The Best of Cinerama is comprised of all the greatest thrills of Cinerama, from the breathtaking roller coaster ride to the visit to La Scala, Milan, for Aida; from the hurtling bobsled run, to the stirring dances of the African Watusis. Made up of over twenty such exciting highlights, the film is not only an historic compilation, but also a stand-alone, "thrill-a-minute" experience. Also includes short on Shell oil, short documentary on Merrit Island and Cape Canaveral, short film on the arrival of Battleship Iowa in San Pedro, interview with principle production team for Cinerama restorations, trailer, slideshows and fascimile of original program booklet on 1 Blu-ray Disc + bonus DVD. 1966/color/143 min/NR/widescreen.
B**Z
This is really good to see so much good footage edited together for this Cinerama presentation! Color 50's & 60's planet Earth!
This was much better than I expected. I didn't realize that this was a REAL Cinerama release.I have the other 5 movies that footage was gleened from.The presentation was really worth watching with all of the "best" footage combined in Smilebox Cinerama for home viewing.The music is good in 5.1 surround and having Cinerama scenes of world lanscapes and cultures all in one package is beautiful.The Earth never looked better than in the 50's and 60's in color Cinerama.Older generations should show younger generations how beautiful our planet was before corporate advertisingtook over the world.It's like going back in time! The restoration is SUPER and it's good to show respect to the wonderful format: Cinerama!Also the extra's are cool,too.Many rare shorts made in the Cinerama process.It's also good for just running in the background for "mood" at a party or gathering.Best viewed on a Big Screen TV with sound system.
W**W
Best Of Cinerama Astounding!
As a long time lover of the Cinerama process and owner of a couple of other titles in the format, I was looking forward to seeing this one. I had slightly heard of it, but never could get a true confirmation that it existed. I bought it based on price but when it finally arrived, I was pleasantly surprised by just how great this title actually is! It really shows how well the Cinerama process was used and some of those scenes from the other movies made me jump! The rafting down the river (where a crew member as well as a camera were lost) was spectacular and showed that Otto Lang truly knew what he was doing. I had heard the Cinerama Holiday extracts would be pink, but no way. They were full of color which for a 60 year old negative is pretty darn good. The restoration feature by Dave Stromaier (I met him and Lang several years ago at a Cinerama Fest in Seattle) filled me in on the restoration.reconstruction process and made me appreciate even more all the work that has gone in to restore these 'jumbo' movies to watchable conditions again-albeit without the three projectors and a huge curve screen in your living room. Let's just say this title alone would be a good starting point for a younger movie buff who is curious about what widescreen truly is capable of. For me, it just got me jazzed about ordering what I'm missing from the library and now we're on the way to filling the void. My highest recommendation and I certainly hope that others who saw these wonders enjoy this one as much as I have. Anticipate running it often.
H**S
Next best thing to being there yourself
If you’re one of those who were not yet born in the era of Cinerama, or too young to remember, this film recreates the 3-screen experience.This compilation film of the best moments of the Cinerama films captures a world different and much more innocent than what we live in now. Many countries, many cultures represented.In today’s post-9/11 world, you can enjoy traveling without leaving home...be a part of the action without buying a ticket. This is widescreen technology that may have been ahead of its time, but still just as innovative today as it was in the 1950s.Highly recommended. A bit of advice, though...the larger your HDTV screen, the better the experience. See it while you can.
T**H
Wow .. Cinerama
Cinerama started the year I was born and I don't recall going to a Cinerama equipped theater where I lived when growing up. Its a great evolutionary step but it never really caught on. Too expensive I guess. We have one theater in Seattle, the Cinerama theater, that was restored by Paul Allen about 10-15 years ago but it shows mostly current formats. At the time of the restoration they did say the still had the Cinerama projectors but were not planning to use them since the availability of content was so limited. Maybe they have changed. If so, I would be wiling to go and see some of these if they are playing.
M**Y
Another Top SmileBox
Yea SmileBox! I grew up waiting for the next Cinerama and now I wait for the next film converted with the SmileBox Process. Outstanding!The colors in this release tops those of the full feature released earlier, Cinerama Holiday, This is Cinerama and others that make up this addition. Now I'm waiting for "The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm". Anyone know if it's being worked on? The SmileBox projected on my home screen really gives the feel of Cinerama. I think it would be great on Super70mm releases, like 'It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World', 'Grande Prix','Lord Jim', 'Khortoum', 'Song of Norway', and most recent shot on 70mm was 'The Hateful Eight'. I am a fan of IMAX, mostly the sound, but you can't beat the curved screen and the way your eyes but you in the picture.
