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" ☒= Positive
REBELS ON THE LOOSE - Box Set (3)
Original Spanish title: RINGO AND GRINGO AGAINST ALL
3x 400 foot (7 Inch) Khaki Green unbranded plastic reels, origin unknown.
Each reel is in a plastic hinged two part case with insert cover
An early comical Spaghetti/Paella Western filmed in Spain. One of the early examples of the so-called "Spaghetti/Paella Western" sub-genre, this comedy Western stars two famous Italian comedians playing two silly partners, they being Lando Buzzanca (who replaces Walter Chiari) as Serg. Gringo and Raimondo Vianello as Soldato Ringo.
Here is the full version of the movie, might help when watching this Super 8mm version!
Leader film? What leader film" ... read below for details of my comments about this
Colour
Sound
COSMETIC CONDITION:
USED
CLEAN
Film stock looks to be undamaged (sprocket holes etc) although please refer to the TESTING section because I noticed something "not quite right" here, with regard to the film itself.
NO cases are cracked or otherwise damaged
Outer 3 reel box set packaging is in reasonable condition, no damage physically but it looks a bit "old" or it has been poorly stored - sort of dirty looking if that makes sense.
NO personal writing on the outer box set case nor any of the three inner reel packs
NO personal names or other writing on the packaging or the film reel
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 (usually after just 3~4 films each clean) because I am running a lot of films through the machine.
After making the initial test viewings, I would HIGHLY recommended that this film package is ONLY purchased for "spare parts value" i.e the 3x 400' reels, the cases and the outer box set case. On the latter, it may be difficult to change the graphics as they seem to be heat sealed within the outer plastic but perhaps a use can still be found for this outer case.
The inner cases and reels are all fine.
Why give this film the "Mark Of Death"?
It stinks! I mean it REALLY stinks and I have had it well away from all the other films, within sealed plastic packets. Prior to sealing this film from the world, the whole room stunk of vinegar odours - truly, this must be one of the worst films I have discovered from the owner. Even when using for "spare parts" you will need to sterilise and "air" the components to completely remove the smells.
Just to satisfy my inquisitive mind, I test played just the first reel ...
Reel One (Part One) has no "leader film" as such, instead there is a long length of plain Black film before going into the movie ...
This Black film is a bit "strange" in that I found it (and further on in the beginning of the reel) the film tending to "stick" to itself a little. It doesn't feel different to the other films but it is similar to two statically charged objects being attracted to each other.
On this reel, this caused the film to not feed (at times) quite right, the picture would, at times, go out of focus and then right itself again ... this was occurring because the film was not coming off the source reel nice and evenly. No jamming but just not a nice smooth feed.
Reel One begins ...
First thing I noticed is the colour, it begins quite washed out looking with Pink/Red and a lot of White. Then as the film advanced, Browns were showing along with some light or pale Greens. Shots of the skyline look a Whiteish-Green colour but absolutely no Blues on this reel (in the first 5 minutes anyway)
Sound is fine, clear and of a good level
So, besides the odours coming off these reels, the film is a bit dodgy (sticking etc) so I do not think it would be a good idea to run it up through your projector.
After my testing, I spent quite a bit of time making sure my own test projector film path was cleaned and sterilised as well - this was one nasty length of film!
Just like the Monty Python sketch ... this film is just like the "Perth Pink" wine reviewed in this clip, or the Chateau Chunder ...
This may be a film box set in really bad condition but you just have to keep laughing .... life's way too short!
After this single reel test viewing, I have packed each reel back into the inner cases and then sealed the complete box set within heat sealed clear plastic to keep those vinegar odours at bay!
