“The Bonfire of the Vanities”: The North American 70mm Engagements |
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| Compiled by: Michael Coate | Date: 05.06.2022 |
 The following is a reference / historical listing of the 70-millimeter
presentations of “The Bonfire of the Vanities” in North America. These were
the cinemas worth seeking out to experience this motion picture. “The Bonfire of the Vanities” was among twenty confirmed first-run films released in 1990 with 70mm prints for selected engagements. The Warner Bros. release — directed by Brian De Palma (“The Untouchables,” “Casualties of War”) and starring Tom Hanks, Bruce Willis, Melanie Griffith and Morgan Freeman — opened December 21st. Pre-release screenings included an invitational preview held December 19th (Bruin, Los Angeles) and 20th (Plaza, Los Angeles). The 70mm prints of “The Bonfire of the Vanities” featured Six-Track Dolby Stereo (“A”-encoded “baby boom” format) and pillarboxed imagery (approximately 1.85:1) blown up from Super-35. For the release of “The Bonfire of the Vanities,” Warner Bros. employed the services of Lucasfilm’s Theatre Alignment Program (TAP) to evaluate and approve the cinemas selected to book a 70mm print. Warner Bros. circulated 70mm Six-Track Dolby coming-attraction trailers for “Defending Your Life,” “Guilty by Suspicion,” “Hamlet,” “If Looks Could Kill,” “The NeverEnding Story II: The Next Chapter,” “New Jack City,” “Nothing But Trouble” and “Out for Justice” during the release of “The Bonfire of the Vanities.” Other studios circulated 70mm trailers during this period, as well. Ultimately, any 70mm trailers screened during 70mm presentations of “The Bonfire of the Vanities” varied by venue and screening. The duration of the engagements (measured in weeks) has been included in parenthesis following the cinema name. CALIFORNIA Los Angeles (Century City) — AMC’s Century 14 (5) [THX] Los Angeles (Hollywood) — Mann’s Chinese Triplex (4) [THX] Los Angeles (Westwood Village) — Mann’s Plaza (4) Newport Beach — Edwards’ Newport Triplex (3) Orange — Syufy’s Century Cinedome 8 (3) San Francisco — UA’s Metro (4) ILLINOIS Chicago — Cineplex Odeon’s 900 N. Michigan Twin (3) [THX] NEW YORK New York — Cineplex Odeon’s Chelsea 9 (4) [THX] New York — City Cinemas’ Murray Hill (4) New York — City Cinemas’ Sutton Twin (4) New York — Loews’ 84th Street 6 (4) New York — UA’s Criterion Center 6 (6) TEXAS Dallas — GCC’s Northpark West Twin (4) WASHINGTON Seattle — Landmark’s Guild 45th Twin (1+) Note that some of the presentations included in this listing may have been presented in 35mm during the latter week(s) of engagement due to contractual terms or print damage and the distributor’s unwillingness to supply a 70mm replacement print or because the booking was moved to a non-70mm-equipped auditorium within a multiplex. As well, the reverse may have been true in some cases whereas a booking began with a 35mm print because the lab was unable to complete the 70mm print order in time for an opening-day delivery or the exhibitor negotiated a mid-run switch to 70mm. In these cases, any 35mm portion of the engagement (or movement out of a branded auditorium) has been included in the duration figure. The information included in this article was principally referenced from film industry trade publications and regional newspaper promotion, with thanks to Bill Kallay and Bill Kretzel. International 70mm engagements of this title have not been accounted for in this article. If you believe this article contains any errors or omissions, please consider emailing the author or editor. |
More in 70mm reading: 70mm Cinemas in North America in70mm.com's list of films blown up to 70mm 70mm Engagements by Title 35mm to 70mm Engagements by Year Large Format 7OMM Engagements Month by month premiere list of wide gauge and 3-strip films Chronological premiere list of major 70mm films 70mm Blow Up List Dolby Stereo |
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