Stillwell has Gone....
Episode eight: A minor irritation while researching. Inspired by Sue.
An almost complete collection of Ealing Comedies, some of which he hadn’t seen before. These could certainly be added to the inventory of his store. Several other titles were put to one side, including those by a legendary director that he was keen to do a display about. That would be for another time. For now, he was looking at another milestone of cinema; a 70th Anniversary boxed set. Delving further, the discovery of a numbered boxed set of a 75th Anniversary edition (#2318 of 62,700) Carefully he opened the box, to reveal four discs, tucked into a standard multi-disc case. The transfer is on to 1080p, which gives the film a new visual splendour and clarity. Close ups are sharper, colours look more natural and there are fewer marks and speckles on the print. The fine detail is easier to discern. This enhanced resolution was one that Stillwell had not seen.
He knew there would be a market for such a splendid collector’s item. He continued to read the notes contained within the box. Sound had been enhanced to Dolby 5.1, which complimented the music score, giving excellent tone and fidelity. The dialogue has become crystal clear and the technicians have been able to scrub and clean away the traces of hiss, pops and crackles that existed on inferior copies. According to the pamphlet, the box also included all the supplements and extra material that was the key for any movie aficionados. This set contained a total of fourteen hours of additional material surrounding the film, the director, the cast and the legacy of the production.
There were plenty of his regular clients, who would be bedazzled by a copy of a monogrammed handkerchief from one of the main characters, and a paperweight music box that played the theme from the film. There was even a reproduction of the Premiere program. Nothing was missing, the box appeared to be complete.
Stillwell became totally absorbed in this treasure trove of film memorabilia. He was still reading as the door to the shop opened and one of his regular customers walked confidently up to the counter. Stillwell knew his name was George and that was about it. He was of average height, with a mop of unruly light brown hair. He wore round ‘John Lennon’ style glasses and had piggy little eyes, magnified by the thickness of his lenses. Stillwell had never really warmed to the odious little man, with his constant questions and badgering tone.
Stillwell looked up from the article he was reading just as George leaned over the counter and picked up the small ceramic music box. And opened it. The small shop was suddenly filled with the tinkling theme of the much-loved movie.
“Put that down!” his voice was firm, causing George to put the little box back on the counter immediately.
“What have you got? Is it a new edition? Is it complete? Is it available for sale? How much is it?”, a staccato burst of questions from George .
“Can I see the list of extras on the back of the box?”, George went to pick up the box.
In a flash Stillwell slapped his face with the back of his right hand, causing George to stagger backwards.
“Leave it! This item is not yet for sale. Your visit here is at an end. Please leave and do not return for at least a week”, Stillwell spoke slowly and clearly so George would understand.
George looked slightly shaken as he rubbed his cheek, where the back of Stillwell’s hand had landed.
“But I rather expected to be able to purchase it. You had no need to strike me. I would like to buy that movie.” George had recovered himself slightly and once more moved towards the carton on the counter that contained the film and all the extras.
Stillwell sighed, pulled the pistol from under the counter and shot George in the chest. The bumptious regular fell backwards, dead before his body hit the linoleum.
“Life is under no obligation to give us what we expect. We take what we get and are thankful it’s no worse than it is!”, Stillwell spoke quietly as he replaced the pistol under the counter and picked up the movie pamphlet and continued to read what was contained within the boxed anniversary collection.
He thought himself knowledgeable about the movie, but he had no idea about the complexities of bringing it to the screen. Taken from a sweeping, engrossing novel, the screen time of nearly four hours is still one of the longest films ever made. The search for the main characters took several years and an agreement between studios so the leading man could be released, for a substantial sum of money and a share of the profits. While waiting for the release of the actor, the producer used the time to publicise the search for the female lead. A nationwide casting call for almost 1,500 unknowns, which cost a fortune and did not ultimately find the actress. But it did provide the publicity he had been seeking.
History showed that roughly thirty actresses were tested for the role, some very famous stars of the time falling by the wayside, as a virtual unknown to American audiences was chosen. When filming began, it was shot almost entirely on the studio backlot with a few locations in California being used. At the time of its production it was the second most expensive film ever made, with Ben-Hur the only film costing more.
A music score was composed that was one of the longest ever written. Themes to evoke the love and passion of the drama, as well as drawing on some folk and patriotic music of the era amounting to almost a hundred different pieces of music. Stillwell briefly looked up from his reading, the shop quiet once more. He returned to his studies.
He did not know that for the premiere in Atlanta, at Loew’s Grand Theatre, there had been three days of celebrations and festivities. A cavalcade of limousines featuring stars from the film, receptions and a costume ball. Estimates suggest that over 300,000 people lined the route from the airport to watch the stars arrive. Stillwell now had his idea for the next display and briefly wondered how many of the 2013 4K digital restoration copies of the film he had in stock. He would build his new promotion around this 75th Anniversary box, he knew he had a poster from the 1967 re-release, when the film was blown up to 70mm. This was a poster with the now famous artwork of the lead character with his white shirt ripped open, holding the female lead against a backdrop of flames.
“I wonder if I have an old video of the film from the 80’s”, Stillwell thought, as he stood, stretched and stared at the lifeless body on his shop floor.
