Ziegfeld Theatre
141 W. 54th Street,
New York,
NY
10019
141 W. 54th Street,
New York,
NY
10019
131 people
favorited this theater
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What the Ziegfeld REALLY needs is something like one or two week exclusives of BIG blockbuster movies before they go into saturation release.
The huge majority of people don’t care where they see a movie – employees at the multiplex look at me like I have 6 heads when I ask “which time is in thatre 13?” (The good big screen at Loew’s E-Walk – bigger than the Ziegfeld’s btw.) I know people who saw Titanic in one of the small houses at the Chelsea which I think is a travesty.
BUT – if it’s a highly anticipated movie and the ONLY place to see it is the Ziegfeld, people will come.
Ice Age 2 made what… $70 million? There were perhaps 30 people in attendance on Friday (opening) night. It was playing to sold out houses at the horrible horrible AMC in Times Square…. I’m just saying…
Gary: After “Lawrence”, I asked one of the friendly Ziegfeld employees which classics did the best business, and she said it was the Indiana Jones movies.
Hello Gary,
HTWWW was shown in 3-strip format at the Cinerama Dome in LA as recently as last November. The next engagement is supposed to be in 2007. “This is Cinerama” may play this year. However, no official announcement has been made for either presentation.
JSA
I e-mailed the Seattle Cinerama, http://www.cinerama.com/default.asp
to see if they plan on any regular Cinerama programming. The web site is interesting as the theatre was restored with the idea of not only first run but also as a place where HTWWW could be shown in all its glory. I would go to Seattle for that. I’ve never seen “Heaven’s Gate” on the big screen, tried the DVD which is very poor quality, and gave up. So I definitely agree with you on that and “The Big Country.” Also would add “Rosemary’s Baby” along with “Planet of the Apes.” I’m also curious about the top suggestions as well as what didn’t work in this last series—e.g. how well did all three Indy films do?
Beth—I’ve never seen “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers”-would love to! In a few days, I want to send all this to Craig. So the more suggestions the better.
Anyone like-“Midnight Express”-that film really scared me!
Thanks,
Gary
Posted too soon.
As for HTWWW… I am indeed saying “if you can’t do 3 strip Cinerama, don’t do it at all.” The way the horizon and other straight lines so obviously slant away from the center at either side of the screen is incredibly distracting whenever I’ve tried to watch this film in letterbox format on TV. Bad as it is on a 60 inch home screen, I can’t imagine that projecting such a broken and distorted image on a flat screen 50 FEET wide would help matters. Perhaps its just me, but I’d rather hold out and give that film its proper due. At least if there was a curved screen, I might be able to live with a single strip 35mm print… but otherwise, I vote “no” on that title for the Zeigfeld. And let’s face it… HTWWW is not all that great a movie. It is a bit cornball and cliche ridden, in my humble opinion. Whatever greatness it has, I believe, is due in large part to the 3 strip format in which it was originally presented. Perhaps I’m in the minority on that front.
I’d rather see William Wyler’s “The Big Country” at the Ziegfeld.
Another film I’d add to the list, Gary, would be the original “Planet of the Apes”. I’d love to know what are the top 25 film titles listed on those suggestion cards they handed out during the series.
Hi Gary… I only included “Waterworld” in my suggestion for a “second chance” week because I don’t think it ever had a shot at being fairly reviewed or given a chance to find an audience on its first release. As with “Heaven’s Gate” and “1941”, many critical minds had already decided to pan the film based on the film’s outsized budget and stories of the star’s egomaniacal behavior on set. In truth, I’m not a terrific fan of “Waterworld”, but I do think it was maligned for what occured off screen more so than for what appears on the screen. Similarly, I don’t think “1941” is nearly as bad as its reputation would lead you to believe and I happen to believe that the full 3 hour and 39 minute cut of “Heaven’s Gate” is a work of absolute beauty. I just thought it would be a neat idea to run these 3 alleged turkeys on the Ziegfeld’s big screen (and each is spectacularly suited for the big screen in its own way) to give them a shot at redemption at the hands of 21st Century audiences.
Thanks for the feedback, please keep it coming-I’m looking to refine this list, with all your comments, and then send a revised list to Craig. I received a fund raising letter from Film Forum today, and the following really struck me:
“We select films based on quality, not the bottom line, independent documentaries and revived classics like "The Fallen Idol” do well. However, while most offerings are critically acclaimed, many play to small audiences with a special interest in the director, genre or subject matter."
There are many films that I listed that I don’t consider classics (e.g. “Love Story”), but I tried to do a mix of titles that are not only classics but also some crowd pleasers like “Top Gun” which I never saw in a theater. Kind of one for me and one for the sake of filling seats in the hope that a classics festival can continue and be economically feasible at the same time. I really like the idea of people bringing their kids and others to see films that they enjoyed however many years ago-this will fill seats and perpetuate the heritage.
Ed-two questions:
(1) I saw “Waterworld” and really wanted to like it-but after the initial scene with Kostner on his boat “refining” his drinking water-this film did nothing for me. What did you see in it?
