P3D Dial M premiere in NYC

[Michael Kaplan <view@xxxxxxxx>]

As promised, I checked the period ads for release information on "Dial M
for Murder" in the New York City area. What I found supports one of the
listmembers' comments, rather than my own recollection.  Here's what I
found:

"Dial M for Murder" had its premiere release in the NYC area during the
last week of May, 1954, at the Paramount Theater (a casualty of Times
Square redevelopment). The film played in its 'flat' version. Here's an
excerpt from Bosley Crowther's review that appeared in the New York
Times on May 29, 1954:

"Excellent color and color combinations add to the flow and variety of
the drama's moods. Shot for 3-D but offered here in 'standard,' the film
is vividly pictorial right straight through." 

The picture played for a month at the Paramount, then went into general
release at RKO neighborhood theaters in the boroughs on June 30 - in its
'flat' version. However, it played at other theater chains as well
(Brandt, Skouras) and may have been shown in 3-D at some of those
theaters. These chains did not advertise in the New York Times, and have
not yet seen their ads. (I'm sure I saw the film in 3-D at Skouras'
Jackson Theater in Queens.)

As an aside: while Dial M was playing 'flat' at the Paramount, another
late 3-D film, "The French Line" starring Jane Russell, was playing in
3-D at the Criterion in Times Square, then later at the Brooklyn Fox,
also in 3-D. That film then opened on July 21 in selected Brandt
theaters - this time in 2-D.

Michael Kaplan


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End of PHOTO-3D Digest 3295
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