Two Cinerama Features, This is Cinerama and Windjammer, Coming in Smilebox Format
04-28-12, 10:27 AM
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Two Cinerama Features, This is Cinerama and Windjammer, Coming in Smilebox Format
From Flicker Alley, dates TBA:
This Is Cinerama / Directed by Robert L. Bendick / 1952 / 127 min. / Color / Sound
Presented in the "Smilebox" curved screen simulation
On the evening of September 30, 1952, the shape and sound of movies changed forever with the introduction of Cinerama. This unique widescreen process was launched when television was deemed as major threat to US film exhibition. Fred Waller, Cinerama's creator, had indeed labored that long on his dream of a motion picture experience that would recreate the full range of human vision. It used three cameras and three projectors on a curved screen 146°deep.
Bonus Features Include:
Audio commentary track: With John Sittig (Cinerama, Inc.), Dave Strohmaier (Cinerama Historian), Randy Gitsch (TIC Locations background), and special audio recording from Jim Morrison(original crew member).
This Is Cinerama Breakdown Reel - 9 min.
Alternate Act II Opening for European Versions - 2 min.
This Is Cinerama Trailer re-created HD - 3 min.
TV Spots: This is Cinerama and Seven Wonders of the World –- 1 min. each
Tribute to the New Neon Movies: A video short celebrating the Cinerama revival in Dayton Ohio, 1996-1999, in which a lone projectionist sets up Cinerama for special screenings to people from all over the country. - 14 min.
Tribute to the New Cooper: The first Super Cinerama Theater - 4 minutes
Special Photo Galleries: featuring behind the scenes shots, the original program booklet and press memorabilia newspaper ads, and publicity stills
Fred Waller Radio interviews audio only: Original 1952 radio interviews with Fred Waller on the eve of opening night. - 15 mins.
Windjammer: The Voyage of the Christian Radich / Norway/US, 1958 / 142 min./ Color / Sound / Presented in the "Smilebox' curved screen simulation
Embarking from Oslo, Norway, the ship sets out across the Atlantic with storm-tossed stops in Madeira, where New Year's festivities entice the young crewman to enjoy Portuguese musical celebrations and heart-racing rides in basket sleds down steep cobblestone streets.
On to Willemstead, Curacao, the boys take part in Dutch festivities, with plenty of food and pretty girls. They catch a courtyard performance of Pablo Casals in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, they're greeted by native steel bands and Calypso singers. By the time they arrive in New York, the Cinemiracle cameras offer a kaleidoscopic treat of color and sound. An encounter with the U.S. Navy Task Force makes for a grand promenade of ships, ncluding a gigantic aircraft carrier.
Underwater shots of frogmen and a submerged submarine are exciting, but when it emerges from the depths to reveal the Windjammer, Cinemiracle becomes the star of this breathtaking story. Morton Gould's top-notch score, and fine variety of music throughout the picture, sounds perfect in Cinemiracle's 7-channel sound recording. Seen digitally, the picture hasn't looked and sounded as good since its original theatrical engagements over 50 years ago.
Bonus Features Include:
New Documentary on the film's original production - 56 min.
Mini documentary featuring before and after demos on the film's remastering - 14 mins.
The Windjammer Breakdown Reel - 14 min.
The Christian Radich Today at the Aalbourg Denmark Tall Ships Festival 2010 - 7 min.
Windjammer Trailer - 3 mins.
Special Photo Galleries featuring reproductions of the original Windjammer/Cinemiracle Booklet, Original Posters and promotional Graphics, Original Newspaper Ads, and production photos (and more!)
http://www.flickeralley.biz/index.ph...=100&Itemid=43
http://www.flickeralley.biz/index.ph...d=99&Itemid=43
This Is Cinerama / Directed by Robert L. Bendick / 1952 / 127 min. / Color / Sound
Presented in the "Smilebox" curved screen simulation
On the evening of September 30, 1952, the shape and sound of movies changed forever with the introduction of Cinerama. This unique widescreen process was launched when television was deemed as major threat to US film exhibition. Fred Waller, Cinerama's creator, had indeed labored that long on his dream of a motion picture experience that would recreate the full range of human vision. It used three cameras and three projectors on a curved screen 146°deep.
