The Avengers International Fan Forum

Allard · Posted: Fri Jun 24, 2022 4:57 am Post subject: Gale era in HD (and colour)

So this has popped up on YouTube, snippets from the Cathy Gale era in HD and also a colourized scene.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pngvpruMWo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ximexH76qM

Very exciting to see high grade picture quality version of the early episodes and the aspect ratio does not seem to be altered!
I disapprove of colourization, but will admit this is well done.

paulh · Thingumajig Joined: 09 Oct 2016 Posts: 86

Thanks for posting those links. They've done a great job. It looks really impressive!
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mousemeat · Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2022 3:23 am Post subject: Re: Gale era in HD (and colour)

Brugeoise · Thingumajig Joined: 29 Oct 2016 Posts: 59

I'd rather have the original monochrome, but the result with colourisation is quite impressive. Though Steed and Cathy's faces look a bit odd and perhaps the opening titles' colour palette isn't the "right" one, it's still a nifty effort.

Is it just me or did the remastering process give the Bullseye clip a bit of "soap-opera effect"? I don't think it's been Vidfired, but it looks rather fluid to me.

Frankymole · Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2022 3:43 pm Post subject:

VidFIRE wouldn't show on YouTube because it can't do interlaced video. It's possible they did something like VidFIRE (which I think is a proprietary process of the BBC restoration team, though they have been hired out on commercial projects) and then the frame rate jiggered about with (technical term) to get that smoothness onto the YouTube version.
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Frankymole · Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2022 3:57 pm Post subject: Re: Gale era in HD (and colour)

dissolute · Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2022 6:10 pm Post subject:

I was going to say it's a simple upscale, it was actually worse than my video player, PotPlayer, playing back my ripped and compressed copy from the last DVD set.
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mousemeat · Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2022 2:55 am Post subject: Re: Gale era in HD (and colour)

Allard · Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2022 12:45 pm Post subject:

Agreed the quality doesn't blow you away. But keeping track of where technology is going is worth wile. I remember some time ago posting about some automated software or something upgrading early bits of film. If a.i. can improve material without adding to it, I'm interested,we are watching on HUGE screens compared to a sixties tv-set. (I'd wish the makers of The Avenger could see this.) It seems to be beneficial to keeping it enjoyable on HD screens.

cyberrich · Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2022 2:05 pm Post subject:

I'm not a fan of colourizing original b/w footage, but I have to admit this clip doesn't look bad. Colourizing the Cathy Gale episodes might have it's uses as some people refuse point blank to watch anything black and white. This might attract new viewers.

mousemeat · Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2022 6:19 pm Post subject:

Big Bear · Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2022 12:40 am Post subject:

I'm not usually a fan of colourisation but this has been done with so much love and gives the videotape era a new lease of life.

I would welcome a Network blu-ray disc with three or four episodes in a best of season 2 & 3 colourised episodes but also with the option to watch in the original B&W too.

mousemeat · Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2022 1:08 am Post subject:

dissolute · Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2022 2:59 am Post subject:

Pretty sure it's an unofficial fan thing, not a Studio Canal project.
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mousemeat · Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2022 4:43 am Post subject:

mousemeat · Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2022 4:57 am Post subject:

Thinking about the pros and cons even more, and it certainly does open up those early episodes , to a potential whole new group, or generation of fans, and can you imagine some of the Peel episodes done as well...like Death at Bargain prices ? the Master minds, the 13th hole, the hour that never was ,
etc ? again, it'll all boil down to if Studio Canal thinks there is a advantage to adding color..and whether or not it's cost effective..and within a budget the studio bean counters would be comfortable with...

My last thought on this....I still get a kick out of the facial expression that Gale made to Steed, concerning her bathroom window...and the snarky look Steed gives her..grinning...the sexual cat and mouse games between those two was there..maybe not as upfront in the Peel / King eras, but it was there..with a touch of skullduggery...as she slowly began to warm up to him..as the series went on...

Avengerholic · The Big Thinker Joined: 01 Sep 2008 Posts: 1432

Amazing colorization, but that minute or so of footage took over 30 hours apparently. A complete episode would be one massive task.

Allard · Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2022 2:00 am Post subject:

Once A.I. can do colourization cost will go down sharply and colourization could become the norm and b/w unavailable, this is my fear.