P3D Re: Dial M at Film Forum

[DavidH8083@xxxxxxx]

Michael Kaplan writes:
<<I had previously seen "Charge at Feather River" and

"Phantom of the Rue Morgue" at the Film Forum, and the projectionist did

an outstanding job. Unfortunately, the prints did not have the original

stereophonic soundtracks.>>

Film Forum isn't equipped to handle a third head for the stereo sound reels
anyway.  I was in the booth a few years back when Kiss Me Kate was first being
screened there in double system. The 5000-foot picture reels also came with a
set of 5000-foot 4-track magnetic sound reels which would require a third head
running in sync with the two picture heads for stereo sound.  And while a
number of Big CIty premiere houses in the 50s were so equipped, you have to go
to a specialized studio or screening facility today for that equipment.

You'd think maybe the optical tracks on the left and right picture reels would
have appropriate corresponding soundtracks, but no, on the films I've examined
the optical track has always been mono. An old distributor friend said that
this was because it was anticipated that most playdates would be flat so they
need the full mono track. The stereo mag reels were sent to the deluxe houses
for big presentations.

David Hutchison
davidh8083@xxxxxxx


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