Lost 3-D by Bob Furmanek by This page will be updated from time to time with articles and information on lost 3-D titles from the Golden Age.  On July 21, 1953, filming began in 3-D widescreen 1.85:1. The idea to film in 3-D was to give the audience a choice seat at a top Broadway show. The producers envisioned this format as a new way to inexpensively film stage shows and present them in theaters across the country. They developed a rather complicated tracking shot for the opening of the film. The camera would represent the viewer and approach the box office and buy tickets, enter the lobby and proceed to a fifth row, aisle seat. Lights would dim, the overture would play and the show would begin. (This elaborate opening was abandoned in favor of a static shot of the theater marquee, which then dissolves directly into the stage show.) It was photographed with Natural Vision cameras, the same rigs that had filmed BWANA DEVIL, HOUSE OF WAX, FORT TI, CHARGE AT FEATHER RIVER, DEVIL'S CANYON, THE MOONLIGHTER, SOUTHWEST PASSAGE and GOG. The film was in post-production in September 1953 just as THE ROBE and CinemaScope premiered and 3-D was starting to decline at the box office. While shopping the property around for a distributor (the film was independently financed) the producers announced on October 27 they would release TOP BANANA flat only, citing the public’s lukewarm response to the current 3-D releases. In early December, they signed a distribution deal with United Artists. Later that month, the success of some new 3-D releases (KISS ME KATE, HONDO, CEASE FIRE and MISS SADIE THOMPSON) prompted UA to announce on December 10 that a 3-D version would be available for exhibitors. Unfortunately, that is the last reference to any release of the stereoscopic version of this film. When it was sneak previewed, shown to the trades and released in February 1954, it was shown flat only. The film was photographed on Eastmancolor negative film 5248 (25 ASA tungsten) and processed by the Color Corporation of America laboratory (formerly SuperCinecolor/Cinecolor) in Burbank. Release prints were made by Pathe Labs. Color Corporation went out of business the following year. Apparently, all of the original elements were junked at that time. The 35mm left/right negatives were probably stored under Roadshow Productions. Sadly, the only material in the United Artists archive today is an edited 35mm release print of the right side. That is the version which has been released on home video and it's missing about 15 minutes of footage. There are no negatives, color separations, interpositives, dupe negatives, nothing. However, the missing 15 minutes does survive in both an uncut 16mm Kodachrome print struck in 1954 and an original, faded 35mm release print now at the UCLA Film and Television Archive.    The 3-D footage is not completely lost. In June 2003, I made a very interesting discovery. While examining an original 35mm trailer, I found that certain shots in the trailer were from the opposite eye of the surviving 35mm print. While the negatives may be gone, at least a few moments now survive in 3-D!   Bob Furmanek is an award-winning
producer, writer and motion picture archivist/historian. He is available for research and consultation work with respect to 3-D and aspect ratio information. Contact Bob by e-mail at:  |
 | |
Lost 3-D |