"The Miracle of Todd-AO" | This article first appeared in |
| Credits assembled by: Thomas Hauerslev | Issue 46 - September 1996 |
 Original title: The Miracle of Todd-AO. Unofficial Danish title: "Rutschebaneturen". Additional titles: Het wonder van Todd-AO (Netherland), Wunder von Todd-AO (Germany). Filmed in: 65mm, 5 perforations, 30 frames per second. Principal cinematography filmed in: Todd-AO. Presented in: 70mm. Aspect ratio: 2,21:1. Country of origin: USA. Year of production: February - April 1956. Released by: Magna Theatre Corporation. World premiere: April/May 1956, Rivoli Theatre, New York, USA. London premiere: April 21, 1958, Dominion Theatre. Danish premiere, cinema and showtime: Copenhagen, 3 Falke Bio, 24.10.1958, 19:30 (7:30 PM). Producer: Louis de Rochemont. Director: Capt. Juan C. Hutchinson. Screenplay: There were no script. Only an outline of sequences. Director of photography: Haskel Boggs, ASC, Ray Fernstrom, ASC, William Mellor, ASC and Gayne Rescher, ASC. Film editor: Peter Ratkevich. Music: Morton Gould. Sound: Fred Bosch. Cast (role): No actors were involved in the filming, but several young ski enthusiasts from Iceland, France and Sun Vally Ski Patrol participated in the 3-week shoot in Sun Vally, Idaho. Narration: In Danish in Denmark. Production company: Produced in Todd- AO for Magna Theatre Corporation (George P. Skouras). Production assistant: Louis de Rochemont III (Ski sequence (Idaho) and roller coaster at Ocean Park (California)). Concept and scenario: Louis de Rochemont & George P. Skouras. Music conductor: Jack Shaindlin. Orchestrations: Jack Shaindlin. Sound mixer: Fred Hynes, Todd-AO, Los Angeles. Sound system: The location sound was recorded in 1-track mono and electronically spread out to a 6-track mix. Music recorded in 6- channels in Los Angeles. Original soundtrack: Not available. Locations (by sequences): Cinema entrance. Todd-AO mixing and recording. The Todd-AO Corporation research. California (1 minute 20 seconds). [Roller] Coaster: Scene: E-1002 Take 1. Director: Capt. Juan C. Hutchison. Cameraman: Ray Fernstrom, ASC. Date: March 30, 1956 (2 minutes 11 seconds). Ocean Park Pier (by Circus Gardens Dancing) Los Angeles, California, USA. Flying: Scene: 1000 Take 1. Director: Capt. Juan C. Hutchison. Cameraman: Haskel Boggs, ASC. Date: April 2, 1956 (2 minutes 4 seconds). Grand Tetons, Snake River, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. Ski: Scene: 24-4. Director: Capt. Juan C. Hutchison. Cameraman: Gayne Rescher. Date March 5, 1956 - March 18, 1956 (3 minutes 45 seconds). Sun Vally, Idaho. San Francisco Police: Scene: 1001 Take 1. Director: Capt. Juan C. Hutchison. Cameraman: Haskel Boggs, ASC. Date: February 23, 1956 (1 minute 53 seconds). 101 Freeway from San Raphael to San Francisco and on corner of Leavenworth and Filbert Street in San Francisco, California, USA. B-25 pilot: Paul Mantz. Main title design: John Halas of Halas & Batchelor, London. Todd-AO developers: American Optical Company and Magna Theatre Corporation. Filmed with: One Todd-AO Mitchell camera with 128’ lens. Filmstock: 65mm Eastman color. 70mm running time: 11 minutes 20 seconds. 486 metres. 1594 feet. Distributor: Magna Theatre Corporation, USA. Danish distributor: 1958 - 1967: 20th Century Fox. 1967 - : Athena Film. Danish censor/number: Red (No one under age 12 admitted), 23.10.1958. Number 62984. 490 metres (1608 feet). Price DKK 14,70. Notes about the filming: Two friends of Capt. Juan C. Hutchison supplied the shrieks during Roller Coaster sequence. Red truck at the end of the film owned by C. R. Skinner, 239 Grant Avenue, San Francisco. | Further in 70mm reading: |
Synopsis | |
 Crew of "The Miracle of Todd-AO in Sun Valley. Louis de Rochemont III is see to the leftA short film demonstrating the Todd-AO system. A prologue that presents all that the eye can see through the Todd-AO wide angle lens. Join in the excitement of a wild roller-coaster ride. Fly through canyons of the Grand Teton Mountains. Ski through Sun Vallys breath- taking slopes. Follow the thrilling motorcycle chase over San Francisco hills. | |
Various | |
| Official credits for this short film does not exist. Louis de Rochemont III interviewed by Willem Bouwmeester and Thomas Hauerslev in September 1995 in Olso, Norway. It was a very small crew. Mr Fred Bosch is said to have taken part in the Los Angeles filming. The Todd-AO Corporation have the 65mm negative stored in Hollywood, California, USA. "Bug Eye" Eyemo was used one day at end of filming Ski Sequence. Quality was not good enough. Wallace Chewning, ASC made the 65mm camera swing mount for sledge in Sun Vally. | |
More | |
 Louis de Rochemont III and the Todd-AO camera in Sun Valley, IdahoAmerican Cinematographer July 1956.
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