Cinerama Search for Paradise
Posted by Itheliving 9 years, 5 months ago to Movies
Search for Paradise / Not rated but it’s a travelogue. Lets call it G good for all but kids would probably lose interest before the Overture finishes.
Of the 5 travel oriented Cinerama movies actually filmed with the three strip camera this is the next to the last released. It was in theaters in September 1957 and was followed by South Seas Adventure in 1958. There were two dramatic films shot in this method The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm and How the West Was Won ( both in theaters1962). Other films were shown in Cinerama theaters but were filmed using other wide screen camera systems.
SFP is now available on DVD and BluRay for the 1st time. It is mastered from the original camera negative and displayed on your TV using the “Smile Box” technique. Like the films that preceded it in theaters it uses the same 1st person visuals to demonstrate the wide screen three panel wonders and the stereo soundtracks. Lowell Thomas once again narrates and appears. It opens as did the other films with a full musical overture followed by the small screen 1:33 to 1 ratio then the curtain opens to reveal the film in all its majesty. As each of these films have made it to DVD and BluRay they have looked better and better. There is still a small distortion due the fact that this film is on a TV with a flat surface. The three panel theatrical screen showings did a lot to surround the audience in images and sound using three screens.
This time the 2 hour visit (not counting a 15 intermission) takes us to the Himalaya range of Asia. You have a chance to visit the highest region on the planet and view many areas that no doubt look much the same today as they did almost 60 years ago. The movie obviously filmed in summer to take advantage of the weather and the people, who are able to come outside and not sit in the abodes and shiver, is great fun. The mighty snow covered mountains that are white year round due to elevation can be seen as a backdrop to the adventure during the Search for Paradise. In many places they seem to find it. The elevations below 20,000 feet are beautifully flowered and look a lot like “Shangri La“. A river ride on a raft with the Cinerama camera mounted aboard makes for a thrilling scene albeit with less excitement than this sequence no doubt caused in the large format theaters. Lowell Thomas radio ready voice takes us through the scenes and adds to the ambience. Dimitri Tiomkin composed the majestic score. He has visited this area before having composed one of the most extraordinary scores ever for the original release of Frank Capra’s Lost Horizon (1937). While a little overbearing at times due to the sound mix, the score DT invents is emotional and stunning.
The release from WWW.Flickeralley.com in BluRay also contains DVD versions. A 28 page booklet with a reproduction of the original theatrical program is included. Lots and lots of other extras fill out this great release. A special treat for film historians and armchair travelers of the world. Not to be missed.
Rated 4.0 out of 4.0 reasons that I have hopes the releasing company will be able to obtain the MGM master negatives and release The Wonder World of the Brothers Grimm and How the West Was Won in the near future.
Of the 5 travel oriented Cinerama movies actually filmed with the three strip camera this is the next to the last released. It was in theaters in September 1957 and was followed by South Seas Adventure in 1958. There were two dramatic films shot in this method The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm and How the West Was Won ( both in theaters1962). Other films were shown in Cinerama theaters but were filmed using other wide screen camera systems.
SFP is now available on DVD and BluRay for the 1st time. It is mastered from the original camera negative and displayed on your TV using the “Smile Box” technique. Like the films that preceded it in theaters it uses the same 1st person visuals to demonstrate the wide screen three panel wonders and the stereo soundtracks. Lowell Thomas once again narrates and appears. It opens as did the other films with a full musical overture followed by the small screen 1:33 to 1 ratio then the curtain opens to reveal the film in all its majesty. As each of these films have made it to DVD and BluRay they have looked better and better. There is still a small distortion due the fact that this film is on a TV with a flat surface. The three panel theatrical screen showings did a lot to surround the audience in images and sound using three screens.
This time the 2 hour visit (not counting a 15 intermission) takes us to the Himalaya range of Asia. You have a chance to visit the highest region on the planet and view many areas that no doubt look much the same today as they did almost 60 years ago. The movie obviously filmed in summer to take advantage of the weather and the people, who are able to come outside and not sit in the abodes and shiver, is great fun. The mighty snow covered mountains that are white year round due to elevation can be seen as a backdrop to the adventure during the Search for Paradise. In many places they seem to find it. The elevations below 20,000 feet are beautifully flowered and look a lot like “Shangri La“. A river ride on a raft with the Cinerama camera mounted aboard makes for a thrilling scene albeit with less excitement than this sequence no doubt caused in the large format theaters. Lowell Thomas radio ready voice takes us through the scenes and adds to the ambience. Dimitri Tiomkin composed the majestic score. He has visited this area before having composed one of the most extraordinary scores ever for the original release of Frank Capra’s Lost Horizon (1937). While a little overbearing at times due to the sound mix, the score DT invents is emotional and stunning.
The release from WWW.Flickeralley.com in BluRay also contains DVD versions. A 28 page booklet with a reproduction of the original theatrical program is included. Lots and lots of other extras fill out this great release. A special treat for film historians and armchair travelers of the world. Not to be missed.
Rated 4.0 out of 4.0 reasons that I have hopes the releasing company will be able to obtain the MGM master negatives and release The Wonder World of the Brothers Grimm and How the West Was Won in the near future.
