The following is a reference / historical listing of the 70-millimeter presentations of “Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country” in North America. These were the cinemas worth seeking out to experience this motion picture.
“Star Trek VI” was among ten confirmed first-run films released in 1991 with 70mm prints for selected engagements. The Paramount release — directed by Nicholas Meyer (“Star Trek II,” “Time After Time”) and starring William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, Kim Cattrall, David Warner and Christopher Plummer — opened December 6th.
Pre-release screenings included an invitational preview held December 3rd in Los Angeles (National and Paramount Studios).
On December 5th, in connection with the release of “Star Trek VI,” actors William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelly, James Doohan, Walter Koenig, Nichelle Nichols and George Takei placed their hand and footprints in the Chinese Theater courtyard.
For the release of “Star Trek VI,” Paramount 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 “Star Trek VI” featured 2.20:1 full-frame imagery blown up from Super-35 and a dual inventory of A- and SR-encoded Six-Track Dolby Stereo with a Split Surround playback option.
Historical footnote: Some of the 35mm prints of “Star Trek VI” included Dolby Digital (as an un-promoted test), an audio format which accelerated an industry trend of fewer titles released with 70mm prints.
Paramount circulated 70mm trailers for “Cool World” and “Wayne’s World” during the release of “Star Trek VI.” As well, other studios circulated 70mm trailers during this period. Ultimately, the 70mm trailers, if any, seen during the 70mm presentations of “Star Trek VI” varied by venue and screening.
The duration of the engagements (measured in weeks) is included in parenthesis following the cinema name.
ALBERTA Calgary — Famous Players’ Palliser Square Twin (9) Edmonton — Famous Players’ West Mall 5 (9)
BRITISH COLUMBIA Vancouver — Famous Players’ Vancouver Centre Twin (8)
CALIFORNIA Los Angeles — Mann’s Chinese Triplex (8) [THX] Los Angeles — Mann’s National (11) [THX] Orange — Syufy’s Century Cinedome 8 (11) San Francisco — UA’s Galaxy 4 (13) [THX] San Jose — Syufy’s Century 21 (3) Universal City — Cineplex Odeon’s Universal City 18 (8) [THX]
ILLINOIS Skokie — Loews’ Old Orchard 4 (7)
NEW YORK New York — Cineplex Odeon’s First & 62nd 6 (11) New York — Guild’s Embassy Triplex (10) New York — Loews’ 34th Street Showplace Triplex (6) New York — Loews’ 84th Street Showplace 6 (6) New York — Loews’ Village 7 (8) [THX] New York — UA’s East 85th Street (6)
ONTARIO Ottawa — Famous Players’ Elgin Twin (9) Toronto — Famous Players’ Eglinton (9) [THX]
QUEBEC Montreal — Famous Players’ Imperial (8) [THX]
TEXAS Dallas — AMC’s Glen Lakes 8 (9)
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 smaller, non-70mm-equipped auditorium within a multiplex. As well, the reverse scenario 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 such cases, any 35mm portion of the engagement (or movement out of a branded auditorium) has been included in the duration figure.
SUBSEQUENT 70MM ENGAGEMENTS & SCREENINGS
1991-12-25 … San Jose, CA — Syufy’s Century 24 Twin (7)
1992-01-31 … San Antonio, TX — Rivercenter IMAX (23) 1992-03-13 … Casper, WY — Movie Palaces’ America (2) 1992-03-13 … Downers Grove, IL — Classic Cinemas’ Tivoli (2) [HPS-4000] 1992-03-20 … Baltimore, MD — Durkee’s Senator (1) 1992-03-25 … Toronto, ON — Cinesphere (11 days) [festival] 1992-04-03 … Marietta, GA — Town & Country Triplex (2) 1992-04-27 … Vancouver, BC — CN IMAX at Canada Place (4 days) [festival] 1992-05-15 … Norfolk, VA — R/C’s Main Gate 10 (1) 1992-06-12 … Cleveland Heights, OH — Centrum at Coventry Triplex (1) 1992-06-17 … Portland, OR — CineMagic (1) [w/ “Star Trek V”] 1992-07-13 … Atlanta, GA — Fox [15th annual summer film festival]
1993-02-27 … Toronto, ON — Cinesphere (2 days) [fest; w/ “Star Trek IV”] 1993-03-12 … Vancouver, BC — CN IMAX at Canada Place (2 days) [festival]
1994-02-19 … Toronto, ON — Cinesphere (2 days) [festival] 1994-04-30 … Calgary, AB — Famous Players’ Palliser Square Twin [midnight] 1994-06-24 … Vancouver, BC — CN IMAX at Canada Place (2 days) [festival] 1994-08-04 … Vancouver, BC — CN IMAX at Canada Place (2 days) [festival] 1994-11-09 … Castle Rock, WA — Cinedome (5 days) [“Star Trek” festival] 1994-11-12 … Montreal, QC — Famous Players’ Imperial [THX] 1994-11-12 … Toronto, ON — Famous Players’ Uptown 5 [festival]
1996-01-13 … Montreal, QC — Famous Players’ Imperial [THX] (w/ “The Doors”) 1996-11-15 … Toronto, ON — Cinesphere (10 days) [“Star Trek” festival]
2008-12-23 … Los Angeles, CA — Laemmle’s Royal [Laemmle 70th/fest; w/ “2001”]
2010-07-24 … Los Angeles (West Los Angeles), CA — Laemmle’s Royal [“Star Trek” series] 2010-09-24 … Gatineau, QC — Museum of Civilization [70mm festival]
2011-03-27 … Los Angeles, CA — Egyptian [“Star Trek” series w/ Nicholas Meyer Q&A]
2016-09-16 … Los Angeles, CA — Egyptian [w/ “Star Trek IV” + Q&A]
2017-09-02 … Seattle, WA — Cinerama [70mm festival]
2018-09-14 … Seattle, WA — Cinerama [70mm festival] 2018-09-21 … Chicago, IL — Music Box [70mm festival] 2018-09-22 … Chicago, IL — Music Box [70mm festival] 2018-09-23 … Chicago, IL — Music Box [70mm festival]
2019-10-01 … Seattle, WA — Cinerama [70mm festival]
2024-07-14 … Santa Monica, CA — Aero [70mm festival w/ N. Meyer] 2024-09-01 … Beverly Hills, CA — Fine Arts [“Trek” 70mm series w/ Eidelman & Jaffe]
The information included in this article was principally referenced from film industry trade publications, regional newspaper promotion, print enclosures, TAP records, Dolby records, etc. Special thanks to Mark Campbell, Bill Kallay, Bill Kretzel and Cliff Stephenson.
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:
“Star Trek” | “Star Trek II" | “Star Trek III" | “Star Trek IV" | “Star Trek V"
70mm Cinemas in North America
Chronological premiere list of major 70mm films
Month by month premiere list of wide gauge and 3-strip films
70mm Engagements
70mm Blow Up List
Dolby Stereo
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