“Lethal Weapon 3”: The North American 70mm Engagements | Read more at in70mm.com The 70mm Newsletter |
| Compiled by: Michael Coate | Date: 01.05.2022 |
 The following is a reference / historical listing of the 70-millimeter presentations of “Lethal Weapon 3” in North America. These were the cinemas worth seeking out to best experience this motion picture. “Lethal Weapon 3” was among ten confirmed first-run films released in 1992 with 70mm prints for selected engagements. The Warner Bros. release — directed by Richard Donner and starring Mel Gibson, Danny Glover, Joe Pesci and Rene Russo — opened May 15th. Pre-release screenings included the world premiere held May 12th at the Village in Los Angeles. For the release of “Lethal Weapon 3,” Warner Bros. 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 “Lethal Weapon 3” featured Six-Track Dolby Stereo (“A”-encoded “baby boom” format) and full-frame imagery blown up from anamorphic 35mm. Warner Bros. circulated 70mm Six-Track Dolby coming-attraction trailers for “Batman Returns,” “The Bodyguard,” “Christopher Columbus: The Discovery,” “Class Act,” “Innocent Blood,” “Malcolm X,” “Mom and Dad Save the World,” “Passenger 57,” “Pure Country,” “Singles,” “Stay Tuned,” “Under Siege” and “Unforgiven” during the release of “Lethal Weapon 3.” As well, other studios circulated 70mm trailers during this period. Ultimately, the 70mm trailers, if any, seen during the 70mm presentations of “Lethal Weapon 3” varied by venue and screening. The duration of the engagements (measured in weeks) has been included in parenthesis following the applicable cinema name. CALIFORNIA Los Angeles — Mann’s Chinese Triplex (7) [THX] Los Angeles — Mann’s Village (5) [THX] Newport Beach — Edwards’ Newport Triplex (4) Orange — Syufy’s Cinedome 11-plex (9) San Francisco — UA’s Coronet (5) San Jose — Syufy’s Century 21 (3) KANSAS Overland Park — Dickinson’s Glenwood 4-plex (9) NEW YORK New York — Loews’ 19th Street East 6-plex (12) New York — Loews’ 34th Street Showplace Triplex (5) New York — Loews’ 84th Street 6-plex (8) New York — Loews’ New York Twin (8) New York — Loews’ Orpheum 7-plex (8) [THX] New York — UA’s Criterion Center 7-plex (#1: 14) New York — UA’s Criterion Center 7-plex (#2: 5) ONTARIO Toronto — Famous Players’ Hollywood Twin (8) Toronto — Famous Players’ Uptown 5-plex (7) QUEBEC Montreal — Famous Players’ Palace 6-plex (9) 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 1992-06-05 … San Jose, CA — Syufy’s Century 23 Twin (2) 1992-06-17 … Los Angeles, CA — Mann’s Bruin (2) [THX] 1992-06-18 … San Francisco, CA — UA’s Galaxy 4-plex (8) [THX] 1992-06-19 … San Jose, CA — Syufy’s Century 24 Twin (3) 1992-07-01 … Los Angeles, CA — Mann’s Plaza (2) 1992-08-21 … Casper, WY — Movie Palaces’ America (2) 1992-08-21 … Cincinnati, OH — American Cinemas’ Carousel Twin (5) 1992-09-04 … Casper, WY — Movie Palaces’ America (2) [w/ “Patriot Games”] 1992-09-18 … San Antonio, TX — Rivercenter IMAX (5) 1992-10-23 … Cleveland, OH — CWRU’s Strosacker [CWRU Film Society series] 1993-01-13 … Toronto, ON — Cinesphere (12 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 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. | More in 70mm reading: “Lethal Weapon”: The North American 70mm Engagements “Lethal Weapon 2”: The North American 70mm Engagements 70mm Cinemas in North America Chronological premiere list of major 70mm films Month by month premiere list of wide gauge and 3-strip films 70mm Engagements 70mm Blow Up List Dolby Stereo |
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