2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY in 70MM FROM THE PROJECTION BOX at the PRINCE CHARLES CINEMA, LONDON
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- čas přidán 14. 02. 2024
- This is the Prince Charles Cinema just off Leicester Square in the heart of the West End of London where they run real film daily as well as 4K video projection. Both 35mm and 70mm prints are screened and it really is London's home of 70mm film. In this video we join Svein in the projection box to screen his favourite print, 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY. This is a 50th anniversary print and, importantly for me, is a pre-restoration print which means it was struck from the original camera negative. A real treat for any film enthusiast and this screening had a packed house full of them.
To keep up to date on the myriad different titles the PRINCE CHARLES screens every day their web site is here: princecharlescinema.com/Princ... - Krátké a kreslené filmy
Just a note on Bradford's Cinerama screen at The Pictureville. Unfortunately its been closed for the last couple of months as they've discovered a RAAC roofing problem. No word yet on when they might reopen. 2001 has played there outside of The Widescreen Weekend festival. Last time was in February 2023. I watched it and the curve of the screen created a 3D illusion as the sides are physically nearer to you than the centre. The rest of the National Media Museum that the site occupies is also closed for renovations until the Summer. No word on this but hoping this will include a return to use of the IMAX 70mm projector- the first in Europe! And that would give the UK four of them.
Great and valuable information David, thank you. I'm pinning this comment to the top in the hope that others will see it and keep an eye on the Pictureville web site too. Shame I didn't know 2001 was on last February, damn it! John.
@@moviecollector5920 Thanks very much for that, John! Pictureville is keeping going for now by screening films at The Studio Theatre, part of The Alhambra Theatre across the road from the National Media Museum. I haven't seen any advertised as showing on film. Having seen the 70mm projector I think it's too heavy and impractical to move to there. They do have a 35mm in their Cubby Broccoli Cinema, which I haven't seen, so if that's more portable they may be able to use that at The Studio. As noted, the Museum is due to reopen on an unspecified date in the Summer, as apparently its not affected by RAAC as Pictureville is. And was due to open anyway after a year of grant funded improvements. No real details on those but it's a sizeable injection and so hopefully includes if not the reuse/restoration of the 70mm IMAX projector then the upgrade of their Digital IMAX projector (currently a not very impressive 2K). The Museum is part of the same group as The Science Museum in Kensington, who have an Imax 70mm (that has played host to recent Nolan screenings, and Imax 70mm prints of Blade Runner and 2001), so hopefully they can lean into them for any help and in sourcing prints. Although the Cinerama is closed (it was until then the only publicly accessible one in the world), you can still subscribe to the Pictureville mailing list and they'll email you with weekly listings. Special screenings such as Cinerama ones will generally be mentioned in the title of the email. So hopefully you don't miss their next Cinerama screening of 2001.
I've seen 2001 in 70 mm multiple times, the ultimate way to see it, and a must for any true fan of it. Even though I enjoy having the UHD and viewing it on my projector, it is not the same experience. I've also seen Lawrence of Arabia, Patton, and Spartacus in 70 mm. Again, it's THE way to see them.
I couldn't agree more. Still on my bucket list is to see 2001 on a genuine Cinerama screen from 70mm. That has surely got to be the ultimate way to see it.
John.
Ditto!
Thanks, for not only promoting film, for promoting large format as well!!
Sure some viewers will make the trek.
I think I'm going to be there a lot more often in the future. It's like going back to days gone by when cinemas cared about presentation. John.
Saw 2001 in IMAX for the 50th and it quite possibly changed my life. The color was closer to the old blu-ray than the unrestored remaster, it looked incredible. Better than 99.9% of movies, even now. I won't lie that I would be interested in learning more about Tommy Wiseau coming on the 15th though lol.
I hope that IMAX screening was a 70mm print or even a 15/70 blow-up. The bigger the screen, the more impressive 2001 would be, I'm sure. But it's got to be a film print as far as I'm concerned. I do want to take another look at the 4K home video disc now though as I've imprinted onto my brain how that 70mm print looked. John.
@@moviecollector5920 Unfortunately no, from what I could tell it was a DCP on lie-max digital. I don't think the nation wide IMAX release was on film, but the regular 70mm was. At the time I was just grateful to see it on the biggest screen possible, and I still am. Plus you can't go wrong with IMAX speakers. If they ever project 2001 (or any movie at this point) on 70mm near me I'll go to it, no questions asked.
I first saw 2001 on Beta video, pan-scan in 1983, when my parents bought a video from Sears. I was 14 years. I had read the novel, with other AC-C' books, and Bradbury, and Herbert. I saw 2001 the first time in a cinema, in 1993, the print was a bit worn. I have owned the vhs, dvd, and restored Blu'. When this anniversary version in 2018, I saw it in a IMAX cinema. Kubrick is a favorite of mine, think I have not seen his two earliest films - my brother and I love "Barry Lyndon" and saw that once in a cinema, in the 90's. There is an excellent book, out a few years ago, about the near four year duration to film 2001, makes the appreciation of it all the more.
I do have a couple of 2001 books but purchased them more than 20 years ago. I purchased one from Gary Lockwood who signed it and it was only later that I realized his friend Keir Dulea had also signed it in advance. Wonderful.
Barry Lyndon is going to get a screening or two at the Prince Charles. Thinking about it, it might have already been on but always worth keeping a lookout on their web site because it's always quite likely they'll get a film print for the best experience.
John.
Love the PCC. Saw 2001 twice in its 70mm screening and it really is an experience to behold. This video just goes to show the passion and effort that goes to show in projecting films… and how 4K showings, whilst pristine, is destroying the experience of seeing classics and your own personal favourites in the format they were first shown in. In the last few years I had the opportunity to see films like Witness, Paper Moon, both Terminator films, Se7en, After Hours, The Hunger, Thelma & Louise and countless others in 35mm at the cinema. A really great time and watching these films on good old film stock is a unique experience. The ones that really stand out for me were Eyes Wide Shut, Heat and The Terminator. I recall seeing the former twice at the PCC in the last few years, saw a 4K restoration in 2019 and a 35mm in 2022 and in the latter I was possibly the oldest person at the screening at the tender age of 37😂 I remember the film ending and the sparse audience sat absolutely stunned on what they saw, I recall regaling them on how I first saw the film on its opening weekend in September 1999, about how I and my then girlfriend sneaked into the empty screening room on its first morning showing (yeah we bunked off school that day) and it was our most haunting cinema going experience. As for Heat, saw it during safe distancing where you can just lounge across the seats and watching Michael Mann’s masterpiece in comfort and with the extra few seconds of Neil and Eddy’s phone conversation in-tacked was a great experience. As for The Terminator quite honestly I cannot watch this film anymore after having seen it 35mm with a frame or two missing and cigarette burns and scratches. In other words this was pure bliss and the perfect way to see this sensational dare I say, B movie homaged film. Really glad you had a great time watching 2001 in 70mm it really is the last of its kind. Really hope one day to see a 70mm print of Vertigo, North By Northwest… but that’s too much to hope for.
Some wonderful memories there. I have a Super 8 print of The Terminator and I have no desire to see it any other way but Simon Nicholls has a 35mm print and that would be too tempting if I was over at Simon's for a few days. To get a sneak peak at it running in his home cinema take a look here: czcams.com/video/TNkXGZYENKE/video.html
I'm sure there are still prints of Vertigo and North By Northwest around but I think they were VistaVision rather than 65mm shoots. I suppose there would only have been a handful of genuine, horizontal VistaVision prints struck but their survival today really depends on if they were Technicolor dye transfer prints. If there were later 70mm prints struck my guess is that their survival will depend on whether the studios struck prints from the original negative since the introduction of low fade stocks in 1982.
I have both the teaser and theatrical trailers for Eyes Wide Shut on 35mm. I must give them a run sometime soon.
Oh, and another friend has a 35mm print of Witness. It's grrrrrrrreat!
John.
I had the honour of watching this print back in 2021 travelled from Manchester it was unreal amazing to see the work that goes on in the projection booth there. Amazing Video ! :)
I loved the whole visit from beginning to end. I can see myself frequenting the Prince Charles a whole lot more whenever I'm in London in the future. Well done from getting down from Manchester. Next we'll have to both get to Bradford when or if they ever put 2001 on their genuine Cinerama screen.
John.
I love the Prince Charles Cinema, especially for its all nighter presentations which are normally 6 to 8 movies shown back to back overnight on a theme or a director. Did one a few years back and it was a great experience, six 35mm films for £20.
My wife and I were looking to do one of those last year but the dates never matched when we would be in town. It would be cheaper than getting a hotel room for the night so it seems far too tempting to me. John.
Ah man, this place just sounds better and better every minute.
After seeing this, must make an effort - walk past the Prince Charles on nearly every visit to London and I have never been in there. It is now on my list to go and perhaps see 2001 (last seen at the cinema back in 1968, though no idea what the format was)
@@AndrewBuckleBookReviews They always seem to be screening something interesting Andrew. The funny thing is that years ago many of the films being screened might not have been particularly interesting but today it's so different and exciting to see an actual film print. Back in 1968 there were plenty of 35mm prints of 2001 around so what you saw could have been either a 35mm or a 70mm. 70mm on a Cinerama screen is the ultimate and that's still on my 2001 bucket list. Bradford still screen it occasionally but they're having rebuilding work done right now and that might take some time. John.
