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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| Ged Jones |
- FULL LENGHT FEATURES
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
Check done with Fumeo 9119 Twin Track projector.
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.
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.
- DISNEY FULL LENGHT FEATURES
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.
Test with a Fumeo 9119 TT projector with Bolex Multicoated f1.2 12.5- 25 mm. with micro- metrical focusing. Stereo Castilian tracks.
CINDERELLA. Other Derann Films release struck on AGFA film stock than ages no well, with black turning to brown.
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.
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.
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 LION KING (1994), stunning positive struck with AGFA film in 1995 and still with good contrast and color
Check done with Fumeo 9145 Pro X4 Stereo Xenon 500 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.
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
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).
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
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.
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 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.
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.
