To my surprise, whilst browsing the new DVD releases list online, I found Ruby's sole acting role has made it to DVD in the past month. See here for details on how to buy:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASI ... 82-6688721
A TOUCH OF THE SUN on DVD!
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Gerald Lawrence
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- Joined: Sat Feb 12, 2005 2:48 am
- Location: Kenilworth, UK
Well spotted, and thank you for posting it for us.
I have also had a look on HMV and found it here:
http://www.hmv.co.uk/hmvweb/simpleSearc ... 5&x=22&y=6
This one has a picture of the front label. Looks like another "must have" for my collection!
I have also had a look on HMV and found it here:
http://www.hmv.co.uk/hmvweb/simpleSearc ... 5&x=22&y=6
This one has a picture of the front label. Looks like another "must have" for my collection!
Gerald
A Touch of the Sun
I just ordered a copy of this DVD from Amazon.co.uk. I will not be able to watch it on my US DVD player because it is a region 2 DVD. However, I can watch DVDs for any region on my computer. It is not my preferred method for watching a movie, but it is better than nothing, and I do not want to miss the chance to see Ruby's performance.
It is so strange that CDs from anywhere in the world can be listened to on any CD player, but that DVDs don't work the same way. I found this out when I was in France a couple years ago and was looking forward to purchasing lots of French movies that are not available in the US. Fortunately I discovered this fact before I loaded up my shopping basket!
It is so strange that CDs from anywhere in the world can be listened to on any CD player, but that DVDs don't work the same way. I found this out when I was in France a couple years ago and was looking forward to purchasing lots of French movies that are not available in the US. Fortunately I discovered this fact before I loaded up my shopping basket!
A Touch of the Gem, for sure
Having received my "A Touch of the Sun" DVD on Thursday, I watched it all on Friday, and have just watched the last segment again.
It's convenient to be able to choose a part of the film to watch, so we can just pick those parts with Ruby.
For me, the highlight of the movie is Ruby's "O'Malley's Tango", with "In Love" in second place. I also love her line "Me - sing in public?"
These scenes were all presented earlier in Gerald's videos, but it's nice to see them in context.
As has been pointed out, over here we can't watch the DVD on a dvd player, but it runs well on my PC. Using the 'full screen' setting, it's just about as good as on a TV.
Ruby looks so cute when she smiles with her lips tight together, so that her cheeks puff out. What a doll she was!
Let's hear more thoughts on the new DVD of "A Touch of the Sun".
Ralph
It's convenient to be able to choose a part of the film to watch, so we can just pick those parts with Ruby.
For me, the highlight of the movie is Ruby's "O'Malley's Tango", with "In Love" in second place. I also love her line "Me - sing in public?"
These scenes were all presented earlier in Gerald's videos, but it's nice to see them in context.
As has been pointed out, over here we can't watch the DVD on a dvd player, but it runs well on my PC. Using the 'full screen' setting, it's just about as good as on a TV.
Ruby looks so cute when she smiles with her lips tight together, so that her cheeks puff out. What a doll she was!
Let's hear more thoughts on the new DVD of "A Touch of the Sun".
Ralph
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Gerald Lawrence
- Posts: 698
- Joined: Sat Feb 12, 2005 2:48 am
- Location: Kenilworth, UK
I am glad you liked it Ralph. I have just ordered mine today from HMV UK and it seems it is already dispatched, so I won't have long to wait. Several years ago I managed to track down a VHS copy (long before you could get them on Ebay!) through a company that specialises in cleaning and selling second-hand video tapes. As it took quite a bit of finding, I decided to place the excerpts in the Library for others to see, but I am quite sure the DVD will be better quality.
I agree fully with your comments on how lovely Ruby looks in that film! I can still remember going with my parents to the cinema to see it when it was released in the UK. I am sure you realise that for the film Ruby adopts a Southern Irish accent - I am not quite sure why. One of the bits I like very much is when she changes to a posh English accent for the words "All right Mummy, if you say so!" And wearing such a smart suit!
While the video was still on my PC after editing for the library, I realised that the film contains the complete song "In Love" although the middle section is faded back for the action dialogue to take front stage. So while leaving the video still running, I muted the film dialogue and re-inserted the middle section of the song taken from my record of "In Love". This was not quite as easy as it sounds, since the video for technical reasons runs at 25 frames per second whereas the film was made at 24 frames per second. I had to speed up Ruby's recorded voice to make the duration correct, and this took quite a bit of time experimenting. Finally, I joined all the excerpts in the Library together in one string, with suitable video fades between them, to make my own shortened version of "A Touch of the Sun" by way of a tribute to Ruby to remember what would have been her 67th birthday in March 2002.
I now have an electronic way of capturing video, and planned to re-capture from video tape to my PC in better quality in order to repeat the project. However, I am sure the DVD will be of better quality, and many fans will want to buy it for themselves.