I've been lucky enough to see this three times on a Cinerama screen. The first was at the Coliseum Cinerama in Glasgow 50+ years ago, and I've since seen it twice on the Pictureville Cinerama screen in Bradford. It makes for an unforgetable experience. Great video btw. 👍
I saw it in Glasgow, before Star Wars I think
I still need to see 2001 at the Bradford Pictureville on the Cinerama screeen. Put a D:150 lens on a projector and stick Star Wars up there too then I'll be verrrrrrrrry happy. John.
Excellent video and kudos to Sven for his expertise as a projectionist.
I do wonder why the projection of the film has to be so complicated though. Why all the wheels, reels and cogs? It's mind boggling!
It's just to get the film into the projector and then to go through it without being damaged Adrian. It looks more complicated than it is but with a DTS reader at the top and then a Dolby Digital immediately after that (i.e. underneath) there are a lot more rollers than if it was just going through the original projector with optical or magnetic sound heads after the gate. The rollers that guide it from the cakestand/platter system are additions too because projectors are usually supplied with spool arms or spool boxes but cinemas tend to want to show multi-hour long films in one hit nowadays.
John.
@@moviecollector5920 Exactly. Once you've threaded a projector several times, it beings to be a lot less complicated. Still, one little mis-thread on a sprocket, or set the intermittent sprocket wrong, and you risk ruining thousands of feet of film.
@@motodork And I've nearly mis-threaded a couple of times around the sound cells on my new FP20 whilst getting used to it all so I check and check and check again before finally taking the plunge and firing it up. Always special to run a film though. John.
@@moviecollector5920 Oh don't even talk to me about projection mistakes. Back in 1990 when I was fresh at projection, I made a huge mistake. I needed to move a print from one booth to the other. When doing so, we were supposed to put four clips on the built-up film on the platter. I thought I was good enough to move it with only one clip. I managed to get the print to the other booth, but when lifting it up to place it on the platter, I dropped it. Thousands of feet of film spiraled onto the concrete floor. I didn't get fired, but I did learn humility and a valuable lesson.
@@motodork I would imagine tha sort of thing is a fairly common occurrence so you won't be alone. I've quite often nearly lost a core out of a 2000ft roll of 35mm when putting it into a split spool. I've been ensuring my rewinding is as tight as possible since that first time but still there are still occasions when it's just not quite tight enough. I've had Super 8 take-up arms seize and dump hundreds of feet onto the floor but that's easy to sort out compared to thousands of feet of 35mm. John.
2001 a Space odyssey is one of my absolute favorite sci-fi movies of all time. I saw this movie when it was new back in 1968 at the Riverside Theatre Downtown Milwaukee Wisconsin. I only have a 92" screen in my little theatre here at home. I play this movie VIA Blu-ray through a Panasonic PT-AE2000u projector with 6:1 sound through an Integra sound system. This is as good as it can be for me at home but this is absolutely nothing compared to the big movie theatre experience with 70mm film projection.
I need to have another look at the 4K disc now that I've seen how it looks as a 70mm print from the original negative but even at ten feet wide the home cinema experience just isn't the same when it comes to films like this. An undoubted masterpiece even if very few people could decipher it at all back in 1968. John.
It's funny when you mention deciphering the movie. My sister and I were sci-fi movie fans back then and we watched the film together in 1968. When we left the theatre we were both troubled trying to understand the meaning of the ending scenes. I bought the book and after I read it I finally came to a full understanding as to what the ending scenes were depicting. I enjoyed the sequel 2010 when that movie came out BUT I read the book before I saw the film.
@@HD7100 I think I read 2010 before seeing the film too. As for the ending of 2001, my interpretation is that Bowman is given a tour of eternity by the creator and taken back to the big bang before being absorbed or morphed into whatever eternal life or heaven is portrayed as by that hotel room. He is then last seen starting out again as some sort of messiah being sent to earth as a star child. It's all a load of nonsense but somehow I don't care. 2010 pretty much confirms my interpretation but others may disagree. Actually, I did a video about it a couple of years back so maybe I should watch that again myself now... then again, I don't like going back over old ground because I'm never entirely happy when I take a fresh look at something I did before. John.
I remember seeing this film when it came out, on a big Cinerama screen. It’s something that I’ll never forget!
I still hope to see it at the Bradford Cinerama one day Richard. John.
Fantastic behind the scenes mini doc of large format film projection. Thank you John, one of your most interesting videos I've seen. The technical knowledge needed to run and maintain this impressive projector and reels is stunning.
Cinemas need to get back to offering this sort of thing wherever possible Pete. It would remind people how much they used to enjoy going to the cinema and hopefully get them back as regulars even if most of what is screened is lower quality these days. John.
Love these behind the scenes videos all about the process of projection. Fuels my interest in projection and makes me want to get involved myself.
It's a slippery slope though Stuart. I'm not thinking about how a DP70 dual gauge 35mm/70mm machine can be fitted in here! Oh dear! John.
I don`t know what to say, this was incredible to see and it is indeed an art. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing this, many thanks.
Glad you liked it. I rather enjoyed putting this video together which considering I didn't know I was going to shoot it turned out rather well. I only had an action camera and my phone to shoot with which isn't ideal but it worked out rather well. John.
In the late 1970s I ran 2001 in 70mm - reel to reel with carbon arc lamps. The house was packed and the image flawless. There were two projectionists in the booth as the Union required when we ran 70mm.
Wonderful memories. Thank you for sharing them. Just a shame no one shot some film at the time. Super 8 Kodachrome would have been a nice souvenir of that historic occasion today. John.
Really great video!
I went to see 2001 a week or so ago at the Cineworld in Nottingham as part of their sci-fi season. It wasn't 70mm unfortunately but it was still a fantastic experience. I love that it still has an intermission as part of the print :)
Although I've seen the film many times now and it's undeniably a masterpiece, the last act still boggles my mind.
The main thing is to see 2001 on a huge screen. But it's a shame so many cinemas can't run film any longer because there are so many great, dual gauge (35mm and 70mm) projectors available out there in the world. Put 2001 on in 70mm and the house would fill. Interstellar is the same for those three cinemas in Britain still able to screen 15/70mm. And bring back the intermission for all films/movies over two hours please!
John.
Wonderful video John. As I've told you before on a couple of previous occasions, you folks in London are so spoiled with all the offerings you have in terms of movie theater quality and diversity.
I've never had the oppourtunity to watch 2001 in 70 mm; sad as it's my favorite sci-fi movie and a true masterpiece on every level. The last movie I watched in 70 mm was Nolan's Oppenheimer and that was a special screening at Montreal's premier downtown cineplex theather. They dusted off their old 70 mm projector for that special occasion.
Before Oppenheimer, I don't even remember what movie I last watched in 70 mm. One very memorable screening in 70 mm I had the pleasure to watch in the early 90s was David Lean's epic masterpiece "Lawrence of Arabia" (my all time favorite movie). The premier movie theater in town had obtained a 70 mm print for a couple of weeks and I made sure not to miss it. Movies on film are no longer projected on a regular basis in theaters in this city or on an irregular basis for that matter.
There are still six genuine IMAX cinemas in Canada Jesus. It's a big country though so if there isn't one in Montreal it might require a flight to get to one to see a genuine 15/70 print. Many have standard 70mm too though so it might be worth checking out. 2001 isn't the best 70mm I've seen but it is still fantastic. John.
70mm screening of Lawrence of Arabia… lucky you
@@spaceodds1985 Ben Wales actually screened a reel of Lawrence of Arabia in 70mm for us at a BFCC some years ago. Sensational. John.
Caught the 2018 unrestoration in San Francisco a few weeks ago. What an experience! Thanks for the behind the scenes look :)
I've been hoping to see this print for years Michael but my visits to London have always failed to coincide with a screening until last weekend. John.
@@moviecollector5920 so glad you were able to see it!!
That nice projectionist wasn't paid enough. 😜 Seriously, SO glad you we're able to witnesss and film this very rare cinephile experience. Whoever helped you record this video deserves the highest honor!
@@kevinturner4936 That was wifey Kevin. She's been assistant cameraman for 17 years now so she's pretty well trained. This was a first though as I wasn't expecting to shoot a video so only had an action camera with me and my phone. Wifey was handed the phone which we've never used to shoot anything before. John.
Amazing video, and is just like you said, is the Art of Cinema and proyect this kind of film, either in 35mm or 70mm is a work of art inself. Great video as usual, and 2001 is one of my favorites movies. I wish here in my country (Argentina) have a 35 or 70, but all the mayor cinemas are digital, even IMAX. Only a few has the analog proyection, sutch a shame...
Over here quite a number of cinemas have put film projectors back in Christian. They tend to find that it entices a general audience back in through the doors rather than today's youngster driven demographic.
John.
@@moviecollector5920 Yes... you got lucky! I hope some day go there and saw an autentic 70mm or 35mm again. Thanks for the reply.
