Golden Age 3-D Features

[Damon1281]

Originally Posted by Interdimensional

I thought it'd be interesting to take an overview of the current state of affairs for Golden Age 3-D films on blu-ray.

Of the 50 Golden Age 3-D feature films produced between 1952-55, as listed on Bob Furmanek's site, so far we have:

1) Oct 2012: Dial M for Murder (1954) WB release
2) Jun 2013: Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954) Universal release
3) Oct 2013: House of Wax (1953) WB release
4) Jan 2014: Man in the Dark (1953) Sony/Twilight Time release
5) Oct 2014: Dragonfly Squadron (1954) 3-D Film Archive/ Olive release
6) Mar 2015: Kiss Me Kate (1953) WB release
7) Mar 2016: Gog (1954) 3-D Film Archive/ Kino Lorber release
8) July 2016: Miss Sadie Thompson (1953) Sony/ Twilight Time release
9) Oct 2016: It Came from Outer Space (1953) 3-D Film Archive/Universal release

What about Inferno?

[BleedOrange11]

I think September Storm could technically count as Golden Age since it was shot on Natural Vision rigs, and Silver Age started with single-strip 35mm for The Bubble in 1966. Obviously not part of the 1952-55 boom though.

[BleedOrange11]

Apart from Hondo, Warner Bros. is the hold up. They own a lot of titles and only do restorations themselves. Twilight Time can access the rest of Columbia and Fox, and now Kino can access Paramount. Universal has been playing ball, and hopefully they will continue to do so after a successful It Came from Outer Space release. Then there are several independently-owned titles whose situations will hopefully improve with time.

[revgen]

It'll take some doing, but at this point I'm hopeful we may get another 10, although going forward it looks like we'll be increasingly dependent on the wonderful work of the 3-D Film Archive, and they can only do so much. It'd really help the situation if a restored title like Hondo could get a release, and WB have more titles than anyone else, so anything they could surprise us would be very welcome indeed.

WB doesn't seem to license their films to any third party except Criterion. And they won't let anybody but their own MPI lab handle the film elements.

I also don't believe Sony/Columbia are working on any other 3-D restorations besides the 4 they've already done, Gun Fury, Man in the Dark, Miss Sadie Thompson, and The Mad Magician. They also don't seem to eager to work with 3rd parties on scanning or restoration.

I have hope for MGM (Diamond Wizard, Bwana Devil), Fox (Gorilla at Large is licensed to TT), Paramount (The Maze), Universal (The Glass Web) and maybe some indepenent films (I, the Jury) may be released. Universal will depend on how much ICFOS sells, but I'm feeling optimistic.

[BleedOrange11]

A rarer gem that I'm curious about is El valor de vivir aka The Price of Living (1954), possibly the best of the three Mexican Golden Age releases and remake of famous American film One Way Passage (1932). It was distributed in America by Columbia. I doubt anyone will bother to save it due to the language barrier, but I bet it's a better film than some of the others.

Arturo de Córdova y Rosita Quintana en "El valor de vivir" (1954) - YouTube

[BleedOrange11]

Originally Posted by revgen

I also don't believe Sony/Columbia are working on any other 3-D restorations besides the 4 they've already done, Gun Fury, Man in the Dark, Miss Sadie Thompson, and The Mad Magician. They also don't seem to eager to work with 3rd parties on scanning or restoration.

Sony may be willing to loan out those other elements since they don't consider them as significant films. It may take significant effort and bargaining from Twilight Time and the 3-D Archive though.

[Robert Furmanek]

I can't mention titles but there's a VERY good chance that we will be involved with (at least) 8 more features getting released on 3-D Blu-ray over the next couple of years...

[Interdimensional]

Originally Posted by Damon1281

What about Inferno?

I must have a faulty brain. I've watched that one numerous times, I even bought 2 copies.

