Golden Age 3-D Features

[T. Warren Scollan]

Originally Posted by revgen

I like those three as well. But I believe you're underrating Dangerous Mission, The French Line, and Phantom of the Rue Morgue.

Revgen, "Dangerous Mission" is an interesting film, but as Leonard Maltin said, it looks like it was edited with a chain saw. And the rear screen projection work looks pretty cheesy.

"The French Line" is a not vey good 3rd tier musical; but it is kind of a hoot, especially JR's hootchie kootche dance!

"Phantom" is kind of spoiled for me as I can't stop lamenting that I'm not looking at Vincent Price instead of Karl Malden.

I'll stick with jtchance's 3 choices. Most especially "Second Chance".

[jtchance]

Originally Posted by revgen

I like those three as well. But I believe you're underrating Dangerous Mission, The French Line, and Phantom of the Rue Morgue.

Truth be told fifty years ago I had DANGEROUS MISSION memorized due to a local television entity called the Million Dollar Movie where a feature was telecast once every weeknight and thrice each day of the weekend. I agree 3D coupled with the outdoor locations could have quite an effect. I have actually owned an Australian DVD copy of THE FRENCH LINE which while tame today caused some consternation during it's initial release. IMO pleasant but not memorable. As far as PHANTOM Of THE RUE MORGUE goes I hadn't seen it it in years until a recent TCM broadcast last month. Again IMO not as good as the titles I touted earlier.

[jtchance]

For me at least 3D representations of John Wayne, Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis seem to be out of our reach due to mismanagement or corporate politics. SECOND CHANCE also boasts a movie star of equal stature in Robert Mitchum. That is why SECOND CHANCE is at the top of my wish list from Warners. Again due to Million Dollar Movie I was thrilled by the cable car sequence. There is also a rumor that Michum and Jack Palance did not get along very well. Apparently Palance actually connected a blow to Mitchum which perturbed him somewhat. Needless to say the fight scenes that ensued were something to see.

[Robert Furmanek]

I once had 35mm dye-transfer Technicolor left/right prints of DANGEROUS MISSION and it was a very popular title in our screening room.

Ignore Maltin's review. In fact, he told me in 2003 after the first 3-D Expo that seeing the films properly has made him reevaluate their quality. In his words, "I need to modify some reviews!"

That one really comes to life when seen as intended in Technicolor, 3-D and widescreen!

[jtchance]

Originally Posted by Robert Furmanek

I once had 35mm dye-transfer Technicolor left/right prints of DANGEROUS MISSION and it was a very popular title in our screening room.

Ignore Maltin's review. In fact, he told me in 2003 after the first 3-D Expo that seeing the films properly has made him reevaluate their quality. In his words, "I need to modify some reviews!"

That one really comes to life when seen as intended in Technicolor, 3-D and widescreen!

The image that remains with me the most was the chase on the glacier.

[bavanut]

Originally Posted by T. Warren Scollan

Revgen, "Dangerous Mission" is an interesting film, but as Leonard Maltin said, it looks like it was edited with a chain saw. And the rear screen projection work looks pretty cheesy.

"The French Line" is a not vey good 3rd tier musical; but it is kind of a hoot, especially JR's hootchie kootche dance!

"Phantom" is kind of spoiled for me as I can't stop lamenting that I'm not looking at Vincent Price instead of Karl Malden.

I'll stick with jtchance's 3 choices. Most especially "Second Chance".

I would not ordinarily presume to speak for Dan, but as I understand it, it's not J.T. Chance's three choices versus Dan's three choices-- it's more like J.T.'s three choices versus Dan's six choices, with all due respect to everyone involved in the conversation.

For the record (and despite any perceived faults), Dangerous Mission is the only one of my Top Five favorite 1950s 3-D titles not yet available on Blu-ray.

[ilovenola2]

Originally Posted by jtchance

For me at least 3D representations of John Wayne, Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis seem to be out of our reach due to mismanagement or corporate politics. SECOND CHANCE also boasts a movie star of equal stature in Robert Mitchum. That is why SECOND CHANCE is at the top of my wish list from Warners. Again due to Million Dollar Movie I was thrilled by the cable car sequence. There is also a rumor that Michum and Jack Palance did not get along very well. Apparently Palance actually connected a blow to Mitchum which perturbed him somewhat. Needless to say the fight scenes that ensued were something to see.

Yes, THAT'S the one!!! I saw this one in the theatre upon its initial 3D release and this 10-yr-old was overwhelmed by the spectacular cable-car sequence! I could never remember the film's name, though.
How I could forget with two of my favorite actors, Palance (I first "hated" him in "Shane") and Mitchum (greatest movie villain in history-- Reverend Harry Powell in "Night of the Hunter"), starring.
Oh, yes please--- "Second Chance" in 3D....let's have it again!

[jimqk]

Originally Posted by ilovenola2

Yes, THAT'S the one!!! I saw this one in the theatre upon its initial 3D release and this 10-yr-old was overwhelmed by the spectacular cable-car sequence! I could never remember the film's name, though.
How I could forget with two of my favorite actors, Palance (I first "hated" him in "Shane") and Mitchum (greatest movie villain in history-- Reverend Harry Powell in "Night of the Hunter"), starring.
Oh, yes please--- "Second Chance" in 3D....let's have it again!

All this talk about Second Chance in 3-D makes me want to see it even more. It sounds awesome. If somebody at Warner Archive is out there reading this, please do something! I beg you! Stop the pain!

[Robert Furmanek]

If I recall correctly, it was the first domestic 3-D feature to have location footage. RKO sent a crew to Mexico for quite a bit of filming with the principal cast.