That's great you got to see a classic movie in that format. I occasionally look for opportunities near me to see classic films on the big screen, since I wasn't around to see them originally in the theater. I have a trip coming up in April to go see 1989 Batman on the big screen with a full orchestra playing Danny Elfman's score along with it! I've wanted to attend a movie concert for a few years now. It's a dream of mine to see Amadeus (my favorite movie) in concert one day. That was fascinating how much goes into projecting a film like that. That platter was huge! Never crossed my mind how large a reel of film of that size would end up being. Is a film in that format normally stored as one giant reel or does it get divided into several reels? I'm not familiar with how film is normally handled.
If you think that film print is big take a look at my OPPENHEIMER IMAX video from the projection box at the BFI IMAX. It's a slightly longer film than 2001 but every image is 15 sprockets rather than 5. The speed genuine IMAX runs at is quite frightening when you're not prepared for it at first.
I tend to only got to a cinema now when I know there's a film print being screened. Too many disappointments with video projection rather killed my interest. But it's great to be able to get to see films occasionally with an audience even if I don't get to do it very often. I expect to be frequenting the Prince Charles a lot more from now on.
Good luck with Batman. I hope that's going to be a film print but I doubt it.
John.
This would be a dream, maybe even a bucket list accomplishment for me: Watching my all time favorite film in all its 70mm glory in a movie theater. I envy you sir for partaking in it’s viewing 😂
They screen this print quite often Pedro. Maybe one day I'll meet you there. John.
@@moviecollector5920That would definitely worth the trip as I reside in south Florida. But I’m glad more and more people are appreciative of keeping these films alive.
Hey John, this was wonderful. I used to live in Brussels next to the Kinepolis which was the largest cinema in the world. Every summer they used to have a 70mm film season that showed a different film each week. All. 600 seats were always sold out. of course 2001: A Space odyssey was part of the program and it was magical. My friend had never seen the film before which made it an even more fun evening. On a side note I also managed to get into the British Premiere of Full Metal Jacket in London in the presence of Stanley himself!
Wonderful memories Rob. Maybe you should name your own home cinema the Kinepolis as that seems fitting now that you've reminded me you used to live there. I still want to see 2001 in Cinerama before my 2001 bucket list is complete but it hasn't been scheduled at the Bradford Widescreen Weekend over the past two years so I haven't bothered venturing up there. Hopefully this year. As for the premiere of Full Metal Jacket in the presence of the Jedi Grand Master Kubrick, why didn't you get me a ticket?!?
John.
I tried so hard to get you a ticket, but you didn't answer your cell phone @@moviecollector5920
This projector is extremely similar to the 35mm projectors I used to run at the theater I worked at over 20 years ago! Wow, so many nostalgic feelings watching him thread up the projector!
If you took any photos in the projection box and around the cinema then you should do a video about it. Or maybe include it in something else sometime. John.
Noticed the Tommy Wiseau event advertised, made me chuckle..
Seriously though, 2001 is my favourite film. I had no idea they screen it so regularly in 70mm. I *have* to see that one day. I've only ever seen it digitally.
I live all the way in Greater Manchester and I rarely travel. I've only been to London once for Just a few hours.. but this absolutely gives me a reason to make a trip there.
Take a look at the Travelodge web site. The Covent Garden (Drury Lane) is less than ten minutes walk away in the West End but it can be quite pricey. The Waterloo Traelodge is over the bridge past the BFI IMAX (another place that still screens film as do the NFT which is part of the BFI complex there) . Waterloo isn't such a nice location but I think we prefer that hotel now and it's usually quite a bit cheaper. Ten minutes walk back to Waterloo Bridge and once you're over that (having taken in the best view of London or perhaps any city in the world) then you're back in the West End. National Express coach will drop you off in Victoria which is only a 25 minute walk to Waterloo Bridge or to Leicester Square.
Alternatively, keep an eye on the Bradford Pictureville because eventually they will surely screen a 70mm of 2001 on their Cinerama screen which is still on my bucket list.
John.
@@moviecollector5920 As luck would have it, my friend and I have managed to book tickets and a b&b at a reasonable price..
Also, according to the cinema, this is the 'unrestored' version, which was overseen by Christopher Nolan in 2018.
Technically it is a restoration, but it was made using an entirely analogue process, with no digital work at all, which is why it was dubbed 'unrestored.'
It was done around the same time as the 50th anniversary, but isn't the same version.
The 50th anniversary version used some digital restoration and is the version on the 4k.
The thing is, because both were being made around the same time, it confused people.
Bet that looks glorious. I like to think if Kubrick was alive he'd still be meticulously supervising all these screenings by phone from Hertfordshire. Now it's all up to the fans, better them than any suit at Warner Bros, anyway. Lovely video, MC, always interesting!
Seeing 2001 in 70mm is high on my bucket list.
I've been hoping to get to see this print for years now but it's never on when we're in London. We stopped to look at what was on last Friday and eureka, it was being screened on Sunday evening and we would be in town again. The print's beautiful but some would balk at some of the negative damage. I loved seeing all that but there's nowhere near as much as I expected. John.
What an experience that would be... going on my to do list. Thanks for sharing John 👍
I still want to see it on a Cinerama screen in 70mm so that's the next one to tick off the bucket list for me. Why is it I never tire of this particular film? John.
I got to see a 35mm screening of "2001" 10 years ago.
The Price Charles Theater seems like my dream haven as a dyed-in-the-wool cinephile AND as a former film projectionist. Looking at their daily film schedules @ 0:08, I can tell it's clearly a place made for those like me.
You and me both Jack. I can see I'm going to be spending a lot more time in there in the future. More trips to London coming up! John.
Absolutely fascinating John, Thank you 👍🏻
You're welcome Gary. Rather enjoyable to shoot this one and then put it together. John.
The Prince Charles is magnificent. Went there for the first time in November to see a 70 mm Interstellar print. Thanks for the great video!
They've still got that 70mm print Diego. Next time get over the bridge to see it in 15/70 though because that will be even more impressive. But do keep frequenting the Prince Charles. They are probably the greatest advocate for film in the UK today but the National Film Theatre would probably disagree with me there. John.
I screened 2001 (back to back with 2010) in 35mm back in the mid/late 1980s, also on a horizontal platter. I watched the 50th anniversary 70mm print in Vancouver BC. I bought the 4K BD when it came out and I still love watching it.
My first 4K copy of 2001 developed the 4K fault so I've had to purchase another copy. Haven't opened it yet but I'm sure this one will survive. I've come across six 4K's with the fault so far out of about 300 discs but I haven't checked them all since I discovered the problem about two years ago. I do have a Super 8 copy of 2001 so whatever happens I'll always be able to watch it somehow but nothing beats a 70mm print... unless it's on a Cinerama screen but that's the last item on my 2001 bucket list to cross off.
John.
Wow that's so cool. I would gladly pay to see 2001 a few times in 70mm if only it was playing somewhere close to me like that. I'm so envious of the people who got to do that. The passage of time seems to have no effect on the relevance of Kubrick's films.
They're running 2001 quite a few times at the moment and apparently they do this about every three months. I think that is so they can keep that precious pre-restoration print on site. If you can do a trip to London any time then you'll just need to make sure it coincides with when the print is scheduled for a screening. Evenings at weekends will be best because then there will be a packed house full of people who love the film. We all laughed at some of HAL's lines whereas I can't imagine that happened back in 1968. John.
Evening John,great video,brings back great memories...my oldest friend is the head projectionist at my local cinema...loved seeing the film on platters,and of course the sound of it running threw the projector....😀
If I can coincide a London trip in the future I'll see if I can hang around in the box to actually get shots of the film running at various points. Can't show the screen, might get away with glimpses of it in the corner of the frame occasionally, but it has got to be done sometime. This pre-restoration print still being shown in the West End is a piece of history in itself. John.
@moviecollector5920 Well looking forward to whenever you get that video done John 🙂
Now I live back in Australia I have fond memories of seeing "Casablanca" at the PRINCE CHARLES CINEMA, LONDON when I was living in London...and regularly visting Leicester Square with friends...
I used to be in Leicester Square so often too Michael. My wife and I virtually lived in The Empire on Friday evenings to the point we called the two seats we always booked our private seats. That was back in the 1990's though when cinema was special. The Prince Charles is probably helping to keep the memories alive of the days when cinema was an event to look forward to. John.
