The Return of 70mm

Ingrid Pit, John Bannon and Caroline Monroe. Picture By Brian White

I know that many people think digital projection is the future of cinema, but this is still a long way off and far from perfected. Also, most current digital projectors offer only a 2k resolution, that is, 2048 pixels on 1556 lines. To replicate 70mm the picture would need to be nearer 8k resolution. Now although there are new technologies coming through like the D-ILA liquid crystal device, which offers a continuous image as opposed to a series of pixels, and which can reach 8k resolution, there is still the question of what to do in the meantime.

I belief that digital projection that is comparable with 70mm is still ten years from becoming the installed norm in our theatres. 

In the meantime we could make use of our existing technology and offer the public an opportunity to experience the joy of big screen presentations today. To this end I am pleased to announce that the Odeon Covent Garden [London, England, Ed] recently re-equipped one of its screens for 70mm and has already shown "Lawrence of Arabia" for Genre Classics.

"Where Eagles Dare" in 70mm and 6-track stereophonic sound

The 70mm showing of "Where Eagles Dare" was not a financial success. But to 100 or so that did come see the clock turn back. Although the print was a little dark and tinted brown it was still in good shape considering its 35 years old and the sound was bloody fabulous. Brought a tear to my eyes and a lump in my throat. I can say it was back in the mid 70s when I last presented that film in 70mm. Ingrid Pitt was the star and every bit a lady. She made us laugh with her stories of Richard Burton and Clint Eastwood, Alf Joint and Brian Hutton.

Genre Classics presented her with a bunch of flowers and she was very excited to be there 35 years after the premier which took place in the very same cinema. So a real nostalgia trip for many who where there.

John Bannon

Equally the Empire Leicester Square which we used for the Genre Classic 70mm presentation of "Where Eagles Dare" in September with Ingrid Pitt, has gone out of their way to make their equipment ready for action. Over the coming months we intend to use both sites for 70mm presentations, with films such as "Hamlet", Indiana Jones Trilogy, "The Deer Hunter" and many, many, more.