The Grey scaled B/W Bewitched DVD sets the first Two seasons

[Larry Tate]

The point is that Sony used a colorized turn the color off grey scale for their B/W option on seasons one & two not the original print, if you have the colorized version & turn the color off then you get the exact same version as the B/W one that Sony offered, even though it is very different then the original version seen in the 1960's which you can see on the CH VHS tapes.

That is just Sony being cheap & not wanting to pay for two restored versions.

I don't consider the colors fake looking at all, in fact they in my view look very realistic as if they were filmed in color which creates a seamlessness as you go into the actual color filmed season 3.

Even N@N when they got the color episodes as well in 1998 i think it was, used the restored grey scale prints in showing the B/W episodes before the colorization took place & as such the B/W episodes clearly looked as they do now & different then they had in the early 1990's when they had used the original un-restored prints from the 1960's, the restoration process altered the B/W look from the original well before the colorization took place.

I thought they did a wonderful & overall superb & accurate job of colorizing Bewitched.

Of course if you get the first two seasons in Color you get them in B/W as well, all you have to do is turn off the color on your remote control for your TV & it i exactly the same grey scale as the B/W sets are.

The B/W sets are not an accurate replication of how Bewitched was originally seen in B/W in 1964 to 1966, if you want the original shadows, lighting, witchy feel, contrast and visual feel then you need to see original studio 16mm prints or the Columbia House & Screen Gems VHS tapes which were done before the show was restored & remastered and used old 35mm master prints that were made during the shows actual run from Fall 1964 thru the spring of 1966.

The Columbia House tapes are especially as the show was originally seen in the vintage sense with the same aesthetic quality's that were seen back in the 1960's.

There was just real spookiness in the Columbia House tape prints from the first 2 seasons, they are just all the more Witchy like something is going to jump out at you from that Darkened corner.

So you really don't need to record the shows again in B/W as you will have them already on your Color DVD's with the color turned off.

So i am a proponent of the Colorized episodes as it is a Two for One deal in effect, both Color & B/W.

Larry Tate

[ThomasE]

I finally got a chance to adjust the color on my screen to black and white. It reminds me of how it used to air on Nick at Nite. I still did order black and white episodes as I want the authentic version of the way they were shot. I also ordered the colorized eps as well. I just want collections of both versions.

[Larry Tate]

Originally Posted by ThomasE

I finally got a chance to adjust the color on my screen to black and white. It reminds me of how it used to air on Nick at Nite. I still did order black and white episodes as I want the authentic version of the way they were shot. I also ordered the colorized eps as well. I just want collections of both versions.

The thing is you are not getting the authentic B/W version from 1964/1965.

The B/W sets are not an accurate replication of how Bewitched was originally seen in B/W in 1964 to 1966, if you want the original shadows, lighting, witchy feel, contrast and visual feel then you need to see original studio 16mm prints or the Columbia House & Screen Gems VHS tapes which were done before the show was restored & remastered and used old 35mm master prints that were made during the shows actual run from Fall 1964 thru the spring of 1966.

The Columbia House tapes are especially as the show was originally seen in the vintage sense with the same aesthetic quality's that were seen back in the 1960's.

The B/W DVD set today does not reflect that and looks very much different then it did in the 60's and is Not Authentic.

If you bought the colorized version and turned the color off, it will be exactly as the B/W DVD set is in appearance.

Larry Tate

[ThomasE]

Originally Posted by Larry Tate

The thing is you are not getting the authentic B/W version from 1964/1965.

The B/W sets are not an accurate replication of how Bewitched was originally seen in B/W in 1964 to 1966, if you want the original shadows, lighting, witchy feel, contrast and visual feel then you need to see original studio 16mm prints or the Columbia House & Screen Gems VHS tapes which were done before the show was restored & remastered and used old 35mm master prints that were made during the shows actual run from Fall 1964 thru the spring of 1966.

The Columbia House tapes are especially as the show was originally seen in the vintage sense with the same aesthetic quality's that were seen back in the 1960's.

The B/W DVD set today does not reflect that and looks very much different then it did in the 60's and is Not Authentic.

If you bought the colorized version and turned the color off, it will be exactly as the B/W DVD set is in appearance.

Larry Tate

Well, I did that tonight. I turned off the color. I got a glimpse of how it was in B and W. You might be right about the authenticity, though. I remember NAN's version back in the late 80's and early 90's being grainier. I have an ep from NAN which is really the first episode.

I went ahead and order the B and W eps (S1 and S2) through amazon anyway just to have them as to compare plus, I only paid 20 dollars total for both. I ordered S2 Colorized version as well which was less than 8 dollars total. I have on borrow from the library season one colorized.

