Blue ray or chartreuse, the crisp and clear image of a fresh-struck 35mm print projected by a pure carbon arc lamp has never been excelled. Yes, our modern gizmos are wonderful...but only for teeny, tiny TV sets. Even the biggest electronic screen is no match for a 50 foot wide screen. Frankly, the images we watched in the 1950s and even early 60s were spectacular. Then, came TV with 3rd or 4th generation prints struck on 16 mm film and projected by incandescent lamps. The color was all wrong even for monochrome film chains and the quality of the images became as fuzzy as a child's Teddy bear. That's what you've been watching all your lives (assuming you're under 59 years or so of age).
A "film chain" was a device for projecting multiple images into one camera. Flopping mirrors did the optical switching. Mos U.S. equipment had two film projectors and one twin-drum slide projector. My experience in "the pit" as the film room was called taught me the slide projectors were easiest to get sharp focus. The two film machines were always slightly different -- one better than the other. The result was a sort of "blah" black and white image or an off-color image from color film.
My point is that the old tech projection equipment was designed to properly show black and white films. Nothing equals the original engineering. Sure, blue ray looks a tad better than standard DVD. But it doesn't hold a candle to black and white positives printed on high-quality stock and projected using blazing white carbon arcs. Eat your hearts out kids, some things were better -- a lot better -- in the old days. To see a movie you held your girl friend, not some piece of cold plastic.
-- David G. Brown
