"The March of Todd-AO"

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Original title: The March of Todd-AO. English title: The March of Todd-AO. Filmed in: 65mm, 5 perforations, 24 frames per second. Principal cinematography filmed in: Todd-AO. Presented in: 70mm. Aspect ratio: 2,21:1. Country of origin: USA. Year of production: 1958. Copyright: 1959 Louis de Rochemont. Released and distributed by: Magna Theatre Corporation. Danish premiere, cinema and showtime: Copenhagen, 3 Falke Bio, 15.02.1963, 19:30. Producer: Louis de Rochemont. Director: Louis de Rochemont III. Director of photography: Gayne Rescher, ASC. Film editor: Peter Ratkevich. Music: Morton Gould. Narration: In Danish in Denmark. Production company: Produced in Todd-AO for Magna Theatre Corporation (George P. Skouras). Concept and scenario: Louis de Rochemont & George P. Skouras. Camera technician: Bob Gaffney. Aerial mount: Made on board CV- Essex by Gayne Rescher, Michael (Bill) Mahoney, Bob Gaffney and US Navy metal shop from fuel tank for the A4D plane. Chief grip: Michael Mahoney. Music conductor: Jack Shaindlin. Orchestrations: Jack Shaindlin. Sound mixer: Fred Hynes, Todd-AO, Los Angeles. Sound System: The location sound was recorded in 1-track mono and electronically spread out to a 6- track mix. Music recorded in 6-channels in Los Angeles. Original soundtrack: Not available. Locations (by sequences): The 6th US Navy in the Mediterranean during summer of 1958 (4 minutes 13 seconds). EXPO 1958 in Bruxelles, Belgium (2 minutes and 17 seconds). Pope Johannes (John) XXIII in the Vatican (5 minutes and 35 seconds). Todd-AO cameras (37 seconds). Location manager: Bill Terry. Todd-AO developers: American Optical Company and Magna Theatre Corporation. Filmed with: One Todd-AO camera with 128’ lens. Filmstock: 65mm Eastman color. 70mm running time: 12 minutes 42 seconds. 441 metres. 1448 feet. Distributor: Magna Theatre Corporation, USA. Danish distributor: 20th Century Fox and 3 Falke Bio. Danish censor/number: Red (No one under age 12 admitted). 29.12.1960. Number 69314. 605 *) metres (1985 feet). Price DKK 24,20.

Synopsis: The Todd-AO camera follows the 6th USN Fleet in the Mediterranean during the summer of 1958. The republic of Lebanon had requested the help from the United States. The Todd-AO camera follows a take of from the aircraft carrier CV Essex and fly over of Beirut. EXPO 1958 in Bruxelles, Belgium, is visited by 44.000.000 guests from April 17, 1958 to October 19, 1958. The Todd-AO camera takes us to some of the 50 pavilions of the EXPO. The Pope Pius XII died in 1958. The Todd-AO camera visits Vatican City and Rome with sailors on leave from the 6th US Navy fleet. 6:30 PM on the evening of Thuesday October 28, 1958 the new pope is elected. Angelo Guiseppe Roncalli, age 77, born near Bergamo in Italy, takes the name Johannes (John) XXIII. The Todd-AO captures every detail.

Various: Official credits for this short film does not exist. Louis de Rochemont III interviewed by Willem Bouwmeester and Thomas Hauerslev in September 1995 in Olso, Norway.

*) Error made by Danish Censor Board.

The Todd-AO Corporation have the 65mm negative stored in Hollywood, California, USA.

Further reading reference: Unknown US trade magazine, 1959: "Louis de Rochemont Associates has produced for Magna Theatres a colorful and absorbing 1500 foot film to be shown as a prologue to the roadshow engagements of "South Pacific". The subject, in magnificent color, features scenes of the coronation of Pope John [Johannes] XXIII and in and about Vatican City and Rome during and immediatly after the election of the new Pope. In the wide screen process and with its six-channel sound reproduction the solemnity of the coronation, the back ground of the Sistine Chapel Choir, and the sweep of cheers from hundres of thousand gathered outside St. Peters achieve impressive realistic effects. Other sequences equally effective, cover task force and carrier based plane reconnaissance in the Mediterranean and over Beirut during the American occupation of the city last summer, and a sight-seeing tour of the Brussels Worlds fair. Each subject affords wide audience interest and enjoyment. - S.K.".
 

Further in 70mm reading:

The Miracle Of Todd-AO
Cinespace 70

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