May 4, 1953: The first black and white film composed for widescreen is MGM's CREST OF THE WAVE. It opens in London in 1.75:1 on July 15, 1954 and in the U.S. on November 10, 1954. May 11, 1953: Columbia begins filming the 3 Stooges 3-D short SPOOKS in 1.85:1. When released on May 29, 1953, the left/right 35mm 3-D prints are sepia-toned. Here is an open matte trailer for CREST OF THE WAVE. June 10, 1953: The first widescreen black and white 3-D feature is Paramount's CEASE FIRE. It premieres in 1.66:1 on November 25, 1953. October 19, 1954: The first VistaVision film in black and white is THE DESPERATE HOURS. When reviewed in September 1955, the recommended aspect ratio is 2:1. March 11, 1955: BENGAZI is announced by RKO for anamorphic Superscope lensing. March 30, 1955: REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE begins filming in black and white 2.55:1 CinemaScope but is changed to Warnercolor on April 4. The following screen tests were filmed on March 23. April 2, 1955: TRIAL begins filming at MGM in black and white Cinemascope. After a few days, it is changed to non-anamorphic 1.85:1 widescreen. April 11, 1955: Darryl F. Zanuck publicly reminds producers that according to their licensing contract, CinemaScope productions must be in color. April 25, 1955: BENGAZI begins filming in 2:1 Superscope. On May 19, Joseph Tushinsky, president of Superscope, announces "It is the only wide-screen anamorphic process which is currently being used by both black and white and color photography." BENGAZI is released by RKO on September 14, 1955. March 1, 1956: Darryl F. Zanuck takes a four month leave of absence from 20th Century Fox. Buddy Adler is the acting head of the studio during Zanuck's absence. April 9, 1956: MGM begins filming THE POWER AND THE PRIZE in black and white 2.55:1 CinemaScope. Directed by Henry Koster -- director of THE ROBE -- it is released on September 26, 1956. May 8, 1956: Studio President Spyros P. Skouras announces that "20th Century Fox is no longer wholly committed to CinemaScope in color." June 21, 1956: TEENAGE REBEL is the first 20th Century Fox 2.55:1 CinemaScope film in black and white. In August 1956, International Projectionist publishes an article on the resurgence of black and white productions. For more information on early non-anamorphic widescreen, please read The First Year of Widescreen and Widescreen Documentation. |