"EDISON'S FRANKENSTEIN" PAPERBACK PUBLISHED
Fred "Ogle Eyed" Wiebel
FORGIVE THIS SHAMLESS PLUG
Frederick C. Wiebel's book “Edison’s Frankenstein” The 100th
Anniversary Edition, has just been published by BearManor Media. It is
the result of almost 20 years of research on the 1910 “Frankenstein”
film and contains much more information and photos than any of the
other editions I self published over the years. It’s now 286 pages in
a trade paperback format of 9” X 6”.
“The complete tortuous history of the 1910 film version of
Frankenstein is narrated in this 100th Anniversary edition. Everything
you ever wanted to know about the classic first Frankenstein film and
then some. This highly researched document begins in the dusty
archives of Thomas A. Edison and follows a trail of evidence that
leads through the tattered pages of pre- Hollywood film history. The
story unfolds of the making of the film and its disappearance on to
the actual re-discovery of the long-lost 1910 Frankenstein film
starring Charles Ogle, Augustus Phillips, and Mary Fuller, and finally
getting it released on DVD. Helped step-by-step with obscure Edison
Manufacturing Co. documents and numerous rare photographs, many
published for the very first time, this motion picture, its unknown
impact on later “Frankenstein” films and intertextuality are finally
revealed and brought back to life. Created in a style that appeals to
all audiences, author Wiebel brings forth a living book from dead
tissues. Edison's Frankenstein stands on its own in the world of
horror filmography and is a welcome edition to any library.”
This edition corrects all the ‘facts’ and false statements made about
this film and reveals for the first time the true story about the
finding of this film and preparation for release on DVD.
"Of the over 400 books on Frankenstein that I have in my library, this
is the gem of my collection and the one I've been waiting for." -
Forrest J. Ackerman
My blog about the 1910 Edison Studio “Frankenstein” film can be read
here: http://www.moviefanfare.com/guest-contributors/guest-blogger-frederick-c-weibel-jr/
Wiebel is offering an ‘Author’s Edition’ limited to 500 copies to my
friends and fans that can be obtained only directly from me. The book
will be autographed to you, or whomever you choose, dated and numbered
1 to 500, first come first served. It will also contain, in a pocket
in the back of the book, a ‘restored’ DVD of the 13 min. film. The
film now has no visible watermarks, the original title card re-created
from the Edison archives inserted, contrasted and color tints
corrected, slip frames removed and is accompanied by an edited
soundtrack derived from period Edison cylinder recordings synched from
the original music cues printed in the company catalog. The film still
shows some signs of deterioration due to the age and condition of the
only original print available. I personally worked on the DVD to give
it ‘the closest to the original presentation’ as possible and is far
more enjoyable than any other version on the market.
He also has available the regular edition of the paperback that will
come signed and dated.
For those that cannot afford or would rather enjoy the book and film
on your computer, I created a ‘double disc version’. The text is
presented in MSWord and PDF form, with color photos and different
layout on a CD and the same ‘restored’ version of the film on DVD
packaged in a DVD style case. The text disc will be signed and
accompanied by an insert facsimile of the original Edison Kinetogram
catalog featuring “Frankenstein” on the cover, with a back page giving
the film credits.
AUTHOR’S EDITION: $32.50 ppd.
REGULAR EDITION: $22.50 ppd.
E-BOOK AND DVD: $15 ppd.
You can Paypal the funds to FredW...@aol.com
Or send checks or money orders made out and to:
FREDERICK C. WIEBEL, JR.
POB 585
HAGERSTOWN, MD 21741-0585
Wiebel prefers that you purchase copies directly from him, as that
gives him more of a ‘royalty’ than any other method.
For Credit Card purchases and to view images of the paperback:
http://bearmanormedia.bizland.com/id465.html
The double disc package here: http://turnerclassic.moviesunlimited.com/Product.asp?sku=D00988
(the description is slightly wrong in that the DVD film has the
original color tints)
I would appreciate and hope that you will post a review at the
Amazon.com listing or other web and blog sites. Please spread ‘the
word’ to your friends and any interested parties.
If you have any questions please feel free to send me an e-mail
(FredW...@aol.com)
or message on my Facebook accounts:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/frederick-c-wiebel-jr/83801276047?v=info&viewas=0
(fan site)
http://www.facebook.com/people/Frederick-C-Wiebel-Jr/1277465754
Thank you,
Fred
Old Movie Fan
Your early book "Edison's Frankenstein" and the original DVD of that
film, plus a nice print video of "Nosferatu" are both prized possessions
that I continually use (and even watch occasionally), all these years
later.
Perhaps the most valuable tool for enjoying the film was having the
complete scenario at my fingertips to completely understand what the
film was attempting to do.
