3D News

More news about Robot Monster and other projects in this interview! We have some big things coming that everyone on the 3D Film Archive team is very excited about! Definitely something you won’t want to miss, so come give it a watch!

Coming Soon on 3-D Blu-ray!
Brand New HD Master – From 4K Scans of the 35mm Camera Original YCM Technicolor Negatives!
3-D Restoration by 3-D Film Archive!
Money from Home (1953) Starring Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis, Marjie Millar, Pat Crowley & Robert Strauss – Shot by Daniel L. Fapp (The Great Escape) – Directed by George Marshall (The Ghost Breakers, Scared Stiff).

Click each image for your 3D news!

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Seventy years ago, on September 22 and 23, 1953, l

Seventy years ago, on September 22 and 23, 1953, legendary Oscar-winning cinematographer James Wong Howe photographed three-dimensional test footage for the Moropticon single-strip system.

Moropticon had been developed in Vienna by producer Boris Morros and it was one of two competing systems (the other being the Nord Extended Area 3-D Process) to place both left/right stereo images onto one-strip of 35mm film.

3-D movies were beginning to perform poorly at the box office in September 1953 and this article by Jack Theakston tells the story. https://3dfilmarchive.com/what-killed-3d-films/

Matthew Fox, a former executive vice-president of Universal-International and partner in United Artists, was president of the newly-formed All Dimensions, Inc. which held all patents to the Moropticon system. The unit was lightweight, compact and could fit in a small carrying case. It would be offered free of charge providing the exhibitor agreed to purchase a minimum monthly order of 2,500 Pola-Lite glasses for a period of one year.

Fox was able to use his influence with Universal-International to shoot two days of Moropticon tests beginning September 22. Howe photographed Christiane Martel, Ingrid Mills, Mara Corday, and Lance Fuller in twenty-two setups on the California Street and Shelby home on the studio's backlot. Sadly, this footage is not known to survive.

You’ll learn all about these single-strip systems in Mike Ballew’s forthcoming book, “Close Enough to Touch: 3-D Comes to Hollywood.” Watch this page on our website for additional information on this upcoming definitive tome! https://3dfilmarchive.com/close-enough-to-touch-3-d-comes-to-hollywood/

Don’t miss the gala New York premiere for this r

Don’t miss the gala New York premiere for this rare stereoscopic gem. Masterfully photographed with the brilliant and technically complex Spacemaster camera rig, it is truly one of the finest three-dimensional motion pictures from the Golden Age! @filmforumnyc

https://filmforum.org/film/the-diamond-wizard-3-d

Seventy years ago, the First 3-D Musical was comin

Seventy years ago, the First 3-D Musical was coming soon from Paramount!

Seventy years ago on September 14, 1953, the secon

Seventy years ago on September 14, 1953, the second 3-D short from Broadway Roadshow Productions PARISIENNE LIFE had its first known playdate at the Thrift Drive-In Theater in Charlotte, North Carolina.

This was the second of five burlesque shorts presented in “Gorgeous Multi-Color” anaglyphic 3-D by Oakland and San Francisco burlesque theater magnate, Harry A. Farros. PARISIENNE LIFE starred popular dancers Paula French and Shirley Hayes, aka The Pussy Cat Girl.

Photographed in Los Angeles circa May 1953, the title was changed multiple times (PARIS AFTER MIDNIGHT, MURDER IN PARIS, FRENCH LIFE) just before the September release. The short was popular and usually played at dusk to dawn drive-in shows.

It’s highly likely that while working with George Weiss at Screen Classics, Edward D. Wood Jr wrote the script for this 3-D film. While not listed on his resume, it was photographed on the same day as CLEOPATRA FOLLIES. You can find more information on that lost Ed Wood film in the August 8 post on this page.

3-D Film Archive has recently secured a faded but pristine 35mm anaglyphic print of PARISIENNE LIFE and we will eventually be restoring this rare film for a future 3-D Blu-ray release!

Seventy years ago on September 3, 1953, Warner Bro

Seventy years ago on September 3, 1953, Warner Bros’ third 3-D feature THE MOONLIGHTER had its first playdates at the Paramount and Sheridan Theatres in Miami, FL. Two days later on September 5, the gala World Premiere was held at the 2,001 seat Stanley Theatre in Atlantic City, NJ. It opened on September 22 in New York, September 25 in Los Angeles, and September 30 in Chicago.

Independently produced by Joseph Bernhard Productions, it was composed during principal photography by Director of Photography Bert Glennon for 1.37:1 presentation. Glennon had been nominated for an Oscar in 1940 for his outstanding black and white cinematography on STAGECOACH.

THE MOONLIGHTER is one of seven Golden Age features that has not been seen in third-dimension since the original theatrical bookings or when the film was privately screened for the production team. This 3-D reunion of the two legendary stars from DOUBLE INDEMNITY was last shown stereoscopically in late 1953.

