Back when Universal started releasing its classic horror titles to DVD, there had been talk of including the 3D version of CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON on that DVD. It would be cool to see the studio release a 3D Legacy set, with IT CAME FROM OUTER SPACE, CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON and REVENGE OF THE CREATURE in all their original 3D glory.
shareThe problem is that there's just no economical way to do 3-D on TV. Anaglyph is terrible and with NTSC, never works from set to set.
Field Sequential is a possibility, but I doubt it will happen. It means consumers will actually have to buy expensive equipment, narrowing the market to just the stereophiles who already have the shutter glasses.
Perhaps with HD there will be a newer, more efficient format, but until then, the chances of any major studio releasing their 3-D films on DVD is nil.
-J. Theakston
The Silent Photoplayer
http://www.thephotoplayer.com/
Yes, the shutter glasses are not an overly economic solution. I do have a 3D VHS copy of THE MASK which, with a slight adjustment to my TV's color, works pretty good. Do you recall, back in the 1980s, when Universal released a 3D VHS tape of CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON?
shareYes, it was actually another video company that licensed the film from Universal.
Still, anaglyph is rarely done right and there's just no comparison to real, polaroid 3-D.
There are field sequential bootlegs out there, but the quality on them is so piss-poor that one cannot easily judge the cinematography based on those examples (they look like they were filmed through a gallon of Vaseline).
-J. Theakston
The Silent Photoplayer
http://www.thephotoplayer.com/
True. I was lucky enough to catch Warner's polaroid reissue of HOUSE OF WAX in 3D back in the 1980s, which still looked great on the big screen. Not looking nearly as good, but still good enough to enjoy, was a Halloween 3D screening of IT CAME FROM OUTER SPACE (16mm anaglyph print). I recently picked up a 3D Super 8 digest of CREATURE (yes, I still use the old projector) and was amazed at how well it played. (I've seen Super 8 anaglyph prints where the color has shifted over the years, totally ruining the stereo effect.) I was lucky enough to get this 400' reel of LAGOON highlights from its original owner, who had taken very good care of his collection. Guess, for the time being, that will have to hold me.
Take care,
Bob
What's really shocking is that Universal does not have a dual-strip pair for CREATURE in 3-D. All they have is an Eastman color anaglyph version.
-J. Theakston
The Silent Photoplayer
http://www.thephotoplayer.com/
Really? I guess considerations of film preservation were low priority for years at the studio. It was only when Hammer remade THE OLD DARK HOUSE that Curtis Harrington talked Universal in to making a safety print of the James Whale original from the nitrate elements on hand. I recall, in the 1970s, when Richard J. Anobile did his frame blow-up book of James Whale's FRANKENSTEIN, Anobile asked the studio about any possible surviving footage or stills of Maria being drowned that could be used. He was told that, if the studio wanted the material to be seen, they would never have removed it to begin with. (Fortunately, that attitude has changed, and the material has been rediscovered and restored into the feature.)
shareThey do -- the polorized version just screened this week at the Second 3-D Film Fest in LA. It looked great, as did REVENGE.
shareThat was an archival print. Not from the studio.
-J. Theakston
The Silent Photoplayer
http://www.thephotoplayer.com
Sensio is releasing "It Came from Outer Space", "Creature From the Black Lagoon", "Revenge of the Creature" and "Taza, Son of Cochise" on 3-D DVD.
They Just released "JAWS 3-D" and it's Amazing!!! These are Official Universal Releases!!
http://www.sensio.tv/en/home_theater/3d_dvd/soon/default.3d
How much does one of these Sensio systems cost and where can one buy one? Another thing, Sensio has been talking about releasing "It Came From Outer Space" along with the other three films you mentioned for about two years now, but still no dice. What gives with that?
shareI bought mine from Cyberworld and they made me a great deal:
http://www.cwonline.com/
A new Sensio 3D Processor for $1495.00 which includes 2 sets of glasses and 5 dvds of my choice and Free Shipping, the DVD's I picked are:
Jaws 3-D
Sharkboy and Lava Girl
Spykids 3-D
Haunted Castle
Encounters in the Third Demension
I know 1495.00 is still alot of money but it's half off the normal cost of the processor alone and the 3-D is SWEET!!!
According to Melanie Trudel from Sensio the goal is to release the following titles in 2008:
Creature from the Black Lagoon
It Came from Outer Space
Revenge of the Creature
Taza, Son of Cochise
That is a lot of money, but better than $3,000. I'll think I'll wait until next year when my TV is paid off. Maybe the price will go down a little bit more?
shareI picked up a field sequential version of eBay and was pleasantly surprised by its quality- true, it leaves much to be desired compared to a polarized version but it is miles better than any anaglyph screening I've seen, flicker notwithstanding. Also the field sequential systems aren't _that_ expensive...
Happy viewing!
I remember seeing genuine polarized 3D when I was very young and it was stunning.
Could you please explain exactly what this process entailed that prevents it from working on tv?
Am I correct in assuming that two separate projectors were required?
Is it not possible to develop some way to project authentically polarized images via the tv screen, which would be compatible with standard polarized glasses?
With today's high defiition and larger screens - all the better.
Thanks for helping enlighten the 3D challenged!