Now I see that extensive work has been done by you to improve the
deteriorated film somewhat. Could you comment on any changes that you
might have done to the film speed? While parts of the original DVD was
apparently at a proper speed, other scenes were far too fast. I guess I
should say that it's only my opinion, but watching the film, it was very
obvious. This was always a bigger concern for me than the image.
I'd be interested in learning what you've managed to do.
Thank you for your continued hard work on this definite classic film.
Best,
Rich Wagner
BTW: I've seen it so often that today, I've created a pristine copy,
made flawless as I replay it in my mind complete with the original DVD
score. It's amazing what the mind can do.
Fred "Ogle Eyed" Wiebel
> � Now I see that extensive work has been done by you to improve the
> deteriorated film somewhat. �Could you comment on any changes that you
> might have done to the film speed? �While parts of the original DVD was
> apparently at a proper speed, other scenes were far too fast. �I guess I
> should say that it's only my opinion, but watching the film, it was very
> obvious. �This was always a bigger concern for me than the image.
> � I'd be interested in learning what you've managed to do.
>
Yes, part of the film is way too fast making the characters jump
around like cockroaches on a hot griddle.
The film was shot at 20 frames per second for a total running time of
about 13 mins. I wasn't able or nor had the time and equipment to go
over the film scene by scene to get a "proper" running speed. As the
projectors at the time were hand cranked, we can imagine that while
watching it, the projectionist was a little fast on the draw.
I can't off hand remember the exact frame speed Dettlaff told me he
used. Dettlaff's release runs in the 12 min. area so I tried to make
up for lost frames and speed by adding some time on the inter-title
cards.
I used the original title card which was on a film strip submitted to
the LOC by Edison employees in the copyright materials preserved at
the Edison National Site. I received a rather rough xerox of it from
them, so I re-created it. Dettlaff used a fanciful one he had made up.
I also substituted the intertitles which now look more like the
orginals on Dettlaff's film print. He also made new ones for the video
that didn't resemble the format of the originals.
I contrasted the B&W frames to bring out the images better and
adjusted the color tints to look more like the originals. I received
color photos taken off the original film print and tried to match them
and also from personally examining the survivng print. Dettlaff used a
3rd generation video dub for his transfer so the images weren't as
sharp.
There were a couple of frame slips that I removed. Also some bad
frames here and there that interferred with the enjoyment of the
film.
I added a soundtrack edited out of period Edison cylinders synched up
to match the music cue suggestions in the Kinetogram 'catalog'
featuring Frankenstein. I left it a little scratchy to go along with
the condition of the film.
Even though I produced the soundtrack of Dettlaff's DVD release,
having a friend, Rob Havermale create it on his synclaver, I didn't
want to interfere with Rob's copyrighted score. He did a wonderful job
synching it up with the film. Dettlaff used the soundtrack for his DVD
from a working video tape that I sent him. Rob's sountrack was in
digital stereo but Dettlaff used a 3rd generation mono dub. Rob's
synch compensated for the removal of the slipped frames, which
Dettlaff didn't do, so the soundtrack runs out of synch from the
creation scene on. Rob also created some exit music which Dettlaff
didn't use. Neither Rob or I received any credit or our agreed to
royalties, $1.00 each per unit sold. The Nosferatu soundtrack on
Dettlaff's DVD was created by someone else.
That's about all that I can remember at this point.
Over all I tried to make the film as much as possible in the way it
might have been presented in 1910. Some of the advertising for
Frankenstein showings in period papers, mentioned that the house
orchestra would provide the music. Also, I couldn't find or possess
piano versions of the suggested music on Edison cylinders.
Fred
Fred "Ogle Eyed" Wiebel
Fred
Lloyd Fonvielle
> BTW: I've seen it so often that today, I've created a pristine copy,
> made flawless as I replay it in my mind complete with the original DVD
> score. It's amazing what the mind can do.
I wouldn't admit to that in public, Rich. If the MPAA finds out you've
been making unauthorized copies of a film, even in your mind, they'll
come after you.
--
Mar de Cortes Baja
www.mardecortesbaja.com <http://www.mardecortesbaja.com/blog>
Old Movie Fan
> (Lloyd Fonvielle)
>Old Movie Fan wrote:
>BTW: I've seen it so often that today, I've
>created a pristine copy, made flawless as I
> replay it in my mind complete with the original
> DVD score. It's amazing what the mind can
> do.
>I wouldn't admit to that in public, Rich. If the
> MPAA finds out you've been making
> unauthorized copies of a film, even in your
> mind, they'll come after you.
--
Thanks Lloyd for the "warning".
Now that James Cameron is going to make us all think 3-D; soon I'll
probably have the monster chasing me, or maybe even hiding behind
curtains in my house.
That's scarey! 8^)
BTW: I like this old version because it can be interrupted that the
monster was simply in Frankenstein's mind. This makes me just another
mad scientist, creating monsters in my head.
Rich Wagner