Bonus Features Include:
Audio commentary track: With John Sittig (Cinerama, Inc.), Dave Strohmaier (Cinerama Historian), Randy Gitsch (TIC Locations background), and special audio recording from Jim Morrison(original crew member).
This Is Cinerama Breakdown Reel - 9 min.
Alternate Act II Opening for European Versions - 2 min.
This Is Cinerama Trailer re-created HD - 3 min.
TV Spots: This is Cinerama and Seven Wonders of the World –- 1 min. each
Tribute to the New Neon Movies: A video short celebrating the Cinerama revival in Dayton Ohio, 1996-1999, in which a lone projectionist sets up Cinerama for special screenings to people from all over the country. - 14 min.
Tribute to the New Cooper: The first Super Cinerama Theater - 4 minutes
Special Photo Galleries: featuring behind the scenes shots, the original program booklet and press memorabilia newspaper ads, and publicity stills
Fred Waller Radio interviews audio only: Original 1952 radio interviews with Fred Waller on the eve of opening night. - 15 mins.
Windjammer: The Voyage of the Christian Radich / Norway/US, 1958 / 142 min./ Color / Sound / Presented in the "Smilebox' curved screen simulation
Embarking from Oslo, Norway, the ship sets out across the Atlantic with storm-tossed stops in Madeira, where New Year's festivities entice the young crewman to enjoy Portuguese musical celebrations and heart-racing rides in basket sleds down steep cobblestone streets.
On to Willemstead, Curacao, the boys take part in Dutch festivities, with plenty of food and pretty girls. They catch a courtyard performance of Pablo Casals in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, they're greeted by native steel bands and Calypso singers. By the time they arrive in New York, the Cinemiracle cameras offer a kaleidoscopic treat of color and sound. An encounter with the U.S. Navy Task Force makes for a grand promenade of ships, ncluding a gigantic aircraft carrier.
Underwater shots of frogmen and a submerged submarine are exciting, but when it emerges from the depths to reveal the Windjammer, Cinemiracle becomes the star of this breathtaking story. Morton Gould's top-notch score, and fine variety of music throughout the picture, sounds perfect in Cinemiracle's 7-channel sound recording. Seen digitally, the picture hasn't looked and sounded as good since its original theatrical engagements over 50 years ago.
Bonus Features Include:
New Documentary on the film's original production - 56 min.
Mini documentary featuring before and after demos on the film's remastering - 14 mins.
The Windjammer Breakdown Reel - 14 min.
The Christian Radich Today at the Aalbourg Denmark Tall Ships Festival 2010 - 7 min.
Windjammer Trailer - 3 mins.
Special Photo Galleries featuring reproductions of the original Windjammer/Cinemiracle Booklet, Original Posters and promotional Graphics, Original Newspaper Ads, and production photos (and more!)
http://www.flickeralley.biz/index.ph...=100&Itemid=43
http://www.flickeralley.biz/index.ph...d=99&Itemid=43
04-28-12, 10:35 AM
#2
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Re: Two Cinerama Features, This is Cinerama and Windjammer, Coming in Smilebox Format
This is Cinerama should look fantastic on a big screen. FA are also releasing The Most Dangerous Game/Gow the Headhunter !
04-28-12, 11:05 AM
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Re: Two Cinerama Features, This is Cinerama and Windjammer, Coming in Smilebox Format
Originally Posted by NoirFan
This is Cinerama should look fantastic on a big screen. FA are also releasing The Most Dangerous Game/Gow the Headhunter !
