The 4th Great Big 70mm Festival

One more before I forget . . .

The American Cinematheque at the Egyptian Theatre presents "The 4th Great Big 70mm Festival (Jan. 22 - 25), a four day series featuring five 70mm films, including Jacques Tati's masterpiece "Playtime" and the restored Todd AO print of Ken Annakin's "Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines." Also screening are new prints of the musical "Hello Dolly!", Stanley Kramer's "It's A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World" and a rare screening of Walt Disney's landmark film "Sleeping Beauty." Scheduled to appear in person is director Ken Annakin.

I'm going (along with some other IM people) to see "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World" next Sunday, so anyone is welcome to join me. Just let me know.

All screenings are at the Lloyd E. Rigler Theatre at the historic Egyptian (6712 Hollywood Boulevard between Highland and Las Palmas) in Hollywood.

From Super Technirama 70 to Ultra Panavision to Dimension 150 and more, the 70mm large-screen format promised -- and delivered -- a Barnum-esque world of spectacular sights and 6-track sounds. From 1955 to 1970, the Golden Age of 70mm Filmmaking, there were nearly 60 Hollywood features shot in large format, with many more released in special engagements as 35mm-to-70mm blow-ups.

This semi-annual series is a very rare opportunity to experience 70mm as it was meant to be seen: on a big, beautiful screen, with booming six-track multi-channel sound.