A Short History of Super 8mm


When I first started collecting films, about 1974 you could buy a selection of titles, ranging from 50' up to 5 x 400' (abridged features). Complete features were almost unheard of. The features were mainly 'B' type movies. With the exception of a couple of studios, none of the major studios had films out. Although earlier in the late 60's? and on Standard 8mm only. Universal allowed some of their films, "Psycho", "The Invisible Man" to be released, for hire only I think? Also at this time ABPC had a few titles available for hire "Ice Cold In Alex", "The Dambusters". The sort of releases out in the 70's were "Plan Nine From Outer Space", "The Mighty Gorga", "Journey To The Centre Of Time", The Iron Maiden" etc, these were released as 8 reelers which came on 4 x 400' (120m) reels, and sometimes 1 x 400' cut-downs.

At this time films were released on two formats the old 8mm system called Standard 8mm (Regular 8mm in the USA) and the fairly new format of Super 8mm. Standard 8mm was 16mm film slit down the middle to form two strips of 8mm film, the perforations were also altered by putting an extra one in between the existing ones. Super 8mm was introduced by Kodak for using in cameras in 1965, with the intention of replacing Standard 8mm.

The early 70's were the changeover period from Standard 8mm to Super 8mm, most releases were available on both gauges. Two of the major differences between the gauges was Super 8 had a larger frame area, and the sound stripe was opposite the sprocket holes, a balance stripe was put on the outside edge of the sprockets, this arrangement would allow the development of stereo sound later.

Films from some of the major studios were available (Paramount, United Artists), but only in silent 1 reel black & white versions. A look at some 1973 issues of Movie Maker reveals some the distributors and dealers in the U.K. Derann Film Services* had slightly used B/W 10 reel prints for £25 some of the titles: Miracle Of The Bells, Hill Of Death, It's A Grand Life, Convicts Four, new 8 reels Oh Carol, A Night In Casablanca at £25 Cartoons for £6. Enfield Film Services who were only a dealer had some 'Mini Musicals for £4 featuring Sandie Shaw, Brigitte Bardot. William Powell Films had Nine Ages Of Nakedness, Gorga & Time mentioned above, Jack And Beanstalk. Perry's Movies* who released more specialist silent type films.

Mountain Films who were trade only, their ad in the December 1973 Movie Maker billed them as "The largest 8mm home movie organization in the World" they distributed for Betta, Heritage, Ken, Cinevision, RKO, the deal with RKO was good news for collectors. I think the first release from the deal was King Kong in a complete feature. Citizen Kane also came from this deal, but I think in was abridged? Portland Films were the retail outlet. Many happy hours were spent at the Regent Street shop in London looking at all the films on the shelves, and buying quite a few as well before it closed for ever. Also in the December issue was Walton Films, with a world exclusive I think? The release of MGM's Tom & Jerry cartoons, five were listed. The only problem was the man with the scissors, for some reason all were cut to a standard time.

Walt Disney Home Movies were also on the scene releasing excerpts from their feature films, usually an almost complete scene, with just a few minor trims, i.e. "I Wanna Be Like You" song from The Jungle Book. Most of the animated films were released in this way. The shorts Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck etc. were never released in complete sound versions to my knowledge? (Until Derann became the distributor.) Although compilations were made. Capitol Film Distributors handled films from Columbia and Castle Film (Universal Pictures), again 200ft versions.

A big event was the introduction of the digest/selected scenes film from the major studios. Columbia started to release digest versions, mostly cut down to about 18 minutes, with the "helpful" addition of a voice over narrator. 20th Century Fox followed, with MGM and Universal (The Castle Films brand was to disappear) a little later.

Major titles were to appear over the years in this format. The editing from MGM and Universal was usually better, the addition of the narrator was not needed. Both these companies also started to release longer versions, Universal with 2 x 400ft about 35 minutes and MGM with the same plus 3 x 400ft giving about 55 minutes running time. MGM released Where Eagles Dare in both 400ft and 3 x 400ft versions, I've not seen the shorter version but the long one changes the ending from the feature. They also released The Dirty Dozen in both formats plus a slightly cut feature.

Universal never went to 3x400 versions, but they did release some features complete, Jet Pilot, Scarface are just a couple. Columbia and Warner which on 8mm were released together had a few 2x400ft Confessions Of A Driving Instructor was one. 3x400ft versions of Meteor, Superman were available in addition to the 400ft versions. Columbia also put out some full features Born Free, Cat Baluee, On The Waterfront.

In the U.K. Columbia/Warner 16mm had a small Super 8mm section of hire films Guns Of Navarone, Lawrence Of Arabia, Magnum Force, altogether about forty titles were available to hire, but the cost of hire was quite steep, £10 to £25 if memory serves me. 20th Century Fox (all came from Ken Films) put out some features Silver Streak, The French Connection 1 and 2, Von Ryan's Express.

Marketing Film International entered with titles from Paramount Pictures, ranging from 400ft 3x400ft to complete features with titles like War Of The Worlds, The Godfather, Once Upon A Time In The West, Samson And Delilah, and lots of others, sadly Raiders Of The Lost Ark was only ever available as a 400ft version.

In the U.K. Iver Films who were based at Pinewood Film Studios, released full length films, from various sources The Legend Of Frenchie King, Call Of The Wild, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Murphy's War are just a few titles, also 400ft versions, and trailers were made available. Walton Films had a good catalogue of titles from such U.K. companies as The Rank Organization, Tigon, EMI, plus United Artists and MGM. Reach For The Sky, The One That Got Away, Hannie Caulder, When Eight Bells Toll, Witchfinder General. Laurel and Hardy films were also distributed by Walton. (originally Mountain Films). Derann Film Services* another very active distributor had in their 1977 catalogue, Hammer's Quatermass films, The Avengers, Stardust The Cruel Sea, Carry On Camping.

Derann are now one of the few remaining companies from the early days of 8mm films. They have managed to keep a good range of releases over the years, when most other distributors decided to throw in the towel. At one point in the early 80's the release of new titles was at an all time low, Derann still had something new for the loyal collector.

The early 1980's was the start of mass marketing of video recorders, Betamax and VHS were the two popular formats. remember before 1980 video was very expensive.

Its funny looking back Betamax only lasted about ten years before it disappeared, you can still buy Standard 8mm camera film.

Most of the super 8mm distribution companies mentioned tried the video market for a time, but the titles they could release was not up to the standard of the major studios, who by now were starting to close their 8mm operations and move on to the video mass market. During the decade most of the companies below gradually closed their doors forever.

Fortunately for collectors Derann are still releasing films from a couple of the major studios, they release from 20th Century Fox, MGM, Walt Disney. The occasional rare titles also turn up from around the world.

Independent 8 and Classic Home Cinema also release a few films in 8mm mainly shorts and trailers.

Below are some of the companies involved in Super 8mm films over the years:

Walton Films, Powell Films, Iver Films, DCR Films, PM Films, Perry's Movies*, Derann Film Services*, Ivy Films, Famous Films, Blackhawk Films, Niles Cinema, Red Fox Films, Thunderbird, Gaines, Hollywood Film Exchange, The Film Office, Marketing Film International, Piccalo, Ken Films, Dave Thomas Films*, Halco Films, LA Films, Independent 8*, Major 8 Movies, Classic Home Cinema*, Jef Films, Arrow Films, Enfield Film Services, Starwood Films, Amba Films, Kodak, Agfa, Movieland, Looney Movies, CEC.


Footnote.

Of all the companies mentioned only those marked * are still in business 2nd April 1998. Please see useful companies for contact details of these companies still distributing Super 8mm.


This page was last updated 02 Dec 2002

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