To the best of our knowledge, Warner Bros has done archival preservation from the original 35mm left/right elements. Unfortunately, they have not yet created a restored digital 3-D master which would allow both 3-D Blu-ray release and DCP availability for theatrical bookings.

Let's hope that changes very soon so that we can once again enjoy this lost 3-D classic as it was meant to be seen!

If you follow us on Facebook or Instagram, you'll

If you follow us on Facebook or Instagram, you'll be seeing quite a few 70th anniversary posts in the months ahead for 3-D movies that have not been restored by the copyright holders. With each post, we receive MANY inquiries asking "When will it be available" or "Why hasn't this been restored." We have no answers and can only report that we have tried.

The lack of interest is especially frustrating as we are currently co-presenting a HIGHLY successful 70th anniversary retrospective series at New York's Film Forum and if 3-D DCP's were available, these titles would be back on the big screen. Film does absolutely no good sitting in a vault.

This is a suitable time to remind everyone that rescuing these vintage stereoscopic treasures has been our goal from day one. The story goes back more than forty years and you can read all about it in this 2012 article on our website: https://3dfilmarchive.com/3d-film-archive-history/

So please keep your expectations in check and do not be disappointed when you see a 70th anniversary post for a film that you'd like to see on 3-D Blu-ray. We share your thoughts on this matter!

Seventy years ago this week, "Another New Paramoun

Seventy years ago this week, "Another New Paramount Sensation" was coming soon!

Seventy years ago today, the World Premiere of WIN

Seventy years ago today, the World Premiere of WINGS OF THE HAWK in widescreen 3-D and stereophonic sound!

Seventy years ago on August 26, 1953, Universal-In

Seventy years ago on August 26, 1953, Universal-International’s second 3-D feature WINGS OF THE HAWK - along with THE HYPNOTIC HICK - had their gala World Premiere at the 3,327 seat Loew’s State Theatre in New York.

Composed by Budd Boetticher and Director of Photography Clifford Stine during principal photography in the widescreen aspect ratio of 1.85:1, WINGS is noteworthy as the first feature film composed for that aspect ratio. Within a few years, 1.85 would become the accepted non-anamorphic widescreen standard for production and exhibition throughout the US.

The original high fidelity three-channel (left/center/right) magnetic stereophonic sound was played back on a full-coat 35mm playback unit in the projection booth. The stereophonic sound reproducer was interlocked with the left/right projectors to maintain synchronization with the picture.

Sixteen of the Golden Age 3-D features were released with stereophonic sound and only three original complete tracks survive; IT CAME FROM OUTER SPACE, KISS ME KATE and WINGS OF THE HAWK. We located the deteriorating 35mm magnetic tracks buried deep in the vaults of NBCUniversal when we did our restoration.

In 2020, 3-D Film Archive restored this feature from 35mm inter-positives made from VERY faded left/right 35mm Eastman color camera negatives. We also restored the Woody Woodpecker cartoon and both are currently available on 3-D Blu-ray from Kino Lorber. https://3dfilmarchive.com/available-film-restorations/

Seventy years ago this week, WINGS OF THE HAWK was

Seventy years ago this week, WINGS OF THE HAWK was coming soon from Universal-International!

Seventy years ago on August 19, 1953, RKO Radio Pi

Seventy years ago on August 19, 1953, RKO Radio Pictures second 3-D feature DEVIL’S CANYON opened in six key locations. Kansas City, MO; Los Angeles, CA; Minneapolis and St. Paul, MN; Syracuse, NY and San Francisco, CA.

Initially announced by RKO for simultaneous premiere screenings in key cities throughout Arizona, those plans were dropped.

Composed during principal photography for the standard aspect ratio of 1.37:1, it was presented cropped to widescreen in many theatres that had installed large screens in the summer of 1953.

The original high fidelity three-channel (left/center/right) magnetic stereophonic sound was played back on a full-coat 35mm playback unit in the projection booth. The stereophonic sound reproducer was interlocked with the left/right projectors in order to maintain synchronization with the picture. The original stereo tracks do not survive.

To the best of our knowledge, Warner Bros has done archival preservation from the original 35mm color elements. Unfortunately, they have not yet created a restored digital 3-D master which would allow both 3-D Blu-ray release and DCP availability for theatrical bookings.

Let's hope that changes very soon so that we can once again enjoy this essential 3-D classic as it was meant to be seen!

Seventy years ago, POPEYE-THE ACE OF SPACE was com

Seventy years ago, POPEYE-THE ACE OF SPACE was coming soon from Paramount!

Seventy years ago, POPEYE-THE ACE OF SPACE was com

Seventy years ago, POPEYE-THE ACE OF SPACE was coming soon from Paramount!

Seventy years ago this week, "A New Kind of Excite

Seventy years ago this week, "A New Kind of Excitement" was coming soon in 3-D, widescreen and stereophonic sound from Universal-International!

