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Kodachrome Two-Color Test Shots No. III (1922)
Kodachrome Two-Color Test Shots No. III (1922) poster
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Kodachrome Two-Color Test Shots No. III (1922)

Documentary • 5m

Overview

This two-color (green-blue and red) film was produced as a demonstration reel at the Paragon Studios in Fort Lee, New Jersey, under the direction of Kodak scientist John Capstaff. It features leading actresses, including Mae Murray, Hope Hampton, and Mary Eaton, posing and miming for the camera to showcase the capability of the complex Kodachrome process to capture their translucent movie star complexions and colorful, high-fashion clothing.

Best English-Friendly Release

Official HD Streaming from George Eastman Museum on Vimeo

Best Video Release

Official HD Streaming from George Eastman Museum on Vimeo

Format

HD Streaming

Featured Lists

National Film Registry

Year of Induction: 2012

External Links

Length

5 mins

Type

Movie

Alternative Titles

Kodachrome Color Motion Picture Tests

Last Updated

4 months ago

Contributors

Best English-Friendly Release

Official HD Streaming from George Eastman Museum on Vimeo

Best Video Release

Official HD Streaming from George Eastman Museum on Vimeo

Format
HD Streaming
Featured Lists
National Film Registry

Year of Induction: 2012

Length
5 mins
Type
Movie
Alternative Titles
Kodachrome Color Motion Picture Tests
Last Updated
4 months ago
Contributors

Featured in National Film Registry

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2003 Directors Cut: Fox 4K Blu-ray 

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Theatrical Cut: Fox 4K Blu-ray 

2003 Directors Cut: Fox 4K Blu-ray  (additional scenes appear to be upscaled)

Best Audio:

Original Theatrical 70mm 6-Track Stereo: Fox 4K Blu-ray (DTS-HD MA 4.1)

Original Theatrical 35mm Matrixed Dolby Stereo: 1999 DVD? (2.0 mix on the UHD is a downmix)

2003 Directors Cut: Fox 4K Blu-ray, Fox Blu-ray (DTS-HD MA 5.1)

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Theatrical Cut: Fox 4K Blu-ray 

2003 Directors Cut: Fox 4K Blu-ray 

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Theatrical Cut: Fox 4K Blu-ray 

2003 Directors Cut: Fox 4K Blu-ray  (additional scenes appear to be upscaled)

Best Audio:

Original Theatrical 70mm 6-Track Stereo: Fox 4K Blu-ray (DTS-HD MA 4.1)

Original Theatrical 35mm Matrixed Dolby Stereo: 1999 DVD? (2.0 mix on the UHD is a downmix)

2003 Directors Cut: Fox 4K Blu-ray, Fox Blu-ray (DTS-HD MA 5.1)

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Paramount 4K Blu-ray. See caps
HDR/grading: nice, but some blown out
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DNR: inconsistent, frozen
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Best Audio:

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Additional Info:

The 5.1 remix on the 4K Blu-ray is an appalling remix done by going wild with artificially generated stems from Park Road Post who were given the surviving mono to separate. The experience is jarring and fidelity to original mix in terms of level balance, directionality and impact is nonexistent. Not only does this sound painfully weird, but the Paramount mixers then did whatever they wanted in terms of LFE, sound pans and effect changes.
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Paramount 4K Blu-ray or Blu-ray

Best Video:

Paramount 4K Blu-ray. See caps
HDR/grading: nice, but some blown out
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DNR: inconsistent, frozen
Old Paramount Blu-ray is arguably a solid alternative choice

Best Audio:

Paramount 4K Blu-ray mono is different version of the Blu-ray mono from the same old 2000 DVD transfer.

Additional Info:

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  • The 2000 DVD uses this same mix in discrete 5.0, but with some unnecessary dynamic range compression + a redub of all Deems Taylor audio with Corey Burton.

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Best English-Friendly:

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  • The 2000 DVD uses this same mix in discrete 5.0, but with some unnecessary dynamic range compression + a redub of all Deems Taylor audio with Corey Burton.

  • The 7.1 mix on the 2010 Blu-ray sounds poor, having been hit with excessive noise reduction, dynamic range compression, original aggressive pans no longer in tact, and the channel usage no longer resembles Stokowski's original intended sound design. 

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Imprint Australia 4K Blu-ray has better audio than Criterion 4K Blu-ray, from nicolas:

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(Although bitrate does not solely determine the quality of the encode, the difference is large enough here and there are no publicly available caps.)

No info on the JP VAP Blu-ray.

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