I would love to revisit my youth and see proper films on the big screen particularly in 70mm. I remember my parents coming home from the theatre in 68 after having seen 2001 and mom describing some of it to me. I did see some movies at the drive-in that year like Planet Of The Apes, Hammers The Lost Continent, My Side Of The Mountain, The Split, Shalako and Machine Gun McCain and as a movie buff already at the age of seven I watched the entire films in amazement. Years later in 79 I would see Apocalypse Now in 70mm, wow that was an experience and also that same year at the same theatre saw the re release (now that I was old enough) of The Exorcist and also Alien, also throughout the 70's saw Enter The Dragon, Jaws, Star Wars, The Deer Hunter, Dawn Of The Dead, Halloween, most of the Cronenberg films and most of the De Palma films, John Carpenters The Thing in 82 etc etc. I have very special memories but in todays world I do not belong what with Hollywood what it is and young audiences of today more engrossed in their I Phones than any movie I will never see another movie in a theatre however film festivals like this one in London would attract film buffs and do the right thing and show the right films. Cheers
Robert, you and I are made of very similar ingredients. But there are occasionally new films/videos worth going to see in a cinema. Genuine IMAX films are few and far between but if you can get to a genuine IMAX theatre when they're running a 15/70 then they're always worthwhile. TENET was three and a half years ago and I don't know of any others until OPPENHEIMER but because of the success of the latter there may well be more film makers pressing for the budget and top cameramen to make their films in the biggest format. As for the Prince Charles, they simply book loads of films and fill the schedule every day. It is just like a non-stop film festival. Not all are screened on film but a big percentage are and I think it's just wonderful. The National Film Theatre is only about a mile and a half away and they too screen lots of film prints. The BFI IMAX is down there too and that's probably one of the world's top cinemas now. About four miles west just past Harrods is the Science Museum with the Ronson Theatre IMAX and they too screen genuine 15/70 IMAX. London still has some real/reel film cinemas.
John.
Outstanding deep dive into large format projection. Thank you John.
Thank you Red. It's always interesting to see how a real cinema gets this great films on screen. John.
Great video John. But I do have to add a couple of caveats to 'your views'; Having the luxury of showing this landmark film in 70mm is indeed special and a privalege these days but for that screening to be in a relatively small auditorium and screen sort of negates the need for a large format print, I wouldn't use the term 'enjoy' when experiencing defects of wear and tear in a print - inevitable with physical prints (at best it's nostalgic), for cinemas to get back to celluloid screenings is a none starter because of costs, logistics and audience expectations (no more likely than a major re-introduction of steam railway services, the horse & cart or film based stills photography. Those film enthusiast audiences you speak of (and I include myself in that category) can appreciate the art of good projection at film festivals or the few cinemas like The Prince Charles (which I have been too many years ago), Pictureville in Bradford or the Electric in Birmingham but it's NEVER going to be the norm again (nor should it be), any more than 8mm or 16mm home prints replacing digital media (DVD, Blu-Ray and 4K).
I agree Siddique but the occasional screening in cinemas that can reinstall or still had the foresight to keep their film projectors will help to generate audiences and revitalize the industry. I do have another idea that I hope to talk about later this year but it depends on getting to a home cinema that has kept the format. It will work with video and would offer something different to what people can realistically do at home. As for this being a pre-restoration print, that was what enticed me because it's not from a dupe negative or anything else. This means the original image quality is there despite the odd mark and obvious repair to a torn frame going through a few times during the screening. I was expecting it to be a bit knackered but there was surprisingly little damage compared to what I was anticipating. The screen isn't the biggest but quality is quality and as much as I'd like there to be room for a 70 foot screen in there it still looked stunning on their more modest sized screen.
John.
My all-time favorite movie. I have seen it in 70mm three times at the local Fox Theatre, which is an amazing venue to watch a movie or play. And yes, it was packed each time.
There aren't many films that can pack a cinema out on a Sunday evening Henri. 2001 on 70mm is one of them. John.
I was privileged to see 2001 in a cinema in Stevenage around 1993-94 and I’d already watched the film a dozen times at home. Of course in the cinema it was an entirely different experience. This insight into the projection room almost fills me with fear: it seems such a complex and fragile process, with machinery that seems ancient and impossible to fathom. Thank God the likes of Sven exist! A great video John 👍🏻
Some film projectors that were taken out in the big downgrade in 2011 had been in use since the 1920's. Yes, they have had just about all the moving parts replaced (probably several times), the lamps had been upgraded, myriad sound readers for whatever came next, superior lenses and all sorts of other upgrades, maintenance and enhancements but the point is that film projectors went on forever. Video projectors do not and the costs to the cinemas can be the breaking point. This is why so many are operating on sub-standard machinery now and accelerating the demise of the once great industry. Why pay to see a video that looks poor in a cinema when you can wait a few months and see it on superior equipment at home? Film is not fragile and what looks to be a complicated process to get a film on screen is all part of the art and showmanship of cinema. We've almost lost that but for those like Svein who love what they do, it's second nature to them. It would take a while to learn so that you could be trusted enough to operate on your own but with experienced projectionists like Svein around to train new recruits it shouldn't take too long to learn the ropes. I don't know enough but I'm able to screen 35mm prints at home okay.
John.
Always amazes me the complexity to the process of what is watching a movie (when it comes to film). No doubt the people skilled in it, everything will all make sense where the film is being routed to etc but for the layman all the rollers and different machine sections (that all serve a purpose i'm sure) its baffling/impressive 😲
Edit: I'm further along in the video and see you explained some of them. Still mightily impressive.
It is baffling Bob but the more you get into it the more logical it all becomes. I'm currently learning all about the nuances of getting my Kinoton FP20 to handle Dolby Digital sound correctly. I started from a position of complete ignorance and now I'm slightly less ignorant! But I have shot video of every step of the way so I may do a Movie Collector video of it all if I ever get it fully sorted. John.
Love these well presented mini documentaries you do, your iMAX being my favourite. I had no idea how much preparation, maintenance, skill and knowledge goes into film projection, so thank you! I'm now far more keen to start going back to the cinema knowing the innerworkings, so maybe see you at the London BFI iMAX one day, and a chinwag pint after, cheers...
I'm hoping to get to the IMAX for the 15/70 blow up print of DUNE 2 but I'd like to be able to shoot the print running through in the box too so I'm hoping Michael suggests we do something similar as that last IMAX projection box video. The print won't be on a par with genuine IMAX prints but I'm sure it will be worth the effort and the cost of admission to see it filling that huge screen. John.
@@moviecollector5920 Bet that's going to be good, and a double bill of DUNE 1 & 2 would be even better, but long. Godzilla x Kong with a March 29 release is supposed to be IMAX... looking forward to that!
I saw a 70mm print on an IMAX screen about 25 years ago. It was an incredible experience. Especially after having only ever seen it on a VHS tape on a 19” TV
Well done Julian. At the BFI that would have been 85 feet wide so I'd go for that for sure. John.
Damn, I'm sorry I missed this. As an enthusiastic but callow 14 yr old I saw the original screening at the Casino Cinerama in London in 1968.
It blew my mind, like it must have many other impressionable youngsters.
I've seen it zillions of times since, mostly on DVD or Blu-ray, but memorably at the NFT in the late 90s when they screened the then newly restored, Getty-funded print.
In the audience was Stanley Kubrick's widow Suzanne Christian. The mega-surprise guest speaker was a sadly frail, wheelchair-bound Arthur C Clarke himself.
Both of those screenings were quite special: I hope this new print lives up to them.
The audio on the Getty print had been digitised, I think. It didn't have quite the special depth of a magnetic soundtrack.
This 70mm print is the 50th anniversary release but from the original negative (or what we left of it by then because there must surely be some dupe sequences after so many prints struck directly from it). It doesn't have the magnetic tracks I'm afraid. John.
😢
Technically, they're still showing it. There are still a fair few showings, with the last one being on the 7th of March.
And they screen it every few months anyway.
😊
2001 on 70mm is always an event. I watched it on 70mm for the first time here in Oslo in 1996. It was unfortunately a quite damaged print. I watched the same print once more in 2007. But in 2017, 2018 and 2023 I got to experience a pristine 70mm print. To experience it at The Prince Charles Cinema is definitely on my bucket list.
This is a pre-restoration print Marius so you probably would see all the same damage. But I wanted to see it because it proves the print has been struck from the original negative. Despite the odd repaired frame and other odd scrapes and marks here and there, I can look through that and appreciate the beautiful image in all its glory. I must look at the 4K again sometime but I don't recall it looking as good as this. It came from the restored negative so that shouldn't be a surprise. John.
@@moviecollector5920 It's not as much restored vs unrestored. The problem with the print I saw in 1996 and 2007 was several bright green stripes from top to bottom on the left side of the screen. These were visible for almost the whole movie.
From my experience even decades old 70mm prints offer an unique viewing experience. The odd scratch or damaged frame is but a minor distraction.
Thanks for putting this up John, what a treat. Someone commented that they travelled from Manchester to watch this screening, i know how that feels, I may add I’m from Manchester and after watching your BFI videos, I travelled from Manchester one weekend to watch Oppenheimer at the BFI Imax 70mm print , Odeon Leicester 70mm print on their scope screen, and the Cineworld Imax 4K, all in a space of 2 days, yes I watched it twice in one day!!! But I got a great feel for the film and the 3 cinemas, suffice to say avoid the Cineworld Imax in Leicester Square, unless you have no choice and are desperate to see a movie.
If I lived in or around London I’d be in The Prince Charles every week 😅
I only managed to stop outside and take a photo of the venue on my last visit, think they had posters up for Serpico, True Romance and Interstellar if I remember correctly.
Thanks again for uploading this, it’s got the old cogs turning in my head planning a visit to fit this venue in the coming months.