04-28-12, 01:30 PM
#4
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Two Cinerama Features, This is Cinerama and Windjammer, Coming in Smilebox Format
Originally Posted by Superdaddy
Yeah, I saw that on their web site too. The Criterion DVD of Most Dangerous Game is still available, but Flicker Alley is putting out a BD. I may end up getting all three of these.
GOW (1931, 63 min.) is not only a true curiosity but also in many ways a key influence of later Cooper and Schoedsack productions including King Kong. The footage in Gow was produced by Edward A. Salisbury, a wealthy British adventurer, who in 1920 set sail in an 80-ton yacht equipped with a motion picture laboratory to, in his words, catch and hold for history a photo record of the fast–disappearing races of the South Seas Islands”. Cooper and Schoedsack were among the cameramen on this two-year expedition that documented genuine head-hunters and cannibals along its route. The material was originally released as four separate films in the silent era and was consolidated as the film Gow, The Headhunter for an illustrated lecture by expedition member William Peck. Peck recorded his own cringe-inducing commentary in 1931. Gow was reissued as an exploitation film into the 1950s under the title Cannibal Island, but it was made with a serious purpose. True to Salisbury’s intent, it indeed documents vanished cultures and is brilliantly illuminated here with an exclusive audio essay by Matthew Spriggs, Professor of Archaeology at the Australian National University and author of The Island Melanesians.
04-28-12, 01:35 PM
#5
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Two Cinerama Features, This is Cinerama and Windjammer, Coming in Smilebox Format
Originally Posted by NoirFan
I likely wouldn't watch This is Cinerama more than a couple of times, but as availability from Netflix is highly unlikely, I may have to buy it. Hopefully the price tag will be reasonable.
Special Pre-order Sale Price: $29.96 (S.R.P. $39.95)
Special Pre-order Sale Price: $27.96 (S.R.P. $34.95)
04-28-12, 02:26 PM
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Re: Two Cinerama Features, This is Cinerama and Windjammer, Coming in Smilebox Format
Originally Posted by NoirFan
I'm definitely in for Dangerous Game/Gow - both have been restored, and include commentaries. Great cover too! I wasn't familiar with Gow, but the description on FA's website sounds intriguing:
04-28-12, 10:00 PM
#7
DVD Talk Special Edition
Re: Two Cinerama Features, This is Cinerama and Windjammer, Coming in Smilebox Format
Lets hope Flicker Alley doesn't mess these up like they did with A trip to the Moon.
to the Game/Gow cover. Looks like the cover to an old adventure novel.
to the Game/Gow cover. Looks like the cover to an old adventure novel.
04-29-12, 10:56 AM
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Re: Two Cinerama Features, This is Cinerama and Windjammer, Coming in Smilebox Format
Originally Posted by NoirFan
This is Cinerama should look fantastic on a big screen. FA are also releasing The Most Dangerous Game/Gow the Headhunter !
04-30-12, 06:55 AM
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Re: Two Cinerama Features, This is Cinerama and Windjammer, Coming in Smilebox Format
The Most Dangerous Game announced for June 26. Perhaps we should move discussion here so it doesn't get lost:
http://forum.dvdtalk.com/hd-talk/601...ker-alley.html
http://forum.dvdtalk.com/hd-talk/601...ker-alley.html
05-01-12, 04:34 AM
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Re: Two Cinerama Features, This is Cinerama and Windjammer, Coming in Smilebox Format
Update: The two Cinerama features are scheduled for September release, likely September 17 according to blu-ray.com.
http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=8632
http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=8633
http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=8632
http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=8633
05-01-12, 05:56 AM
#12
DVD Talk Special Edition
Re: Two Cinerama Features, This is Cinerama and Windjammer, Coming in Smilebox Format
Originally Posted by Giles
how did Flicker mess up Trip to the Moon Big E??
05-02-12, 12:49 PM
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Re: Two Cinerama Features, This is Cinerama and Windjammer, Coming in Smilebox Format
Have the two cinerama films been restored the same way as How the West Was Won? Where they digitally merged the images and erased the lines?
