Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Panoramascope and "Panorama Blue"

This is topic Panoramascope and "Panorama Blue" in forum Film Handlers' Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

To visit this topic, use this URL:
https://ft-forum.com/ft/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=006222

Posted by Daniel Alt (Member # 2303) on 05-28-2004, 08:38 PM:

So, while tidying up our booth, I ran across my very first X-rated trailer. This piqued my interest. It's for a movie called "Panorama Blue", which, according to in70mm.com, is the only known 70mm adult movie.

According to the trailer (and the website), the movie used something called "Panoramascope" about which there seems to be not much information on the web. Was this just a renaming of some other incarnation of 70mm which didn't wish to be associated with porn under its own name? Or was this a fly-by-night process which was nonetheless unique? The film is listed on the website as a blowup, but according to one source I found, was at least partially shot in 70mm.

One of the experienced projectionists at our house remembers projecting the movie a while back, and says that there was only one print ever struck.

Just curious, since this topic obviously has little practical relevance.

Posted by Bill Gabel (Member # 1105) on 05-28-2004, 08:50 PM:

When it opened in Hollywood, California, it played at the Paramount Theatre in 70MM. The Paramount Theatre is now known as the El Capitan Theatre.

Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 05-28-2004, 09:05 PM:

It played in Toronto at either the Eve or the Eden with a pair of rented JJ's

Posted by Steve Kraus (Member # 476) on 05-28-2004, 10:48 PM:

Haven't seen it but from what I've read it was softcore with some spoofing of This is Cinerama.

More info:
http://www.mhvf.net/forum/cult/posts/18438.html

Posted by Sam D. Chavez (Member # 1841) on 05-28-2004, 11:32 PM:

I ran it in 35mm mag, Guttag's favorite format. It was pretty soft in all senses and hardly worth the bother.

Now the Stewardesses, there was a movie.

Posted by Daniel Alt (Member # 2303) on 05-29-2004, 08:56 AM:

Thanks for the link, Steve... that answered a lot of questions about "What the heck IS this thing."

However, I'm still sort of curious about the techincal aspects. Were any other films (I couldn't find any) billed as "Panoramascope?" Or was that just a play on the title of the movie?

Posted by Jeffry L. Johnson (Member # 453) on 05-29-2004, 01:15 PM:

Isn't it 70mm Super WideScreen Panoramascope?

When I booked that title for the CWRU Film Society, Dick Ellman of Ellman Films said Panorama Blue was photographed with a Mitchell camera.

The print arrived on 3 full 70mm reels, about 30 minutes per reel at 24 fps.

Posted by Jeff Joseph (Member # 511) on 05-29-2004, 02:36 PM:

A local film archive has a 70mm print of "Panorama Blue", I think.

Stewardesses: We are working with StereoVision (Chris Condon) on doing a restoration and new print on this title. Will keep everybody posted.

Jeff

Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 05-29-2004, 04:08 PM:

We do excellent business in Toronto at the Royal Cinema when we run Stewardess every year

Posted by Paul Linfesty (Member # 214) on 05-30-2004, 11:54 AM:

The film was also presented in 70mm at the St. francis Theatre in San Francisco. The SF Chronicle review pointed out to the soft-core nature of the film (although the Chronicle would even review the occasional "hardcore film" back then, both straight and gay). If memory serves correctly, it was mentioned that even though the film starred John Holmes, you never saw below his belly-button!

Posted by Daniel Alt (Member # 2303) on 05-30-2004, 01:15 PM:

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Isn't it 70mm Super WideScreen Panoramascope?

When I booked that title for the CWRU Film Society, Dick Ellman of Ellman Films said Panorama Blue was photographed with a Mitchell camera.

The print arrived on 3 full 70mm reels, about 30 minutes per reel at 24 fps.

Er.. Jeff, that's the booth where I found the trailer, and the only place I project... I don't think we've met yet, but I hear lots of stories about you from Jim and Charlie. Maybe I'll see you this summer if I can get in to help with the sound refit.

And yes, I believe that IS the full folderol on the trailer.. thanks for the technical info.

Posted by Steve Kraus (Member # 476) on 05-30-2004, 08:56 PM:

"Photographed with a Mitchell camera" doesn't help much as that could just as easily be 65mm or 35mm.