Runtime:
124 minutes
Directed
by: Merian C. Cooper/Gunther von Fritsch/Ernest B. Schoedsack/Michael
Todd, Jr.
Starring:
This is a documentary starring Lowell Thomas
From:
Cinerama Productions Corp.
In the past I've talked about some other Cinerama productions; it was
about time I saw the very first one; I watched the 2018 Flicker Alley
Blu release. Unlike with their first release of the film, Flicker Alley
had access to the original camera negative, resulting in a much-improved
picture and sound.
This is Cinerama is for certain a sizzle reel
to the general public so they could experience something that was
astounding for the time. Later productions from Cinerama are more
impressive when it comes to visuals yet I do respect the hell out of
this for what it did. After all, widescreen movies with stereo sound
wouldn't be a thing if it wasn't for Cinerama, as they did it first.
Audiences back around this time in 1952 must have been shocked to see a
color movie in widescreen on a screen that wrapped 140 degrees around
them (Flicker Alley replicated that using a simulated image known as
Smilebox) with a 6 channel stereo soundtrack.
The movie starts off with a short prologue in black and white and fullscreen as the history of film is discussed. Then the rest of the journey begins, which includes the likes of a ride on a now long-defunct rollercoaster, the Vienna Boys Choir, a clip from an opera, footage from Venice, the former Cypress Gardens, and gorgeous scenery from the Western half of the United States. Lowell Thomas narrates this and also appears on camera; well, he is not a fountain of charisma. Then again, I am not one to talk there and besides, he was not only a veteran newscaster but filmed various sights in World War I, including T.E. Lawrence... that resulted in Lawrence of Arabia becoming popular. So who am I to diss him?
Part of the high rating is due to historical significance but I generally was charmed by this fancy tech demo. Interesting sights and sounds are seen from... well, not around the world but the United States and Europe, and the score (mainly composed by an uncredited Max Steiner; he was a Warner Brothers employee at the time) was as majestic as was befitting such images. YMMV but even with the first one I can be charmed by what it is.
The movie starts off with a short prologue in black and white and fullscreen as the history of film is discussed. Then the rest of the journey begins, which includes the likes of a ride on a now long-defunct rollercoaster, the Vienna Boys Choir, a clip from an opera, footage from Venice, the former Cypress Gardens, and gorgeous scenery from the Western half of the United States. Lowell Thomas narrates this and also appears on camera; well, he is not a fountain of charisma. Then again, I am not one to talk there and besides, he was not only a veteran newscaster but filmed various sights in World War I, including T.E. Lawrence... that resulted in Lawrence of Arabia becoming popular. So who am I to diss him?
Part of the high rating is due to historical significance but I generally was charmed by this fancy tech demo. Interesting sights and sounds are seen from... well, not around the world but the United States and Europe, and the score (mainly composed by an uncredited Max Steiner; he was a Warner Brothers employee at the time) was as majestic as was befitting such images. YMMV but even with the first one I can be charmed by what it is.
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