This Is Cinerama [Blu-ray] [1952] [US Import]

The movie is an historical artifact of immense interest to cinema buffs and it is wonderful to have it on blu ray. That said - it was always a technological wonder rather than a fine film. On it's original release some of the sequences were a little plodding and now come across as "quaint" rather than entertaining. Unfortunately the source material available for "restoration" was not of the finest order (to say the least) and the visual end product is neither as detailed nor as well colour graded as one would have hoped. The producers have done what they can but it's certainly not as spectacular as one would have expected. That said, the audio is terrific and as good as I could have hoped for. Projected on my 120" screen the smilebox worked well but on my large flatscreen the impact was not that great - and for Cinerama the impact is vital.
So all praise to the "private" restoration team for undertaking the project with the best source material they had available but for the "average" viewer - with little interest in cinema history - this "demonstration" movie is probably not for you. Try "How The West Was Won" on big screen video projection instead as that certainly has greater impact than this historically important but decidedly flawed (and very costly in the UK!) release. However, if you are an "anorak" like myself you will undoubtedly think this a "must have" addition to your home cinema collection!

The extras are very impressive and I append a list of what you can expect.

Disc:
Region: FREE
Runtime: 2:03

Chapters: 18

Video:
Aspect ratio: 2.00:1 matted for Smilebox

Audio:
DTS-HD Master Audio English

Subtitles:
None

Extras:
* Audio commentary track: With John Sittig (Cinerama, Inc.), Dave Strohmaier (Cinerama Historian), Randy Gitsch (Locations background), and Jim Morrison (original crew member).
Remastering A Widescreen Classic: Before and after demonstrations on the film's remastering (19:01)
* The THIS IS CINERAMA "Breakdown Reel": Footage originally projected interstitially during the interruptions of any Cinerama performance - 5 min./B&W (4:52)
Alternate Act II European Opening: 2 min./Color (1:47)
* Fred Waller Radio Interview: A slideshow featuring an original 1952 radio interview with Fred Waller on the eve of opening night - (15:30)
* This Is Cinerama Trailer: A new recreation in HD of the film's trailer - (3:18)
* TV Spots: THIS IS CINERAMA and 7 WONDERS OF THE WORLD - 1 min. each
* Tribute to the New Neon Movies: A short film celebrating the Cinerama revival in Dayton, OH from 1996 to 1999, where a local projectionist set up Cinerama for special screenings to people from all over the country - (13:57)
* Tribute to the New Cooper Theatre: Remembering the first Super Cinerama in Denver, CO - (2:58)
* Promotion and Publicity Image Gallery

For those who remember the thrill of Cinerama when the curtains opened and opened in what seemed a never ending arc this blu-ray/dvd is a must. To new audiences it may seem a little outdated but this is a piece of cinematic history. In 60 years there is nothing today to compare with this process, not even Imax although I have full praise for this system.
"This is Cinerama" has no story line, it was in effect an experiment which was shown to the public at great expense. It was an immediate hit and four other travelogues were to follow in the 1950's.
To produce this film now in the Smilebox format is the only way it could have been done to bring back the memory of the experience and for those who see it for the first time do not be too critical if you do not feel that "Cinerama puts you in the picture", just use a little imagination. The picture quality may not be perfect but Flicker Alley have done a great job with limited finance for a film which otherwise would have been lost.
One other thing, Amazon have this blu-ray/dvd listed as region A/1 whereas it is in fact Region Free.

Just before Christmas my copy of `This is Cinerama' (region free) arrived. I had purchased it through Amazon UK from All Our Music (USA) also available from Movie Mars (USA) for about £30 plus, took eighteen days. The package comes with a Blu-ray disc plus a doubled sided DVD and an informative 28-page booklet. I have not seen, other than extracts of this film since I was A School Boy, so such was the excitement and anticipation, I switched on my Projector for an afternoon matinee film show. Most of you will recall the intro by Lowell Thomas and the curtains pull back to take you on the breathtaking roller coaster ride. We then are treated to a sequence of visual treats presented in the SmileBox format, a ballet at La Scala Milan, The Fourth Wonder of the World, Hadel's Messiah, Venetian Boatman, Kilts and Tartans, Spanish Toreadors, Spanish Rhythm, The Vienna Boys Choir, Finale from Act II Aida, Rare Beauty and Fast Action filmed in Cypress Gardens Florida and the grand finale `America The Beautiful' which is a spectacular aerial view of sites such as the Grand Canyon, Yosemite park etc and other than the opening roller coast ride is the best part of the film. This is Cinerama is of great interest, in that it was the first really big screen film with fabulous for the time stereophonic sound using five microphones /speakers. Some of the sequence to the modern eye seem rather drawn out and static and Lowell Thomas commentary is a bit deadpan, my wife complained that she found a lot of it boring! There were obvious problems with the three camera set up, so a lot of the takes are long shots with few close ups of people. The sequence of water skiing in Cyprus Gardens is spoilt by being about three times as long as it needed to be. I enjoyed reliving my schoolboy trip to see Cinerama at The Casino Cinema Tottenham Court Road. Apparently as explained in the extras about the restoration they did not have very good source material and a limited budget. In nearly every shot you are aware of the three panels. There are colour-grading issues across the three panels and you get a ripple effect across the joins in the panels, mostly in aerial shots, the actual visuals are mostly of only average quality when compared to some of the best recent restoration. Sitting close to my seven-foot screen the SmileBox simulation was very effective and the sound pretty good. Difficult one to give a strong recommendation, more an interesting experience! However the Blu-ray of the Cinerama presentation of `How The West Was Won' has a wonderful documentary produced in SmileBox format about Cinerama and the disc is worth buying for this alone and the feature is pretty good with impressive picture quality.