Скачать или смотреть Opening to King Kong (1976) 1981 VHS (2-tape version)

Print date: No print date. (Definitely after September 1981)
VHS packaging: Diaper Box
VHS recording speed: Standard Play (SP)
Audio format: Monaural, linear audio track.
Video format: NTSC.
Closed caption: No.
Tapes brand: Unknown
Runtime: 135 minutes. (combined tapes runtime)
Distributor: Paramount Home Video
Copy protected? Yes, by Stop-Copy protection (both tapes).
Duplicated by: Bell & Howell/Columbia Pictures/Paramount Video Services

Here's what I think of this print:

I was initially misled into thinking this tape used the same master from 1979, mainly because of the packaging. The "diaper box" style and the tan-lid tape with white lettering are usually indicators of a Paramount reissue using the original Magnetic Video master. But it turns out this isn't from 1979. Or 1980 (because of the pure-blue sticker label)

I'm not sure if this particular release came from a "bad batch," but here’s why I’m questioning it:

If you closely examine the image, you’ll notice interference lines moving from right to left at a medium pace. This resembles "co-channel interference," which used to be common with off-air TV recordings; when a cable channel and an over-the-air channel shared the same frequency. The weaker signal would appear as a ghost over the stronger one.

It might have been interference at the duplication facility; possibly due to cabling issues or malfunctioning hardware? And no, it's not caused by my VCR.

There’s also a dotted static line moving slowly from top to bottom. This isn't caused by a wrinkled tape; it’s part of the actual signal.

So how do I know this is from 1981?

The tape style (tan lid with white text) first appeared in 1981 and it was very common in 1982 and continued into early to mid-1983. And also for the lack of a Paramount Home Video logo + the "acid trip" warning screen.

The distorted, mirrored line at the bottom of the screen (known as "head-switching noise") matches what I’ve seen in most 1981 tapes duplicated at B&H.

Why 2 tapes? Couldn't a 135 minute movie fit into a single T-150 Scotch tape?

Could this be a test print? Or maybe a second-generation copy?

Or maybe I’m just rambling? ¯_(ツ)_/¯


I do not own the content shown in this video. This is for entertainment purposes only.

©1976 Paramount Pictures Corporation (NAN Films LLC/StudioCanal S.A.S./Vivendi SE/Paramount Global)
©1982 Paramount Home Video (Paramount Home Entertainment/Paramount Global)