David3-D Reviews

Genevieve (1953)

London to Brighton in Technicolor, in 1953, in a 1908 Car!

[8/10 · 18 January 2006]

The other comments will tell you more about the plot of the film. I'm writing to add for the American readers that this film premiered on Turner Classic Movies on Jan, 17, 2006, so now you can look for it there, even if an NTSC DVD does not become available for the USA market.

As an American visitor to England almost yearly since 1983, one of the most enjoyable aspects of this film is to be able to see the wonderful Technicolor photography of London, Brighton, and the countryside in-between -- as it looked 53 years ago! And all of the 1930's to 1950's cars in the background are as much fun to watch as the vintage cars in the race!

For those who asked if this Vintage car run is still being done, a web search turned up the following: The London to Brighton Veteran Car Run takes place each year on the first Sunday of November. In 2006 the date is Sunday 5 November. Seeing this film may make you want to go!

The Mask (1961)

Worth seeing the 3-D Sequences

[30 April 2003]

Yes, I have to agree that this is really not a great film. However, as the previous reviewer has commented, it is worth watching at least once for the 3-D sequences, which were done by the famous Slavko Vorkapitch. The premise is actually a great use of the 3-D medium. Whenever the main character puts on the haunted mask, that is the cue for the audience to put their 3-D glasses (Which were in the form of a "Mystic Mask" when I saw this in it's original theatrical release in 1961!). He then has these wild 3-D dream sequences, which are definitely the ONLY good part of the film. In order for this to work in ANY movie theater the 3-D sequences are in the anaglyph format, which uses the red and green glasses, and does not require a special projection lens or silver screen. The film is otherwise black and white, except for the 3-D sequences, which use the red and green encoding to create monochromatic 3-D. It should be noted, however, that this process does not translate very well to video. The 3-D effect may be significantly reduced or not work well at all, depending upon the monitor, color settings, etc. Probably the laserdisc version of this will have the best 3-D effects.

When Magoo Flew (1954)

Hilarious! Magoo thinks he's at a 3-D Movie!

[21 November 2002]

I recently saw a restored print of this at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, as it won an Oscar for best Cartoon Short Subject of 1954. (Part of the Facets of the Diamond series). It is apparently not currently available on VHS or DVD -- which is a shame. Apropos of the year it was made (1953 was the BIG year for 3-D movies)nearsighted Magoo goes to a movie. Misreading the one-sheet, he thinks it's a 3-D movie! Then, through a series of blunders (having some nostalgic charm, as they would be impossible in the post 9/11 travel world) he uses his theater ticket to board an airplane -- all the time thinking he is watching a new 3-D movie that even FEELS like you are flying! I'll spare you more of the plot (you get the idea) -- in the hope that it will be re-released one of these days soon! It hasn't lost the ability to keep you laughing, almost half a century after it was made!

Annie Get Your Gun (1950)

A great musical! Probably Betty Hutton's best performance!

[28 October 2000]

I just had the pleasure of seeing a new restored Technicolor print of this film that had it's 50th anniversary restoration premiere at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences theater in Beverly Hills on 10/27/2000. I probably have not seen the film since I was 7 years old -- in 1957. Apparently very few others have seen it since 1973, as it has been tied up for legal reasons, and not shown since then. It will be released next month for the FIRST TIME EVER on VHS and DVD. I can only say this is a 4 star musical, and a delight. Although Judy Garland may have been wonderful in this role, Betty Hutton really made it her own. I just can't see Judy Garland giving the role the expression, body language, and exuberance that Betty brought to this role. She is as perfect an Annie Oakley as Judy was Dorothy in the "Wizard of Oz". On the DVD we will be able to get a peek of Judy doing two of the numbers that were filmed before she had to leave production -- so we will get to have a little comparison. One can argue a bit of dated lack of political correctness, both for the role of women, and the portrayal of Indians, but, in the context of the age of the film it holds up very well, and the pure joy of the film from first frame to last will keep you smiling long after "THE END" rolls of the screen. This is the film that will prove to you that "There's No Business Like Show Business".

In Our Own Hands (2000)

A wonderful and inspirational documentary film.

[4 February 2000]

I am young enough that I wasn't born until after WWII -- however I have seen dozens, if not tens of dozens, of hours of World War two film footage, in the numerous documentaries that have been on the History Channel, etc.

This film just blew me away with an inspiring true story that seems to be little known today amongst younger Jewish people, and perhaps the world at large.

The film tells "The Hidden Story of the Jewish Brigade", some 5,500 Palestinian Jews who prevailed upon Winston Churchill to let them fight the Nazis in their own Jewish unit during the war. When the war ended, they defied their British commanders and (secretly) did their utmost to help Jewish refugees and survivors by secretly transporting them to Palestine.

The story is told by juxtaposing present day interviews of former members of the Jewish Brigade, with an incredible amount of documentary footage that has probably rarely been seen before -- at least not all in such a cohesively presented and edited form.

In the end the story is as amazing and exciting as some of the wartime propaganda films -- except that this is a true story of young everyday men who did exceptionally heroic deeds. I saw the film at a UCLA documentary screening, and just ordered the video off of the "Official Site" (found on the IMDB listing page). This is one film I want to see again, and show to friends and family. It is truly inspirational.

The Missing Reel (1990)

The Untold Story of the Lost Inventor of Moving Pictures

[8/10 · 30 March 1999]

This film, I believe made for television, is based on the book of the same title by the Author and Director, Christopher Rawlence. Both the book and the film give incredible history. In 1890 the French inventor Augustin Le Prince boarded a train for Paris to present to audiences there the world's first motion-picture camera and projector. Le Prince mysteriously disappeared, and this event changed the history of motion pictures -- with the credit going to Thomas Alva Edison. The film takes us on a quest to examine the history and mystery of Le Prince, using family memoirs, archival materials, and early film footage. In the end it views almost like a detective film -- all the more incredible because it is all based on true events. I only had the chance to see it once on Public Television, and wish it would be shown again. At least the book is available, and goes into even further detail than the film.

The Magic Box (1951)

A biography of one of the true first inventors of the cinema.

[30 March 1999]

A brilliant biography of one of the virtually unknown inventors of modern motion pictures. The historical aspects are incredibly well researched and detailed (look at the film credits)-- down to the reproduction of a beautiful example of his first twin-lensed motion picture camera, which was stereoscopic (which proved not be be practical until the introduction of polarized projection at the 1939 World's Fair). This film was made as a showcase piece for the 1951 "Festival of Britain" at the current location of the Royal Festival Hall and the Museum of the Moving Image on the banks of the Thames in London, England. What remains of the original Friese-Greene camera may be seen at the Science Museum in London. For those interested in the history of the cinema, and its earliest experiments, this is a "must see" film. Historical footage is brilliantly incorporated into the story. Although the presentation is a little bit slow by today's standards, it remains a fascinating and unique film. For related topics see the book "The Missing Reel", by Christopher Rawlence, about the other unknown film pioneer, Louis Aime Augustin Le Prince.