| |
Todd-AO - A new film process
Photokina in Cologne 29.09.1956 - 07.10.1956, Todd-AO for the
first time in Europe | Read more at in70mm.com The 70mm Newsletter
| Written by: Philips
Press Information from 28 September 1956. English translation kindly
provided for by the Film- and Fernsehmuseum Hamburg. | Date:
12.06.2013 |
Photokina
1960. "The
March of Todd-AO" projected on curved screen by a
DP70. Image from Philips
A new and very impressive film process is shown in Europe for the first
time to visitors of the Photokina exhibition in Cologne in 1956. It takes
the audience away from its role as passive onlookers, giving it a real sense
of participating in the action on the screen.
The process, developed by the American Optical Company (AO) on the basis of
an idea by Michael Todd, is to be implemented by several West German cinemas
at the start of the following year. Probably the most impressive of all
cinema projections, it will by no means replace the previous film processes,
but rather remain reserved for a few cinemas in the larger cities.
The sweeping scenic effect of the Todd-AO process is achieved by means of a
deeply curved screen of great width and height. The screen dimensions at the
Philips Lichtspiel-Theater at Photokina are restricted by the available room
space to 16 metres in width and 7.20 metres in height. The six-track sound
effectively enhances the illusion of direct audience participation. The
Todd-AO process largely transcends the former divide between the stage and
audience in this way.
Using the Todd-AO process, the film is shot on wide-film at a wide-angle of
128 degrees. With the six magnetic soundtracks, the film measures 70mm. The
individual cinematic image is approximately 3 Ľ-times larger than that of a
normal film. The universal film projector developed by Philips not only
supports the Todd-AO process, but is also suitable for projecting film
formats of all sizes up to 35mm, with magnetic or optical sound track. Films
shot using the Todd-AO process have a frame rate of 30 frames per second, as
opposed to 24 frames per second with normal film. This results in
significantly improved brightness and helps to prevent flickering images.
At Photokina, Philips will be showing an instructive short film, "The
Miracle of Todd-AO", as well as clips from "Oklahoma!". It is the
first feature-length Todd-AO film, currently premiering at around 30
American cinemas. A second Todd-AO film will be shown in October of this
year at the Rivoli Theatre in New York. Michael Todd based the film script
for this on Jules Verne's science fiction novel, "Around the World in
Eighty Days", a book which is just as widely read in Germany. Work has
also commenced on a third film bearing the title "South Pacific”.
Contracts for a Todd-AO facility have recently been concluded with cinemas
in Hamburg and Munich. Negotiations are currently underway with other West
German city cinemas.
| More in 70mm reading:
DP70 / Universal 70-35 / Norelco AAII -
The Todd-AO Projector
DP70s in Germany
in70mm.com Presents: You are in the
Show with Todd-AO
The "Savoy" in Hamburg
Internet link:
Film- und
Ferhnsemuseum Hamburg
|
| | Go: back - top - back issues - news index Updated
28-07-24 | |
|