Loew's Jersey Theatre

54 Journal Square,
Jersey City, NJ 07306

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VincentParisi
VincentParisi on February 8, 2007 at 5:06 am

Robert Wise said he would get letters about the poor presentation and scratchy prints of Sound of Music. Can you believe there was a time when patrons and the director cared about such things?

Vito
Vito on February 8, 2007 at 4:30 am

Yes Peter, It comes back to me now, I was working in Hawaii
(1972-1982) I am pretty sure I played it at the Cinerama theatre. The screen size made it easy to project the film in 1.66 with properly cut plates and masking adjustments.
I wonder if the film makers take as much care and dedication to film projection these days. In the old days we would often get letters from directors asking for our help in presenting the film properly. When Dolby came along we would get fact sheets that helped to insure the EQ was correct, and with 70mm we would get a loop of pink noise so that the sound track could be callabrated properly.

William
William on February 7, 2007 at 1:33 pm

Pictures of the auditorium.

http://www.fromscripttodvd.com/70mm_in_los _angeles_pantages.htm

William
William on February 7, 2007 at 1:26 pm

When Spartacus opened at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood. They had to drape over the front area of the auditorium and close off seats on the far left rear and far right rear of the theatre’s main floor. For the 61 weeks that it played the theatre.

VincentParisi
VincentParisi on February 7, 2007 at 11:32 am

And when Clockwork Orange opened at Cinema 1 he called and made sure they had the proper masking.

PeterApruzzese
PeterApruzzese on February 7, 2007 at 9:54 am

Yes, Vito. Kubrick made sure that the premiere engagements of Barry Lyndon were projected in 1.66 – that and various other exhibition stories are recounted in some of the biogrpahies about him.

Vito
Vito on February 7, 2007 at 9:48 am

I have a recollection of playing “Barry Lyndon” and the studio, directed by Kubrick,had new aperature plates cut and masking adjustment made for the engagement. The same thing happened when we ran “Reds”, Warren Beatty was very particular about running the film in the exact aspect ratio. Perhaps someone remembers more of this.

RobertR
RobertR on February 7, 2007 at 8:44 am

I wish they would strike a new print of Barry Lyndon, remember in the old days when a theatre like the Ziegfeld could easily have a new print and play a 2-3 week engagement of a classic?

VincentParisi
VincentParisi on February 7, 2007 at 6:35 am

Well it is a moody, atmospheric film but I found it compelling from beginning to end. Gorgeous.

But then I one of the very few people who thought Eyes Wide Shut was a great film. Probably the first new film that I went to see twice in decades. Well the public and critics will figure that out some day.

Theaterat
Theaterat on February 7, 2007 at 6:06 am

Remember seeing “Barry Lyndon” shortly after it was released. It was a beautifully photographed period piece and O`Neal was quite good.However if memory serves, I had a hard time trying to stay awake for it.

PeterApruzzese
PeterApruzzese on February 6, 2007 at 12:13 pm

Correct, no question about it, Ryan O'Neal is excellent in Barry Lyndon.

Maybe this “O'Neil” fellow you speak of is no good, but I don’t remember him in the film :)

VincentParisi
VincentParisi on February 6, 2007 at 11:10 am

O'Neil excellent in Barry Lyndon?
Chacun a son gout.
But except for the black hole in the middle of the film which I assume is Ryan I think it’s one of the great films of all time.

PeterApruzzese
PeterApruzzese on February 6, 2007 at 11:02 am

O'Neal is excellent in Barry Lyndon, which is still underrated as one of the greatest films of the 1970s. I’d love to see a new print of that one someday.

VincentParisi
VincentParisi on February 6, 2007 at 10:55 am

Well after I read that comment of Kubrick’s I figured he’d never seen Ryan O'Neil in Barry Lyndon.

Theaterat
Theaterat on February 6, 2007 at 10:48 am

Vincent… a good point and one well taken.Prehaps GWTW is racist in spots, but this was the general situation in the South during the Civil war and Reconstruction eras. As for Kubrick calling Miss Leighs peformance the worst hes ever seen? Dare I mention Tom Cruise in his own “Eyes wide shut”? Anyway, back to GWTW. I am definately going to see it. Wether the print be good, bad or indifferent. I quess I`ll take my chances and post my opinion after the show.Critics-what do they know?

