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Born to Boogie: The DVD
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Almost since the day of the release of the
original movie, Marc Bolan fans have wondered what happened to the bits
and pieces which did not make it to the final edit. From the end-title
sequence alone, which utilises many pieces of cine-film and out-takes
from the project, it is clear that more film was shot than was used in
the film.
Add to this Marc Bolan’s contemporary interviews, in which he claimed
that over 50 hours of film had been shot, and a legend grew up around
hidden cans filled with hour upon hour of ‘lost’ performances.
When the movie was released on VHS in the early 1990s, hopes that some
of these out-takes would re-emerge were dashed: the package contained
the original 64 minutes, no more, no less. Confusingly, the soundtrack
CD, released at the same time as the video, revealed additional aural
elements which were not included in the film… Ringo Starr’s
willingness to license the movie for screening at Bolan fan conventions
during that decade also gave rise to speculation that one day, some how,
the rushes would be rediscovered. But as the millennium closed, the mystery
continued and the cans, if they existed, remained sealed and hidden.
With the new century the DVD format has quickly come to dominate the market
for pre-recorded films and music programmes. With its greatly enhanced
content capacity, DVD is ideal for revisiting old and recent film and
music releases and adding previously deleted and lost scenes, additional
interviews, trailers, memorabilia and so forth. It also delivers crystal-clear
picture quality.
The project to bring Born to Boogie to DVD began with
negotiations between the rights holders – Apple Films (via Ringo
Starr’s lawyers) and Wizard (Bahamas) Ltd. During these negotiations,
it was confirmed that many cans of film were stored at a warehouse in
West London, and that there may be some unreleased rushes in the cans.
A visit in Summer 2003 confirmed that there were in fact 272 cans, but
no documentation to support them and only the occasional label still surviving.
To discover what they contained, Wizard’s Publishing Manager appointed
a professional editor to view and catalogue each tape.
A viewing suite was hired for two months in autumn 2003, the tapes transferred
from the warehouse, and a pair of gardening gloves purchased for the hands
which were handling the rusty cans. The 16mm and 35mm tapes were viewed
using two huge, ancient Steenbeck analogue machines. It soon became apparent
that over half of the cans contained prints of the original movie (which
came in four separate sections), so these were carefully transferred to
new plastic cans, and put to one side. The remaining 100 or so cans then
became the focus of attention. Some contained negatives, some positives,
some had sound with vision, some just one or the other, whilst others
contained ‘bin trims’ and other tiny discarded elements. Nothing
was left unviewed or un-catalogued.
Over the weeks and months, it emerged that the first Wembley concert,
no performance from which appeared in Born to Boogie, survived intact,
albeit in black and white. As a huge bonus, several different camera angles
of each song were discovered. The three ‘missing’ songs from
the second concert, Cadilac, Girl and Summertime Blues, were also discovered,
with sound but again in black and white. Emperor Rosko’s introduction
and pre-encore MC stints also emerged, as did some fascinating back-stage
shots (including Marc bantering with Ringo). Film of fans’ reactions
to the first concert and other shots from around the Empire Pool completed
the story of 18 March 1972.
Very little unseen film was
found from the Apple Studios session, and all of it was severely degraded,
with colours almost completely washed out. Despite rumours, no performances
of any songs from the Apple session other than those in the final film
have come to light. The garden party sequence was in a similarly degraded
state, and apart from some shots of peacocks on the lawns, little ‘new’
was to be found.
During the June 1972 tour of the UK, Marc and his friends shot
large amounts of cine-film, all of which was transferred to 16mm during
the making of Born to Boogie. It is these cine-films which were used for
the closing sequence of the movie. The reason only tiny fragments were
utilised is that the original film is almost all out of focus, with very
little which could be salvaged. However, some priceless snippets have
survived, including one of Marc and Mickey dancing around in what looks
like the T.Rex office.
All told, there was more fresh material than anyone could have dreamt.
It was immediately clear that a DVD could be enhanced far beyond what
was initially envisaged. Plans are now afoot for a two-DVD set, to present
the original movie intact, and then the best of the new discoveries, all
digitally restored and remastered, with 5.1 surround sound, using state-of-the-art
technology
Several DVD companies are in negotiation to secure this project. It is
being treated, quite rightfully, with the same care and respect as similar
releases for Led Zeppelin, Bob Marley and other artistes of the highest
calibre.
Updates on progress will be made available as the project develops. To
learn more about the Born to Boogie DVD, please click
here to register on this site and we will email you as
the story unfolds. 
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