|
Title |
Format |
Opening |
Sound |
Studio |
Notes |
|
“Altered States” |
Spherical (1.85:1) |
Dec 25 (USA) |
6-Track Dolby Stereo
(MegaSound) |
Warner Bros. |
 First of four 70mm releases from 1980/81 to feature
MegaSound bass enhancement. OAR blow-up. Sneak previewed in 70mm prior to
release. 70mm trailers:
‘Outland’ and ‘Excalibur.’ |
|
“The Blue Lagoon” |
Spherical (1.85:1) |
June 20 (USA) |
6-Track Stereo |
Columbia |
 World Premiere: June 19 (Los Angeles).
OAR blow-up. As with DP Nestor Almendros’ work on ‘Days Of
Heaven,’ this was a magnificently shot film enhanced with 70mm prints. |
|
Blues Brothers, The |
Spherical (1.85:1) |
Oct 10 (UK) |
6-Track Stereo |
Universal |
 35mm release: June
20. Some 35mm prints in 4-track mag
stereo. |
“Can’t Stop the
Music”
|
Panavision |
June 20 (USA) |
6-Track Dolby Stereo |
AFD |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Close Encounters Of The Third Kind (Re-Issue) |
Panavision |
Aug 1 (USA) |
6-Track Dolby Stereo |
Columbia |
 This was the 132-min ‘Special Edition,’ and was the
version initially made available to home video formats. This version
included a newly-shot ending, footage unused in the 1977 edition, and
different editing throughout the film. |
|
“Divine Madness” |
Panavision |
Sept 25 (USA) |
6-Track Dolby Stereo |
Ladd |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Electric Horseman, The |
Panavision |
Mar 13 (UK) |
6-Track Stereo |
Universal/Columbia |
US 35mm release: Dec 21, 1979. |
"The Empire Strikes Back"
|
Panavision |
May 21 (USA) |
6-Track Dolby Stereo |
20th Century Fox |
 World Premiere: May 17 (Washington, DC). 136 70mm prints were struck for initial release (a record at the
time.) Due to last-minute
changes made to the film, the already prepared 70mm prints contain some
different shots, dialogue & transitional wipes compared to the final
35mm prints. Expanded release
June 27. 70mm re-issues in
‘81, ‘82, ‘83 and 35mm-digital in ‘97.
AKA: “Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back.” |
|
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|
“Fame” |
Spherical (1.85:1) |
May 16 (USA) |
6-Track Dolby Stereo |
MGM |
 |
|
“Heaven’s Gate” |
Panavision |
Nov 19 (USA) |
6-Track Dolby Stereo |
United Artists |
 US reserved seat engagement (shortest in history!).
Originally set to open in three cities (New York, Los Angeles, Toronto).
LA engagement was cancelled. There
was one screening in Toronto. The NY run lasted three days. OAR blow-up. Premiere version ran 219 min. Cut to 149 for
1981 re-issue/general release. |
|
“The Island” |
Panavision |
June 13 (USA) |
6-Track Dolby Stereo |
Universal |
 |
|
“The Jazz Singer” |
Spherical (1.85:1) |
Dec 19 (USA) |
6-Track Dolby Stereo (SS) |
AFD |
 OAR blow-up. |
|
“The Ninth
Configuration” |
Panavision |
Feb 29 (USA) |
6-Track Stereo |
Warner Bros. |
 LA engagement not advertised in 70mm until
third week of run. Re-edited into a ‘director’s cut’ & re-issued in Aug 1980
under the title “Twinkle, Twinkle, ‘Killer’ Kane.” Also see database entry
for “Twinkle, Twinkle, ‘Killer’Kane.” |
|
“Raise the Titanic” |
Technovision |
Aug 1 (USA) |
6-Track Dolby Stereo |
AFD |
 Technovision photography credit misspelled
‘Technivision’ in end credits. 70mm
trailer: ‘The Jazz Singer.’ |
|
Sargam |
NA |
May (India) |
6-Track Stereo |
NA |
|
|
Saturn 3 |
Spherical (1.85:1) |
Feb 15 (USA) |
6-Track Dolby Stereo |
AFD |
 US 70mm release unconfirmed. Title is listed in the book
“Wide Screen Movies.” Advertised
in LA for one day only (Feb 10) & in NY for three days only (Feb 10,
15 & 17). Screened in
70mm in London beginning May 8. |
|
Shaan |
NA |
Dec (India) |
6-Track Stereo |
NA |
|
|
Twinkle, Twinkle, ‘Killer’ Kane |
Panavision |
Aug 8 (USA) |
6-Track Stereo |
UFD |
This
was a re-edited, re-issued version of “The Ninth Configuration.”
Re-issued in yet another edition (in 35mm) in 1985. Which cut (and under
which title) will eventually appear on
DVD? Also see database entry for “The Ninth Configuration.” |
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