3-D Film Archive, LLC

14/08/2024

Another rave review!

Bits BD Review – Tim enjoys Arch Oboler's 1952 adventure film BWANA DEVIL starring Robert Stack and Nigel Bruce, fully restored by the 3-D Film Archive and available on Blu-ray 3D for the first time ever from Kino Lorber Studio Classics. https://thedigitalbits.com/item/bwana-devil-kino-2024-bd3d

09/08/2024

Another stellar review of oue new release, BWANA DEVIL, from IndieWire! Available now through Kino Lorber Studio Classics

'Bwana Devil' was the first film in color and 3D, but its reputation doesn't match its historical importance. A new restoration inspires reappraisal.

24/07/2024

Four stars from Hi-Def Digest.

Blu-ray Review By: Matthew HartmanThe movie that spawned a visual revolution in movie theaters is now on Blu-ray! Ladies and gentlemen, the hunky Robert Stack takes on the terrifying lions of Bwana Devil in glorious 3D! 3-D Film Archive delivers another masterful restoration for the first full-color...

23/07/2024

The first of the reviews for BWANA DEVIL are in. Glenn Erickson writes: “KL Studio Classics’ 3-D Blu-ray of Bwana Devil is something we’ve been hearing about for a long time. The 3-D Film Archive experts have turned out superb Blu-ray 3-D shows even when working with flawed film materials. The impressive 3-D GOG required special effort to rescue the faded color on the film record for one ‘eye.’ Kino tells us that for Bwana 4K scans were taken of the film’s original left and right 35mm camera negatives. The Ansco Color hues are attractive throughout."

Some titles get remembered as Firsts: The Great Train Robbery, The Jazz Singer, Becky Sharp, This Is Cinerama, The Robe and this little game-changer from the scrappy independent Arch Oboler. The very first feature-length 3-Dimensional drama in color ignited a super-fad that blew through Hollywood an...

18/07/2024

I am thrilled to announce that the 3-D Film Archive team (Greg Kintz, Jack Theakston, Mike Ballew, Sean Thrunk and Bob Furmanek) will be presenting twice this year at 3D-Con 2024 in Wichita, KS! https://www.3d-con.com/

On July 26 at 9:30, the team will announce an exciting discovery of great historic significance in the world of stereoscopic cinematography. Brought to our attention in February 2022, this is incredibly unique and never-before-seen archival footage and we are thrilled to share the news of this amazing material at 3D-Con.

On July 27 at 9:00, Mike Ballew is the Keynote Speaker and will discuss his upcoming book “Close Enough to Touch: 3-D Comes to Hollywood.” His presentation will be followed with a screening of our latest restoration, BWANA DEVIL.

Just one week to go and we hope that you will consider joining us for this VERY special weekend!

28/06/2024

Seventy years ago on June 28, 1954, EL JINETE (THE HORSEMAN aka THE RIDER) opened in single-strip red/blue anaglyphic 3-D at the Million Dollar and Mayan Theatres in Los Angeles.

Photographed in dual-35mm, we are told the original left/right elements exist with a distributor in Mexico but have not been preserved or restored. Apparently one side was scanned for a flat master.

05/06/2024

Seventy years ago on June 5, 1954, GOG had its world premiere at the Paramount Theatres in Los Angeles and Hollywood.

GOG was photographed by Lothrop B. Worth in Natural Vision 3-D, using the same cameras that were previously used on BWANA DEVIL, HOUSE OF WAX, THE CHARGE AT FEATHER RIVER, TOP BANANA and several others. In later interviews, Lothrop considered GOG to be his best work.

GOG was the third science-fiction movie composed for widescreen. (The first two were RIDERS TO THE STARS and KILLERS FROM SPACE.) It was filmed on Eastmancolor negative 5248 (25 ASA tungsten) and processed by the Color Corporation of America laboratory - formerly SuperCinecolor/Cinecolor - in Burbank. By the time it was edited and ready for theatrical release in May 1954, the lab was in financial trouble and had been sold to Benjamin Smith and Associates, owners of the Houston Fearless Corp. 35mm release prints were made by Pathe Laboratories in Hollywood.

GOG remained in theatrical release for the next several years and was sold to television in black and white as part of a 39 feature United Artists package in September 1956. At some point, the 35mm left camera negatives were discarded.

For nearly five decades, GOG was lost in 3-D. I wrote the following in 2016:

"Of all our restoration projects, GOG is the most rewarding for me personally. When I began my search for lost 3-D elements in the early 1980's, GOG was at the top of my want list. Through my archival work with Jerry Lewis, I got to know director Herbert L. Strock quite well. He was immensely proud of his work on this film and lamented the fact that it was lost in 3-D. After extensive research, I found the lost left side faded Pathe color 35mm release print in 2001. I tell the full story of this exciting discovery in the commentary track on the Blu-ray.