(2) I never saw the three strip Cinerama “How The West Was Won,” but did see, I guess, a 35mm version in my local theatre, The Crossbay (Ozone Park) and loved it, back in the 60’s. So, are you saying that if we can’t do the real Cinerama, don’t do it at all? just curious.
The “first-run” idea sounds great to me, and “Woodstock”—absolutely cannot be appreciated except at a venue like the Ziegfeld.
Thanks again- more titles, please
Gary
Thanks for the feedback, please keep it coming-I’m looking to refine this list, with all your comments, and then send a revised list to Craig. I received a fund raising letter from Film Forum today, and the following really struck me:
“We select films based on quality, not the bottom line, independent documentaries and revived classics like "The Fallen Idol” do well. However, while most offerings are critically acclaimed, many play to small audiences with a special interest in the director, genre or subject matter."
There are many films that I listed that I don’t consider classics (e.g. “Love Story”), but I tried to do a mix of titles that are not only classics but also some crowd pleasers like “Top Gun” which I never saw in a theater. Kind of one for me and one for the sake of filling seats in the hope that a classics festival can continue and be economically feasible at the same time. I really like the idea of people bringing their kids and others to see films that they enjoyed however many years ago-this will fill seats and perpetuate the heritage.
Ed-two questions:
(1) I saw “Waterworld” and really wanted to like it-but after the initial scene with Kostner on his boat “refining” his drinking water-this film did nothing for me. What did you see in it?
(2) I never saw the three strip Cinerama “How The West Was Won,” but did see, I guess, a 35mm version in my local theatre, The Crossbay (Ozone Park) and loved it, back in the 60’s. So, are you saying that if we can’t do the real Cinerama, don’t do it at all? just curious.
The “first-run” idea sounds great to me, and “Woodstock”—absolutely cannot be appreciated except at a venue like the Ziegfeld.
Thanks again- more titles, please
Gary
The screen at South Bay is almost 40 ft wide, Almost wall to wall.
How big is the screen at this theater in Babylon?
A good plan for the Ziegfeld (maybe for their upcoming 40th anniversary in 2009) would be to show some of the great films that had their first-ever New York engagements there. Just a few that come to mind: “Ryan’s Daughter”, “Cabaret”, “That’s Entertainment”, “Tommy”, “Barry Lyndon”, “Close Encounters” (even though they just showed it last month), “Gandhi”, “Hair”, “Apocalypse Now”, etc.
Ed, I second your “Superman” double feature idea. The film that sprang to mind when I was at the Ziegfeld recently was “Superman.” How great would it be to see the trial at the beginning and the rotation of the dome, opening that column of light into space? Gary’s suggestion of “Mary Poppins” is another good one. “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” would be my pick of a classic musical. It’s one of my favorites (has Tommy Rall in it!) and I’ve never seen it on a big screen. Does anyone know if the 1956 version of “My Sister Eileen” is a possiblity to be screened? It’s not the greatest musical but still underrated, in my opinion.
Timing would be key there, ErikH. They may not want to compete with themselves against the brand new “Superman Returns” being released the end of June. However, I’d pay full price for a “Superman” and “Superman II” double feature somewhere along the way!
I doubt that the Ziegfeld would consider return engagements of “Funny Girl” and “The Way We Were” —– both played the Ziegfeld in recent years, and despite advertising in the NY Times and other publications (not to mention new prints), neither did very well.
“Funny Girl” was playing at the Ziegfeld on 9/11. A friend went to a matinee on the weekend before 9/11, said the print was terrific (including overture and intermission) but that the screening was sparsely attended. “The Way We Were” played the Ziegeld in 2003; I went to a Friday or Saturday night screening and there couldn’t have been more than one hundred people in the audience.
Here’s a suggestion. A new version of “Superman II” is being prepared by Warner Brothers for release on DVD later this year, incorporating a great deal of footage shot by the film’s original director, Richard Donner. If Warners is considering a theatrical run to drum up publicity for the new version, then the Ziegfeld would be a good choice.
Ditto…alot of nice choices Gary. I think I would delete ‘Back to the Future’, ‘Top Gun’, and ‘Fatal Attraction’. Although they were successful they don’t command the respect of a classic, at least not now. Maybe sometime in the future (no pun intended). To me they’re just 80s movie fodder. In all fairness I’ve never seen ‘Fatal Attraction’ in it’s entirety, but I can’t stand Michael Douglas and I’m not neccesarily a Glen Close fan either, but to each his own. Hopefully they’ll choose some of the other ones from your list. They’re are some great ones on there. ‘Bullit’, ‘The Wild Bunch’, ‘Mary Poppins’? Bring ‘em on.
I’ve seen ‘Woodstock’ tons of times and own the director’s cut DVD. I saw it on the screen about 10 years ago at the Village East Cinema when the director’s cut was released theatrically. The screen wasn’t nearly as big as the Ziegfeld. This year isn’t a milestone Woodstock anniversary (37 years ago this August), but the film is a good summertime thing to watch. I would LOVE to see a really nice print of it at the Ziegfeld. That would be amazing!! If they could get a hold of the director’s cut from the early 90s with what I beleive was surround stereo…wow…very cool!