Fans of all ages are coming to our 70th anniversar

Fans of all ages are coming to our 70th anniversary series of Golden Age 3-D gems at New York's iconic Film Forum. Don't miss tonight's rare screening of HONDO, it's one of the very best. See how great 3-D can be!

https://filmforum.org/series/a-deeper-look

Seventy years ago, Warner Bros' THE CHARGE AT FEAT

Seventy years ago, Warner Bros' THE CHARGE AT FEATHER RIVER and RKO's SECOND CHANCE were doing boffo business in theatres around the country.

To the best of our knowledge, Warner Bros has done archival preservation from the original 35mm color elements. Unfortunately, they have not yet created restored digital 3-D masters which would allow both 3-D Blu-ray release and DCP availability for theatrical bookings.

If you'd like to see these missing Golden Age stereoscopic gems in 3-D again, please contact Warner Archive Collection and@warnerarchive

Seventy years ago on August 12, 1953, Lippert Pict

Seventy years ago on August 12, 1953, Lippert Pictures third and final 3-D short BANDIT ISLAND had its first known playdate at the 3,542 seat Lafayette Theatre in Buffalo, NY. It accompanied THE STRANGER WORE A GUN and PARDON MY BACKFIRE for a “Giant All 3-D Hit Show.”

Photographed entirely on location in early March 1953 by Gordon Pollock with the new Producers Service Co. camera rig, it was available to theatres in either dual-35mm polarized 3-D or single-strip red/green anaglyphic 3-D. Theatres and drive-ins that did not have polarized 3-D projection capability played the anaglyphic version.

Consolidated Film Industries in Hollywood managed the composite red/green anaglyphic printing and lab records indicate that both the left/right 35mm camera negatives were sent to Technicolor in 1954. In March 1954, Lippert hired director Arthur Hilton to film an additional 33 minutes of flat footage to expand the 27-minute short into a 2-D feature length release. For that purpose, one side of the BANDIT ISLAND 35mm camera negative was edited into the master flat negative of THE BIG CHASE. The whereabouts of the opposing negative side are unknown and it may have been considered obsolete and eventually junked.

This original 27-minute featurette is a lost 3-D film and we have been trying to find it since the 1980s. If you ever come across a flat 35mm print – or an anaglyphic 3-D print - of BANDIT ISLAND, please let us know!

#3d #classic #cultfilm #cultmovie #classicfilm #1950s #3dmovies #50s #filmrestoration #35mm #film #3dfilm #filmpreservation #lostfilm #lostfilms #lostmovie ##lonchaneyjr

We were absolutely delighted to present our new 3-

We were absolutely delighted to present our new 3-D restoration of ROBOT MONSTER to a wonderfully responsive audience at the NSA 3-D Con in Buffalo, NY!

Special thanks to our dear friend Denis Pellerin from The London Stereoscopic Company for this tri-dimensional view of the 3DFA Restoration Team; Bob Furmanek, Jack Theakston and Greg Kintz.

#robotmonster #londonstereoscopiccompany #denispellerin

Seventy years ago on August 8, 1953, the Broadway

Seventy years ago on August 8, 1953, the Broadway Roadshow Productions 3-D short CLEOPATRA FOLLIES had its first known playdate at the Green Acres Drive-In Theater in Hampton, Virginia.

This was the first of five burlesque shorts presented in “Gorgeous Multi-Color” anaglyphic 3-D by Oakland and San Francisco burlesque theater magnate, Harry A. Farros. CLEOPATRA FOLLIES starred popular dancers Paula French and Shirley Hayes, aka The Pussy Cat Girl.

Newly discovered data has confirmed that while working with George Weiss at Screen Classics, Edward D. Wood Jr wrote the script for this 3-D film under the title FLAME OF ISLAM. Wood lists it in a resume that he circulated around that time.

Photographed in Los Angeles circa May 1953, the title was changed just before the August release. The short was popular and usually played at drive-ins with bookings found as late as September 1955.

Wood also had THE PHANTOM GHOUL, a 3-D feature for Bela Lugosi in development when he wrote this script. In addition, Dolores Fuller had recently appeared in the Lippert short COLLEGE CAPERS. That rarity is available on our 3-D Blu-ray release REVENGE OF THE SHOGUN WOMEN for Kino-Lorber.

Newly restored footage of Lugosi discussing THE PHANTOM GHOUL on live television is included as a bonus extra on our new ROBOT MONSTER 3-D Blu-ray release from BayView Entertainment. Lugosi scholar Gary D. Rhodes provides a commentary track and discusses this abandoned 3-D feature. https://3dfilmarchive.com/available-film-restorations/

I discovered the original left/right 35mm elements for CLEOPATRA FOLLIES at the shuttered Movielab in Hollywood circa 1985. Despite my best efforts, I was not able to acquire the material and it’s likely they were junked with other orphaned film elements.

Fortunately, 3-D Film Archive has recently secured a faded but pristine 35mm anaglyphic print and we will eventually be restoring this rare Edward D. Wood film for a future 3-D Blu-ray release!

Check out the new article by Danielle Burgos on Sc

Check out the new article by Danielle Burgos on Screen Slate. Link in bio.

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