MovieChat Forums > Fantasia (1941) Discussion > I have a reel of this from the 1940s. Is...

I have a reel of this from the 1940s. Is it worth anything?

posted 16 years ago by cryofry
17 replies | jump to latest

My Grandad used to own and operate a theater back in the 1940s. He closed it down in the 1970s and kept several reels of film that he had stored safely away. One of them is "Fantasia". Since I love the film, he gave it to me several years back. I have kept it in safe storage and free from elements. I recently hired out a movie projector and some other equipment and set it up in my basement to play "Fantasia". I thought the image was going to be unwatchable, but it looks marvelous and surprisingly, it has not deteriorated at all in quality. It looks like a modern cartoon made today. I don't know why, but it is a bit different to the "Fantasia" DVD that I have. The one on the reel seems to have a bit more footage and runs a bit longer, plus the conductor has a different voice.

I was thinking of selling it on eBay to see how much I could get for it. I know that most people don't own projectors, but I was wanting to see how much I could get for it. I live in Australia if anyone is interested.

"Let's get the hell out of here" -- James T. Kirk, Star Trek

[–] nestordonkey 16 years ago

Hmmm, first I'd ask Disney about it. Tere own copy may have deteriorated over time and could give you lots of money for a replacement. However, Disney keeps all their films, frame by frame, safely stored away so not most likely. I would make sure it's legal to sell it also. BTW, why not keep it? It's just as good as your dvd and you can proudly say it's part of your collection.

Anyway, you an do what you want with it. BTW, on the dvd you have. Is the Pastoral scene edited to censor the breasts? What about "Night on Bald mountain"?

Jesus loves you no matter what race, whether your straight or gay. He will save you no matter what.

[–] cryofry 16 years ago

The Pastoral Symphony sequence on my DVD has the breasts censored, but on the reel version, it is unedited, meaning you can still see the breasts. I read about them also editing out a black female centaur. Again, in the reel version that I possess, she is not edited out.

I have thought about keeping it, but it's just a real hassle. I've only watched it once in the whole decade I've had it, which was about 3 months ago. I just don't own the equipment to play it and hiring stuff out is expensive and a pain to set up. Changing the reel over when one finishes is a real drama. It is so much easier to just pop in the DVD and watch that instead. Also, with the economy the way it is at the moment, I could use the money. Even if I only get like $300 for it, I'd be happy. I'd like more, of course, but I'd be happy to take what I can get.

"Let's get the hell out of here" -- James T. Kirk, Star Trek

[–] Blackjack254 16 years ago

then I'm guessing the reel you have has Deems Taylor's original voice for the extended narration as well. that, I'm sure would be worth a LOT for Disney.

Don't look into the Death Star, or you will die.

[–] gerryu21220 16 years ago

Indeed, Disney would be VERY interested in that print, mainly as a source for Deems Taylor's original narration audio if nothing else. The 70th anniversary is nearly here...

[–] nestordonkey 16 years ago

I'd go to Disney then,

The breasts were edited out, how?

Jesus loves you no matter what race, whether your straight or gay. He will save you no matter what.

[–] stefanbe 16 years ago

Agreed with the above posters. I think selling it on eBay would be a waste. I think you should contact Disney themselves. Their own print has deteriorated so much that they had to hire Corey Burton to dub over Deem Taylor's voice. I think they would definitely pay a massive sum for this print.

Do I smell the revolting stench of self-esteem?

[–] Blackjack254 16 years ago

although be sure to make it a condition of the sale that they do not edit the pastoral symphony.

Don't look into the Death Star, or you will die.

[–] gerryu21220 16 years ago

I doubt he could make that condition. Disney already owns the rights to do whatever they wish with the footage, including the right to edit as they see fit. The theatrical print in question is probably already the property of Disney, since the theater owner never returned it to the distributor. They might be able to force him to give it back. On the other hand, Disney may still be willing to compensate him for the return of the print, in the interest of good will and their public image.

[–] Buzz-Duh 15 years ago

Please *somehow* make a copy of it and post it online! Isn't it public domain by now?

--
Youngblood II: Racki's Revenge

[–] cryofry 15 years ago

Too late. I live in Australia and it would be darn near impossible for me to contact Disney in person. I sold it on ebay a few weeks back to some guy in California. I ended up getting $250 for it, which I'm happy with. It went towards my new Blu ray player :)

"It looks a bit sweaty in there so you may need to apply baby powder" Zapp Brannigan

[–] stefanbe 15 years ago

So, you just wasted an opportunity for many Disney fans to witness the original, version of Fantasia, which not even the Studio is in possession of.

Well, hopefully, this person in California will contact Disney himself.

Do I smell the revolting stench of self-esteem?

[–] mentors 15 years ago

The news might not be bad. Apparently, Disney was going to rerelease Fantasia in March, but now it looks like we're getting Dumbo in February instead. (They mysteriously won't say whether the Fantasia release has been cancelled or not.) Hopefully, this print is the reason. Of course, this whole thing could be a hoax. I've seen a LOT of this kind of thing on the imdb boards before.

[–] Blackjack254 15 years ago

"So, you just wasted an opportunity for many Disney fans to witness the original, version of Fantasia"

probably not, since we know disney will censor the pastoral symphony again.

Personally, my favorite version of Fantasia that was ever commercially available was the 50th anniversary edition.

that would be the one I'd want to show to my kids, in that it has Deems taylor's original voice but the narrations were shortened so that the whole segment wasn't spoiled before you watched it.

Don't look into the Death Star, or you will die.

[–] filmteknik 15 years ago

I don't speak for them but trust me; Disney has everything and would be very unlikely to have any need for a release print reel. Long before video made other studios realize the tremendous value of what's in their vaults Disney was already meticulously protecting everything with backup copies in salt mines, color separations to protect against fading color dyes, etc. Thirty years after the introduction of regular color negative film Disney was still shooting the animated features as successive frame separations on B&W film which will not fade.

I hope our friend down under enjoys his Blu-ray player.

Steve Kraus
Lake Street Screening Room - Chicago

[–] clive-ihd 14 years ago

In the Pastoral Symphony segment the centaurettes are bare breasted when they first appear, when they're bathing in the river. Originally they were going to be bare breasted for the whole segment, but it was the decided to give the bras. (Mostly made from flowers although the African centaurettes wear coconut shells.) So Disney themselves censored the bare breats in the Pastoral Symphony.

(The Night on Bald Montain scene features bare breasted harpies, and the Nutcracker Suite features naked fairies.)

Later releases of Fantasia censored the scenes featuring a black centaurette called Sunflower by having her shots in close-up. See other thread.

[–] BobLennon123 14 years ago

I wouldnt sell it, because Disney would just destroy it so there's no evidence of the Aryan looking Nazi woman and Black Slave that they edited out.

"Nobody is free, even the birds are chained to the sky" - Bob Dylan

[–] ftgplus4 12 years ago

I know this discussion was over a long time ago, but I question the OP's claim for at least one reason: To my knowledge, it's not likely that a movie of Fantasia's length and vintage would be on just one reel. Am I correct?