K**D
Excellent documentation.
Having been to 87 different countries around this world of ours, it was obvious that I would see and recognise many of the scenes and sights shown in this movie.It made me feel good to be able to "revisit" them again. It could be used as a good travelogue movie. Worth buying. Adequately packaged and arrived safe and happy at its destination. Thank You for your good service.
J**Z
Great Viewing!
All the best of Cinerama is here. It brings back memories of all the Cinerama movies. The set up for viewing is terrific with the curved screen viewing. It's as close as being in a Cinerama theater. The larger the TV screen you have along with a good surround audio system will make it even better.
G**A
Lacking extras from the disc, but nice.
This streaming only version includes no extras from the disc release, but it plays okay.
D**D
Best of Cinerama is the Best Yet
My Christmas present to myself was Flicker Valley’s ‘The Best of Cinerama’ Blu-ray & DVD (Region Free) and 24 page Souvenir Booklet; I ordered it Christmas Eve from All My Music(via Amazon UK) and it arrived on 3rd Jan 17 which bearing in mind the holiday period was amazingly quick. It’s basically clips from ‘This is Cinerama’, ‘Cinerama Holiday’, ‘Seven Wonders of The World’, (These first three titles I already own) ‘Search for Paradise’ and ‘South Seas Adventure’. Strangely there is no introduction by Lowell Thomas after the Overture, though he does narrate most of the commentary. The performance starts with an overture to part one and the curtains drawback to jets screaming overhead, then into that classic roller coaster ride, you can have a second ride for 25c! Then on Switzerland in winter time and skiing at St Moritz and a thrilling snowbound Toboggan ride. The tour of Europe progresses to Paris, Naples, Venice, Rome and The Vatican; what is very noticeable is how little traffic was around in those days. There is a rather boring sequence of a Spanish Bullfight and okay sequence of Spanish dancers. We move on to see a clip of the Opera ‘Aida’ at the magnificent La Scala Opera House of Milan. Next we move on to the wonders of Athens. The final clips are from India, The Ganges, Taj Mahal and the Darjeeling runaway train which I well remember how exciting it was when I saw it over fifty years ago on that big Cinerama Screen at The Casino, Tottenham Court Road. The curtains draw for the intermission and then into the second half and a lengthy America’s selection including fantastic footage of the Grand Canyon, Long Island and waterfalls in Peru South America. The final sequences are of Australia, Japan, The Pyramids and it ends with rather a long sequence of the Holy Land and the landmarks from biblical times, and the commentary in this final part has very much a religious style of Cecil De Mille and The Ten Commandments. My audience comments were ‘WOW a whistle stop tour of the World in an Evening!’ I thought that this was the best of Flicker Valley’s Cinerama discs I have seen. It particularly it benefited from the editing of some of the particular overlong sequences in the original productions such as the at least twice as long as was needed ‘The Cypress Gardens Water Skiing’ from ‘This is Cinerama’. There are plenty of extras, the one I am sure will be most appreciated: - ‘Reconstructing The Best of Cinerama’ which details the difficulty and extensive work needed in reproducing this Cinerama treat. The picture quality of this release is good, but nowhere nearly as good as the recent IMAX and other documentaries such as Planet Earth II. The joints between the panels for the most part are not too intrusive other than scenes with a lot of sky, which I would have thought could have been comparatively easy to disguise by cloning other similar areas of sky. Some of the commentary is clearly in a style of a different era, perhaps some of it now would be considered politically incorrect! Followers of fashion will note the dress attire of the people, all those men in hats & ties and women in dresses to say nothing of how tatty Paris and Rome were then. I think it has stood the test of time fairly well, you have to remember it was a time when very few people could afford to travel to such exotic locations, come to think of it the cost today of this whistle stop world trip would be many thousands to say nothing of the time factor. I was surprised that the duplicate DVD despite the large amount of material on it is of very acceptable quality. A great nostalgia package and if you only buy one of Flicker Valley’s Cinerama releases this would in my opinion be the best choice for its varied content. Do have a look on U-tube, search on ‘Cinerama’ there is a lot of trailers (including this release) and documentaries, don’t forget to look on Flicker Valley’s web site also. I have given it five stars for such a great nostalgia package, though the picture quality merits a lower rating.
M**N
Impressive
Wonderful restoration of timeless classic film. The curved makes you feel as though you are there. Its like a trip around the world without leaving your living room.
C**N
F.E.R.
It is a very nice film in Cinerama sistem.
M**Y
Five Stars
Excellent production. Highly recommend!
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