That Cineworld is actually The Empire Talat and as far as I'm concerned that was once the greatest cinema in the world. I know it's the terminal decline of cinema in general that forced it into the multiplex it is today but I can't go in it. I used to spend so much time in there but it's too upsetting to even consider seeing the butchered remains. I wish them well though and live in hope that cinema will be revitalized and we can once again have great auditoriums like The Empire once was. Today that butchered remaining rear of the original auditorium is apparently the biggest seating capacity in a British cinema at about only 730 or something. That confirms what I've long been suspecting about the state of cinema.
The Manchester Printworks is a genuine IMAX so they were the third cinema in the UK to be able to screen OPPENHEIMER. The Prince Charles has one of the six 35mm prints in the country so that would be an interesting watch but I don't think I want to see anything but a 15/70 print and with that fabulous BFI IMAX sound system too. But I do expect to be frequenting the Prince Charles a lot more now I know it's a real cinema with showmen in the projection box.
John.
@@moviecollector5920 Yes John, I totally empathise with your sentiments. Although im glad that we can go to a local Cineworld and watch a movie, I can’t but cringe when I sit in a seat and see the image is not centred and aligned properly to fit the screen, you can see masking within the screen and over spill on other parts of the screen, then there’s the sound which they feel has to be turned up to 11 on the dial to give a movie going experience, it’s LOUD and often distorted.
I’m a stone throw from Bradford and unfortunately the Pictureville is also temporarily closed due to an RAAC investigation, apparantly there was crumbling concrete which they are looking to repair fingers crossed. Bradford winning the city of culture bid for 2025 is undergoing and seeing a major overhaul in the centre. The old Odeon opposite the Alhambra has been totally gutted and renovated to be a multi faceted entertainment hall. That was originally a huge cinema with a circle. A cinema I frequented in my youth as well as the huge Odeon in Manchester which was sadly completely demolished as it was deemed unsafe having been left derelict for years. One of my greatest memories was watching Misery with a hall full of students in the one of the largest theatres in the land back in the day. The students made this showing so memorable with ooooos and aaaaaaaas and gasps of horror and roars of laughter, the cheers that went up at the climax when the No.1 fan” gets her duly deserved!! My best movie experience ever, a truly memorable viewing thanks in part to a great audience.
I agree, the Printworks in Manchester is great, but even on the back row, I’m just a little too close for comfort for my eyes, as opposed to the back row at the BFI which was the best screen and sound I’ve encountered and seating was perfect. The Odeon Leicester Square was excellent too for sound and scope picture. The manager upgraded me to the best seat in the house, which happened to be his seat, when I told him that I’d come from Manchester for the viewing. That gesture made my trip!!
Hope to bump into you one day at the Prince Charles 😊
I saw "2001" projected in Cinerama at Loewes in NYC (the last film ever presented at this historic theater). It was amazing, even though the audience was pretty baffled at the time. It wasn't like usual roadshow films, which were generally action spectacles.
I still want to see it in Cinerama Richard and apparently it was screened on the Cinerama screen at the Pictureville in Bradford over here in February last year so I need to keep a closer eye on their web site in future. John.
@@moviecollector5920 I only got to see "real" Cinerama when it was showning in Dayton. They had the 3-strip "How The West Was Won". Even with its flaws, it was an out of body experience :)
@@moviecollector5920 Even its 70mm form, Cinerama was a spectacular way to see a movie (The 3-strip, for all its flaws, still suprasses anything we have today.)
20 yrs in the projection room. Tears watching this.
I bet you've got some stories to tell! John.
Wow John looks like I need to start getting myself to the Prince Charles Theatre and start witnessing some of these film prints. Especially a 70mm print of 2001: A Space Odyssey.
Great video as always my friend.
Trev
I think I'll be spending a lot more time there in the future too Trev. The 70mm prints are normally struck from the original negatives so they should be the primary aim to see there but it will be nice to see some 35mm general release prints in an old school cinema again and on a fairly big screen too. Just having stylish tabs across the screen makes such a difference to the overall impression so the Prince Charles will certainly be getting my custom at every excuse.
John.
@@moviecollector5920 let me know next time you're going and I'll try and join you.
Trev
@@doublebillmovies That's a good idea. Just got your message by the way. I was on the other line. Call you shortly. John.
Brilliant Video John , nice to see a Victoria 8 projector showing 70mm again😊
Thank you Michael. I wouldn't mind doing something similar with the DUNE sequel. Know anyone getting a 15/70 print?
I was surprised how compact that Vic8 is. The lamp house seemed quite petite too but certainly bright enough.
John.
fascinating stuff, I really fancy attending a screening one day.
unrelated but I just watched the Korean film, Celine Song's 'PAST LIVES' the other day and I cannot recommend it enough. I hope you find time to see it if you haven't already. A beautiful and very touching film. 5 stars!
I will keep a lookout for PAST LIVES now you've recommended it. I doubt I'll see it in a cinema though as I'd have to seek out a film print as I don't bother with video in cinemas and haven't for years now. But a 4K disc at home would be nice because I make them look like film. Cinemas don't seem able to do that. Not any I ever went to anyway. John.
ANOTHER EXCELLENT VIDEO. I LOVE THAT WE GET TO SEE BEHIND THE SCENES. SO THANKYOU SIR
Afternoon Sky. I think this is the first video I've uploaded since you created the Super 8 projector animation that I haven't used it on the ending. The truth is that it was a mistake and once I noticed it was all up on CZcams and ready to go. I decided I quite liked the opening tosh I put on the front at the end in this instance so I left it there rather than go through the whole rigmarole again. Normal service will be resumed in the next video!
John.
My favourite Kubrick movie...
Well said! John.
Film is a hands on process from the creation of the camera film to reeling the projector there has been hands on the film, digital removes that tactile touching of such an art format...
That's largely how I feel about it too Doric. You can always tell when a film is on screen - it simply looks more natural. And it doesn't tend to hurt your eyes by being far too bright. John.
Your content is sublime. Thank you, sir
Thank you Pork Chop. I shot a video in HMV, Oxford Street so that's COMING SOON. It was like going back in time returning to that great store. John.
Brilliant video. It sounds the place to be watching 2001 . In 1968 my Late Dad saw 2001 in Liecster Square. I am going to join Prince Charles cinema. Thanks for the link .
I'd still like to see 2001 in Cinerama Johnyy so keep an eye out on the Bradford Pictureville web site too just in case they put the Cinerama screen in place sometime. There annual widescreen festival (October I think) is the likely time if they ever do schedule it for a screening. John.
Another wonderful video of one of your field trips, thank you. Looked simple though compared to the IMAX film set up.
I do quite a bit of work down the road in Mayfair and would like to watch a 35mm or 70mm in the Prince Charles but there’s nothing on when I’m staying down there.
Had an odd one today, took my little boy to see “Migration” at my local Vue in Southport and there was no BBFC black card but an IFCO Irish one. I’m going to make some enquiries and make a video on it. Kind regards, Dave
I tell you what Dave, there were fully made up 35mm prints in every spare space around the projection box. One of them was one of the six 35mm prints of OPPENHEIMER but there is also a 70mm print of INTERSTELLAR too. I think I'm going to be visiting the Prince Charles quite often in the future.
I'll be interested to learn why MIGRATION had an Irish certification on the front. Something appears to have gone wrong somewhere there but I suppose it was a video projection and the wrong file had been downloaded. Whoops!
John.
@@moviecollector5920 good old Vue got back to me to confirm Migration is a “U”, not the “PG” it is in Ireland. Best wishes, Dave
@@loftlegacy They didn't explain why there was an Irish certification on the front though. That may always remain a mystery. John.
I had considered contacting The Prince Charles Cinema for a booth tour but now that you’ve uploaded this excellent video John I think I’ve seen what I needed to.
Thank you. 🙏🏻
It did turn out okay. I only had an action camera in my pocket and my phone as I wasn't expecting to be doing a shoot anywhere. We just happened to be passing and saw it was on. Mind you, I always take a look whenever we're in town. John.
Hi John. For some reason my reply to you pinning my comment isn't being added, so hopefully it shows here. Thanks very much for pinning my comment! Pictureville is keeping going for now by screening films at The Studio Theatre, part of The Alhambra Theatre across the road from the National Media Museum. I haven't seen any advertised as showing on film prints. Having seen the 70mm projector I think it's too heavy and impractical to move to there. They do have a 35mm in the museum's Cubby Broccoli Cinema, which I haven't seen, so if that's more portable they may be able to use that at The Studio. As noted, the Museum is due to reopen on an unspecified date in the Summer, as apparently its not affected by RAAC as Pictureville is. And was due to open anyway after a year of grant funded improvements. No real details on those but it's a sizeable injection and so hopefully includes if not the reuse/restoration of the 70mm IMAX projector then the upgrade of their Digital IMAX projector (currently a not very impressive 2K). The Museum is part of the same group as The Science Museum in Kensington, who have an Imax 70mm (that has played host recently to Nolan screenings, and Imax 70mm prints of Blade Runner and 2001), so hopefully they can lean into them for any help and in sourcing prints. The 35mm will also be in use when they reopen. Although the Cinerama is closed (it was until then the only publicly accessible one in the world), you can still subscribe to the Pictureville mailing list and they'll email you with weekly listings. Special screenings such as Cinerama ones will generally be mentioned in the title of the email. So hopefully you don't miss their next Cinerama screening of 2001 or any 70mm or 35mm/70mm Cinerama ones.
