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Topic: Oklahoma in 70mm 30fps Todd-AO

John Pytlak
Film God

Posts: 9987
From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922
Registered: Jan 2000

posted 08-02-2000 02:47 PM

Scott Norwood posted this on the rec.arts.movies.tech newsgroup. If it's the same print I saw in Hollywood a few years ago, it's a bit worn, but still MAGNIFICENT on a big screen!

Subject:Oklahoma in Todd-AO - Minneapolis area

FYI:

OKLAHOMA - two week engagement starting 8/4.

70MM TODD-AO 30fps print! Coming from archive of the Academy of MPAS (the
Oscars).

Heights Theatre
40th & Central Av NE
Columbia Heights MN

Recording 763-788-9079
Office 763-789-4992
Dairy Queen next door 763-781-7856

--
Scott Norwood: snorwood@nyx.net, snorwood@redballoon.net

------------------
John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services, Entertainment Imaging
Eastman Kodak Company
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7419
Rochester, New York, 14650-1922 USA
Tel: 716-477-5325 Fax: 716-722-7243
E-Mail: john.pytlak@kodak.com

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Bill Carter
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 162
From: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Registered: Sep 1999

posted 08-02-2000 03:07 PM

It's true!

I'm one of the projectionists who'll be running the show. We've heard that, yes, the print does show a little wear, but is generally good. It is the last 30fps Todd-AO print left (at least that anybody will allow to go out).

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John Pytlak
Film God

Posts: 9987
From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922
Registered: Jan 2000

posted 08-02-2000 03:12 PM

Bill, we know you will do a great job! Can you give some details about the theatre and its equipment?

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Scott Norwood
Film God

Posts: 8146
From: Boston, MA. USA (1774.21 miles northeast of Dallas)
Registered: Jun 99

posted 08-02-2000 03:14 PM

This is probably the print that played in Boston a couple of years ago. It's very greenish (poorly timed and printed from faded negs) except for a few scenes. There's a big scratch down one side of the picture during the opening titles. Nonetheless, it is absolutely stunning to see. The higher frame rate makes a huge difference.

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Martin Frandsen
Master Film Handler

Posts: 270
From: Denmark, Europe
Registered: Jun 99

posted 08-02-2000 03:16 PM

Wow what a treat, a must see if your in that area. I've heard 30fps is the very best in 70mm, sad only a few TODD films where photographed with that camera speed, i beleave ''AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS'' is in a 30fps version as well. Newbie talking

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John Pytlak
Film God

Posts: 9987
From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922
Registered: Jan 2000

posted 08-02-2000 03:24 PM

Because of the frame rate difference, both "Oklahoma" and "Around the World in 80 Days" were filmed on both 30fps 65mm negative, and 24fps 35mm negative! See the history of Todd -AO on Marty Hart's wonderful "American Widescreen Museum" site:
http://www.simplecom.net/widefilm/widescreen/wingto1.htm

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Gordon McLeod
Film God

Posts: 9532
From: Toronto Ontario Canada
Registered: Jun 99

posted 08-02-2000 03:40 PM

Who is the distributor to contact to book that print
gordon

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Ben Wales
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 602
From: Southampton. England
Registered: Jul 99

posted 08-02-2000 03:59 PM

It must be the same print that was screened at the Bradford Film Festival in the UK a few years ago.

It was great, long live Todd-AO!

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Bill Carter
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 162
From: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Registered: Sep 1999

posted 08-02-2000 04:37 PM

The Heights Theater is a 425-seat single screen house that has been operating since 1926. The current owners went from $1.75 sub-run to first-run art and rep when they took over about a year and a half ago.

Right now, we're running a pair of Norelco AA-II's, with a third (the parts machine) on display in the lobby. We just installed a new processor and Dolby digital for Fantasia 2000, and this will be the first mag show since that install. We completely rewired all sound and booth electrical at that time, so, as of right this minute, I don't think our mag preamps are re-wired yet. I'll try to get some pics posted soon.

