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COLOR FILM - A COLLECTORS' PERSPECTIVE

This is not intended as a definitive article on the various types of color film that have emerged over
the years, but it is a look at those that it could reasonably be expected a film collector may come
across as part of his/her collecting finds.

With that in mind, drawing on previous articles in Reel Deals, some comments of the characteristics
of the various types color film and their effectiveness in retaining their color and other
characteristics are included.

Some of the film types mentioned are quite rare, but do occasionally turn up in mixed collections -
identifying them and acknowledging their rarity is important.

Film prices have come down considerably in recent years, but an interesting film with good color
and in good condition will still command a reasonable price. It is therefore important to be able to
recognise what color process has been used to produce the print on offer, as that can determine
the value of the film and the chances of it retaining its color into the future.

It is also important to remember, it is the print in your possession that counts. The titles may say
“Color by Technicolor”, but what about the print you have, is it Technicolor, or maybe a reprint on
a lesser stable film stock.

PRE-COLOR FILM DAYS
It is often said that the movies were never silent - in all but the most modest establishments, some
form of music and maybe effects accompanied the film. Much the same can be said of the film
image. Black and white films were often screened with some form of color filter, in front of the
lens to give the screen image some ‘warmth’. The color filter would be changed to suit the mood
of the scene. Then along came …

TINTING
A form of 'color film’ was possible by tinting the film base. Kodak and other manufacturers
produced positive print film in a variety of different colors. In 1921, Kodak offered 35mm tinted
film stocks in lavender, red, green, blue, pink, light amber, yellow, orange and dark amber.
Different scenes within a film were printed onto different
colored film stocks to produce differing effects. [ Red for
fires, blue for night scenes, green for forests, etc]

Left: In the 1920s and 1930s, both Kodak and Agfa
returned 16mm processed home-movie films with a few
feet of their logo spliced onto the end of the finished reel.
Both companies used tinted film for this purpose.