THREE-DIMENSION FILM

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27010, 9 April 1953, Page 11

THREE-DIMENSION FILM

LONDON CRITICS NOT IMPRESSED FULL-LENGTH COLOURED PRODUCTION (From the London Correspondent of “The Press") LONDON, March 20. The first full-length coloured film made by one of the three-dimensional processes that has been rediscovered by Hollywood film-makers to combat the threat of television, was given its London premiere last evening. Produced by Arch Oboler, the film, “Bwana Devil,” had Robert Barbara Britton, and Nigel Bruce as its principal players. As a film, “Bwana Devil” is a preposterous adventure story of two maneating lions which terrorise workers building a railway in Africa in the 1890’s. The action is slow and disjointed. The best acting performances are given by the two well-trained lions who lope around looking very amused at the whole business. Although most critics dismissed “Bwana Devil” as a crude and simple film made by a new method, they said- that it would be unwise to assume that “3-D” cinema would always feature such simple films. “Bwana Devil” was only the beginning of a new experiment in film making, and it was possible that techniques had improved considerably since the film was made more than "two years ago, they said.

Polaroid Spectacles Used Members of the audience view the screen through small Polaroid spectacles which the management carefully describe as “unsuitable for sun glasses or night driving.” In some shots, when a spear was thrown at the camera or when there were close-ups of the hero and heroine, the illusion of stereoscopy was startling, and objects seemed to leap out of the screen, but the perspective of most scenes was generally confusing. Objects at varying distances lost perspective, and while figures in the foreground of scenes had the full dimensional effect claimed, the backgrounds were flat and out of focus. The viewing spectacles, which caused a definite strain on the eyes during the 90-minute performance, also made the screen appear much smaller, so that, although the film was in bright colour, scenes appeared flat and dirty and reduced in size. As a novelty film. “Bwana Devil will probably repeat its American success in Britain. Sponsors of “3-D,” however, will have to make considerable technical improvements before the new method of viewing replaces the present “flat” films.