User Reviews

Just want to add that I have seen "The Cinerama Adventure" several times and enjoyed it very much. A feature lenght documentary about wide screen is very rare, and the Cinerama process certainly deserves this tribute. The amount of information collected for this production is amazing and much of it shows up in the form of interviews with the people behind the process as they experienced it.

My only regret is that "Windjammer" goes unmentioned. Perhaps the best of all the 3-strip films, "Windjammer", being a Cinemiracle film and technically not Cinerama, IS a first person experience LIKE Cinerama AND owned by Cinerama Inc. One of the producers, Mr. Borden Mace ("Cinerama Holiday"), recently told me why "Windjammer" was sold to Cinerama Inc. "Simply to get the film distributed as widely as possible".

Having had the priviledge to work with Mr. David Strohmaier on this production I am probably biased a bit, but "The Cinerama Adventure" is a unique and VERY thrilling ride through memory lane about a world long gone. I was born in 1963 when Cinerama was nearly gone, and have never experienced the original buzz of the process. Having read about the format for 20 years and seen the process projected in Bradford and Dayton, I can only say that "The Cinerama Adventure" gives the viewer a fantastic insight to Waller's Wonder and a taste of showmanship "three times the normal size".

If you have the slightest interest in wide screen history - go see "The Cinerama Adventure". Despite the shortcomming mentioned above, I highly recommend the film.

I do remember Cinerama at the London Casino as a teenager. I guess you can say that 'I was there!'(many, many times). Dave Strohmeir's piece not only entertains those of us who 'were there', but - more importantly - will inform, educate and preserve. Widescreen had been previously tried and abandoned until Cinerama came along in 1952. From that day, widescreen cinema was here to stay. Cinerama Adventure is a journey that anyone who has ever visited the cinema should see. It is, in itself, adventurous and often moving in its tributes to early cinema pioneers. It deserves to be seen - so go see.

I want to thank the producers (writer-director David Strohmaier and all of the interviewees) of this documentary for their very informative, thoroughly researched history of Cinerama. Not only is the material fascinating, but it's presented in a such a way that it's palatable to film buffs and novices alike. After receiving the How the West Was Won - Ultimate Collector's Edition (1962), I was delighted to find this program on the third DVD disc included in the package; I didn't even know that it existed, let alone that it was released more than six years ago! Cinerama Adventure (2002) is an outstanding example of the kind of treatment such an important subject deserves, from people that obviously love (and want to preserve) our country's cinematic history. A job very well done indeed!

Essentially a labour of love, Dave Strohmeier has wrought a miracle with this gem of a documentary which deals with a very special subject, the history of Cinerama, the mother of all large format cinema. Years ahead of its time, Cinerama had an electrifying impact on its audiences back in the early fifties. Fifty years on we now have this very special and unique documentary. It deserves the full support of all those who love their movies big. Well recieved at the Bradford film festival by top people in the film business last year and up for Oscars this year, an absolute must to see.

This film explains how a three-camera widescreen theatrical projection process was successfully developed and the impact it had on the world-wide entertainment business and pop culture of the 1950's and 60's. The filmmakers let those who developed and worked with Cinerama tell the story in their own words. There is very little written narration. Editing is tight and impressive. As an example, in a couple of situations a story is told by three different people in a very smooth and interesting manner as one subject finishes the sentence that two others started! I enjoyed seeing generous segments from so many of the Cinerama films plus long segments of "behind the scenes" activities as these films were shot in some of the most inhospitable parts of the world. Much of this behind-the-scenes footage has never been released before. Kudos to the rights holders of these films for allowing so much to be included in this rich accounting of a very important part of cinematic history! And giant kudos to the producers for recapturing the excitement of Cinerama for a whole new generation of cinema buffs plus those of us who remember back in 1952 when Lowell Thomas said those magic words, "This is Cinerama" and the curtains kept opening and opening and opening to the most enormous screen ever and the entire audience was instantly transported into a roller-coaster car at Rockaway Beach, New York. Oh, and one more thing: In an age when the term 'documentary' is most often used to promote personal or political beliefs, it is refreshing to see a film that is a true accounting and document of historical facts and not an assemblage of conjecture and observation purported to be fact. I wish every filmmaker could view "Cinerama Adventure" to learn how to properly produce a 'documentary film.' And I am surprised that this never made it as an Oscar nominee in 2005!

I recently saw Cinerama Adventure at the ArcLight Cinema, adjacent to the Cinerama Dome in Hollywood. The completion of this production culminates a six-year labor of love by David Strohmaier, the documentary's producer, director and writer. There is new music by John Morgan and William Stromberg, which blends perfectly with music excerpts from many of the original Cinerama features.

