Frustrated

[octothorpe]

I'm surprised at the lack of information on Wikipedia about the Joe Gage trilogy.

One thing I did find out is that they re-mastered the trilogy for DVD release. I'm going to have to track that down, or find H264 versions of that, rather than the VHS versions I have.

So what are your thoughts on the Joe Gage trilogy? Great trilogy, or greatest trilogy?

Comments

[theotherqpc.livejournal.com]

didn't Catalina re-release them?
gaytorrentnews, perhaps?

[theoctothorpe.livejournal.com]

Oh, haven't you heard? GTN is down... They actually had a bit of a fuckup with their domain, so now they're temporarily on another domain, but their tracker is offline until they fix everything. Of course, it's been a few weeks, and it's still not up and running properly. You'd figure a global search and replace wouldn't be all that difficult.

[bluedevilsf.livejournal.com]

I hope they reinstated Mike Morris' scene...

[gotmoof.livejournal.com]

No kidding... He was so hot in that movie.

Somewhere I still have the VHS tapes.

But I don't watch anything on VHS anymore!

[bestbear-icanbe.livejournal.com]

One thing I did find out is that they re-mastered the trilogy for DVD release.

Remastered and uncut? The current DVDs are a real travesty.

[theoctothorpe.livejournal.com]

Yeah... that's the rumour... I need to do some more research. In theory, there are titles that came out in 2006 on DVD that are re-mastered. These are different from the original DVDs which seemed to be a DVD-ised version of poorly captured VHS copies.

[annoyinghandle.livejournal.com]

Best! pr0n! ever! Richard Locke -- *swoon*...

There is an entry for LA Tool & Die (see a previous post of mine). Try IMDb as well (they even list Dick Wadd titles ;{)} ).

If you find a torrent for the remastered versions, please let me know!

[theoctothorpe.livejournal.com]

I've really got to take inventory of what I have.... I have over 1TB of porn (and it's backed up!), and I have yet to properly index it

[naylandblake.livejournal.com]

Great Trilogy. But You can't leave out Closed Set -one of my favorite porn films of all time.

[theoctothorpe.livejournal.com]

Oh, Closed Set is fantastic! It does, however, lack the depth of The Trilogy.

[ptownnyc.livejournal.com]

I've never gotten to see any of it.

*sad*

[theoctothorpe.livejournal.com]

Well, *THAT* must change!

[thornyc.livejournal.com]

Hopefully greasybiker will see this, he's fairly knowledgeable about the cut versions of Gage's films out there, and has some of the uncut stuff on dinosaur media.

Perhaps if more men were looking for titles on DVD rather than torrents, there'd be a market and thus an incentive for companies to clear rights and reissue such films.

[theoctothorpe.livejournal.com]

I donnow.. I'd pay for a good downloadable H264 version. I don't need physical media.

Part of the problem is copyright. The current system is so messed up that content is basically abandoned, but still not "free" (as in speech, not as in beer), preventing the general public from getting its use. This of course, is totally the opposite of the original intent of copyright law. It was *supposed* to create a *temporary* monopoly on distribution, where, after a short period, the copyright would fall into the public domain. Now, corporations are effectively immortal humans, able to hold copyright, and said copyright is extended ad infinitum.

[danlmarmot.livejournal.com]

Great trilogy. But yeah, the current DVDs are a bit messed up; you can tell there's scenes missing because there are pictures of them on the box!

[theoctothorpe.livejournal.com]

Yeah, from what greasybiker said, there is over 30 mins *missing* from EPWC. So very, very sad.

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

THE GREATEST TRILOGY OF ALL TIME AND THE ONLY PORN I'VE EVER THOUGHT WAS HOT. Okay ... now that I yelled, do you believe me? LOL!

[theoctothorpe.livejournal.com]

And one day I'd love to sit down and watch it with you!

Seriously. Yes, it's hot as hell, but it also goes so far beyond "porn" that I'm really interested in how other people perceive it. I'd love to get a bunch of folk together to watch all of them, and then have a discussion after (or, possibly other things).