After suffering through flat, black and white, full-frame 16mm prints for decades, it's a real thrill to finally see GOG restored as the filmmakers intended - in vibrant color, widescreen and 3-D!"

22/05/2024

Official announcement! Get your preorders in NOW!

19/05/2024

I am thrilled to announce that the 3-D Film Archive team (Greg Kintz, Jack Theakston, Mike Ballew, Sean Thrunk and Bob Furmanek) will be presenting twice this year at 3D-Con 2024 in Wichita, KS! https://www.3d-con.com/

On July 26 at 9:30, the team will announce an exciting discovery of great historic significance in the world of stereoscopic cinematography. Brought to our attention in February 2022, this is incredibly unique and never-before-seen archival footage and we are thrilled to share the news of this amazing material at 3D-Con.

On July 27 at 9:00, Mike Ballew is the Keynote Speaker and will discuss his upcoming book “Close Enough to Touch: 3-D Comes to Hollywood.” His presentation will be followed with a screening of our latest restoration, BWANA DEVIL.

We hope that you will consider joining us for this VERY special weekend! https://www.3d-con.com/

18/05/2024

Seventy years ago on May 18, 1954, Warner Brothers seventh 3-D feature DIAL M FOR MURDER premiered at the 2,200 seat Randolph Theatre in Philadelphia, PA.

The popular myth is that DIAL M was not originally announced for 3-D and the process was forced on a reluctant director at the eleventh hour. That is not true. The first announcement hit the trades on April 5, 1953, four months before the first day of filming. With the headline "Hitchcock to film WB's 'M' in 3-D," Jack Warner expressed his confidence in the future of 3-D movies. During pre-production, Hitchcock gave his thoughts on working in 3-D to Prevue magazine.

The Randolph Theatre was one of the few theaters in the Northeast with four projectors in the booth so they were able to run a 3-D film without an intermission. After one preview performance on Tuesday and four showings on the 19th, the manager frantically contacted the studio and said that people were staying away in droves. He asked for permission to drop 3-D and show it flat.

On Sunday May 23, a Philadelphia Inquirer headline proclaimed: "Play's the Thing as Philadelphia Fans Spurn 3-D for 2-D Version of DIAL M." Mildred Martin wrote: "The first audiences proved to be a jury that could not only make up its mind but could make it up in a hurry. In exhibitors' own terms, DIAL M literally died. And after just four performances on Wednesday, some long-distance telephoning to report complaints, the increasing skimpiness of customers--a good many of them making no bones of their dissatisfaction--permission was given to throw away the glasses and hastily switch to the 2-D version. Whereupon business at the Randolph took a turn for the better."

On May 26, a Variety headline announced "3-D Looks Dead in United States." On June 3, Walter Winchell wrote in his popular, syndicated column, "Trade papers report that the 3-D version of DMFM was dropped since the tri-dimensional gimmick is now considered a box-office liability." Exhibitors could still book the film in 3-D, but very few did. Only a few playdates can be found in small cities.

DIAL M FOR MURDER was restored by Ned Price and his team at Warner Brothers and released on 3-D Blu-ray in 2012.

17/05/2024

We are delighted to announce the gala Midwest Premiere on May 22 of our new BWANA DEVIL restoration at the beautiful Wexner Center for the Arts in Columbus, OH. This special presentation will kick-off the annual Columbus Moving Picture Show weekend.

In addition to the feature, acclaimed animation expert Jerry Beck will join 3-D Film Archive Founder Bob Furmanek and Technical Director Greg Kintz for a discussion and screening of two restored Golden Age 3-D cartoons: THE HYPNOTIC HICK and BOO MOON. Advance tickets are now on sale.

Don’t miss this very special evening of restored 3-D treasures on the big screen! https://wexarts.org/film-video/bwana-devil

14/05/2024

Seventy years ago on May 14, 1954, the second and final 3-D release from 20th Century Fox GORILLA AT LARGE had its gala world premiere at the 1,600 seat Empire Theatre in Portland, ME.

Independently produced by Leonard Goldstein’s Panoramic Productions, the film was intended to provide exhibitors with widescreen, non-CinemaScope 20th Century Fox product. The intended aspect ratio during principal photography was 1.66:1.

We had an opportunity to create a restored digital 3-D master in 2015 when Twilight Time had secured a license. Unfortunately, due to lack of interest from the licensee, those plans were never realized. The rights now belong to Disney.