Though it had been test screened in Bradford, England earlier, I first saw a rough cut of this production, projected in video, in Seattle in 1999 and then saw it again last summer in Los Angeles when it was shown at a local SMPTE chapter meeting which was very well attended. It is now finished, on film, with Dolby Digital sound. The Interviews are shown at 1.33:1 inside a 1.85:1 aspect ratio. The Cinerama cuts are shown in the C.A. Productions' SmileboxT curved screen simulation format at 1.85:1, which really "puts you in the picture."

This production is simply perfect! It blends the history of the people behind Cinerama with the story of the making of the films and highlights the technical aspects of this pioneering widescreen format in an exiting and dramatic way. There are numerous interviews with many of those who were involved with and stared in the original Cinerama films. I was most interested to learn more about Paul Mantz, who flew the Cinerama camera for all of the aerial sequences.

This is a not-to-be-missed documentary which is a uniquely American story of technology, movie making and film exhibition which started the whole widescreen era.

The first premise of a documentary is that it should provide information and hopefully be entertaining. The Cinerama Adventure meets both criteria hands down. The idea of taking what was the biggest motion picture format of its time and arguably of all time and presenting it in a greatly diminished format (perhaps as small as an average television) and still being able to impart some of the impact of the original presentation is probably conceited. Dave Strohmaier has succeeded admirably in his efforts. I have seen many movies that almost have popcorn breaks built into them. While some viewers may consider that there are such breaks in CA, I might suggest that if there are any, there had better not be a line at the concession stand or you will miss significant portions of a comprehensive, well researched and thoughtfully compiled history of a film process that is only presented very limited venues on a very limited schedule.

Count me as one of the kids who saw How the West Was Won in 1962 and thought the train was coming right at me.

Cinerama was a new process then, introduced to put people back into the movie seats. After World War II, they left in droves and started watching television. Cinerama spawned many similar techniques, such as Todd-AO, Panavision, Vistavision, etc., and foreshadowed virtual reality.

The credit for inventing Cinerama is given to Fred Waller, but actually, a process similar to Cinerama was invented in the 1920s by Abel Gance for the film Napoleon and called Polyvision. Napoleon unfortunately premiered at the same time as talking pictures, so people weren't interested in Gance's technique. He became so depressed that he destroyed the wide screen sequences. When it was restored by Kevin Brownlow, only the end had the three-screen "Cinerama" - and it was completely amazing.

This documentary goes through the evolution of Cinerama, the release of How the West Was Won, the only film featuring actors that was done in Cinerama, and its modification for future films. The original process was too cumbersome and too expensive, plus not all theaters could handle it.

Very interesting documentary, and a nice trip down nostalgia lane for those of us who remember the beautiful movie palaces, seeing How the West Was Won, and Cinerama.

Although a life-long enthusiast of authentic three-strip Cinerama, I was nevertheless somewhat surprised to be invited by Mr. Strohmaier to say a "fan`s" word or two for his film.

Knowing only that it was to be about Cinerama and having no idea what the completed film would be like, I was absolutely delighted to finally get to see this important work about a significant period in movie history.

"Cinerama Adventure" is a superbly crafted account of the emergence and demise of a cinematic format that lasted only ten years, during which time it completely "revolutionized the technique of motion-picture story-telling" and established the widescreen ratio as standard.

This is the definitive Cinerama documentary, that everyone who is interested in cinema must see and must eventually own. It is a work of great commitment and dedication, intensively researched with in-depth interviews with, and reminiscences of, virtually every survivor who was involved.

The melodious themes and soaring scores of the great composers of Hollywood`s Golden Era, Max Steiner, Alfred Newman et al. are skillfully apposite to the images on the screen. A great bonus.

With (at this time) only three locations where it is possible to see the original three-strip format, "Cinerama Adventure" will become a valuable reference treasure for future generations of students of film, and and will always be an intriguing pleasure for all movie enthusiasts.

Painstakingly researched, this documentary on the origins, life, and ultimate death of Cinerama, is a time capsule of the fifties and sixties in addition to providing an engrossing history of the process itself. Nothing in the history of motion pictures had the worldwide impact that Cinerama did. It became a weapon in the cold war between the U.S. and Soviet Union. It sparked the widescreen-stereophonic sound-full color revolution in the movies and we still benefit from its innovations fifty years after it premiered. Fans of movie technology will probably wish that the documentary ran a few hours longer.