[Larry Tate]

Originally Posted by ThomasE

Well, I did that tonight. I turned off the color. I got a glimpse of how it was in B and W. You might be right about the authenticity, though. I remember NAN's version back in the late 80's and early 90's being grainier. I have an ep from NAN which is really the first episode.

I went ahead and order the B and W eps (S1 and S2) through amazon anyway just to have them as to compare plus, I only paid 20 dollars total for both. I ordered S2 Colorized version as well which was less than 8 dollars total. I have on borrow from the library season one colorized.

Yes your right about the N@N prints in B/W of the first two seasons being grainier in the 1980's & early/mid 1990's as they were still using the old original unrestored prints then, the same ones used in the Columbia House & Screen Gems VHS tapes.

In 1998 N@N started showing all 8 seasons and the color seasons for the first time and all 8 seasons were the new restored remastered prints that had been made for the then upcoming DVD releases.

They were using the B/W prints ( that would be used for the B/W DVD releases in a few years) then not the colorized ones which did not not yet exist, that would not happen for 2 years when Hallmark took over the national syndication rights from N@N for a 2 years.

When TV Land took over from Hallmark they too used the new restored prints and used the colorized ones.

Larry Tate

[ThomasE]

Originally Posted by Larry Tate

Yes your right about the N@N prints in B/W of the first two seasons being grainier in the 1980's & early/mid 1990's as they were still using the old original unrestored prints then, the same ones used in the Columbia House VHS tapes.

In 1998 N@N started showing all 8 seasons and the color seasons for the first time and all 8 seasons were the new restored remastered prints that had been made for the then upcoming DVD releases.

They were using the B/W prints ( that would be used for the B/W DVD releases in a few years) then not the colorized ones which did not not yet exist, that would not happen for 2 years when Hallmark took over the national syndication rights from N@N for a 2 years.

When TV Land took over from Hallmark they too used the new restored prints and used the colorized ones.

Larry Tate

I remember when the eps from 1966 and beyond came to NAN. I was excited because I felt that it was about time. LOL. They were running the first two seasons into the ground although there were plenty of eps for about four months to live off of. I saw the later seasons on NAN then called them to confirm that they'd still be airing the B and W shows. They called back and told me that they'd be airing them all. Now, for a while, I recall them airing eps from 66-72 in the cycle taking a break from the first two seasons. Later down the line, the first two seasons were aired in the cycle with the other six seasons. I was then pleased.

When I tuned into Hallmark in 2002, I was watching the show and observed the eps and thought they were later seasons. Then I looked at the quailty of the picture and color pondered. I then started noticing eps I remembered airing in black and white and then said "No way! These can't be colorized!" I was estatic because I always wanted to see them in color. I thought it was so cool. I think you are right about the B & W prints being used in the late 90's because I have the first ep I taped from 1999 and it did not look as grainy as it used to when aired in 1989.

It is great to talk with another "Hechizada" analyst.

[Larry Tate]

Originally Posted by ThomasE

I remember when the eps from 1966 and beyond came to NAN. I was excited because I felt that it was about time. LOL. They were running the first two seasons into the ground although there were plenty of eps for about four months to live off of. I saw the later seasons on NAN then called them to confirm that they'd still be airing the B and W shows. They called back and told me that they'd be airing them all. Now, for a while, I recall them airing eps from 66-72 in the cycle taking a break from the first two seasons. Later down the line, the first two seasons were aired in the cycle with the other six seasons. I was then pleased.

When I tuned into Hallmark in 2002, I was watching the show and observed the eps and thought they were later seasons. Then I looked at the quailty of the picture and color pondered. I then started noticing eps I remembered airing in black and white and then said "No way! These can't be colorized!" I was estatic because I always wanted to see them in color. I thought it was so cool. I think you are right about the B & W prints being used in the late 90's because I have the first ep I taped from 1999 and it did not look as grainy as it used to when aired in 1989.

It is great to talk with another "Hechizada" analyst.

It is a positive thing to chat with a fan that truly cares about the show in an uplifting way.

I recall prior to 1998 when there was no single national syndicated channel that held the rights to Bewitched.

There were so many super stations that telecast it across the country through the 1980's & up to the late 1990's, like KTLA, TBS, WGN, WSBK, KWGN,KPIX,WWOR AND others.

I must have watched on 8 different stations a day not including the 2 times a day on N@N, usually most of the seasons were represented in all this instances per day, it was a real Bewitchedapolooza, those were the good old days.

Of course with having them all on DVD now one can formulate ones own TV schedule.

I still like to partake in my 140 odd 16m mm original studio prints, many of them restored where i can see the show as it was originally presented with original commercials, something Sony is blind to doing unfortunately.

By the way i love the high quality colorization that was used for the first two seasons, it is almost as if it was filmed in color orignally.

