LPP, from Rank laboratories, "Superman II" is still perfect in colours, unlike later feature films unfortunately struck in another laboratory with other film stock. Test with a Beaulieu Studio Stereo. 

THE PRINCE AND THE PAUPER, print quality is very good. Stock is AGFA with a very very little fade in blacks. Intermittent scratch courtesy of my Elmo GS1200 Xenon (already adjusted, damage caused after the window gate in the area of the loop just prior the heads).

THE SMALL ONE (1978).

Don Bluth not only directed this film but also composed two of its three songs! Ron Miller, Walt Disney's son-in-law, produced it to look for new artists for the company and, after its theatrical release accompanying the revival of "Pinocchio", with his mind set on the then powerful non-theatrical 16 mm market: thus its featurette format .

Derann release is in AGFA: all the colours are present but blacks are turning brown.Projector Braun Visascutic 2000 Digital.

THE SNOWMAN. This Derann print is fortunatelly struck in LPP with all the colors like the first day. I dubbed the introduction of this positive into Galician, on track 2.

I met its co-director Jimmy T. Murakami, now deceased, in Hiroshima. Also, at the end of the eighties, I bought the non-theatrical exhibition rights in 16 mm for Spain (without the song, just the melody).
As a curiosity, I estimate that I have projected this Derann positive more than 500 times, for my children while they were little and until they grew up, but, since the film base is made of polyester, here it is, like the first day. Clip is blocked in Russia:

• SHORTS AND DIGESTS

AN ITCH ON TIME (1943), Derann Films release of this Bob Clampett classic on Kodak LPP poliester stock but soft dupey quality. Sankyo 800 Stereo projector with f 1.0 15-25 mm lens,

BAD LUCK BLACKIE (1949). This funny Tex Avery animation is rated the 15th best cartoon of the history. Derann Films struck this one in Kodak LPP.

Projector is a Silma Memory Stereo, the only Super8 projector designed by a woman: a very beautiful machine; pity no upper tooth wheel (before gate). First class lens: Schneider f 1.1 11-30 mm.

CROSS COUNTRY DETOURS (1940). Derann Films sent me this Tex Avery cartoon in 1987, on glorious Kodak LPP stock.

Projector is a Silma Memory Stereo, the only Super8 projector designed by a woman: a very beautiful machine. 

FLOWERS AND TREES (1931). First Oscar for Walt Disney and first cartoon in 3-strips Technicolor. Derann Films struck this one in Kodak LPP.

Projector is a Silma Memory Stereo, the only Super8 projector designed by a woman: a very beautiful machine; pity no upper tooth wheel (before gate). First class lens: Schneider f 1.1 11-30 mm.

HOLLYWOOD DAFFY (1946). Derann Films fortunately struck this one in Kodak LPP but preprint material is a bit faded.

Funny cartoon with a lot of Warner Bros studios stars.

Projector: Bauer T450 Servo with Schneider f 1.1 11-30 mm.

JOHANN MOUSE (1953), Academy Award Winner, Derann Films release on Kodak LPP poliester stock. Print quality is a bit soft.

Projector: Sankyo 800 Stereo with f 1.0 15-25 mm lens.

ON ICE (1935). Derann Films fortunately struck this one in Kodak LPP. Derann edition is slightly condensed. Projector: Bauer T450 Servo with Schneider f 1.1 11-30 mm.

PEACE ON EARTH (1939),of Hugh Harman, perfect colours and contrast, as usual with Kodak LPP stock. I own the print in 16 mm LPP too.

RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER, excelent print quality fortunately in Kodak LPP stock with beautiful colours and deep blacks. I translated and dubbed the cartoon in Spanish voiceover in track two.I have the print in 16 mm too.Projector Braun Visascutic 2000 Digital.

SANTA'S WORKSHOP (1932), Derann Films release on Kodak LPP poliester stock. Very shap print. Sankyo 800 Stereo with f 1.0 15-25 mm

STEAMBOAT WILLIE (1928). From Jan, 1st, 2024, this iconic title is in public domain. I own the print also in 16 mm and 35 mm nitrate. This print is in Kodak LPP stock, originally tinted (is not fade). Review with an Eumig 940 Multiprocessor.

SANTA'S WORKSHOP (1932). This Derann release is struck on LPP print. I archive too same title in 16 mm. Projector Braun Visascutic 2000 Digital.

TAXY TURVEY (1954), other Derann cartoon release, perfect in LPP stock from 1987.

THE AUTOGRAPH HOUND (1939). Derann Films release in Kodak LPP. Sankyo 800 Stereo with f 1.0 15-25 mm lens. Very sharp print.

THE LITTLE MATCH GIRL (1937). This Derann release is struck on LPP print. I archive too same title in 16 mm, also LPP. Projector Braun Visascutic 2000 Digital. 

THE MAD DOCTOR (1933).  This terrorific cartoon was banned by Goebbels. Actually, it is in public domain. Derann Films struck this one on black and white film stock. Review with an Eumig 940 Multiprocessor.

THE FROG POND (1938), of Ub Iwerks, perfect colours and contrast as cartoon was struck on Kodak LPP film.

THRU THE MIRROR. Fortunately was printed by Derann in Kodak LPP film stock, so, is perfect, with deep blacks. 

THE YANKEE DOODLE MOUSE (1943), Academy Award winner, this is the first Tom and Jerry short to be animated by Ray Patterson, who arrived from Screen Gems. Patterson would continue to work for Hanna and Barbera until the 1980s.

Derann Films sent me the print in late 80s, fortunately in Kodak LPP. Walton logo can be seen at the end but I'm sure it was a brand new Derann's release.

Projector is a Silma Memory Stereo, the only Super8 projector designed by a woman: a very beautiful machine.

Wynken, Blynken and Nod (1938). Derann Films fortunately struck this one in Kodak LPP.
Projector: Bauer T450 Servo with Schneider f 1.1 11-30 mm.

IMPORTANT!!! New reviews will be added every week, after viewing.