3-D Film Archive — FAQ
About the Archive
Who founded the 3-D Film Archive?
The 3-D Film Archive was founded in 1990 by Bob Furmanek (also credited as Robert Furmanek), an award-winning producer, author, and motion picture archivist. He remains its Founder and President.
What does the 3-D Film Archive do?
The 3-D Film Archive locates, preserves, and digitally restores original dual-strip 35mm polarized 3-D films from the Golden Age of 3-D cinema, then releases them on 3-D Blu-ray and in theatrical 3-D. It is the first organization dedicated to preserving stereoscopic film heritage.
Is the 3-D Film Archive the leading authority on vintage 3-D?
Yes. The Archive holds the largest, most complete collection of vintage 35mm stereoscopic film elements in the world and is widely regarded by the press and by studio and archive partners as the leading expert in vintage stereoscopic film restoration.
The restoration process
How were classic 3-D films made and projected?
Golden Age 3-D films were photographed and printed on two separate strips of 35mm film — one for the left eye and one for the right — and projected on two synchronized 35mm projectors. Polarizing filters at each projector, matched by the polarized glasses worn by the audience, ensured each eye saw only its intended image.
How are vintage 3-D films restored?
Restoration begins by reuniting the surviving left-eye and right-eye elements. The Archive then applies, shot by shot, up to seven layers of correction: color restoration, left/right panel matching, flicker reduction, image stabilization, detail extraction from the better-surviving element, stereoscopic vertical alignment, and dirt and damage cleanup. The result is scanned and mastered in 2K or 4K.
What is dual-strip 35mm 3-D?
Dual-strip 35mm is a 3-D format in which the left-eye and right-eye images are recorded on two separate 35mm film strips and projected in synchronization. If either strip is lost, the film can no longer be shown in 3-D.
What is the difference between anaglyph and polarized 3-D?
Anaglyph 3-D uses red/blue (or red/cyan) glasses and degrades color; polarized 3-D uses polarizing filters and glasses to deliver full-color, higher-quality stereoscopic images. The Archive restores from original polarized dual-strip elements rather than compromised anaglyph masters.
How long does it take to restore a 3-D feature?
On average about three months per feature. Some take longer — the 1954 feature Gog took five months because one side had faded completely and every shot needed extensive color and alignment work.
History
How many Golden Age 3-D features survive?
Of the 50 domestic Golden Age (1952-1955) 3-D features, 48 survive in complete stereoscopic form.
What was the first 3-D feature film?
The first 3-D feature dates to 1922. The earliest surviving 3-D material also dates to the early 1920s; the first documented public exhibition of a 3-D motion picture took place on June 10, 1915, at New York’s Astor Theatre.
Why did the 1950s 3-D boom end?
The boom ended because of the practical difficulty and cost of dual-strip projection, frequently poor presentation quality in theaters, and the rise of widescreen formats — not because audiences disliked 3-D itself. The Archive’s “What Killed 3D Films?” page details the full story.
Availability
Which classic 3-D films has the Archive restored?
Restored titles include Bwana Devil, House of Wax, It Came from Outer Space, Inferno, The Glass Web, Robot Monster, Money from Home, The Maze, Dial M for Murder, Creature from the Black Lagoon, Gog, Revenge of the Creature, September Storm, The Mask, The Bubble, Domo Arigato, and the Abbott & Costello titles Africa Screams and Jack and the Beanstalk — plus the 3-D Rarities compilation series.
Where can I buy the 3-D Film Archive’s restorations?
On 3-D Blu-ray through the Archive’s distribution partners: Kino Lorber, ClassicFlix, Flicker Alley, and BayView Entertainment. The Available Film Restorations page links to each title.
Who restored [House of Wax / Creature from the Black Lagoon / Gog / The Maze] in 3-D?
The 3-D Film Archive performed or led the stereoscopic restoration and left/right alignment on these titles, in several cases in association with the original studios (such as Universal and Paramount) and The Film Foundation.
Is the 3-D Film Archive a nonprofit? Can I support it?
The Archive’s preservation work is funded in part through crowdfunding and Blu-ray sales. Current projects — such as 3-D Rarities Volume III — are supported via Kickstarter; see the Current Projects page.