“Back to the Future Part III”: The North American
70mm Engagements |
Read more at in70mm.com The 70mm Newsletter |
| Compiled by: Michael Coate | Date: 26.02.2020 |
 The following is a reference / historical listing of the 70-millimeter
presentations of “Back to the Future Part III” in North America. These
were the cinemas worth seeking out to experience this motion picture.
“Back to the Future Part III” was among twenty confirmed first-run films released in 1990 with 70mm prints for selected engagements. The Amblin production and Universal release — directed by Robert Zemeckis (“Who Framed Roger Rabbit”) and starring Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd and Mary Steenburgen — opened May 25th. Pre-release screenings included the movie’s world premiere held May 21st at the Universal City 18. All of the movie’s first-run 70mm engagements included a “See the Future Back to Back to Back” triple feature screening on May 24th (though the first and second movie were presented in 35mm in most locales). For the release of “Back to the Future Part III,” Universal employed the services of Lucasfilm’s Theatre Alignment Program (TAP) to evaluate and approve the cinemas selected to book a 70mm print. The 70mm prints of “Back to the Future Part III” featured Six-Track Dolby Stereo (“A”-encoded Baby Boom format) and pillarboxed imagery (approximately 1.85:1) blown up from spherical 35mm. Universal circulated 70mm Six-Track Dolby coming-attraction trailers for “Darkman,” “Ghost Dad,” “Jetsons: The Movie,” “Mo’ Better Blues” and “Problem Child” during the release of “Back to the Future Part III.” Other studios circulated 70mm trailers during this period, as well. Ultimately, any 70mm trailers screened during 70mm presentations of “Back to the Future Part III” varied by venue and screening. The duration of the engagements (measured in weeks) is included in parenthesis following the cinema name. CALIFORNIA Los Angeles — GCC’s Avco Center Triplex (8) [THX] Los Angeles — Pacific’s Cinerama Dome (4) Newport Beach — Edwards’ Newport Triplex (5) Orange — Syufy’s Century Cinedome 8 (6) San Francisco — AMC’s Kabuki 8 (11) [THX] San Jose — Syufy’s Century 22 Triplex (5) Universal City — Cineplex Odeon’s Universal City 18 (7) [THX] NEW YORK New York — Cineplex Odeon’s Coronet (6) New York — Cineplex Odeon’s National Twin (7) ONTARIO Toronto — Cineplex Odeon’s Hyland Twin (8) OREGON Portland — Act III’s Eastgate Triplex (1+) [THX] TEXAS Dallas — GCC’s Northpark West Twin (7) [THX] Houston — Cineplex Odeon’s Spectrum 9 (8) [THX] Note that some of the presentations included in this listing may have been presented in 35mm during the latter week(s) of engagement due to contractual terms or print damage and the distributor’s unwillingness to supply a 70mm replacement print or because the booking was moved to a non-70mm-equipped auditorium within a multiplex. As well, the reverse may have been true in some cases whereas a booking began with a 35mm print because the lab was unable to complete the 70mm print order in time for an opening-day delivery or the exhibitor negotiated a mid-run switch to 70mm. In these cases, any 35mm portion of the engagement (or movement out of a branded auditorium) has been included in the duration figure. SUBSEQUENT 70MM ENGAGEMENTS & SCREENINGS 1990-06-22 … Los Angeles, CA — Cineplex Odeon’s Showcase (4) 1990-06-27 … San Jose, CA — Syufy’s Century 24 Twin (1+) 1990-06-29 … Salt Lake City, UT — Cineplex Odeon’s Crossroads Triplex (1) 1990-07-13 … Dallas, TX — GCC’s Northpark East Twin (1) 1990-07-18 … Dallas, TX — GCC’s Northpark West Twin (1) 1990-08-03 … Casper, WY — Movie Palaces’ America (2) 1990-08-31 … Carlsbad, CA — SoCal’s Plaza Camino Real 4 (3) [w/ “Dick Tracy”] 1991-03-20 … Toronto, ON — Cinesphere (5 days) [70mm festival] The information included in this article was principally referenced from film industry trade publications, regional newspaper promotion, print enclosures, TAP records, and Dolby records. Special thanks to David Ayers, Don Beelik, Bill Kallay and Bill Kretzel. International 70mm engagements of this title have not been accounted for in this article. If you believe this article contains any errors or omissions, please consider emailing the author or editor. |
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