I have the current dvd releases from HIS Video

[bearindfw.livejournal.com]

They are clearly missing a couple of scenes. Also, I think they were made from Videotape and a direct film to DVD transfer.

I do hope that a full restoration is made, if it is even possible.
Joe Gage is alive and well and I wish he would restore those three films. They really are a great piece from their time.

I know that there have been folks who point out the very different cuts they have seen from the "GAGETAPE" editions of the flicks. (That was Joe Gages company). The films were sold and are now owned by HIS Video. The HIS Video copies, whether of VHS or DVD are shorter and are missing scenes. The most obvious example is the clearly cut "fight" scene in the restroom with Richard Locke.

I would pay for a restored box set anyday. I would love it if Joe Gage/Tim Kinkaid (Kinkaid is the name he used to make sci fi films like "Breeders" and Slasher and women in prison movies). If you ream his IMBD entry you can get more information about his work.

theoctothorpe -- Get in touch with me and I will find a way to get the HIS version I have)

Re: I have the current dvd releases from HIS Video

[theoctothorpe.livejournal.com]

That's the version I have... there is a re-mastered version *not* from VHS that contains the "lost" scenes put out in 2006. I have one of them, but I can't remember which off the top of my head (my porn collection is HUGE).

Care to borrow my copies?

[redbearmark.livejournal.com]

Wonderful stuff that works my libido every time!

I got mine from TLA Video.

Re: Care to borrow my copies?

[theoctothorpe.livejournal.com]

Those are DVDs, yes? Those *may* be the re-mastered versions with all the "lost" scenes. Do you know the running time, and when they were produced? They should have a 2006 (maybe a 2005) copyright date on them.

[tdjohnsn.livejournal.com]

I'm always stunned by the production quality of the early porn movies. The sex scenes themselve are often a little dark, but the rest is 70s made for tv movie quality. and I love the fact that there is a plot and the sex is between regular gay guys rather than "straight" guys. (the trend towards porn where the guy are pretending to be straight is really creepy...why would anyone want to have sex with someone, no matter how hot, that doesn't really want to be with you and doesn't know what they are doing?)

I love LA Tool & Die. I have the cut version so you can tell bits of the plot are missing, but it is actually a really cute movie with a happy ending. (It is the only porn movie I have ever seen that where the "Love" is ever spoken.) Even aside from the fact that everytime they drive past a building the scene cuts to show a couple hot guys who are having sex in it there is actual personal growth in the characters. They really are movies with lots and lots of really, really hot sex scenes rather than just porn.

[theoctothorpe.livejournal.com]

Aside from the nostalgia aspect of "vintage" porn, the quality was simply better in some cases (well, better in the works that have survived the test of time), because they actually used *film*! Film is much more complicated than video, and your options are fewer. You also need a bit more skill due to the cost of the medium, which really only allowed those who had a bit more of a photographic/cinematic background to work the shots and equipment, resulting in a much better product.

A few days ago, I posted about the HV20. This is the camera that will allow me to do what I want to do with regard to film-like recording. Ironically, technology has finally caught up with "old tech" quality (or getting really close).

I have so much love for the trilogy, LAT&D especially for exactly the reasons you describe. They transcend porn.

[furr-a-bruin.livejournal.com]

Since I haven't seen all the porn trilogies/series available, I can't say the Gage Trilogy is the "greatest" - but it's certainly way up the list.

As others have stated, the current versions are sadly lacking a great deal of original material. I bought a VHS copy of El Paso Wrecking Co. and while the box claimed the movie was "approx.90 minutes" the actual running time was just under an hour - literally a third of the movie is missing. Apparently this is the film that has suffered the most - deletions from the other Gage films appear to be much less extensive.

The movies have passed through a number of hands and a lot of the footage has been lost. There's a gent who's an even more obsessive Joe Gage fan than I am, and he's got web pages explaining the whole GageTape issue, and a filmography of Gage's classic work.