Anyway, that means the 10th golden age feature to be mastered for the 3D Blu-ray format was It Came from Outer Space, a very fitting title, so we're further along than I thought. I've edited my post accordingly

[Interdimensional]

Originally Posted by BleedOrange11

I think September Storm could technically count as Golden Age since it was shot on Natural Vision rigs, and Silver Age started with single-strip 35mm for The Bubble in 1966. Obviously not part of the 1952-55 boom though.

it's perhaps a bit of an arbitrary distinction, but it produces a nice round number. It excludes foreign language films, but includes films that were not released in 3-D, and in some cases may not have made it through the editing process in 3-D. I'd tend to consider films like September Storm and The Mask as stand-alone novelties, attempted revivals, but they can easily be lumped in with the others for the reasons you mention.

[Robert Furmanek]

After 62 years, GOG will finally be shown in 3-D on the big screen in England! http://www.cambridgefilmfestival.org.uk/film/gog-3d

[cinerama]

Originally Posted by Robert Furmanek

I can't mention titles but there's a VERY good chance that we will be involved with (at least) 8 more features getting released on 3-D Blu-ray over the next couple of years...

Great news!

[T. Warren Scollan]

Originally Posted by Robert Furmanek

I can't mention titles but there's a VERY good chance that we will be involved with (at least) 8 more features getting released on 3-D Blu-ray over the next couple of years...

OK, Bob, I'm going to throw out some guess's. I know you can't comment, and I wouldn't expect you to do so. But you know me, I enjoy being a gadfly!

First of all there are the remaining 4 Universal titles. I believe you'll be involved either way, if Universal releases them or they license them out. That would be "Revenge/Creature", "Glass Web", "Wings of the Hawk", and "Taza". The Paramount/3D Archive/Kino relationship says we'll be seeing some or all of Paramount's
remaining: "Sangaree", "Jivaro", "Flight/Tangier", and "Cease Fire". Also Paramount's Allied Artists acquisition, "The Maze". Can't say about "Hondo" and "Money/Home". Who knows? Your good relationship with MGM portends the possibility of United Artist's "Diamond Wizard" and "I, the Jury". We can kiss off Wade Williams' titles and I don't think we'll ever see "Top Banana", "Southwest Passage", and a 3D "The Command". The others unmentioned are spoken for by Warner, Sony, Twilight, and Shout, none of whom are working with you (I think). Now that's 11 possibilities I've mentioned, so I know I must be wrong somewhere!!!!!!

[bavanut]

Hi, Warren, you're 75% right on the remaining Universal titles. The Bounty Hunter is Warner Bros.; Universal's remaining Western title is Wings of the Hawk.

[T. Warren Scollan]

Originally Posted by bavanut

Hi, Warren, you're 75% right on the remaining Universal titles. The Bounty Hunter is Warner Bros.; Universal's remaining Western title is Wings of the Hawk.

Yeah, you're right. I meant "Wings of the Hawk", honest I did. 'Twas just an old brain glitch. Will edit it now. Would love to hear your opinions on my list! And anybody else, for that matter.

[T. Warren Scollan]

Originally Posted by Interdimensional

it's perhaps a bit of an arbitrary distinction, but it produces a nice round number. It excludes foreign language films, but includes films that were not released in 3-D, and in some cases may not have made it through the editing process in 3-D. I'd tend to consider films like September Storm and The Mask as stand-alone novelties, attempted revivals, but they can easily be lumped in with the others for the reasons you mention.

I personally like to think of "September Storm", "The Mask", "The Bubble", "The Stewardesses", "A*P*E*", and I'm sure there are others, as sort of "3D Placeholders" between the "Golden Age" of the early '50's and the "Silver Renaissance" of the '80's. I feel your "stand alone" concept works for me.

[bavanut]

I will gladly support any and all vintage 3-D films that appear on Blu-Ray, with the exception of pornography.

I hope Universal will give serious consideration to releasing their four remaining vintage features to Blu-Ray, with the participation of Bob and Greg and the Archive. All four are very worthwhile films with something to offer audiences today.