David Strohmaier has performed miracles of resourcefulness in producing a comprehensive, thoroughly researched documentary on a tight budget. Cinerama Adventure is the definitive history of the daddy of all widescreen spectacle. He has managed to secure rare footage and interviews with the leading players in what was a great drama in itself, the story of Cinerama. Clearly a labour of love, it is a must see for all lovers of big scren movies.

Congratulations are due to David Strohmaier for CINERAMA ADVENTURE

This lovingly compiled documentary, will I am sure restore the Cinerama process to its rightful place in the technological history of the Cinema. From our current standpoint, it is hard to imaging the impact that the format had on both the industry and the public of the early '50s. David Strohmaier's coup was to involve the people, (many of whom are no longer with us) in the telling of the Cinerama story.

Also the development of the 'SmileBox' gives people too young to have experienced the thrill of Cinerama performances, an idea of what 'Waller's Wonder' was all about.

I hope a DVD of CINERAMA ADVENTURE comes along soon. It will be a 'must have' for anyone one interested in the cinema.

Steve Smith

wow! this totally blew my mind off! I had no idea why Cinerama was so special, why Cinerama was so different than the film formats we see today. this documentary about it was really great and I hope I will have the chance to see it while I am alive (but because I'm not planning to die very soon, I think I actually will see Cinerama once or twice in my life time). it's really interesting how modern film freaks and film crew and directors talk about it here, it gives away real pleasure and it makes me want to see it as fast as I can. but the question remains: does this already exist on DVD? I hope so. if that would be the case, it would be way easier for me to see it. then I would go sit right in front of the image and watch it to get the right feeling. let's hope, let's pray, that this masterwork exists on DVD!

This kind of subject is rarely found in documentary films and this film is truly a labor of love by the filmmaker. I saw Cinerama as a very young child but those memories were very distant until I saw this superb film on TCM the other night. This isn't just a look at a technical achievement but more a look at the people, society and cultures that embraced this pioneering wide- screen film process. It was a world-wide phenomenon that lasted about a decade before giving way to the competing and more manageable wide-screen processes that it spawned (primarily Cinemascope). Everything about this film is first-rate and I can't recommend it enough to film buffs or anyone who is even slightly interested in the magical history of the cinema. Bravo!

This is an overwhelming romantic adventure and especially emotionally evocative for those who experienced the real adventure in a Cinerama cinema in the 60s. This new documentary made in 2002 for the 50th anniversary of the format is informative and thrilling for any novice of the technology and utterly transporting for anyone older who was there. I was awash with childhood emotion, thrill and genuine swoon for the time and place I first saw Cinerama. It (again) just makes you realize how far Hollywood has strayed from what was right, humane, and awe-inspiring. The fascinating technical aspects of the fore runner ideas and the 1920s 30s and 40s pre attempts are astonishing; the reality of THIS IS CINERAMA of 1952 is jaw-dropping and the disclosure of the marvelous effect beats any film experience today. It is all part of a romantic fantastic and optimistic past, steamrolled flat by new age ugliness and accountancy. If you genuinely feel and love and 'get' the film THE RIGHT STUFF, then documentary is exactly that for those who love widescreen cinema of the 50s and 60s. CINERAMA ADVENTURE is The Right Stuff for cinema buffs. Instead of outer space and sound barrier as in THE RIGHT STUFF, here we have jet cameras, screen space and stereo sound barriers broken for the immense optimism and romance of celebrating life as seen in these early Cinerama documentaries. I even still have the original 1960s hard tickets (postcard size!) from my first Cinerama Adventures... this documentary is a heartfelt true story of the greatness to be had in cinema. It also makes sense to me how major studios then sought movie stories to showcase in a bigger screen format: the remake of MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY in camera 65mm came about from the Cinerama success of SOUTH SEAS ADVENTURE and seeing a 65mm BEN HUR remake a success, so they combined the two ideas of huge format lush Tahitian vista drama and a remake of a famous classic..... and then why THE SOUND OF MUSIC in 70mm with Alpine vistas became Fox's answer to a the same format idea, since HOW THE WEST WAS WON in Cinerama was such a hit, so they made SOM into a Cinerama 70mm style musical delight. MAD MAD WORLD was the comedy caper 70mm answer to the same idea.... all terrific and logical once you see this amazing and insightful documentary....

I remember being taken to see This is Cinerama by my father as a treat.I remember seeing it at the London Casino Theatre,now the Prince Edward.It was best to see this sitting in row L to get the best effect.I went to see all the subsequent Cinerama films,even after they went to 70mm.I have subsequently seen it at the National Media Museum.The only problem is colour fade.This is an excellent documentary explaining how the process started and how the film's were projected.The only problem was that every studio wanted a wide screen process,so all films ended up being shot in widescreen whether or not they were suited to the process.

