The motion picture projectionist (Oct 1928-Oct 1929)

October, 1929 The Motion Picture Projectionist 19 The Grandeur System By James J. Finn FOX FILM CORPORATION has introduced a new wide film system which is now running at the Gayety Theatre on Broadway, New York City, constituting the first public showing of a new film size which, it is predicted by motion picture executives, will quickly displace the present standard size film. It is claimed for the Grandeur system (as well as for other wide film processes), that the picture reveals a stereoscopic effect — third dimension. The writer witnessed showings of all three systems now available — Spoor-Berggren (RCA) ; Magnafilm (Paramount), and Grandeur — but he failed to see in any one of them anything even approaching a stereoscopic effect. As previously stated in these columns, the mere "illusion of depth" which is conveyed by all wide film does not lend a stereoscopic effect.. Wide film does offer the opportunity for panoramic background and marvelous detail of objects far distant from the camera, but these advantages must not be construed as stereoscopy. The projectionist's chief interest in Grandeur lies not in the fact that it is a wide film system but rather in considering the changes which wide film will effect in his daily work — the type of equipment which he will be called upon to use, the manner in which the projec'ion problems are overcome, and so on. The sponsors of wide film are rather secretive about the details of their respective equipments, thus complete information on the systems is not readily available. However, such information as is available about the Grandeur system should be sufficient lo convey to projectionists some idea, however slight, of just what the equipment is like and just how its introduction will affect their daily projection routine. Ail of the Grandeur apparatus was developed by the engineering staffs of Fox Film Corp and General Theatres Equipment, Inc., the latter a newly-formed company which includes some of the leading manufacturers of projection equipment.. The research work on Grandeur was under, the direction of Mr. A. E. Sponable, Fox-Case Corp. engineer who was prominently identified with the development work on Movietone. The camera used is made by the Mitchell Camera Corp. of Hollywood, also members of General Theatres Equipment, Inc. Projector Changes The principle of Grandeur pictures is not that of magnification. The camera used is equipped with a new type lens which records an image of greater scope than has ever before been achieved, using film 70 millimeters wide — twice the size of the present standard film. The accompanying illustration shows the comparative sizes of Grandeur and the present standard film. The sound track on the former is twice the size of the one now in general entations was made for Fox by The International Projector Corp., manufacturers of Simplex projectors. It is understood that the entire head and sound compartment of the Grandeur projector is one casting, although provision has been made for detaching these sections, if desired. Thus far only two Grandeur projectors have been turned out. It is possible to fit the regular Simplex projector for Grandeur pictures, although it is conceded that the results thus obtained are not wholly satisfactory. Good results with wide film demand a special projector for the job, as has been evidenced by this first showing in New York, where a comparison between the quality of picture delivered by the Grandeur projector and that of the ordinary projector fitted for the task shows the former to be far superior. Changes in the projector for Grandeur film arc confined in the main to an enlargement of all working parts of the mechanism and, of course, a larger film gate. It is interesting to note that Grandeur does not employ compressed air (o hold the wide film in a perfectly flat focal plane at the aperture but instead uses a film gate of special design, which curves outward toward the screen. This curve maintains the film in a perfectly flat plane as it passes the light, thus insuring buckle-free film. It is not known what provision, if any, has been made for warping. 50' x 32' Maximum Grandeur will give a picture 50 feet by 32 feet, but a smaller picture may be had depending upon the individual requirements of theatres. At the New York shewing the proportions of the picture are 32 feet by 18, the Gayety being a small theatre. When shooting a picture the camera runs at 90 feet per minute; in reproduction, the projector runs at 78 feet per minute. The sound sprocket is regulated to run at 360 r.p.m. A special 12-volt exciter lamp with a wider, huskier filament is used. The slit is twice the ordinary size. Other sound units are the same. The horns are placed at each end of the picture, instead of at the center, as is now the custom. Grandeur requires from 130 to 160 amperes, depending upon the size of the theatre. At the Gayety Theatre, on a 60foot throw, the amperage is about 130. A special quartz condenser is used to withstand the terrific heat. All projector gears are twice the ordinary size, with larger and stronger teeth. There are no changes in the screen used, excepting, of course, that it is very much larger. Improved Model Likely It is understood that subsequent models of the Grandeur projector will incorporate certain improvements which have suggested themselves since the first machines were made. It is likely that the production of Grandeur projectors will not be entered into on a large scale for some time, although Fox will probably order more machines for showing the new system in key cities. Despite the fact that results with an ordinary projector refitted for the new film are not wholly satisfactory, it is likely that these machines will be utilized for showings in the immediate future. One serious problem posed by the introduction of wide film is that of aperture size. With Grandeur being 70 mm., SpoorBcrggren 62 mm., and Magnafilm 56 mm., it is not unlikely that the same troubles fncountered when sound pictures were introduced will have to be again overcome. Adjustment is impracticable in the theatre, although nothing in the present attitude of the producers of wide film would seem to indicate that a standard size will be agreed upon. The projector used for Grandeur pres Film clips of present standard size film and that used in the Grandeur system