This Is Cinerama Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.0

This Is Cinerama Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov May 13, 2018

Robert L. Bendick's "This is Cinerama" (1952) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Flicker Alley. The supplemental features on the release include a new trailer for the restored and reconstructed "This is Cinerama"; promotional materials; new documentaries; and more. In English, without optional English subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

The text below was used for our review of Flicker Alley's first Blu-ray release of This is Cinerama in 2012.

Recently restored and reconstructed by David Strohmaier and Greg Kimble (both also responsible for the restoration and reconstruction of Windjammer: The Voyage of the Christian Radich), This is Cinerama is essentially a massive promo piece for Cinerama, the legendary widescreen process which Fred Waller invented sixty years ago.

Cinerama films required three strips of 35mm film that were projected on giant screens. Why? Because the idea was to imitate human vision and provide a much wider view. Like its competitor Cinemiracle, also developed during the 1950s, Cinerama employed the 2.59:1 aspect ratio for all three cameras it used. A Cinerama presentation was also accompanied by stereophonic sound, which used up to seven channels of sound to impress the audience.

This is Cinerama is divided into two large acts, each allowing the audience to see and experience different places like never before. After a short introduction by Lowell Thomas, the audience is taken for an exciting roller coaster ride which does indeed leave a memorable impression (the positioning and use of the cameras here is quite impressive). Next is the Temple Dance from the beautiful Aida performed at the legendary La Scala. And again the idea here is to give the audience a taste of the image depth and crystal clear clarity Cinerama can achieve. A Long Island church choir is also filmed performing so that the audience can experience Cinerama’s superior sound. The two most notable segments, however, come from Edinburgh, Scotland, with footage from a large clan ceremony, and a bullfight in Spain.

The second act offers more of the same, only this time around the Cinerama crew tours America. After a quick stop in sunny Florida where a group of beautiful girls are seen water-skiing and having fun, the action moves to the Northeast. From New York City then the Cinerama crew heads West, quickly visiting Chicago, Salt Lake City, the Rocky Mountains, and eventually California.

Ultimately, This is Cinerama is a collection of beautifully filmed segments whose one and only purpose is to convince the audience that cinema has changed – and for the better. Keeping in mind that the film was completed exactly sixty years ago, it isn’t difficult to see why anyone who might have seen it theatrically, as it was meant to be seen, would have immediately concluded that Cinerama films would be the future of cinema – the visuals were simply breathtaking and the sound remarkably realistic.

Something else worth mentioning about This is Cinerama is that the film opens up with an overture, has an intermission, and ends with exit music. As it was the case with their Blu-ray release of Windjammer: The Voyage of the Christian Radich, Flicker Alley also present This is Cinerama with the curved screen Smilebox Simulation, giving us the opportunity to experience the film as it was seen during its original roadshow engagements around the world. Also worth mentioning is that the black and white prologue, which lasts approximately twelve minutes, is in standard screen, not widescreen.

Notes: In 1954, This is Cinerama earned Oscar nomination for Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture (Louis Forbes). In 2002, the film entered the Library of Congress National Film Registry. It was the second film to use the Cinerama process to be selected for preservation.

This Is Cinerama Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of approximately 2.56:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, This is Cinerama arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Flicker Alley.

This is Cinerama first transitioned to Blu-ray in 2012 after it was restored and reconstructed by David Strohmaier and his colleagues (you can see our review of this release here). However, the first release was sourced from a master that was struck from a 65mm dupe negative. For this upcoming release, the six perforation original camera negative was scanned in 2K at FotoKem.