I have been a Cinerama Buff since first seeing Cinerama Holiday at the London Casino way back in the 1950's. Enjoying other 3 strip and single lens productions over the following years. Such is my enthusiasm for this unique cinema medium that I took a flight from New Zealand to enjoy the 50th Anniversary of "This Is Cinerama" last year. Following this with a visit a month ago to "How The West Was Won." What beautiful colour and definition. Puts present day productions to shame. Whilst in L.A. I managed to see David Strohmaiers production of "Cinerama Adventure". What an interesting and entertaining historic document this is. The interviews with production crews, artists and producers makes this an excelent archival record for future generations of film buffs reminding them of the cinema at it's best. I thought the Cinerama images quite spectacular even on the "standard" wide screen format. The Dolby sound track too opened up a new window on the superb audio that was part of the Cinerama attraction. Top marks to David and his team for a wonderfull look back at "Cinerama" in it's heyday. Can't wait to get the DVD... Bob Jessopp Auckland New Zealand.

For those of us who grew up in the 1950s, I was born in 1940, Cinerama provided a glimpses into sensations, places and experiences that no other medium could provide. More effective than Imax, Cinerama not only put you in the picture, but into the actual experience. You walked out of the theater somehow transformed. Cinerama Adventure takes you back to those days of the Cinerama experience. And does it with integrity. It's approach is honest and straight forward without glossing over the techniques drawbacks. And there were many. But Cinerama Adventure tells you about that three strip system in depth. It covers Cinerama from the cinematography to the high tech projection system and wraps it up nicely with the reaction from the public at large. It's fast paced and enjoyable from its start to its conclusion. Dave Strohmaier, its producer, through Cinerama Adventure, has brought the experience into the present in a way that even those who never saw and experienced Cinerama can fully appreciate and enjoy. As a Cinerama fan back in the 1950s, I recommend this well put together documentary. Believe me, It's well worth watching again and again.

Very fascinating documentary about the Cinerama Camera. Goes through the story of, how and why the camera was originally conceived, and how it failed as a long-term success, but yet was hugely influential on modern cinema. Even if you have not seen a movie in Cinerama Scope like myself, The film is still very informative, about the world of movie-making.

I was fortunate enough to enjoy 3-strip Cinerama during the original release of "How the West Was Won" in Atlanta, GA and in recent years in Dayton, OH and Los Angeles. CA. I'm also a career projectionist with an affection for widescreen and esoteric processes.

Although I had previously seen rough cut segments of "Cinerama Adventure," I was not prepared for the final version. I found it informative, innovative, and surprisingly exciting. It's a story of people with a dream, some willing to risk life and limb to overcome obstacles, ironically making this picture's connection to "How the West Was Won" doubly significant.

While the Cinerama format information, clips, and witnesses interviews will certainly be of interest to fans of the large screen spectacles and the uninitiated, "Cinerama Adventure" is ultimately an encapsulation of the drive of filmmakers everywhere, a love letter to their devotion and desire to make bigger and better movies.

This film is a great time capsule of the Eisenhower era and a film geek's treasure of information on the birth of wide screen and stereophonic sound in movies. It was obviously a labor of love to produce and the inclusion of real three panel Cinerama sequences in the clever "Smilebox" really delivered the goods. One of the most unusual, and fun, documentaries on film history that I've seen.

Packing so much material relating to Cinerama's history in an hour and a half is something of a feat. I just wish the film was longer. My family enjoyed the way that the Cinerama picture was formatted to look like the real thing, and the Dolby Digital soundtrack has enough power to let viewers sample what Cinerama sounded like. Cinerama was a lot of fun and always an event, and it was great to see that it has not been forgotten. I hope it's soon available on DVD. That's excuse enough to buy a really big TV.

I was really looking forward to this doc as I have seen This In Cinerama on three-screen projection and have been obsessed with the process. The documentary is one missed opportunity after another, basically a puff-piece with the worst, I repeat, THE WORST music score put to film (a good chunk of it is from How The West Was Won and the Mormon Tabernacle segment from This Is Cinerama, but there is so much Americana Heartland-style music, it is like a bad exhibition from Disneyworld.) The documentary is just too sedate for its subject. The smilebox screen of the cinerama footage is well done and the stories from original production people, including an incredible flight over a volcano, is amazing. I just really, really wish the doc itself was more exciting.