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Richard--W

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b67592ca_UA-BwanaDevil-posterA.jpeg

United Artists released the first stereoscopic feature film, Arch Oboler's Bwana Devil, which premiered at the Paramount Theater in Hollywood 30 November 1952. This poster was displayed in the lobby to explain to audiences how 3-D worked:
01589251_process-diagram.jpeg

This famous photograph of the audience was taken by J. R. Eyerman that night:
e017c9d0_3-Daudience2.jpeg

A really low-budget independent sci-fi with excellent 3-D:
104b3bd9_UA-Gog.jpeg

So far as I know, Southwest Passage has not been restored or projected since the 1950s and the elements may not exist:
a772b195_SouthwestPassage1954-UA.jpeg

A personal favorite stereoscopic film and a personal favorite film noir with superb lighting by John Alton:
dc9dcf55_ItheJury1953-UA.jpeg

d7a2ac6a_ItheJury1953-UA-halfsheet.jpeg

Alton makes the dark light dance in I, THE JURY.
I don't know who controls the United Artists films now. Is it Fox through its distribution deals with MGM who used to control UA, or Tom Cruise, or Warner Brothers?
 

GregK

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And don't forget this one:
03008f97_TheDiamond1954.jpeg

Originally shot in 3-D, but was never shown in 3-D until the 2006 World 3-D Expo
 

Richard--W

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Was that United Artists? Thanks for the reminder. The 3-D Film Preservation Fund paid for its restoration and justified the effort with a highly succesfull screening in 2006, which I would re-live if I could:
http://www.3dfilmpf.org/
Good solid British / American noir and a consistently immersive 3-D experience.
But I, the Jury is the 3-D film I most want to see on 3-D Blu-ray.
 

Richard--W

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Does Warner Brothers distribute the UA films now, does anyone know?
 

Worth

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With one or two exceptions, MGM controls the UA catalogue.
 

Bob Furmanek

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MGM/UA also owns TOP BANANA which was never released in 3-D and is one of only two features that might be lost from the Golden Age.
We do not own DIAMOND WIZARD. While we did arrange for the first 3-D print to be struck in 2006, the film is still owned by MGM/UA.
Bob Furmanek
Vice President
3-D Film Preservation Fund
http://www.3dfilmpf.org/
 

Bob Cashill

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The MGM Limited Edition Collection is releasing the 2D TOP BANANA next month.
 

Richard--W

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Bob Furmanek said:
MGM/UA also owns TOP BANANA which was never released in 3-D and is one of only two features that might be lost from the Golden Age.
We do not own DIAMOND WIZARD. While we did arrange for the first 3-D print to be struck in 2006, the film is still owned by MGM/UA.
Also, BWANA DEVIL did not play in Europe before it's November 1952 3-D premiere in Hollywood.
Bob Furmanek
Vice President
3-D Film Preservation Fund
http://www.3dfilmpf.org/
I was hoping one of you would chime in here.
What is the other feature that might be lost from the golden age?
What is the status of HANNAH LEE aka OUTLAW TERRITORY?
Who controls it now, and what's been done for the other eye?
What is the status of SOUTHWEST PASSAGE, do you know?
I stand corrected on DIAMOND WIZARD.
I must have been really tired when I mis-read the European release dates for BWANA DEVIL on imdb.
 

Bob Furmanek

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SOUTHWEST PASSAGE might be lost, research is still being done around the world. It had a VERY limited 3-D release in 1954 (only one known playdate) so the negatives were split and one side shipped overseas.
HANNAH LEE is an unknown mess. There are nearly 30 boxes of materials on it but the current distributor has no idea what they are holding.
 

Richard--W

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Your participation in these threads is most welcome and greatly appreciated, Bob.
I've been searching the internet for photos of the 3-D rig used on BWANA DEVIL.
Do you have any visual materials you can share with us?
People need to see what these old camera rigs looked like.
Many thanks.
 

Bob Furmanek

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You're welcome Richard, glad to help!
Not the best quality, but here's a shot of the Natural Vision rig during production of BWANA DEVIL in June, 1952.
6a91dd03_65e7aafb.jpeg
 

Richard--W

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Richard W
!
That's a forklift?!
They're using a forklift for a tripod?
Look at the size of that camera.
Is that 3-D camera inventors Milton L. and Julian Gunzberg seated at left and right?
Lovely photo, many thanks.
Richard
 

Bob Furmanek

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You're welcome. They were shooting in the hills and I imagine the terrain was not the smoothest. They probably used the forklift to move the camera around for different shots.
I'm not sure, but I would imagine one would be cinematographer Joseph F. Biroc.
 

Bob Furmanek

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I just posted some TOP BANANA info in this thread:
http://www.hometheaterforum.com/t/315679/top-banana-dvd-review#post_3864017
 

Richard--W

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I wish you'd posted those in stereo pairs for a Lorgnette
a948b81d_glass_lornette.jpeg

instead of anaglyph, Bob.
 

Louis Saphire

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Correct me If I'm wrong but I believe I read in a few places over the years The Diamond Wizard was never copyrighted in the US back in the day. Assuming this is true, then how is it it that MGM/UA can be the copyright holders? Actually I have an even better question, although it might be splitting legal hairs, wouldn't the 3D version of a film have to copyrighted separately ? Or is it not considered as a separate version as sometimes widescreen or some foreign versions of films are? Just curious. Thanks.
 

Bob Furmanek

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THE DIAMOND WIZARD (aka THE DIAMOND) is fully protected by copyright.
No, the 3-D version does not require a separate registration. It's considered the same film.
 

Bob Furmanek

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Here is our new article on this lost 3-D feature from the Golden Age:
https://sites.google.com/site/3dfilmarchive/lost-3-d
 

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