The Todd-AO print of "Oklahoma" is handled by Samuel Goldwyn Studios. We were told that the rights to it are completely separate from the 35mm version. For the big one, you have to call Goldwyn. It is the only 30fps print anybody will confess to owning.

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Tim Reed
Better Projection Pays

Posts: 5246
From: Northampton, PA
Registered: Sep 1999

posted 08-02-2000 05:20 PM

I used to have a 30fps odd reel of that picture, and never did get to see it projected at that rate. Oh, I owned a pair of AA-II's alright, but didn't have anywhere to set them up as I was only 15 at the time, and my mother wouldn't hear of it!

By and by, I got tired of looking at the reel lie around, and I ended-up giving it to John Harvey about 20 years ago.

------------------
Better Projection Pays!

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Greg Mueller
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1687
From: Port Gamble, WA
Registered: Jun 99

posted 08-02-2000 05:30 PM

I saw a special on American Movie Classics about the making of Oklahoma (I think it was AMC) They actually made two movies one in 70mm and one in 35mm. They showed scenes from both the 70 and the 35 simultaneously on the screen and they are subtley different! Not much, just little tonal changes in the singing and a little time difference when they would walk about and gesture etc.

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Bruce McGee
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1776
From: Asheville, NC USA... Nowhere in Particular.
Registered: Aug 1999

posted 08-02-2000 06:10 PM

I've always been fond of this title as my dad played Judd Frye in a production back in the '60's.

I saw the 70mm 30fps version at the now defunct Columbia Theater in Atlanta in 1983. It was obviously not the print that you are speaking of as the color and contrast were stunning, not to mention the music pumping out from behind the screen was heavenly.

Up till then, I had only seen the Cinemascope version on a 16mm print.

As the film got underway, I kept thinking that I was seeing a different production. During the song "The Surrey With The Fringe On Top," there is a change that I noticed. Curley and Laurey are sitting there and Curley is singing. In the Cinemascope ver. a white moth meanders across the screen, and in the 70 version, there is not one. The stressing of some of the other lines is different, too.

I told my friends that the film was filmed twice, and they politely told me that I was an idiot.

The projector was a Shakemecanica. All I know is that it was noisy at 24 fps. It screamed at 30.

There was no flicker. I thought the image looked like I was looking in a mirror. Absolutely Beautiful.

I have the scope version on VHS, and recorded the Todd-AO version off of AMC a couple of years ago. I'd like to find a print someday..... NOT 16!

Bruce

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Paul Mayer
Oh get out of it Melvin, before it pulls you under!

Posts: 3836
From: Albuquerque, NM
Registered: Feb 2000

posted 08-02-2000 07:50 PM

I would assume this will be the same print that played a few months ago at the Egyptian in Hollywood as a part of the American Cinematheque's 70mm festival.

The print is in reasonably good shape. The combination of 30fps and wide Todd-AO lenses for the wagon-POV and moving-through-the-cornfield shots is most impressive. 30fps really does make a difference!

The Egyptian uses AA-IIs with electronic speed controls to drive the various frame rates. Booth was built by our own Larry Shaw and BL&S. Rock solid presentation.

Paul, an OOF (Otaku Over Forty)
"Otaku wa tsurai yo!" <-- Bad Japanese pun.
"It's tough being a fan!" So sue me.

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Martin Frandsen
Master Film Handler

Posts: 270
From: Denmark, Europe
Registered: Jun 99

posted 08-03-2000 03:05 AM

John Pytlak, does Kodak have the facility today to make a new print of Oklahoma in 70mm 30fps? As i would think it requiers a special printer for 30fps, and not just speeding up the 24fps printers?

IF the studio someday wanted a new print made will it be possibel to encode a DTS time code on a 30fps print?

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Brad Miller
Administrator

Posts: 17775
From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall)
Registered: May 99

posted 08-03-2000 04:26 AM

I don't think the projected speed of a film makes the slightest bit of difference to the printing labs. Everything is printed at warp 9 anyway.

I'm sure Karen could answer the DTS 30FPS question, but again I don't see why it couldn't work.

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