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Ever since its founding in 1912, Universal Studios has been a birthplace of dreams for film fans around the world, as well as the training ground for some of the world's most popular stars and filmmakers. The Hong Kong Film Archive (HKFA) "Restored Treasures" series will screen five Universal Studios film classics from February to June. New 4K scans were created from the master prints of these films, and every frame has been carefully cleaned up by remastering experts.
"Restored Treasures - Screen Makes Believe: Universal Studios Centenary Restorations" will show British director James Whale's classic science fiction film "Frankenstein" (1931) on February 1; "To Kill a Mockingbird" (1962), which won three Academy Awards including Best Actor for Gregory Peck, on March 1; Alfred Hitchcock's thriller masterpiece "The Birds" (1963) on April 5; "The Sting" (1974), a winner of seven Academy Awards, on May 3; and Steven Spielberg's "Jaws" (1975), which also won three Academy Awards, on June 7.
To complement the screenings, a seminar entitled "Philosophy and Skills Behind Digital Restoration Projects" will be held at 3.30pm on February 1 after the screening of "Frankenstein" with professional film technician and colourist Calmen Lui and HKFA Programmer Winnie Fu discussing the differences in colour, image quality and ambience between traditional film projection and digital cinema. The other four screenings will have post-screening talks. Film critics Joyce Yang, Bryan Chang and Ka Ming will talk about "To Kill a Mockingbird", "The Birds" and "The Sting" in Cantonese respectively while the post-screening talk on "Jaws" by James Marsh will be conducted in English.
"Frankenstein" was adapted from Mary Shelley's gothic and romantic novel of the same title. Featuring an innocent yet gruesome looking scientist and his brightly lit laboratory, the film remains an entertainment classic with profound reflection on World War I and man's savagery. The film went through rigorous censorship and only in recent years were the once objectionable scenes and dialogue restored to their original brilliance. Equally thrilling is "The Birds", which applies numerous filming techniques and sound effects of electronic compositions to create massive anxiety in the reversal of roles and power between birds and humans. The digital restoration provides new depth to both the sound and vision of the film, making it a timeless classic of mystery and suspense.
The great white shark strikes again in Spielberg's "Jaws", in which people are devoured or torn to pieces at a fictional Atlantic resort. "Jaws" pays homage to Hitchcock, and "The Birds" in particular, with memorable set pieces and music in which threat is implied rather than depicted. The film won the Academy Awards for Best Original Score, Best Sound and Best Film Editing. Spielberg and his technical team personally supervised the new restoration of the film, which will spook and thrill audiences once again.
Set in the 1930s, "To Kill a Mockingbird" depicts a small-town lawyer challenging formidable social norms. Despite the economic depression and racial discrimination in the American south, he proudly shows dignity in court. The film has been restored through high-resolution scans of the original 35mm source elements, presenting much clarity and precision in the scenes.
Unlike scary thrillers and serious fiction, "The Sting" is a comedy with an ingenious plot full of misdirection and humour in an elaborate gambling scam. The catchy albeit anachronistic music score also adds to the irresistible piece of entertainment. The film scored seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Directing and Best Original Screenplay.
Tickets priced at $50 are now available at URBTIX with half-price concessionary tickets for senior citizens aged 60 and above, people with disabilities and their minders, full-time students and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance recipients. Credit card telephone bookings can be made on 2111 5999, or on the Internet at www.urbtix.hk.
Programme details can be found in "ProFolio 75" available at all performance venues of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department. For enquiries, please call 2739 2139 or 2734 2900, or browse the webpage: www.lcsd.gov.hk/fp/en_US/web/fpo/programmes/2011rt3/film.html.
Ends/Thursday, January 1, 2015
Issued at HKT 13:00
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