The way comments sometimes disappear is nonsensical at times. Sometimes they turn up in the 'Held For Review' section but not very often. I must remember to look in there more regularly than I do though so I'll check in a minute.
Are you sure the Ronson Theatre in the Science Museum had IMAX prints of Blade Runner and 2001 because I thought they were video projections and therefore didn't interest me. A film print of Blade Runner would be too tempting even thought it would only be a blow-up from the original 35mm negative but that would still be better than any projection of a digital video file. We can all do that!
I did put my name on the Pictureville email list but nothing ever came through. Story of my life!
John.
@@moviecollector5920 I don't understand it either, John. It works most of the time but sometimes it doesn't. I even tried adding again on a different browser, but no luck. I was planning to go to The Science Museum screenings but had to drop out as some other things came up. As such I wasn't able to judge for myself. I do remember both films being stated on the Science Museum website as screening in IMAX 70mm. Some internet digging reveals that when Nolan oversaw the 2018 release not only were some 70mm prints struck as were in 1968 but he also oversaw Blowups to IMAX 70mm. Which fits with what the Science Museum were saying they had and a Forbes article about the screenings at the museum does as well. The same article says about Blade Runner that although The Science Museum website said it was an IMAX 70mm screening, they then issued a correction as it was actually screening on the Museum's Dual Laser IMAX Projector, and the original message was a mistake. It seems I saw that original message on the website before they amended it. Further internet digging can't reveal that Blade Runner has ever had a IMAX 70mm Blowup and that the 2017 release was instead Digital IMAX only. The highest quality film release remains the 1982 70mm Blowup. Oh that's strange about the mailing list, I get it emailed every week. Although the Pictureville is closed, once it reopens I'll put it in a comment on your latest video then, and as soon as I see a Cinerama screening of 2001 (or any Cinerama film since there's literally only one place in the world you can see them now) I'll post a comment stating that.
I ❤ The PCC. I wish I lived closer because I'd go all the time. It's probably £70 for a round trip, so I only go occasionally. I did take a trip to see 2001 and it was a fantastic experience. I'll definitely go again in the near future
I expect to be visiting the Prince Charles more in the future too Matthew. I would like to spend more time in London but it's just not quite the same place it was a few years ago and with cinemas disappearing or being split into multiple screens... well, you get the picture. But at least there are a couple of real (reel?) cinemas left there. John.
Hi John! 'it's like a non stop film festival every day' well said reminds me of field of dreams 'if they screen it we will come' hahah thanks for this . Did a day pause for this vid for Sat morn here so I had time to really focus givin the subject today John as I enjoy the Kubrick deep dives. To date (I can't complain) I've missed the big screen plays of Space Odyssey here as it comes on once in a while at the Kevin Smith funded Rio theatre in Vancouver so still have to make it there when it does come on but today really enjoyed sharing your time in the booth. With my whistle wet this morn for cinema i'll be attempting to have my missus join me with the 4k tonight if possible. Hope you have a great weekend across the pond and my best to all the great subscribers here. D in BC! Oh and a small ps.. you mentioned (i think) the dts 6 channel sound to go along with the print? I may of missed something does the disc play to go along with the film or was that just a back up. Ie the sound is still with the film....? Gonna rewatch this thanks John Cheers D!
I don't know how many times I've watched 2001 over the years Dave but I've run my Super 8 print so often that I can't even guess the number of times it's run through the projectors. But to see a 70mm print struck from the original camera negative (or what remained of it when this was struck for the 50th anniversary of the film) was far too tempting. There's not much that gets me into a cinema these days but a 70mm print of a great film always will, even if I have seen that film 100 times before. The DTS discs are downloaded into the DTS player and stored on hard drive. They only ever have to stick those CD-ROM's back in if the file on the DTS player ever gets deleted or corrupted in some way. I doubt that's ever happened. I have the DTS discs for my 35mm print of Star Trek X here so I might have to sort out the DTS reader and player just so I can give it a try. This film lark is addictive... or a disease! But I've always found it so damned interesting so there's no helping me now.
John.
Excellent presentation! Go Kodak Film!
Thank you Leif. I didn't spot the boxes of Kodak Vision film when I was in the projection box (these can be seen in the background when Svein is holding up the CD-Rom's containing the 2001 DTS soundtrack), only saw them when I was editing the video together. I wonder what is in them. John.
I also saw the 50th 70mm print, but my event was at the famed Castro Theater in San Francisco back in 2018, known for classic and revival film screenings as it is a 100 year old theater now. The theater featured an live organist performance before every screening, no matter what played (also saw the 40th restoration of 'Touch of Evil' here). It is actually going through a major restoration as I write this and has been owned by the same Nasser family since 1922. Still, I agree with you about the Cinerama experience; it would be the ultimate way to experience '2001: A Space Odyssey' - or, as they billed it 56 years ago: "The Ultimate Trip!"
That's my one remaining 2001 bucket list item - to see it at the Bradford Cinerama (Pictureville). They haven't shown it for a few years now though, damn it! John.
@@moviecollector5920 I frankly don't know where/how they would show it properly anymore; Cinerama demands the curved ultra-wide screen (150 degrees?). Los Angeles has the Cinedome still (where I saw Back to the Future III in its premiere run).
@@RenePeraza I believe the Cineramadome is now closed so unless someone has stepped in to save it then that's finished. We still have the Pictureville in Bradford over here but they don't put the Cinerama screen in very often any longer, once a year for the long weekend widescreen festival only as far as I know. They haven't scheduled 2001 in that festival for at least the past two years, damn it! I think a D:150 presentation of 2001 would be just the same but I don't think there's a single cinema left with the requisite lens or the screen... but there is one enthusiast I know with it in his home cinema. John.
Such an interesting video, John, it's amazing how much work goes into setting one of these machines up. It made me laugh when he said, "we don't own the film but we use it so often we don't send it back." Brilliant, and such a classic movie, it looks fantastic on 4K.
I think this is why it gets screened every three months Sin Gin. Longer than that and the distributor might insist it gets returned after each set of screenings. Better to keep it in the safest place and being seen for as long as possible. John.
This is the one time I wish I lived down south near "that there London." I can only imagine how good 2001 looked.
If they ever put it on in Bradford on the Cinerama screen Andrew, I'll see you there! John.
Hi John, Another great Video. beautiful rock steady image on the Vic 8. It's unusual to see a Vic 8 without a turret. Do you know when they took out the DP75. Good to see a keen projectionisrt taking charge of the valuable 70mm print, and then screening it with all the love and attention this movie commands. Really enjoyed your video. Thank you. All the best. Spoolbox.
Thank you Fred. I was in Berlin earlier at a cinema on the fifth floor of an apartment block... or maybe I'm confusing reality with a Spoolbox video! That was an education as ever. The future for cinemas in Britain perhaps with the way it's been going.
I don't know when the DP75 was taken out. I was surprised how compact that Victoria 8 with the Cinemeccanica lamp housing was. What a beautiful machine. Possibly even more compact than the Kinoton FP20 and 30 machines so I might have had the room for a Vic 8 instead.
John.
I was lucky to see 2001 in the 1970s on the huge Cinerama screen at the Casino Cinerama Theatre in Old Compton Street in London's West End. Originally a theatre the screen extended off the stage as far as it could go both left and right. Now that was an experience. Not long after the Casino closed it went back to being the Prince Edward Theatre and Evita started its London run there. You will now have to go to Bradford and the Pictureville cinema at the National Science and Media Museum to see it on an original Cinerama screen, the only one in the UK. They also run original three strip Cinerama there as well.
They screened it 18 months ago I believe. I somehow managed to miss it again though. John.
I was there for a 12:15pm viewing. Unfortunately the audience was quite disruptive. The 70mm looks amazing though, especially with the close up of faces.
We were all laughing together for HAL's most notorious lines which I though made the film more enjoyable than it otherwise would have been. Perhaps you had some of that but it didn't appeal? As for the colour and density most evident in some of those close-ups, I don't recall the 4K disc looking that good. But we are using domestic equipment at home so it's possible a top-notch, commercial video projection might be able to match it. John.
@@moviecollector5920no unfortunately just a lot of whispering and people getting up and someone recording the screen during the last part of the film. A shame as I know audiences at Prince Charles are usually quite respectful. I own the 4k too and yes the 70mm does have an analogue density to it. Although I think I’d rate the two formats equally. I am prone to a bit of digital sterility
@@LegoDonut18 It is possible I'll be able to get a more filmic look from the 4K disc with our current video projector. Most are better through it than the older UHD550X but not all. I shall have to have another look at 2001 on 4K to see but my original disc is almost completely knackered now (the same 4K fault as five others in my collection that I've found so far) so I had to purchase a second copy. Fortunately it was only a tenner from HMV. John.
Hello John
Graham from Mexico.
