The following is a reference / historical listing of the 70-millimeter presentations of “Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country” in North America. These were the cinemas worth seeking out to experience this motion picture.
“Star Trek VI” was among ten confirmed first-run films released in 1991 with 70mm prints for selected engagements. The Paramount release — directed by Nicholas Meyer (“Star Trek II,” “Time After Time”) and starring William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, Kim Cattrall, David Warner and Christopher Plummer — opened December 6th.
Pre-release screenings included an invitational preview held December 3rd in Los Angeles (National and Paramount Studios).
William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelly, James Doohan, Walter Koenig, Nichelle Nichols and George Takei on December 5th placed their hand and footprints in the Chinese Theater courtyard in connection with “Star Trek VI.”
For the release of “Star Trek VI,” Paramount 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 “Star Trek VI” featured full-frame imagery blown up from Super-35 and a dual inventory of A- and SR-encoded Six-Track Dolby Stereo.
Paramount circulated 70mm trailers for “Brain Donors,” “Cool World,” “Juice,” “K2,” “Ladybugs,” “Patriot Games” and “Wayne’s World” during the release of “Star Trek VI.” As well, other studios circulated 70mm trailers during this period. Ultimately, the 70mm trailers, if any, seen during the 70mm presentations of “Star Trek VI” varied by venue and screening.
The duration of the engagements (measured in weeks) is included in parenthesis following the cinema name.
ALBERTA Calgary — Famous Players’ Palliser Square Twin (9) Edmonton — Famous Players’ West Mall 5 (9)
BRITISH COLUMBIA Vancouver — Famous Players’ Vancouver Centre Twin (8)
CALIFORNIA Los Angeles — Mann’s Chinese Triplex (8) [THX] Los Angeles — Mann’s National (11) [THX] Orange — Syufy’s Century Cinedome 8 (11) San Francisco — UA’s Galaxy 4 (13) [THX] San Jose — Syufy’s Century 21 (3) Universal City — Cineplex Odeon’s Universal City 18 (8) [THX]
COLORADO Denver — Mann’s Century 21 (1+) [THX]
ILLINOIS Skokie — Loews’ Old Orchard 4 (7)
NEW YORK New York — Cineplex Odeon’s First & 62nd 6 (11) New York — Guild’s Embassy Triplex (10) New York — Loews’ 34th Street Showplace Triplex (6) New York — Loews’ 84th Street Showplace 6 (6) New York — Loews’ Village 7 (8) [THX] New York — UA’s East 85th Street (6)
ONTARIO Ottawa — Famous Players’ Elgin Twin (9) Toronto — Famous Players’ Eglinton (9) [THX]
QUEBEC Montreal — Famous Players’ Imperial (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 smaller, non-70mm-equipped auditorium within a multiplex. As well, the reverse scenario 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 such 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
1991-12-25 … San Jose, CA — Syufy’s Century 24 Twin (1+)
1992-01-31 … San Antonio, TX — Rivercenter IMAX (23) 1992-03-13 … Casper, WY — Movie Palaces’ America (2) 1992-03-13 … Downers Grove, IL — Classic Cinemas’ Tivoli (2) [HPS-4000] 1992-03-20 … Baltimore, MD — Durkee’s Senator (1) 1992-03-25 … Toronto, ON — Cinesphere (11 days) [fest] 1992-04-03 … Marietta, GA — Town & Country Triplex (2) 1992-04-27 … Vancouver, BC — CN IMAX at Canada Place (4 days) [fest] 1992-06-12 … Cleveland Heights, OH — Centrum Triplex [Fri/Sat midnight] 1992-07-13 … Atlanta, GA — Fox [15th annual summer film fest]
1993-02-27 … Toronto, ON — Cinesphere (2 days) [fest; w/ “Star Trek IV”] 1993-03-12 … Vancouver, BC — CN IMAX at Canada Place (2 days) [fest]
1994-02-19 … Toronto, ON — Cinesphere (2 days) [fest] 1994-06-24 … Vancouver, BC — CN IMAX at Canada Place (2 days) [fest] 1994-08-04 … Vancouver, BC — CN IMAX at Canada Place (2 days) [fest] 1994-11-09 … Castle Rock, WA — Cinedome (5 days) [“Star Trek” fest] 1994-11-12 … Montreal, QC — Famous Players’ Imperial [THX] 1994-11-12 … Toronto, ON — Famous Players’ Uptown 5 [fest]
1996-01-13 … Montreal, QC — Famous Players’ Imperial [THX] (w/ “The Doors”) 1996-11-15 … Toronto, ON — Cinesphere (10 days) [“Star Trek” fest]
2008-12-23 … Los Angeles, CA — Laemmle’s Royal [Laemmle 70th/fest; w/ “2001”] 2008-12-23 … Los Angeles, CA — Laemmle’s Royal [Laemmle 70th/ “Star Trek” fest]
2010-07-24 … Los Angeles (West Los Angeles), CA — Laemmle’s Royal [“Star Trek” series] 2010-09-24 … Ottawa, ON — Museum-Theatre [fest; w/ “A Place to Stand,” “Baraka & “Vertigo”]
2011-03-27 … Los Angeles, CA — American Cinematheque’s Egyptian [“Star Trek” series w/ Nicholas Meyer Q&A]
2016-09-16 … Los Angeles, CA — American Cinematheque’s Egyptian [w/ “Star Trek IV” + Q&A]
2017-09-02 … Seattle, WA — Cinerama [70mm fest]
2018-09-14 … Seattle, WA — Cinerama [70mm fest] 2018-09-21 … Chicago, IL — Music Box [70mm fest] 2018-09-22 … Chicago, IL — Music Box [70mm fest] 2018-09-23 … Chicago, IL — Music Box [70mm fest]
2019-10-01 … Seattle, WA — Cinerama [70mm fest]
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 Mark Campbell, Bill Kallay, Bill Kretzel and Cliff Stephenson.
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:
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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