This Is Cinerama (1952) Merian C. Cooper, Gunther von Fritsch, Lowell Thomas, Kathy Darlyn, Documentary

December 3, 2016

A standard screen B&W prologue during which Lowell Thomas shows how, from the dawn of history, mankind has attempted to create the illusion of depth & movement by artistic, mechanical and photographic means.

Cinerama format opens with Rockaway Playland Roller Coaster, then Temple Dance from “Aida”, views of Niagra Falls, Long Island Choir – an early test of CineramaSound in B&W -, Canals of Venice, Edinburgh Military Tattoo, bullfight and musical performance in Spain, Act II finale of “AIDA” at La Scala Opera House, Milan. “Intermission 15 minutes” Act II commences with a sound demonstration – “we call it stereophonic sound” says LT. Then to Cypress Gardens, Florida, for trick water skiing and boating scenes. The last half of Act II- “America the Beautiful”- is viewed from the nose of a low flying B-25 aeroplane.