You really do have to see 2001 on the Bradford Cinerama screen you'll be blown away. I saw it twice back in "68" on the theatre royal Cinerama screen Manchester. It was quite an occasion to see something as big and grand as that in such a wonderful old theatre setting when the large red curtain opened to revail the enormous Screen it was mind blowing.Nothing else can come close. Great to see you in the projection room at prince Charles, quite a complex process to thread all that film. Wonderful to see young projectionists still in love with what they do. For sure film will live on well beyond us. Enjoy my friend.
Morning Graham. I've just been told that the Pictureville screened 2001 on the Cinerama screen last February. Damn it! It's a Super Panavision though rather than Ultra Panavision so not wide enough to fill a whole Cinerama screen but I can see the wide shots squeezing the extremities of the image in places to give the film that Cinerama effect so it's still on my bucket list to get up there sometime. It's closed for rebuilding work right now apparently.
I hope all is going well in Mexico.
John.
A pity pictureville is closed for the present time.
Hope you get there before long and if I happen to be back I'll be watching it there with you. I know IMAX is impressive but Cinerama is special. Incredible that it still exists in Bradford of all places.
@@hildamontes6146 Bradford has the national motion picture and photography museum which is why everything is there Graham. It's actually quite good that a fairly unknown area of the country has something as unique to encourage visitors. I'm hoping to see a demonstration of D:150 soon (Dimension 150) because that's similar to single strip Cinerama but could be used with any projection format in theory. It could be the saviour of cinemas around the world but would necessitate shelling out on the D:150 lens and the 150 degree curved screen. Something different that people can't realistically do at home though and that's what is required today. John.
Yes I use to visit Bradford in the 1980s for that reason and it was wonderful to see documentary's on their IMAX screen. Infact I took me mother to see one about the Grand Canyon and it freaked her out. The D150 is interesting wasn't that the format that PATTON was filmed on.?
@@hildamontes6146 I don't actually understand how anything was actually filmed D:150 Graham but anything can be projected D:150. However, on one of Grant Lobban's film frame posters (one of them is shown in the box at the Prince Charles towards then end of this video) there is a D:150 frame which has a built in curvature to the image rather like the CinemaScope logo if you know the one I mean. But I believe any widescreen (i.e. 2.20:1 to 2.40:1) can be projected with the D:150 lens and you get the Cinerama-like curved screen image. Patton is listed as D:150 so maybe it had the D:150 lens on the camera during shooting, I don't know. John.
Really cool @Movie Collector ! Glad you enjoyed it so much. Unfortunately no such screenings here in the Netherlands so my next watch of 2001 will be the next best thing and that is the superb 4K blu ray on my new Magnetar 800 player and all new Sony 77” OLED.
The 4K is a very good representation Pieter. I need to take another look at it after taking in the 70mm colour and density because I don't remember the 4K looking so good but a lot depends on equipment and how it is set up and I have a different video projector now. I had to get a new 2001 disc though because my original developed the 4K fault and it's deteriorated to the point of unplayable.
John.
@@moviecollector5920 the 4K detoriated?!? Or?! The 4K disc is stunning.
I lived in London for two years pre-covid and I didn't know about this theatre. I would have been there at every chance. Now I have to find an excuse to visit London :-/
I used to live just up the road near the British Museum Des but I tended to spend all my time in The Empire. Back then I don't think it was the non-stop film festival type of programming but now that I've tried it once I can see that I'll be visiting many times in the future. Only to see films though, none of that new-fangled digital video nonsense! John.
How wonderful!
Thank you Bongbong. John.
show! I've never seen a 70mm film, it must be beautiful
Nothing else matches 70mm film Marco. There are variations on it though with the ultimate being IMAX 15/70 which runs horizontally and is about 25% wider than the image area of standard 70mm. John.
Understood!@@moviecollector5920
Must've been a great experience seeing the movie and watching the projectionist at work to boot. I would love to see a CINERAMA movie the way it was meant to be seen but there is only one in the States that is currently working. The New Neon Movies in Dayton, Ohio, presently screens the only real Cinerama show in existence in the United States. Cinerama 'revivalist' John Harvey, after collecting outdated equipment for decades, has installed a real Cinerama setup, complete with lenticular curved screen and the famous Cinerama logo on the roof. I have the blu ray of HOW THE WEST WAS WON which has it in both widescreen and the SMILE-BOX version which gives one an idea of what Cinerama was like. It was fully restored with the shadows mostly removed where the three images met on screen. All in all one of my most prized blu ray collections. Have a great day, my friend and keep on watching.
The Bradford Pictureville is the only cinema over here with genuine Cinerama Daniel but I believe it's closed for renovation at the moment. Good to know another has got going thanks to John Harvey over in the USA. One day I'll see 2001 on a louvred, deeply curved Cinerama screen but I think I'd get even more excited to see How The West Was Won. Should have gone up to Bradford last October but I was too busy with so much other work.
John.
Interesting notes that came with the HWTW blu ray. Due to the curve in the screen the actors had to look slightly to the side so that when they were on screen it appeared that they were actually looking at each other eye-to eye which made it even more difficult for the actors. Of course, in today's films with CGI they have to pretend to be looking at someone or alien creature who's not even there. Also they have to get the animated character's height correct so something is placed in front of them to get that right. Forced perspective is a part of the wonderful and weird way of Hollywood. Still, I think the actors enjoy this sort of challenge.
@@danielparker3842 I think they had to look slightly over the top of where the other actor was too but given that they'd have all known how the end result was going to look I'm sure they all just got on with it in good part. I have the Blu-ray of How The West Was Won but not the double disc version, damn it! John.
Added this to my bucket list for the next London trip - whenever this will be :)
I still want to see 2001 at the Bradford Pictureville when they've got their Cinerama screen in place. That's the last remaining 2001 bucket list item for me now. John.
@@moviecollector5920
I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.
As a sciene fiction fan, I fell in love with 2001 over 30 years ago. First the book and then the movie. However, I must confess I only saw it once in full length (without skipping the prelude) when the movie was shown in 2018 (4k release) on the 600sqm (formerly IMAX) screen in Nuremberg. Absolutely impressive. And I'll never be able to forget the "negative pressure alarm" when the capsule door blows off. That was intense.
I recently got to see this film on the big screen but it was unfortunately digital. I noticed the cinema is also playing dune, Oppenheimer and stop making sense. I’ll have to visit this cinema at some point.
Evening Finlay. They have one of the six 35mm prints of OPPENHEIMER. I'd be interested to see that but it's still getting screenings at the BFI IMAX so I'd always opt for that given how impressive the largest film format is and the fact that they might well have the best sound system in the country in there.
John.
@@moviecollector5920 haven’t seen a 35mm print of Oppenheimer but I’d love to
I wanted to see _2001_ a few years ago when it was playing at the Cinerama Dome in Hollywood, but the advertisement on the Dome's website was screwed up. As a result, I did not ge to see it. So I'll have to do by watching it at home on my blu-ray. Maybe someday I'll get the 4K edition.
I don't know the latest on the Seattle Cinerama but I thought I'd heard it was possibly going to re-open. Surely if it does they'll get 2001 on there and it isn't a million miles away. Alternatively, keep an eye on the Pictureville in Bradford over here and fly over when they next schedule it on their Cinerama screen.
John.
I have screened a 70mm print of this film around the same time on the Cinemaccanica Victoria 8 projector which is the same model shown in this video. I have seen several 70mm screenings in the UK, Denmark and Germany.
Evening Ben. I didn't recognize your ID so clicked on it and there you are standing by your projector in one of your thumbnails. I was surprised how compact the Vic8 was in the Prince Charles. What a wonderful piece of kit. Now I wonder if I have enough room.... hmmmmm.
John.
Wow your lucky brilliant video
Thank you Ethan. The funny thing is that nowadays I seem to only have to ask that the projectionist in any cinema is told that Movie Collector wants to come up to the box and they seem to know who I am. That helps. I had been in the boxes at The Empire and The Odeon in Leicester Square years ago but that was before I took video cameras everywhere with me. I wasn't expecting to shoot this video so only had an action camera and my phone with me. But it all worked out alright in the end. John.
What a treat!
You should have been there Dmitri. John.
Is the print used for the 4K UHD disc pre or post-restoration?
Post restoration Mike and that's why I was particularly interested to see if this was perceptibly superior. It was certainly more impressive but with it being 70mm it was always going to be so. All the repairs are visible which confirmed it was the remains of the original negative and therefore the best possible quality without finding an original, unfaded print from 1968 (ish). I wasn't aware of any dupey sequences like those that are apparent on the 4K but that could be down to the difference in scale between a home screen of only 10 feet and a cinema screen around 30 feet.
John.
Id love to see this movie on 70mm film.
I'd wanted to for a long time and it just happened to be on while we were in London for a couple of days. I still want to see it on a Cinerama screen though so the 2001 bucket list isn't fully completed yet. John.
I got goosebumps watching. Having visited the Prince Charles many times it's thrilling to see inside the projection booth and the mechanics behind the magic. It it a lovely cinema, the setting, the selection of films, and the staff are so friendly. Its a real cinema community which you can gauge from screenings, in particular their regular marathons where the reactions of the audience are heartwarming. I'm saving this video to my favourites as a audio-visual record of the place. Pleased you got in, John!
