Indeed, movie534. Heard today that The Dark Knight will be opening in over 4300 locations, with 10000 prints, and playing on over 25% of ALL movie screens in the USA. Unless the movie has the greatest word-of-mouth EVER, it will be dead in 3 weeks.
I don’t remember if it was on the limited-market release or not, but the UA Cinema 46 in Totowa played Die Hard in 70mm as well. It was a great looking and sounding show there in the big house.
If they have the necessary projectors, why are they inserting intermissions into films that did not have one? It sounds like such a wonderful venue, so the lack of correct presentation doesn’t seem right.
REndres – thanks again for all of your comments re: the technical requirements needed to stage events. I’ve learned an incredible amount of information from your posts.
Read everything on that site that LIM has linked to. Then, if you’re still inclined to get in to the business, be prepared to work long hours for little return. But, if you’re not looking to get rich, the work can be very rewarding. Regarding showing classics, just be aware that unless the film is in the public domain, you can’t show your own film prints – everything must be booked via the studios.
I can’t imagine any fan of movies and movie theatres thinking that watching a film on a tiny 32 inch TV is more satisfying than seeing it on a well-run screen.
Thanks for the info, REndres. That would have been my grumbling about the organ recital a few years ago (regarding use of the curtain, mostly). Luckily, the group putting on the organ concert this August – which everyone who frequents this site should attend, if only to support the idea of more specialized and historic presentations – is funding the event to make it open to the public, so the proper lights, sound, curtains, etc., will get used.
Since I was very disappointed in Temple of Doom and mildly disappointed in Last Crusade, I’m going in to this one with little to no expectation or anticipation.
Bill, John Williams' music score on the CD is very good, but the film has been treated to a Ben Burtt sound mix, which means it’s probably buried under the sound effects and dialed down way to low in his usual manner. I’ll be seeing it tomorrow afternoon at the Lafayette.
Opens Friday 5/16 with Narnia: Prince Caspian on one side and Baby Mama on the other; Indiana Jones starts May 22. If the showtimes don’t hit the papers or online listings, call the info hotline at 973-300-4600.
Thanks for noticing, Bill. It was a great show, even if I couldn’t enjoy it much due to the late arrival of the print (getting a print 2 hours before show time is not doing my blood pressure any good…)
‘Recently Restored’ as stated in the link would mean it’s a new print, so it wouldn’t have been a dye-transfer Technicolor print. It probably looked great if they took the time to make the print the best they could. I’ve showed new prints (“Brides of Dracula” comes to mind first) that looked as good as a Technicolor print.
Exactly! When is the next film show down at the Basie? I’ve never been there and would love to come down if it’s something showing via film. Shoot me an e-mail to “bigscreenclassics AT gmail.com” when you can.
Indeed, movie534. Heard today that The Dark Knight will be opening in over 4300 locations, with 10000 prints, and playing on over 25% of ALL movie screens in the USA. Unless the movie has the greatest word-of-mouth EVER, it will be dead in 3 weeks.
I don’t remember if it was on the limited-market release or not, but the UA Cinema 46 in Totowa played Die Hard in 70mm as well. It was a great looking and sounding show there in the big house.
If they have the necessary projectors, why are they inserting intermissions into films that did not have one? It sounds like such a wonderful venue, so the lack of correct presentation doesn’t seem right.
The series sounds like it would be fun, but why do they only have one projector?
REndres – thanks again for all of your comments re: the technical requirements needed to stage events. I’ve learned an incredible amount of information from your posts.
Closed for good, equipment being sold, owner selling building:
View link
Read everything on that site that LIM has linked to. Then, if you’re still inclined to get in to the business, be prepared to work long hours for little return. But, if you’re not looking to get rich, the work can be very rewarding. Regarding showing classics, just be aware that unless the film is in the public domain, you can’t show your own film prints – everything must be booked via the studios.
Why do you think it will be a “bomb”?
I can’t imagine any fan of movies and movie theatres thinking that watching a film on a tiny 32 inch TV is more satisfying than seeing it on a well-run screen.
Thanks for the info, REndres. That would have been my grumbling about the organ recital a few years ago (regarding use of the curtain, mostly). Luckily, the group putting on the organ concert this August – which everyone who frequents this site should attend, if only to support the idea of more specialized and historic presentations – is funding the event to make it open to the public, so the proper lights, sound, curtains, etc., will get used.
Very true, Vito. We just need to ensure that “showmanship” remains in place, no matter the media the movie is exhibited on.
Bill – read the reviews of it (Variety has one, I think). Sounds like a monumental disaster.
I’m in – I can learn a lot from you guys!
Did anyone laugh? You can hear crickets in the theatre when the trailer for that movie plays… :)
Since I was very disappointed in Temple of Doom and mildly disappointed in Last Crusade, I’m going in to this one with little to no expectation or anticipation.
Bill, John Williams' music score on the CD is very good, but the film has been treated to a Ben Burtt sound mix, which means it’s probably buried under the sound effects and dialed down way to low in his usual manner. I’ll be seeing it tomorrow afternoon at the Lafayette.
As was posted 6 posts above, the theatre opened Friday night, 5/16.
Showtimes at Fandango: View link
Moviefone.com should have them next week as well.
I don’t know, Justin. I’m not involved with the theatres on a day-to-day basis.
It’ll be playing on Friday nights for now.
Here’s an article in yesterday’s NJ Herald about the re-opening:
View link
Opens Friday 5/16 with Narnia: Prince Caspian on one side and Baby Mama on the other; Indiana Jones starts May 22. If the showtimes don’t hit the papers or online listings, call the info hotline at 973-300-4600.
My mistake, it was 1993 that we were at the State. It was about to be shuttered when we came to town… :)
Hey, Bill.
We briefly ran classic films here when Nelson was involved with the place in 1991. You should have seen Spartacus, it was only 35mm but looked great!
The plan for now is Narnia on the 16th and Indy on the 22nd.
Thanks for noticing, Bill. It was a great show, even if I couldn’t enjoy it much due to the late arrival of the print (getting a print 2 hours before show time is not doing my blood pressure any good…)
‘Recently Restored’ as stated in the link would mean it’s a new print, so it wouldn’t have been a dye-transfer Technicolor print. It probably looked great if they took the time to make the print the best they could. I’ve showed new prints (“Brides of Dracula” comes to mind first) that looked as good as a Technicolor print.
Exactly! When is the next film show down at the Basie? I’ve never been there and would love to come down if it’s something showing via film. Shoot me an e-mail to “bigscreenclassics AT gmail.com” when you can.