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ť Forum Category: PT Boats of WWII
http://www.ptboatforum.com/cgi-bin/MB2/netboard.cgi?cid=101&fct=showf

ť Forum Name: PT Boats - General
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ť Topic: Hope for a "PT 109" DVD release grows...
http://www.ptboatforum.com/cgi-bin/MB2/netboardr.cgi?cid=101&fid=102&tid=735

Warner Bros. Home Video released their WWII film "Merrill's Marauders" (1962) on DVD today.

Hopefully, a DVD release of "PT 109" won't be far behind, although there is absolutely no information from Warner Bros.on the film...

Posted By: Drew Cook | Posted on: Apr 22, 2008 - 4:38pm
Total Posts: 1306 | Joined: Oct 19, 2006 - 10:44am

Well, still no inkling of a date for a DVD release for this classic PT boat film.

On another discussion board, I asked a fellow who lives near Hollywood, is deeply involved with the movie and movie/TV star nostalgia business, and quite knowledgeable about vintage film releases onto video/DVD why "PT 109" hadn't been released yet on DVD. His reply was that there were "rights" problems with the film, which are holding it up.

Warner Bros. Home Video has so far refused to answer any of my several emailed queries to them about the film's DVD release, so...?

Posted By: Drew Cook | Posted on: Aug 20, 2008 - 2:45pm
Total Posts: 1306 | Joined: Oct 19, 2006 - 10:44am

Computer TV cards are handy for this. I recorded it a few months ago when it aired on a local channel. You can also hook a VCR or other TV device up and view/record it. Recording quality looks as good as the broadcast and can be adjusted on mine, a Leadtek brand. They are about fifty bucks with a remote. I've used this brand for years with good luck. The software has assorted features like scheduling a recording, PIP, and taking an image snapshot of whatever is on. There's other brands but I have no experience with them. Commercials can be zapped with video editing software, I use one that came with my video card. Good headphones keep you from annoying others.

I don't use my TV anymore, with the computer screen being so relatively close I think it gives a better view. And you never know when you want to grab a snapshot of what's showing. If you have a wife or girlfriend, it probably wouldn't be very smart to totally ignore quality TV time together although it can help avoid arguments on those rare moments when you can't agree on what to watch.

For the internal types, if you don't know what a computer PCI card is, or can't tell if you have one available, you'll probably need a geek-type person to put it in. Try bribing them with a lobster, that usually works on me. I see at newegg.com that they have external ones now although considerably more money. Even if you don't buy from that site, read the customer reviews and minimum computer requirements for the card you are considering.

Video files are large so you may need a hard drive upgrade especially if you don't burn them to a DVD right away and erase. An hour show, minus commercials, weights in on mine at around 1.5 GBs.

Laws about recording TV shows/movies have been fuzzy since the Betamax decision, Sony Corp. v. Universal City Studios. It's been commonly considered OK to record TV shows for personal viewing but this is changing with todays digital distributing vs trying to wholesale bootleg VCR tapes. I'm no lawyer but the way I read it, if you record a TV movie for personal use like we've done for years it is OK but download the same movie from Napster and the FBI might come knocking on your door. Gluttons for punishment can read more here: [url]http://www.copyright.gov/docs/regstat030603.html[/url]

I'm not a salesman for TV video cards or newegg by the way, I just like the both of them. The cards seem to be more power efficient too according to this page: [url]http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-6475_7-6400401-2.html?hhTest=1[/url]

Regards,
Jeff

Posted By: Jeff D | Posted on: Aug 21, 2008 - 9:58am
Total Posts: 2203 | Joined: Dec 21, 2006 - 1:30am

Hi there.

It will be fantastic if they do decide to release PT-109 on DVD. I recently found out that the boats used in the filming of it were 85' long. I also found out that the interior shots were exact duplicates of genuine 80' Elco boats but were studio sets. So for those of us who are interested in t he interiors of the 80' Elco boats this film on DVD will be a treasure trove of information. At least I have the VHS tape version of it.

Cheers from PeterTareBuilder

"Give me a faster PT boat for I'd like to get out of harm's way!"

Posted By: PeterTareBuilder | Posted on: Aug 22, 2008 - 11:37am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

I dunno about them being 85-foters. The stills I have make the Elco deck layouts look sort of underscale and crowded when compared to the real thing.

Will

Posted By: Will Day | Posted on: Aug 22, 2008 - 1:18pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

If I am not mistaken, the boats used were 65 footers. They were not 85, as if you watch the movie and study the boats you will see how crowded ( as Will suggested ) they were. The Movie House did an outstanding job recreating the boats and there is no doubt, they were the closest to the real thing made........

Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Aug 22, 2008 - 3:39pm
Total Posts: 3545 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am

Hi there.

Regaring the length of the boats in the film PT-109. It was just the other day that I was on a site where it was confirmed that the boats were 85' and not 65' long as was/is commonly thought. That site explained the modifications to the boats and talked about the interior stage sets. I'll hopefully find the site again soon and post a link for you. I thought I had it bookmarked but can not find it.

Cheers from PeterTareBuilder

"Give me a faster PT boat for I'd like to get out of harm's way!"

Posted By: PeterTareBuilder | Posted on: Aug 22, 2008 - 3:58pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

Hi there again.

It might have been on this board where I saw the info.

There is a thread that might throw more light on what size bast was used in the movie PT-109.

Cheers from PeterTareBuilder:

http://www.ptboats.org/cgi-local/sitenetbbs/netboardr.cgi?fid=102&cid=101&tid=382&pg=27&sc=20&x=0

"Give me a faster PT boat for I'd like to get out of harm's way!"

Posted By: PeterTareBuilder | Posted on: Aug 22, 2008 - 4:20pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

You are correct.I checked my files ( which I should have done in the first place ) and the boats were 85 foot rescue boats, purchased by the Air Force at Hurlbert Fiels near Panama City. The boas were ferried to Miami, where Miami Shipbuilding did the conversions. The decks were done by the prop shops, and the Navy Department supplied the weapons and ammo used in the movie. I think the boats were design number 375. Thanks for picking up on my mstake.

Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Aug 22, 2008 - 8:45pm
Total Posts: 3545 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am

I assumed for years the movie boats were shorter-than-80 feet Air Sea Rescue Boats (they LOOK shorter and stubbier), and even spouted off on this board and in other places about it until corrected by Al Ross, who was the one who posted the info about the correct, 85' lengths of the boats.

Posted By: Drew Cook | Posted on: Aug 23, 2008 - 12:52pm
Total Posts: 1306 | Joined: Oct 19, 2006 - 10:44am

I bow to Al's superior expertise, but those boats sure LOOK smaller.

Will

Posted By: Will Day | Posted on: Aug 23, 2008 - 1:15pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered