“Flatliners”: The North American 70mm Engagements |
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| Compiled by: Michael Coate | Date: 01.03.2019 |
 The
following is a reference / historical listing of the 70-millimeter
engagements of “Flatliners” in the United States and Canada. These were the
cinemas worth seeking out to experience this motion picture.“Flatliners” was among twenty confirmed first-run films released in 1990 with 70mm prints for selected engagements. The Columbia release — directed by Joel Schumacher (“The Lost Boys”) and starring Keifer Sutherland, Julia Roberts, Kevin Bacon, William Baldwin, and Oliver Platt — opened August 10th. Among the film’s pre-release screenings was the world premiere at the Chinese in Los Angeles on August 6th. For the release of “Flatliners,” Columbia 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 “Flatliners” featured magnetic Six-Track Dolby Stereo (“A” encoded Baby Boom format [Dolby processor setting “42”]) and 2.20:1 fullframe imagery blown up from anamorphic 35mm and provided a superior projection and sound experience in comparison to the film’s 35mm prints. Note that some cinemas may have screened a 70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo print utilizing Dolby-compatible equipment from another manufacturer (EPRAD, Smart, Ultra Stereo, etc.), and in some instances an exhibitor may have made a special request for a 70mm print that lacked Dolby Noise Reduction so that it could be played on a cinema’s older, pre-Dolby-era sound system. Historical footnote: There were trade reports indicating “Flatliners” was to be released in Cinema Digital Sound (CDS), but no evidence could be found that such a release actually occurred in North America. It has been confirmed, however, there were CDS prints of “Flatliners,” in 35mm, exhibited in Europe. Digital sound accelerated an industry trend of fewer motion pictures released with 70mm prints. Columbia circulated 70mm Six-Track Dolby coming-attraction trailers for “Misery,” “Postcards from the Edge,” “Sibling Rivalry” and “Texasville” during the release of “Flatliners.” Other studios circulated 70mm trailers during this period, as well. Ultimately, any 70mm trailers screened during 70mm presentations of “Flatliners” varied by venue and screening. The duration of the engagements (measured in weeks) is included in parenthesis following the cinema name. CALIFORNIA Los Angeles — AMC’s Century 14 (9) [THX] Los Angeles — Cineplex Odeon’s Odeon (8) [THX] Los Angeles — Mann’s Chinese Triplex (5) [THX] NEW YORK New York — Cineplex Odeon’s Chelsea 9 (8) [THX] New York — Cineplex Odeon’s Ziegfeld (5) 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 2011-07-09 … Los Angeles, CA — Egyptian [70mm festival; w/ “Lifeforce”] 2019-06-13 … Chicago, IL — Music Box [Cinepocalypse 2019] 2022-06-25 … Chicago, IL — Music Box [70mm festival; w/ “Daughter of Dismay”] 2022-06-30 … Chicago, IL — Music Box [70mm festival; w/ “Daughter of Dismay”] 2025-07-17 … Santa Monica, CA — Aero [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 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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