If someone still had a complete intact film copy, I'd love to see these movies get brand new transfers to DVD. They're some of the best, HOTTEST porn ever made ... even if LA Tool & Die should have had a scene with Bob Blount and Richard Locke going at it like bears in rut. ;) Unfortunately, it's all too possible that material is gone for good on film, and the best that could be done would be a professional capture from a well preserved Betamax GageTape copy. (Because yes, Betamax fucking well IS superior to VHS in terms of picture quality.)

[theoctothorpe.livejournal.com]

Re Betamax: Yeah, that's what happens when you have about 30% more lines of resolution.

I'm glad you popped on, as I thought you'd be the most knowledgeable on the subject. I posted this while at the office, so I don't have the ability to see which copies I have. I am *pretty* sure I have at least one version of one of the films that isn't shredded, and IIRC, that is a pretty good rip, not some thrice compressed mpg1 to rm to DIVX pile of crap. I'll do an inventory, and see what's what. I need to figure out running times, and get back to this discussion.

Film

[telemann.livejournal.com]

sure does have a softer focus on things which I liked, versus the harshness of digital tape. I've recently read that HD DVD is forcing straight porn actors to get plastic surgery to cover up things that the higher resolution will catch.

I liked this set of movies (as I did straight porn from this period).

So when is Octo studios going into production *wink wink*

Re: Film

[theoctothorpe.livejournal.com]

HV20, my friend, HV20!

Well..

[quemadmodum.livejournal.com]

Actually I am TOTALLY uninterested in this but I thought I'd let you know. When did people start taking porn this seriously? I love you anyhow

Re: Well..

[theoctothorpe.livejournal.com]

Well, it depends on what you mean by "seriously".

If you're talking about the technical aspects of the film, why is that surprising? There is art and craft in creating a film, regardless of subject matter. Yes, most porn, in that respect, is crap. The Gage Trilogy is *technically* a very good series. It also happens to be hot as hell!

[bitterlawngnome.livejournal.com]

To me, Roger aka Lou Davis is I think the hottest pornstar I'd ever seen until Hawgs aka Rocky West. That scene in El Paso is I think my most-watched-porn ever.

[furr-a-bruin.livejournal.com]

The red head carpet cleaner and the latino gardner? :) *WOOF*

[danbearnyc.livejournal.com]

Never saw the trilogy, but I do get extra points for having been sprayed upon by Richard Locke in one of his live performances here in NYC

[furr-a-bruin.livejournal.com]

*turns bright Envy Green*

[bearfuz.livejournal.com]

Me wantee DVDee. Already have 'em on VHS, but really, who USES videotape any more...!?

[joebehrsandiego.livejournal.com]

Admitting a certain bias. I vote for greatest trilogy. stop. ;)

The Gage stuff, and some Al Parker stuff, was my first exposure, as it were, to gay porn. The only bad outcome, if you can call it that, is that my standards were set very high right away ... and it takes a lot to impress me then and now. ;)

[stormecho.livejournal.com]

I have the Gage Trilogy on DVD, also Gold Rush Boys. I may be closer than VA if you want to borrow them before buying them yourself. I haven't done a comparison to the VHS. I purchased them from TLAvideo also, which has a whole slew of Gage stuff.

[theoctothorpe.livejournal.com]

Oh, I've got copies of those.. what I am really trying to track down is information about a rumoured uncut re-masterd DVD version produced in 2005.

I think when I finally have my dinner party (I keep failing to make it happen), I'll also have to have a Gagefest. I'll let you know when/if it ever happens (assuming you're interested)!

[rambear.livejournal.com]

I was excited when the HIS DVD's came out, but was really shocked by the poor transfer quality. I can't attest to cut scenes, but I can certainly say the films were badly scratched and had a lot of embedded dirt.

I was presuming this was the best that could be done, since we certainly weren't going to see a "restoration" effort.

Will have to see if any better transfers were actually made. I did find one DVD of other Gage films which was indeed taken from really bad VHS copies with all the smeary colors and the tracking lines across the top of the frame. What a class operation!

[theoctothorpe.livejournal.com]

What I find appalling is that most of the distro houses still want to charge insane amounts of money for these crappy reproductions. The days of $75 a tape are OVER! Give me a digital download for $10 that's DVD quality, or charge me $20 for the physical DVD.