Quite predictably, density levels and delineation are now vastly superior. Indeed, during close-ups and large panoramic shots there are sizeable improvements in all areas where previously the limitations of the original source were prominent. (To get an idea what type of improvements to expect, please compare screencapture #5 with the corresponding screencapture from the first review). The overall fluidity of the visuals is better as well, and in some cases there are actually quick transitions that are far smoother now. The limitations of the three-panel structure are retained, but with some notable differences. For example, there is additional information and within the frame the composition is different. What is important to underscore here is that because Cinerama content was projected in a very specific manner these types of compositional discrepancies are more or less unavoidable. (Compare screencapture #7 with the corresponding screencapture from the first review). Also, on the new presentation color saturation and overall balance are different and ultimately more satisfying, but in the same areas where previously source limitations were obvious fluctuations remain (see screencapture #17). Debris, scratches, stains, and all other major age-related imperfections have been either fully removed or minimized as best as possible. All in all, while in an ideal environment this film should look even better, the new presentation very clearly offers a wide range of meaningful improvements that all viewers will be able to appreciate at home. My score is 4.25/5.00. (Note: This is a Region-Blu-ray release. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your player regardless of your geographical location).

This Is Cinerama Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are two standard audio tracks on this Blu-ray release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and English LPCM 2.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are not provided for the main feature.

The lossless 5.1 track has very nice depth and clarity is quite impressive. There are no balance issues to report either. Obviously, a proper theatrical screening of this film should offer an even better experience, but as far as a Blu-ray presentation is concerned the end result here is wonderful.

This Is Cinerama Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Restoring This is Cinerama - this documentary takes a closer look at the brand new digital restoration of This is Cinerama and offers detailed examples of the type of significant improvements that were made. The documentary is narrated by David Strohmaier. In English, not subtitled. (13 min, 1080p).

• The Best in the Biz - this updated documentary examines the careers and contributions of various Cinerama composers and the lasting appeal of the Cinerama films. Included in it are clips from interviews with film music historian Jon Burlingame, composer and conductor William Stromberg, filmmaker Harrison Engle, Norman Karlin, and composer and orchestrator John Morgan. In English, not subtitled. (58 min, 1080i).

• Alternate Act II Opening for European Version - in English, not subtitled. (2 min, 1080p).

• Cinerama Everywhere - an archival French documentary about the Cinerama tent shows that were held in Europe. In French, with imposed English subtitles. (9 min, 1080p).

• Tribute to the New Neon Movies - a short film celebrating the Cinerama revival in Dayton, OH 1996-1999. In English, not subtitled. (14 min, 480/60i).

• Fred Waller Radio Interview - in this radio interview, Fred Waller, the inventor of Cinerama, explains what Cinerama is and what its objective is. The interview was originally broadcast on September 30th, 1952. In English, not subtitled. (16 min, 1080i).

• Trailer - updated recreation of theatrical trailer with newly restored clips. In English, not subtitled. (4 min, 1080p).

• Cinerama Returns to the Cinerama Dome (2002) - promotional short for the 50th anniversary of Cinerama and its return to the fabled Cinerama Dome. In English, not subtitled. (6 min, 1080p).

• Breakdown Reel - both Cinerama and Cinemiracle 3-panel systems could breakdown during a show. If this happened, a regular projector had an emergency or breakdown reel ready to screen. The footage presented here comes from one such reel. In English, not subtitled. (5 min, 1080p).

• TV Spots - This is Cinerama and Seven Wonders of the World.
  
  1. This is Cinerama. (1 min, 1080p).
  2. Seven Wonders of the World (1 min, 1080p).

• Commentary - audio commentary with John Sittig, Dave Strohmaier, Randy Gitsch, and Jim Morrison.

• Booklet - 12-page illustrated booklet featuring an article by producer Randy Gitsch (The Cinerama Restoration Team) and vintage materials,

This Is Cinerama Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Flicker Alley's brand new Deluxe Edition of This is Cinerama comes six years after the label's first release and offers a vastly superior technical presentation of the film. This isn't too surprising, however, because the new release is sourced from a new master that was prepared after the six perforation original camera negative was scanned in 2K at FotoKem. Also, the folks at Flicker Alley have include new bonus features with plenty of detailed technical information. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.