I agree fully with your comments on how lovely Ruby looks in that film! I can still remember going with my parents to the cinema to see it when it was released in the UK. I am sure you realise that for the film Ruby adopts a Southern Irish accent - I am not quite sure why. One of the bits I like very much is when she changes to a posh English accent for the words "All right Mummy, if you say so!" And wearing such a smart suit!
While the video was still on my PC after editing for the library, I realised that the film contains the complete song "In Love" although the middle section is faded back for the action dialogue to take front stage. So while leaving the video still running, I muted the film dialogue and re-inserted the middle section of the song taken from my record of "In Love". This was not quite as easy as it sounds, since the video for technical reasons runs at 25 frames per second whereas the film was made at 24 frames per second. I had to speed up Ruby's recorded voice to make the duration correct, and this took quite a bit of time experimenting. Finally, I joined all the excerpts in the Library together in one string, with suitable video fades between them, to make my own shortened version of "A Touch of the Sun" by way of a tribute to Ruby to remember what would have been her 67th birthday in March 2002.
I now have an electronic way of capturing video, and planned to re-capture from video tape to my PC in better quality in order to repeat the project. However, I am sure the DVD will be of better quality, and many fans will want to buy it for themselves.
Gerald
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Gerald Lawrence
- Posts: 698
- Joined: Sat Feb 12, 2005 2:48 am
- Location: Kenilworth, UK
My copy arrived today, from HMV. I must say the quality is better than I expected. Of course, it is a 50 year old film, in black and white with a mono sound track, but the DVD is noticeably better than my VHS copy. The picture is quite sharp, and the sound generally quite clear.
I have only sampled bits of it - can you guess? Of course, the two songs by Ruby. This is a real treasure, being one of the few examples of video of Ruby at the height of her fame. Do buy it - you won't be disappointed.
I have only sampled bits of it - can you guess? Of course, the two songs by Ruby. This is a real treasure, being one of the few examples of video of Ruby at the height of her fame. Do buy it - you won't be disappointed.
Gerald
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Gerald Lawrence
- Posts: 698
- Joined: Sat Feb 12, 2005 2:48 am
- Location: Kenilworth, UK
Region coding for DVDs
David and Ralph, you are not alone in suffering from the Region Coding restriction - we of course cannot play Region 1 DVDs here in Europe. I can buy a copy of the original Kiss Me, Kate film starring Howard Keel, Kathryn Grayson and Anne Miller from Amazon, but even though it was made in the 50s it is not available on anything other than Region 1. The same is true for the TV hit series Moonlighting with Cybill Shepherd and Bruce Willis.
And why is this? Because the film moguls of Hollywood wanted to retain rights as to when and where DVDs of their films could be released. With a big stretch of the imagination, you could just about concede that there could be a delay in the release of the DVD of a film until after it has been in the Cinemas in any particular region. But the ones I want, for goodness sake, are old films, exactly the same as A Touch of the Sun is. I don't know what the technical details are of Region encoding, but in my opinion ALL old films should be made region-free.
You may not know that some DVD players can be changed to Multi-region by means of inputting a series of non-related codes from the handset. These are known as handset hacks, and if you type this expression into Google, you may strike lucky with your particular model. Sadly, my DVD player, a Pioneer, does not allow me to do this, but for sure the next one I buy will, and that may mean it won't be a Pioneer product.
And why is this? Because the film moguls of Hollywood wanted to retain rights as to when and where DVDs of their films could be released. With a big stretch of the imagination, you could just about concede that there could be a delay in the release of the DVD of a film until after it has been in the Cinemas in any particular region. But the ones I want, for goodness sake, are old films, exactly the same as A Touch of the Sun is. I don't know what the technical details are of Region encoding, but in my opinion ALL old films should be made region-free.
You may not know that some DVD players can be changed to Multi-region by means of inputting a series of non-related codes from the handset. These are known as handset hacks, and if you type this expression into Google, you may strike lucky with your particular model. Sadly, my DVD player, a Pioneer, does not allow me to do this, but for sure the next one I buy will, and that may mean it won't be a Pioneer product.
Gerald
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TheIrishInMe
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- Joined: Thu Mar 10, 2005 10:38 am
Movie
Yes, these are the only songs Ruby sings in the movie.
"O'Malley's Tango" alone is worth the cost. "In Love" is just as good (on Ruby's part), but interrupted visually.
These songs can be previewed in the Video section of the Library, thanks to videos uploaded by Gerald, but it's nice to have the whole movie.
Enjoy.
"O'Malley's Tango" alone is worth the cost. "In Love" is just as good (on Ruby's part), but interrupted visually.
These songs can be previewed in the Video section of the Library, thanks to videos uploaded by Gerald, but it's nice to have the whole movie.
Enjoy.
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Gerald Lawrence
- Posts: 698
- Joined: Sat Feb 12, 2005 2:48 am
- Location: Kenilworth, UK