Let’s hope that eventually this under-rated mystery thriller will be fully restored in third-dimension so that audiences can once again experience this “Terror never known by mortal man” as it was meant to be seen!

10/05/2024

Don’t miss the gala premiere of our latest release at New York’s iconic Film Forum this coming Monday evening, May 13. Jack Theakston and I will be on hand to introduce the film and talk about the painstaking restoration. Pre-orders for the Kino Lorber Studio Classics 3-D Blu-ray are coming soon!

07/05/2024

If you've considered reserving an advance copy of what will surely be the greatest 3D comic book of all time, it's pretty much NOW OR NEVER as the campaign closes at the end of the day TOMORROW.

We recommend logging on by 11:55 Eastern tomorrow, Wednesday, May 8th to ensure that you secure your copy. Don't delay!

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/3dfilmarchive/robot-monster-comics-in-3-d-64-page-graphic-novel

01/05/2024

Oops, our schedule has been SO full, I completely missed this anniversary post!

Seventy years ago on April 7, 1954, Columbia’s ninth and final Golden Age 3-D release THE MAD MAGICIAN had its first known stereoscopic playdates in six theatres and drive-ins around Los Angeles. Despite excellent cinematography by Bert Glennon, most exhibitors opted to play it flat.

It was the first Golden Age domestic 3-D feature converted to red/cyan anaglyphic 3-D circa 1968 when Columbia’s 8mm division released a 200-foot edition to the home movie market.

THE MAD MAGICIAN was restored by Sony Pictures Entertainment VP of asset management, film restoration and digital mastering Rita Belda and released on 3-D Blu-ray by Twilight Time in January 2017.

01/05/2024

Tickets are selling fast for the gala world premiere of our latest restoration!

30/04/2024

So, here's a little news item: just a little past 5PM Eastern Time we find ourselves only $290 away from our ROBOT MONSTER COMICS IN 3-D project becoming fully funded.

Who wants bragging rights to pushing us over the goal post?! 🤣

Help return ROBOT MONSTER to its comics-inspired roots! 3D graphic novel from top comics & movie creators plus one of the film’s stars!

30/04/2024

WOW, this is quite an unexpected honor and surprise. ROBOT MONSTER has won two Rondo Awards; Best Blu-ray and Best Restoration. In addition, the commentary track received an honorable mention in the Favorite Commentator category. AND, our 70th anniversary "A Deeper Look" film series at New York's Film Forum was a runner-up for Best Event!

https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/monsterkidclassichorrorforum/here-are-the-winners-of-the-gasp-22nd-annual-rondo-t92844.html

This 70th anniversary restoration was a team effort, and please let me acknowledge that team.

Thank you SO much to the 1,153 backers who generously pledged on Kickstarter to bring this project to life. We could not have done it without you.

RESTORATION TEAM
Ray Faiola, Scott Johndrow, Greg Kintz, Thad Komorowski, Brad Miller, Katherine Pratt, and Jack Theakston.

BLU-RAY SPECIAL FEATURES
BayView Entertainment - Peter Castro, Pete Apruzzese.
Bernie Anderson, Mike Ballew, Charles Barnard, Bob Burns, Cal Curran, Josh Carmona, Kevin Scott Collier, Joe Dante, Peter Di Prospero, Shane Fleming, Lawrence Kaufman, Dr. Robert J. Kiss, Eric Kurland, 3-D SPACE, Hillary Hess, Carson McKee, Stewart McKissick, Sam Napolitano, Aiden O'Connell, Mitch O'Connell, Kelly Oden, Jonathan Reichman, Gary Rhodes,, Ben Solovey, Rosa Lee Sonney, Sean Thrunk and Josh Turner.

A VERY special thank you to Mr. Greg Moffett and his wonderful wife Sandy Lynn Helm Moffett. You cannot meet two nicer people.

On behalf of the entire 3DFA team, we are deeply honored to receive these two Rondo Awards and thank you to everyone who voted for us.

Rescuing these lost three-dimensional treasures and bringing them back to stereoscopic life has been my personal goal for over forty years. It is incredibly gratifying to see the remarkable success that ROBOT MONSTER has achieved and it is a joy to watch the film reach a new and appreciative audience. We honor the memory of those talented individuals who came together seventy-one years ago to create this most unusual and entertaining motion picture.

Thank you once again for your kindness and very generous support of our efforts!

Bob Furmanek
Founder and CEO
3-D Film Archive, LLC

26/04/2024

Available on 3-D RARITIES volume 2! https://3dfilmarchive.com/available-film-restorations/