[jtchance]

Bob Mitchum at this point was the number one star on the RKO lot. It didn't though preclude Howard Hughes from loaning him out to Twentieth Century Fox a great deal.

[revgen]

Originally Posted by T. Warren Scollan

Revgen, "Dangerous Mission" is an interesting film, but as Leonard Maltin said, it looks like it was edited with a chain saw. And the rear screen projection work looks pretty cheesy.

"The French Line" is a not vey good 3rd tier musical; but it is kind of a hoot, especially JR's hootchie kootche dance!

"Phantom" is kind of spoiled for me as I can't stop lamenting that I'm not looking at Vincent Price instead of Karl Malden.

I'll stick with jtchance's 3 choices. Most especially "Second Chance".

I enjoyed Dangerous Mission. I always love it when Vincent Price plays smarmy characters outside of his horror films. I visited Glacier National Park back when I was in high school, so I have a particularly strong bias for this picture.

The French Line and Those Redheads From Seattle are IMO more entertaining than Kiss Me Kate. I wouldn't even call French Line a musical. Variety show is a more apt description. What little plot is present is simply there to move on to the next "show". Whether it's a musical number, a fistfight, an over-the-top argument, or whatever the next sequence may be. It's best enjoyed that way.

Karl Malden isn't Vincent Price. He tries to ham it up like Price, but he doesn't quite hit the right notes like Price can. But I still believe Phantom of Rue Morgue sports some very high production values that lend itself well to a 3-D presentation. It's not House of Wax, but the 19th century sets, costumes, cinematography, makeup, and of course 3-D, makes for interesting viewing. A must have on 3-D blu-ray.

[T. Warren Scollan]

Originally Posted by revgen

I enjoyed Dangerous Mission. I always love it when Vincent Price plays smarmy characters outside of his horror films. I visited Glacier National Park back when I was in high school, so I have a particularly strong bias for this picture.

The French Line and Those Redheads From Seattle are IMO more entertaining than Kiss Me Kate. I wouldn't even call French Line a musical. Variety show is a more apt description. What little plot is present is simply there to move on to the next "show". Whether it's a musical number, a fistfight, an over-the-top argument, or whatever the next sequence may be. It's best enjoyed that way.

Karl Malden isn't Vincent Price. He tries to ham it up like Price, but he doesn't quite hit the right notes like Price can. But I still believe Phantom of Rue Morgue sports some very high production values that lend itself well to a 3-D presentation. It's not House of Wax, but the 19th century sets, costumes, cinematography, makeup, and of course 3-D, makes for interesting viewing. A must have on 3-D blu-ray.

I apologize if I sounded like I was dissing those films. Believe me, I'd give my left whatever to get a 3d Blu-ray of any of them (done by 3dFA, of course). It's just for me there are some others I would choose first.

It's funny how all our tastes differ. While I enjoyed "Redheads" a lot, and having seen it on the screen in dual strip, I know I would enjoy "French Line", but it was "Kiss Me Kate" that really knocked my socks off!

[robtadrian]

There's a GREAT exhibition on 3D at LACMA (Los Angeles Museum of Art) from now till March. There is a screening room (always a long line to get in the 2 days I visited) that starts off with the 2D trailer for Sangaree and features clips from Kiss Me Kate, Inferno, Dial M for Murder, Boo Moon, the Maze trailer, House of Wax, Creature from the Black Lagoon, Miss Sadie Thompson, It Came from Outer Space, Those Redheads from Seattle and then the current wave (the Walk, Hugo, Avatar, Toy Story trailer, Day and Night, Titanic some others). There are also 3 displays showing: Audioscopiks, Now is the Time/Around is Around, and New Dimensions.

It's fun and encouraging to see people's reactions.

[noirjunkie]

Originally Posted by revgen

I enjoyed Dangerous Mission. I always love it when Vincent Price plays smarmy characters outside of his horror films.

Speaking of which, if you haven't seen it, check him out in His Kind of Woman (1951). He steals every scene he's in.

[revgen]

I have good news to report for those in the LA area. I went to the Aero theater to see the LA premiere of The Maze and Cease Fire, and I'm happy to report that the brightness issues that plagued the September Storm premiere at the theater last year are not an issue. The screen was brighter this time around and both films looked great. I can't comment on color since both were B&W, but I encourage anybody who was/is hesitant to attend the 3-D screenings this weekend to do so.

[jtchance]

Especially since he is lampooning Errol Flynn. Another great comic performance of Vincent Price was the game show comedy CHAMPAGNE FOR CAESAR.

[T. Warren Scollan]

This thread has been a quiet for a while, so here's one for a new discussion:

Out of the 50 English language 3d films of the "Golden Age", so far we have 15 on 3d Blu-ray. We know for sure of 3 more coming: "Revenge of the Creature" in a week, "Sangaree" this Fall, and "Jivaro" next year. Of the remaining 32, we're pretty confident of a few more coming, a larger few that could go either way, and a majority that we probably won't see, at least not anytime soon. Now suppose you could choose any one of those remaining 32 that you would want to have in 3d Blu-ray, no matter what their future prospects are currently. But the imaginary catch here would be ONLY ONE! It would be number 19 and the last! Yeah, that would be a hard singular choice, but that's the point of this fantasy exercise. So which one would YOU choose, and more importantly, WHY?

[davidsal]

Bwana Devil!!

[BleedOrange11]

Hondo! It is by far the best movie of the remaining bunch. It's also my grandfather's favorite movie of all time, and I'd love to be able to show it to him in 3D.

[revgen]

Hondo is at the top of the Golden Age list for me as well.