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epics. Why is this? There was never a
dye-transfer printing process for 70mm
- Technicolor never developed the
technology. All 70mm prints and
negatives were Eastman colour or the
equivalent, and therefore all are prone
to fading to pink. Add to this the
problems of acetate film stock going
‘vinegary’ and you have real trouble.
Not only is the film washed out, it is
shrunken, buckled and brittle to the
point of being unrunnable. It can be
restored digitally, but the process is
extremely expensive. The results can be
stunning however.
A handful of 70mm block-busters
have been restored and new 70mm
prints struck. Occasionally lost
sequences have been put back.
Examples of these restorations are It’s
A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World; 2001, A
Space Odyssey, Lord Jim and Patton.
Currently someone is said to be
working on The Big Fisherman.
Ironically, it is the popularity of DVD
that is helping the preservation of these
films, as a good copy has to be
produced for the DVD market. The
recent DVD release of Around The
World In 80 Days is an example of this.
It is an excellent transfer.
A problem with issuing new 70mm
prints is the soundtrack. All 70mm
prints used to have their soundtracks on
magnetic stripes. It seems that these
days there are problems with the
solvents used in applying these tracks
to the film. By modern standards they
are considered to be toxic. At the same The poster says 70mm and the print was, but Valley of the Dolls was a simple ‘blow-up’
time, it is now possible to use the DTS from 35mm. Image: The Herald 13 June 1968. State Library of Victoria.
digital soundtrack system for 70mm
films, so this would seem to solve the
problem. The trouble is that while there
are still plenty of cinemas with
functional 70mm projectors, very few
of them have the 70mm DTS REEL CATHS membership
equipment. So if you want to issue a cards are now being
70mm print, what do you do? Use produced by
fiendishly expensive magnetic sound DEALS
tracks so more people can run the print, Security
or produce a cheaper print that not
many exhibitors can use? KEEPING FILM Plastics
Just how many movies were filmed COLLECTORS IN TOUCH
in 70mm? The numbers might surprise For high quality cards for
you. According to Carr and Hayes in ENQUIRIES:
their Wide Screen Movies, in the US. MIKE TRICKETT your clubs or society contact
Britain and Western Europe, there were Mike Hayes on
25 Fairlie Street
only about 50! There were about 450
North Geelong Vic. 3216 (03) 9587 3133.
‘blow-ups’. It was the Soviets who
Phone: AH 03 5278 1986
went for 70mm filming in a big way. Special prices for
There were about 300 productions Fax: 03 5278 3545 CATHS members.
filmed in this medium in the Soviet Email: filmman@bigpond.net.au
Union. ★

CINEMARECORD 2005 33