A lot of great choices there, Gary. I would immediately strike “How the West Was Won”, however. I just don’t feel that a true 3-strip Cinerama film should be projected on a flat screen, no matter what the size. I my opinion, it will only serve to magnify the distortions where the 3 images meet and scream out at the top of its metaphorical throat for a proper 3-strip venue in which to be properly exhibited.
I, for one, like the idea of a “second chance” festival where infamous big-screen bombs like “Heaven’s Gate”, “1941” and “Waterworld” are given a chance to be seen the way they were originally intended and re-evaluated without the journalistic bias and scrutiny they were unfairly subjected to on their intitial releases.
By the way, “The Conversation” is one of my all time favorite films – a brilliant masterwork from Coppola that is arguably the finest American film of the 1970’s… But, I agree that it probably wouldn’t generate as much interest as many of the other titles on your list.
Hi Guys:
I’ve been feeling post-classics depression, and it’s been a little quiet here, and given “Ice Age 2” was #1 last weekend, I figured I would fantasize with enough classics for a few more festivals. I’d really like some input—I think these titles would be great on the big screen, would get an audience (with children for many), are all good films, although not necessarily all my favorites, and I welcome your additions (or deletions) and comments. My top choice would be “The Converstion” but I don’t think more than a handful would come.
Thanks,
Gary
The King & I
Bridge on The River Kwai
Psycho
The Guns of Navarone
The Magnificent Seven
The Great Escape
Oklahoma
The Music Man
How The West Was Won
Mary Poppins
The Sound of Music
Goldfinger
The Wild Bunch
The Graduate
Bonnie & Clyde
Funny Girl
The Lion in Winter
Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid ( I hate this movie)
The Sting
Midnight Cowboy
MASH
Love Story ( I’m not joking )
Woodstock
A Clockwork Orange
Fiddler on the Roof
The French Connection
Cabaret
The Exorcist
American Graffiti
The Towering Inferno
The Poseidon Adventure
Jaws
One Flew Over The Cukoo’s Nest
The Odd Couple
Network
Rocky
Taxi Driver
Saturday Night Fever
The Deer Hunter
Witness
An Officer and a Gentleman
Amadeus
Fatal Attraction
Moonstruck
Goodfellas
The Lion King
Beauty and the Beast
The Silence of the Lambs
Schindler’s List
The Shawshank Redemption
Apollo 13
Titanic
Aliens
Altered States
Dog Day Afternoon
Pollyanna
Young Frankenstein
From Russia With Love
Thunderball
The Dirty Dozen
The Way We Were
Grease
Superman
Back to the Future
Who Framed Roger Rabbit
Top Gun
Bullitt
Romeo & Juliet (1968)
Hmmm. The curtains didn’t open and close when I saw “Chicago” there a couple of years back. Nor did they open and close when I saw “The Producers” as recently as this past December. Could it be that the practice has been re-adopted in the wake of the Classics series?
Jeff gave me his two free passes from the “Lawrence” sync sound incident, and I didn’t want to see “Ice Age 2”, so I gave them to my friend Jennifer. She took her 8-year-old son to see “Ice Age”, and he was very impressed with the way the Ziegfeld’s curtains opened and closed. That was most likely the first time he’d ever seen that in a movie theater.
Cinema Treasures: The Next Generation.
I think it will be D T S,mag print does not look like it will be available, They will be running with a Dolby CP200 with the new DTS, with the memory,
Is it a 70MM Mag or DTS print?
HEY GUYS GOOD NEWS IT ‘IS WRITTEN’ THAT MY GOOD FRIENDS AT ‘THE SOUTH BAY CINEMA'ARE GOING TO SHOW 'LARENCE OF ARABIA’ IN 70 MM APRIL 7TH TO THE 13TH, THEY HAD AN OPEN SCREEN THAT WEEK AND A PRINT WAS AVAILABLE. BY THE WAY, THE GUYS THAT OWN THE THEATER ARE THE GUYS THAT SAVED THE DAY THAT SUNDAY WHEN THE FILM BROKE AT THE ZIEGFELD. O K SHOW TIMES ARE AT 2;00, 7;30 EVERY DAY, THE ADDRESS IS 495 MONTALK H/WAY IN WEST BABALON ¼ MILE WEST OF ROUTE 109 PHONE ;631;587 7808 MORE TO COME
Cineplex Odeon tried to multiplex the Ziegfeld and triplex the National. Their respective landlords would not allow it. Whatever their motivation, common sense prevailed.
You must know one thing about kid shows in the ‘city’ , most theaters die with them. Fox wanted Ice Age to run at the Ziegfeld, they do not care if it looses money, Clearview took the Ziegfeld only to have a ‘Flagship’ theater in the “city” , Thank God Loews, did not keep it , They would have made it into a 15plex
You must know one thing about kid shows in the ‘city’ , most theaters die with them. Fox wanted Ice Age to run at the Ziegfeld, they do not care if it looses money, Clearview took the Ziegfeld only to have a ‘Flagship’ theater in the “city” , Thank God Loews, did not keep it , They would have made it into a 15plex