Larry Tate

[ThomasE]

Originally Posted by Larry Tate

It is a positive thing to chat with a fan that truly cares about the show in an uplifting way.

I still like to partake in my 140 odd 16m mm original studio prints, many of them restored where i can see the show as it was originally presented with original commercials, something Sony is blind to doing unfortunately.

By the way i love the high quality colorization that was used for the first two seasons, it is almost as if it was filmed in color orignally.

Larry Tate

Well, to me the eps do look colorized. I can definitely tell in some scenes where one can see dark shadowing. There are some parts of a scene that seems dark while other parts have just enough light. It seemed to me that the director of photography set up lighting for the black and white camera. When the eps were colorized it also brought up any dark, noticeable areas in the scenes.

[1960'sTVfan]

I bought the black and white DVD's of seasons 1 and 2. Although the black and white discs may indeed be the colorized ones with the color turned off, it's good enough for me, the black and white DVD's still retain that dark, film noir quality that was present until the series went to color in season 3.

[ThomasE]

Originally Posted by retroTVfan4ever

I bought the black and white DVD's of seasons 1 and 2. Although the black and white discs may indeed be the colorized ones with the color turned off, it's good enough for me, the black and white DVD's still retain that dark, film noir quality that was present until the series went to color in season 3.

I'm waiting on my box sets for seasons one and two and the colorized version for season two to be delivered. I just want to do a comparison.

[Larry Tate]

Originally Posted by ThomasE

Well, to me the eps do look colorized. I can definitely tell in some scenes where one can see dark shadowing. There are some parts of a scene that seems dark while other parts have just enough light. It seemed to me that the director of photography set up lighting for the black and white camera. When the eps were colorized it also brought up any dark, noticeable areas in the scenes.

Yes that's true that the colorized ones though exceptionally well done and eons better then the early variants in the mid 80's done by turner, there still is no substitute for something actually filmed in color and the color seasons are more vibrant and alive comparatively speaking.

It is correct that the director of photography set up lighting for the black and white camera and that is a very different lit set then it would be in color.
One can it seems at times do much more in Black & White then one can with the color spectrum and in a more subtle way.

For those who are thinking of buying the first two seasons, it makes sense to get the color one as in effect you get a two for one deal with both the color & B/W versions available at the cost of one DVD set, the same can't be done of course with the B/W DVD set so a buyer in effect is short changing themselves.

Larry Tate

[ThomasE]

Originally Posted by Larry Tate

Yes that's true that the colorized ones though exceptionally well done and eons better then the early variants in the mid 80's done by turner, there still is no substitute for something actually filmed in color and the color seasons are more vibrant and alive comparatively speaking.

It is correct that the director of photography set up lighting for the black and white camera and that is a very different lit set then it would be in color.
One can it seems at times do much more in Black & White then one can with the color spectrum and in a more subtle way.

For those who are thinking of buying the first two seasons, it makes sense to get the color one as in effect you get a two for one deal with both the color & B/W versions available at the cost of one DVD set, the same can't be done of course with the B/W DVD set so a buyer in effect is short changing themselves.

Larry Tate

As you know, I went ahead and bought them all yesterday. It was almost next to nothing in price so I did it just to have them.

I work as a Camera Assistant in TV so I get the chance to work with Directors of Photography. Lighting is a key element. I just happen to make those observations about these scenes.

[1960'sTVfan]

I purposely bought the black and white sets, I won't buy anything that's been colorized, I want seasons 1 and 2 of Bewitched in black and white, that's how those seasons are intended to be seen. I'm glad Sony gave Bewitched fans the black and white option, that's the version I wanted, I didn't "short change" myself.

[ThomasE]

Originally Posted by retroTVfan4ever

I purposely bought the black and white sets, I won't buy anything that's been colorized, I want seasons 1 and 2 of Bewitched in black and white, that's how those seasons are intended to be seen. I'm glad Sony gave Bewitched fans the black and white option, that's the version I wanted, I didn't "short change" myself.

Good for you. The colorized eps were the ones I thought most consumers would buy because they were in color. It's nice to know that there are consumers out there buying based on originality. I want black and white along with color to compare. I got mine from amazon real cheap.

[1960'sTVfan]

Originally Posted by ThomasE

Good for you. The colorized eps were the ones I thought most consumers would buy because they were in color. It's nice to know that there are consumers out there buying based on originality. I want black and white along with color to compare. I got mine from amazon real cheap.

That's good you found a nice deal on Amazon, will be interesting to read the results of your comparison. I used to buy most of my DVD's from Movies Unlimited, but they are a tad expensive so I started shopping on ebay and found cheaper prices. There are sellers that offer brand new DVD sets at reduced prices, some even offer free shipping.