I am very happy that Kino Lorber intends to release the bulk of the Paramount library, with the participation of Bob and Greg and the Archive. If someone were to ask me the order in which the remaining titles ought to be released, I would give them this list:

1. The Maze (assuming it's on the table)
2. Sangaree
3. Jivaro
4. Flight to Tangier (one of my least favorite 3-D films of the 1950s—but you may put me down for two copies on Day One!)
5. Cease Fire! (I commend those brave soldiers for everything except their screen acting)

As far as other titles held by other studios: If there's one thing I have learned about my friends Bob Furmanek and Greg Kintz, they simply do not give up. They always keep hope, they always press forward, they always pour their heart into every aspect of the work, they always persevere. They are winsome ambassadors for classic stereoscopic cinema, and they are gaining the attention of all sorts of important people. I counsel all of us, myself included, never to give in to a spirit of despair concerning this or that particular vintage 3-D title. You never know what tomorrow will bring, especially with Bob and Greg on the job!

[Robert Furmanek]

Whoa, thank you Mike!

Your VERY kind words of support are coming at a crucial time. Two titles that I have been pursuing for several years are going to be discussed in the next few days. I will be speaking with two individuals that have the power to approve their release and I am cautiously optimistic.

Keep your fingers crossed for a positive development. I won't be able to disclose the titles but rest assured, both are significant 3-D features from 1953 that will make many people very happy!

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Robert Furmanek

Whoa, thank you Mike!

Your VERY kind words of support are coming at a crucial time. Two titles that I have been pursuing for several years are going to be discussed in the next few days. I will be speaking with two individuals that have the power to approve their release and I am cautiously optimistic.

Keep your fingers crossed for a positive development. I won't be able to disclose the titles but rest assured, both are significant 3-D features from 1953 that will make many people very happy!

Cue everyone rushing to the 3D resource to check all titles from 1953 and trying to guess which ones!

Oh and I continue to echo the thoughts of other members, thanks to you and your team Robert.

[revgen]

I'm guessing and hoping that it's Universal's two non-sci-fi titles, Wings of the Hawk (1953) and The Glass Web (1953).

I'm a big fan of The Glass Web for one, and for two, my understanding is that both lead actresses of both films, Julie Adams and Kathleen Hughes are still alive and hopefully can give some insight into their experiences on the set. Interviews from both actresses would make for an excellent bonus feature for both films.

[Interdimensional]

Originally Posted by Robert Furmanek

Whoa, thank you Mike!

Your VERY kind words of support are coming at a crucial time. Two titles that I have been pursuing for several years are going to be discussed in the next few days. I will be speaking with two individuals that have the power to approve their release and I am cautiously optimistic.

Keep your fingers crossed for a positive development. I won't be able to disclose the titles but rest assured, both are significant 3-D features from 1953 that will make many people very happy!

We're all rooting for you.

I know it would be unbecoming for you to sing your own praises in such a meeting, but we're all very aware how much you've done to both revive and generate new interest in these films (although I'm sure we don't know the half of it). And you've done so much to set a standard for how the work ought to be done. Any label should be proud to release your restorations, and any studio working with the Archive can rest easy in the knowledge that their 3-D titles are in the best possible hands. And whoever foots the bill to cover the expenses is getting value for money and can take satisfaction for making it all happen, and making a lot of us very happy. It's all very much appreciated, and I know that if it wasn't for some the key people who've enabled these restorations to proceed the outcome would've been very different.

Example: someone, somewhere decided against releasing Hondo on 3D-Bluray.
It may have been just one person who decided for all of us that we weren't going to have even the option of watching that film as it was intended. It'd be all too easy for the powers that be to take the same attitude and just not care about this and dismiss those of us who do. We may not always know who to thank, but anyone who is in such a position and can make a difference for the better is hugely valued.

Fingers crossed.