The Independent Film Journal (1954)

Todd-AO Gives Details Of Medium’s Equipment With the completion of “Oklahoma” in the Todd-AO system, the new process is scheduled to be introduced to the public via the slogan of “You’re in the show— with Todd-AO.” This campaign will center upon the chief claim of this new large-screen me¬ dium, that of audience participation. The process, which received its name from a combination of showman Michael Todd, executive with Magna Theatre Corp., and the American Optical Co. is the result of years of experimentation undertaken by Dr. Brian O’Brien, director of the Institute of Optics at the University of Rochester and vice-president of the American Optical Co. Todd-AO uses only one camera and one projector. Four different lenses are used with the camera, covering angles of 37, 48, 64 and 128 degrees. The last is the so-called “bugeye” lens. Dr. O’Brien has reportedly designed a convertible camera which can use all four lenses interchangeably. A negative film of 65mm is used and is said to give three and one-half times the photographic area of the standard 35mm film. Release prints will be 70mm with the extra 5mm being used for the six-channel stereophonic sound. A Todd-AO motion picture is projected from a single projector onto a large curved screen which has an aspect ratio of 2 to 1. Average size was given as 51 feet across by 25 feet high. Since there would be a 13 foot curve in the middle, screen length would actually be 65 feet, according to Todd-AO figures. The screen must be of high reflec¬ tive surface. Projector Mechanism A close up of the projector shows that it is equipped with a curved runner plate. The slight bend in a longitudinal direction gives the film a greater stiffness in transverse direction. The con¬ cave side of the runner plate faces the lens. For the purpose of achieving perfect definition, the distance between the film in the gate and the projection lens does not vary in the "All Pur¬ pose" projector. The company claims that the Todd-AO projector is “universal,” because it can han¬ dle the 70mm film, the Todd-AO film re¬ duced to 35mm, any other wide screen pic¬ ture (except Cinerama), and the conven¬ tional flat picture. Dr. O’Brien is said to have developed a special printer which can reduce the original 65mm negative to a Todd-AO 35mm negative and which can also make conventional wide screen and flat pictures, including CinemaScope. The all-purpose projector is said to be suitable for 70mm film with any number of magnetic sound tracks and with separate sound film; CinemaScope film with four magnetic sound tracks, optical or Perspecta sound ; wide screen films of any size with magnetic or optical sound ; regular 35mm films; 3-D films in single-film and twin-film systems. The driving mechanism of the all-purpose projector is housed in an oil-tight casing, closed hermetically by means of a large cover, which protects it against dust. The cover is fixed with five screws and can be removed easily for inspection of the mech¬ anism. The latter part is said to be both sturdy and simple. Construction for 35mm projection is ex¬ actly the same as for the 70mm projection except for smaller distance between the run¬ ning faces of the plate and the smaller aperture. Changing over from 70mm to 35mm operation is said to take only ten minutes. The mask of the gate for 35mm films can be replaced in a few seconds by that for CinemaScope films or by a wide screen mask, according to the report. All the sprockets used in this projector and the rollers of the first traps are universal and need not be replaced. The motors can be coupled with an interlock motor for showing image films with separate sound film and for 3-D pro¬ jection according to the twin-film system. To achieve perfect definition the distance between the film in the gate and the pro¬ jection lens does not vary in the Todd-AO all-purpose projector, which is equipped with a curved runner plate. The slight bend in a longitudinal direction gives the film a greater stiffness in transverse direction. The concave slide of the runner plate faces the lens. Major claim of the company is that the new process enjoys many of the advantages of Cinerama but without the distractions of that medium. Because only one camera and projector are used, there are supposed to be no seams in a Todd-AO picture. The image is said to flow smoothly across the screen, with the deep curve on the large screen re¬ sulting in a sense of participation on the part of the audience. Projectors for showing Todd-AO features are being designed and constructed by the Phillips Electric Co. of Holland. This com¬ pany is said to be working currently on a single projector that will play 35mm and 70mm product interchangeably via a simple system of switches and dials. Todd-AO cameras are the size of a stand¬ ard Mitchell, but with a head slightly larger and with wider film magazines for the Avider negative. In place of the four sprocket holes Todd-AO Unveils All-Purpose Projector Full view of the Todd-AO "All Purpose" projector, manufactured for the Todd-AO Corp. by the cine¬ ma department of the Philips Co. in the Nether¬ lands. The projector, which will be used to pro¬ ject "Oklahoma," the first production in the new process, is said to be suitable for showing both 70mm and 35mm films, standard, 3-D, Cinema¬ Scope and wide screen films, and all with vari¬ ous types of sound tracks. on the regular 35mm film frame, there are five sprocket holes on the Todd-AO film. The camera works at 30 frames per second, instead of the conventional 24 frames, to make the action seem smoother on the large screen. The camera weighs about the same as the standard Mitchell because of the use of nevv type fiberglass insulation. According to Rob¬ ert Surtees, who directed the photography of “Oklahoma” he noted that “from a stand¬ point of optics alone, Todd-AO is a superior picture process; the proportion of the screen image is better, too.” Surtees added that “Todd-AO is the epitome of perfection for the director of photography. He declared that “from the point of composition, Todd-AO presents a much better format — -one that affords a greater compositional latitude for the ca¬ meraman and enables him to do a great many things pictorially that he has never been able to do in 35mm with a 3x4 format.” As more Todd-AO cameras are manufac¬ tured, they are to be made available to other studios and independent film producers by the Todd-AO Co. “Oklahoma” negatives and prints are be¬ ing made on Eastman Color film, processed bv Consolidated Film Laboratories at Fort' Lee, N. J. The sound, Avhich consists of six sound tracks and one control track, is being handled by Westrex. “Oklahoma” will open early in May at the Rivoli Theatre, N. Y. C. A few days later the production will open in theatres in Hollywood and Chicago, to be followed in the next few months with openings in 47 additional key cities. 22 THE INDEPENDENT FILM JOURNAL— January 22. 1955