05-04-12, 11:14 AM
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Re: Two Cinerama Features, This is Cinerama and Windjammer, Coming in Smilebox Format
Originally Posted by Mabuse
Have the two cinerama films been restored the same way as How the West Was Won? Where they digitally merged the images and erased the lines?
05-04-12, 01:52 PM
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Re: Two Cinerama Features, This is Cinerama and Windjammer, Coming in Smilebox Format
Originally Posted by NoirFan
This is Cinerama should look fantastic on a big screen. FA are also releasing The Most Dangerous Game/Gow the Headhunter !
Originally Posted by big e
Originally Posted by Giles
how did Flicker mess up Trip to the Moon Big E??
I placed my request before they started charging shipping, and I got my notification that they were sending mine out, so either they backed off of the shipping charges after the negative word it brought them, or I was just lucky in that I placed my request at the right time...
05-04-12, 01:59 PM
#16
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Re: Two Cinerama Features, This is Cinerama and Windjammer, Coming in Smilebox Format
Originally Posted by big e
The third audio option on the Blu-ray was missing the narration, although from what I read, this problem is not present on all copies. Flicker Alley has issued a replacement program, but I haven't heard anything further from them.
05-04-12, 02:11 PM
#17
Re: Two Cinerama Features, This is Cinerama and Windjammer, Coming in Smilebox Format
Originally Posted by Josh Z
Since Flicker Alley is a much smaller studio than Warner Bros, I would tend to assume that these releases will not have the same degree of restoration as How the West Was Won. But perhaps I'm wrong about that.
05-04-12, 03:12 PM
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Re: Two Cinerama Features, This is Cinerama and Windjammer, Coming in Smilebox Format
Here's a link to an article about the restoration of the films. The screenshots look impressive. Per the article, Pacific Theaters (which owns whatever is left of Cinerama Inc.) funded the restoration. Michael Forman, chairman of Pacific Theaters and longtime board member on the American Film Institute, spearheaded the restoration effort.
05-04-12, 04:05 PM
#19
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Two Cinerama Features, This is Cinerama and Windjammer, Coming in Smilebox Format
Originally Posted by obscurelabel
Here's a link to an article about the restoration of the films. The screenshots look impressive. Per the article, Pacific Theaters (which owns whatever is left of Cinerama Inc.) funded the restoration. Michael Forman, chairman of Pacific Theaters and longtime board member on the American Film Institute, spearheaded the restoration effort.
On the other hand, the article states the the restoration will be done at only 2k. IIRC, Warner scanned each panel of How the West Was Won individually at 2k, and the blending work was done on a 4k composite.
Still, this is promising.
09-17-12, 03:06 PM
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Re: Two Cinerama Features, This is Cinerama and Windjammer, Coming in Smilebox Format
My review of This Is Cinerama: http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/57194/this-is-cinerama/
09-17-12, 03:24 PM
#21
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Re: Two Cinerama Features, This is Cinerama and Windjammer, Coming in Smilebox Format
Thanks for the review. I'll likely cancel my pre-order, and wait for a lower price. The deficiencies in the transfer are understandable given the circumstances, but the comments about artificial sharpening and lack of detail make me wary of shelling out $35 for this.
09-17-12, 05:42 PM
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Re: Two Cinerama Features, This is Cinerama and Windjammer, Coming in Smilebox Format
I'm somewhat disappointed too.
I guess, to an extent, How the West Was Won spoiled me. I knew they didn't have anything close to elements in great condition to work with, nor the budget Warner presumably lavished on West, and I tried to scale my expectations down a notch. But I hoped for, at least, a slightly more filmlike transfer than this appears to be.
I guess, to an extent, How the West Was Won spoiled me. I knew they didn't have anything close to elements in great condition to work with, nor the budget Warner presumably lavished on West, and I tried to scale my expectations down a notch. But I hoped for, at least, a slightly more filmlike transfer than this appears to be.