Fortunately Svein knew this 'Movie Collector' channel David so I think as soon as he was told I was downstairs that was all that we needed. We had a good time together being enthusiastic about 70mm film. He came down to see us during the interval which was lovely. He was concerned he didn't get the tab opening exactly right but I assured him it was perfect and that I could prove it because I got it on camera. John.
@@moviecollector5920 Ah ha! Your fame is helping the channel! That's wonderful that Svein knew who you were and your videos, and appreciated what you present to want to show you the 70mm projector. A fantastic treat on top of the reason you went to The Prince Charles, to watch 2001 in 70mm. It must have been great to talk about running film.
@@davidjames579 I never tire of talking to fellow film enthusiasts David, particularly when they've got a film projector in front of them and even more so when they're threading up a 35mm or 70mm print. John.
Great video John. It was interesting to see such an iconic film being shown how its supposed to be seen. I must get down to London to watch this at some point myself. Any recommendations to any documentaries on the history of film and cinema?
They have screenings of this print about every three months Darren and it's been on several times this week. I put the link to the Prince Charles web site in the description so perhaps keep an eye on it and as soon as new screenings are announced in 12 weeks or so book a trip. The Waterloo Travelodge is a pretty local place to stay without being completely ripped off but the Covent Garden/Drury Lane is a lot closer to the action. Waterloo is ideal for the BFI IMAX though and I think we prefer it over the Covent Garden hotel now.
As for a documentary on film history, the immediate one I can think of is 'Splice Here: A Projected Odyssey' but I don't think a worldwide home video release has been made yet. I got my Blu-ray from Australia but had to ship it to young Clark Teddles who then sent it onto me at great expense to himself. What a nice lad!
John.
@@moviecollector5920 thanks for the advice John. In truth it's not only about 1 and a half hours from where I live so I really have no excuse. Need to keep more of an eye out for any film showings near me and get to a couple this year. Thank you for the documentary recommendation. I have family in Australia so might be asking for a favour! Nice of Clark to send it your way. I'd really like to learn more after firstly enjoying your channel so much, and also finding out my Granddad was a projectionist many years ago
@@KeepYaHeadUpTS Get to the BFI IMAX to see a 15/70 sometime as there's nothing else quite like it in terms of clarity. OPPENHEIMER still gets scheduled but for the IMAX experience (the genuine IMAX experience and not one of the myriad, low quality digital video IMAX LITE experiences) INTERSTELLAR, TENET and DUNKIRK are probably better examples to see before OPPENHEIMER. They're getting the only 15/70 print of the DUNE sequel but that's a blow-up from the 4K video file so not a full, genuine IMAX.
Let me know if you can't find anyone selling SPLICE HERE and I'll see what I can find out.
John.
@@moviecollector5920 thanks John. I saw Interstellar and The Dark Knight on 15/70 last year and there is nothing quiet like it. Unfortunately couldn't see Oppenheimer in 15/70. If you have any film conventions in 2024 please keep us in the loop!
@@KeepYaHeadUpTS We might be doing something in August under the Film Is Fabulous! banner. There's a lot going on with that name to get it properly established because so much film is coming to light that we need an official body to deal with it all. John Franklin has unleashed a monster with his idea and ambition to save rare and 'lost' films and television programming. John.
Brilliant exposure for them John. I had no idea they existed. I will look in to what is coming up and hopefully see some movies at the Cinema I never got the opportunity to when they were released. 👍
I can see that I'm going to be a regular at the Prince Charles from now on. It's an old school cinema and a bit old fashioned in some respects but I like that about it. Shame it's not an all in one auditorium but I don't suppose it would ever be filled if it were so compromises have to be made. John.
Great cinema! The Room tomorrow! Masterpiece!
I've never seen that one Dicksi. I could spend a lot of time at the Prince Charles catching up on films in that [reel/real] cinema. John.
And Tommy Wiseau will be there live as well.
@jackthenarrator4735 ohhhh I know! I've met Jim once before. Mad as a hatter but really nice
@moviecollector5920 it's a cult movie. It's considered one of the worst ever made but it has amazing value as a comedy!
@@jackthenarrator4735 I don't know him Jack but I just looked him up and haven't managed to see a single one of his films. Something to be sorted methinks. John.
BRING BACK FILM !
Many cinemas have in recent years. Well, they have in Britain. Cinemas seem to generate audiences when they advertise a film rather than a video projection. John.
Thanks John . Hope you enjoyed it.
I don't so much watch 2001 as look at it now Craig. But I did enjoy it. Seeing it with an enthusiastic audience made it even more special. John.
I've seen a 70mm print of this twice once in the 1960's at the Prince Chrales Cinerama cinema and once at the BFI IMAX at the lauch of the Raido TImes film guide. I didn't theink the projector at the IMAX had enough light output for the size of scree. I suspect it looked brighter at the Prince Charles.
They do have a pair of DP90's at the BFI IMAX now Brian so it's likely they'll do a better job of filling that 85ft wide screen with a bright image. I still want to see 2001 on a Cinerama screen so I haven't quite fulfilled the complete bucket list yet. John.
Fascinating video. I noticed that when the film begins in your video the MGM title card is a bright mid-blue but on the 4K UHD disc it is a dark blue. Is this because the 4K UHD has a different colour grading from how the film originally looked?
It's only the title card David but I actually shot that on my telephone so it's not exactly the best way to get an accurate representation of the true colours. The 70mm looked different to how I remember the 4K in quite a few places but all our equipment is different and now I have a newer video projector it may look more similar. 4K is a little way off 70mm capability which I estimate to be a computer equivalent of around 10K. John.
Ok, thanks for the info John. @@moviecollector5920
Saw it on a Cinerama Screen many years ago at Gaumont 1 Sheffield.
Well why didn't you invite me Chris?!? John.
I saw it on a really big screen…in a drive-in. I like the hi tech masking tape.
The bigger the screen, the more impact this film makes Gary. The Prince Charles isn't exactly a huge screen but I was more interested in seeing the closest thing to the image quality that would have been seen in 1968 as much as anything else. It was beautiful. Next I must see it on a Cinerama screen.
John.
Thank you, John! Answers some questions I’ve been carrying in my head. Does the projectionist assemble the platter before every screening? Or is the whole thing put away with a forklift?
I expect they keep this film made up on a platter. There were several 35mm films in there that were still made up and ready to go back on the platter. At the BFI IMAX the 15/70 prints remain there and don't go back to the distributor (similar to 2001 at the Prince Charles) and they keep them on a cake stand/platter that is then put back on the platter using a forklift and simply threaded up once more. I'm not sure the Prince Charles have room for any sort of forklift though so could be a manual, brute force process. John.
Excellent and informative video🎉...the film was in 2.20:1 or 2.35:1? Thank you!
2001 is 2.20:1. That's the standard 70mm ratio but strangely Kenneth Branagh's two earlier Poirot films were 2.40:1 or thereabouts. I don't know why as they were both shot 65mm. Shame they weren't released as genuine 70mm prints though as we just got the 4K video master file blow-up fudges, damn it!
John.
It's sad that the 4k home version is not accurate to this, which I could tell just from the opening MGM logo card - which should be clear white on bright blue as it is here, not discolored on dark blue - is as I first saw it in a theater 50 years ago. That this theater shows this regularly tells me that there is still an audience out there that supports this!
They've been scheduling this print every three months Rob (several screenings every three months) since 2018 apparently and although they tell me it doesn't sell out on weekdays during the afternoon, it's always busy for evening showings at weekends. Some films can just draw an audience providing they're being presented in the original format. Interstellar in 15/70 at any genuine IMAX is another that pulls the crowds in. John.
I remember seeing a 70mm print of far and away at the Empire Leicester Square
I didn't see that print Neil but I've been told many times that it looked very special. Shame the film didn't actually do very well after all that effort. John.
Thank you John.
Well done Cheekster... balance has been restored to The Force.
@@moviecollector5920 😊
what a cramped working environment! I have heard of this guy before and he must something of a specialist in film projection? great video ... I have seen 2001 15 times in the cinema ... 13 times in 70mm! xxx
It's probably not as cramped as it looks but perhaps since the split into two auditoriums there has been so much equipment added that it's made it a little tight. John.
The first time I saw 2001 it was a birthday gift when I was a kid and it was on a Cinerama screen in London! Are they able to store the print on a platter, or does it have to be broken down and reassembled for each screening?
I think it's retained on some sort of platter or support Doug. Maybe if Svein gets on here we can all get more information out of him. He has commented within the Friends of 70mm group in Facebook where I posted a link to this video so I'll try to remember to encourage him to get on here... and the other Prince Charles projectionists perhaps. John.
I've seen this movie on Laser Disc. DVD. Blu-ray. 4K blu-ray. 35mm and 70mm at the Egyptian in Hollywood. I do appreciate this film for it being cinematically experiential. That said, if I'm completely honest, I find that I'm very impatient with it as a movie. This makes me very unpopular with my tribe.
What? Not seen the film on Super 8. Something to be rectified there Robert!
I did actually type out an answer to your comment before but it's disappeared. I don't so much watch 2001 as much as just look at it. It's a work of art and even if it's not an action adventure it is a masterclass in film making.
John.
Love this episode.
Glad you enjoyed it. Thank you. John.