VincentParisi
VincentParisi on February 5, 2007 at 2:42 am

Theater Rat,
Nobody knows more than me what you are saying. I happen to love GWTW though Michael Feingold of the Village Voice who is probably the best drama critic in the New York area called it rascist sludge. And Stanley Kubrick ,one of my favorite directors, said Vivian Leigh gives absolutely the worst performance in a movie he has ever seen.
What they were watching I have no idea. In my estimation she gives one of the greatest of all time.
But paying to see a film even in a great theater like the Loew’s I want to see it as it was meant to be seen. Off colors are like hearing a soundtrack full of distortions.
The print of Guys and Dolls was great and it was in stereo!! I had never liked it before until I saw it at the Loews. And there was nobody there!
I had never liked Oklahoma and a friend forced me to see it in Todd AO and I was stunned. It suddenly became one of the great film musicals.
It’s just that seeing a bad print drives me crazy and I’d rather not see it at all.

swampdevil
swampdevil on February 2, 2007 at 12:39 pm

Alto: The original query was to the SPECIFIC dates of the film noir series.They are MARCH 30 & 31.Im sure MORE detail will be provided once we get CLOSER to the actual date.
Swampy

William
William on February 1, 2007 at 6:28 am

The prints from the 68-80’s re-releases were Metrocolor prints.

YMike
YMike on February 1, 2007 at 6:24 am

I do not blame the Jersey for the GWTW print I saw there. I’ve seen the same print at the Lincoln Square and 34th st. theatres. The colors are not sharp and sound is not as clear as you would expect it to be. I was at the 50th Anniversary screening at Radio City in 1989 and that print was much better than the so-called “restored” print that is in circulation now. I have seen prints of other films from the same time period (Robin Hood, Thief Of Bagdad) that look much better than GWTW and this really is a shame because I love going to see this film on the big screen!

Theaterat
Theaterat on February 1, 2007 at 6:13 am

Vincent…Im sure the people who obtain and screen the prints at the Jersey DO give a damn.Staying home and watching it on VHS or DVD just does not have the same impact as seeing it on the big screen. Most of the films that Ive seen at the Jersey over the last 2 years I do have on Vhs or Dvd, but there is just no comparison . This is a non-factor for me. I will pay to see a great film at a great theater.Besides that, I consider the Jersey experience a great night out, and one that I look fowards to when a fine show is planned.

VincentParisi
VincentParisi on January 31, 2007 at 10:53 am

Considering how beautiful the print is on the DVD why not just stay home and watch it when the people who provide the prints couldn’t give a damn?

Theaterat
Theaterat on January 31, 2007 at 7:41 am

Thanks Peter. I hope so. I remember when this film was re released in late 1974- possibly its last re-release before going to TV.I went to see it at the Highway and De Luxe theaters in Brooklyn- 2 long closed `nabes. The print was sharp and crisp and the Technicolor was beautiful.

PeterApruzzese
PeterApruzzese on January 31, 2007 at 5:43 am

It’s a matter of what the studio sends. I’ve played GWTW twice at the Lafayette and, even though my booking was confirmed to receive an A+ special reel-to-reel only print, we received a less-desirable normal print from the 1999 re-issue. There are newer prints out there, I would imagine the LJ team is requesting the best print that Warner’s has of the movie. I’m sure that Mitchell/MBD will update as to the condition when they get it in.

Theaterat
Theaterat on January 31, 2007 at 5:35 am

Re GWTW…I understand from some of the posts that I`ve read that the version screened was not of the highest quality.I really would like to go see it at the upcoming screening. Can anybody out there help me and tell me just how good- or bad the last screening of it was? How was the color and the sound? I remember seeing it at Radio City Music Hall in the mid 70s.The print screened- wich was obviously “blown up” for the big screen looked like all the color was bleached out of it. Mostly dull reddish browns and yellows. I did not enjoy it at all. Hope the Jersey can do better and present this landmark film in a better print.