“Predator”: The 70mm Engagements |
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| Compiled by: Michael Coate | Date: 21.09.2017 |
 The following is a reference / historical
listing of the 70-millimeter engagements of “Predator” in the United States
and Canada. These were the cinemas worth seeking out to experience this
motion picture. “Predator” was among seventeen first-run films released in 1987 with 70mm prints for selected engagements. The 20th Century Fox release — directed by John McTiernan (“Die Hard,” “The Hunt for Red October”) and starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Carl Weathers and Kevin Peter Hall — opened June 12th. For the release of “Predator,” Fox employed the services of Lucasfilm’s Theatre Alignment Program (TAP) to evaluate and approve the cinemas selected to book a 70mm print. The 70mm prints of “Predator” featured magnetic Six-Track Dolby Stereo (“A” encoded Baby Boom format [Dolby processor setting “42”]) and pillarboxed imagery (approximately 1.85:1) blown up from spherical 35mm and provided a superior projection and sound experience in comparison to the film’s 35mm prints. Note that some cinemas may have screened a 70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo print utilizing Dolby-compatible equipment from another manufacturer (EPRAD, Smart, Ultra Stereo, etc.), and in some instances an exhibitor may have made a special request for a 70mm print that lacked Dolby Noise Reduction so that it could be played on a cinema’s older, pre-Dolby-era sound system. Fox circulated 70mm Six-Track Dolby coming-attraction trailers for “The Pick-up Artist” and “Revenge of the Nerds II” during the release of “Predator.” Other studios circulated 70mm trailers during this period, as well. Ultimately, any 70mm trailers screened during 70mm presentations of “Predator” varied by venue and screening. The duration of the engagements (measured in weeks) is included in parenthesis following the cinema name. CALIFORNIA Los Angeles — GCC’s Avco Center Triplex (5) [THX] Los Angeles — UA’s Egyptian Triplex (4) NEW YORK New York — Trans-Lux’s Gotham (4) 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. SUBSEQUENT 70MM ENGAGEMENTS 1987-07-10 … Los Angeles, CA — Pacific’s Hollywood Pacific Triplex (2) 1987-07-17 … Los Angeles, CA — UA’s Coronet 4 (2) [THX] 1987-08-07 … Downers Grove, IL — Classic Cinemas’ Tivoli (1) [HPS-4000] 1987-09-25 … Madison, WI — Marcus’ Eastgate 6 (1) The information included in this article was principally referenced from film industry trade publications, regional newspaper promotion, print enclosures, TAP records, and Dolby records. Special thanks to Bill Kallay and Bill Kretzel. International 70mm engagements of this title have not been accounted for in this work. If you believe this article contains any errors or omissions, please consider emailing the author or editor. |
More in 70mm reading: “Predator 2” 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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