“Year of the Dragon”: The 70mm Engagements |
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| Compiled by: Michael Coate | Date: 24.07.2016 |
 The
following is a reference / historical listing of the 70-millimeter
engagements of “Year of the Dragon” in the United States and Canada. These
were the cinemas worth seeking out to experience this motion picture.“Year of the Dragon” was among twenty-three confirmed first-run films released in 1985 with 70mm prints for selected engagements. The MGM/UA release — directed by Michael Cimino (“The Deer Hunter,” “Heaven’s Gate”) and starring Mickey Rourke, John Lone and Ariane Koizumi — opened August 16th. The 70mm prints of “Year of the Dragon” featured six-track stereophonic sound* and letterboxed imagery (approximately 2.39:1) blown up from anamorphic 35mm. (*Conflicting information exists as to whether the 70mm prints were encoded with Dolby Noise Reduction and if they featured three or five screen channels.) For the release of “Year of the Dragon,” MGM/UA employed the services of Lucasfilm’s Theatre Alignment Program (TAP) to evaluate and approve the cinemas selected to book a 70mm print. MGM/UA circulated 70mm Six-Track Dolby coming-attraction trailers for “Fever Pitch,” “Marie,” “Rocky IV” and “To Live and Die in L.A.” during the release of “Year of the Dragon.” Other studios circulated 70mm trailers during this period, as well. Ultimately, any 70mm trailers screened during 70mm presentations of “Year of the Dragon” 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 — Mann’s Chinese Triplex (7) [THX] Los Angeles — Mann’s Village (6) [THX] San Francisco — Plitt’s Northpoint (6) ILLINOIS Chicago — Plitt’s Esquire (7) NEW YORK New York — Loews’ 34th Street Showplace Triplex (5) New York — Loews’ 84th Street 6 (5) New York — Loews’ Astor Plaza (6) New York — Loews’ Orpheum Twin (6) ONTARIO Toronto — Famous Players’ University (3) QUEBEC Montreal — United’s Loews 5 (8) 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 & SCREENINGS 1985-09-05 … Toronto, ON — Famous Players’ Cumberland 4 (2) 1985-09-15 … Toronto, ON — Famous Players’ University (1) 1985-09-27 … New York, NY — Guild’s Embassy I (5) 1985-09-27 … Toronto, ON — Famous Players’ Imperial 6 (2) 1986-02-21 … Cleveland, OH — CWRU’s Strosacker [CWRU Film Society series] 2016-09-19 … Seattle, WA — Cinerama [70mm festival] 2017-02-10 … Toronto, ON — TIFF Bell Lightbox [70mm festival] 2018-09-15 … Chicago, IL — Music Box [70mm festival] 2018-09-17 … Chicago, IL — Music Box [70mm festival] 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 Don Beelik, Bill Kallay, Bill Kretzel, Mark Lensenmayer and Brian Whitish. 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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