70mm

70mm is a specialty large gauge film format used for both shooting and exhibiting films known for its impressive image and sound quality. It was used primarily in the 1960s for large scale epics like LAWRENCE OF ARABIA but had a resurgence in popularity in the 1980s with “blow-up” prints, and again more recently with films like THE HATEFUL EIGHT, THE MASTER, and DUNKIRK. Even at the height of its popularity only some theaters were capable of running 70mm, and today only a handful of theaters in the country run it with any regularity.

 

So...what’s the big deal?

  • The physical film is larger than standard 35mm, so the image size can be more than 2.5 times the size. *
  • Larger image means more resolution (or information), more detail, sharpness, depth. It’s a richer image overall. Paul Thomas Anderson said when he was here, “When you watch THE MASTER in 35mm you see Joaquin Phoenix in a blue shirt and brown pants. When you see it in 70mm you see him in a denim shirt and corduroy pants.”
  • Dynamic Range: think of it as the range between the blackest blacks and whitest whites, you get much more of a range with 70mm. Like the difference between a pencil drawing and a black and white photograph.
  • Sound quality: 70mm prints have either 6-track magnetic or DTS digital soundtracks. DTS sound is the highest fidelity digital audio you’ll get with film of any gauge.
  • 70mm vs. digital: 70mm projection is still far, far superior to digital projection in regards to dynamic range and resolution

 

What’s a “Blow-up”?

  • Prints shot on 35mm that are enlarged (or “blown up”) and printed on 70mm film stock
  • These became popular in the 1980s, films would get a standard 35mm release, but then might also have a special 70mm (often only a few prints were made and they are very rare now!)

 

Why would I want to see one?

  • Same facts above apply. But because the film wasn’t shot on 70mm you are not gaining information, though you’ll benefit from the brighter, steadier image obtained with 70mm projection.
  • Sound quality was the reason these were made in the ‘80s as the 6-track magnetic soundtracks were far better than the optical tracks that were printed on the regular 35mm prints.

 

Why would we screen something shot digitally in 70mm?

  • 70mm projection is still far superior to digital projection in regards to resolution and dynamic range. While digital cameras can have extremely high resolutions, most digital projectors have not quite caught up yet, and therefore cannot reproduce what’s achieved by the cameras.

 

Is it ok if I still don’t get it?

  • Of course! There are a lot of factors affecting your experience. How “good” it looks can depend on how it was shot, what it was shot on, how good the exhibition print is, how good the projection is, or even how hungry you are during the screening. Don’t hesitate to ask our projection staff questions, and see more than one 70mm film if you are able. The more you see, the easier it is to understand what makes them special.

 

Some Examples of prints we’ve screened:

  • 35mm to 70mm Blow-ups: ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD, PHANTOM THREAD, LICORICE PIZZA, WONDER WOMAN, and many ‘80s films!
  • Shot on 70mm film (or 65mm if you want to be a nerd about it): WEST SIDE STORY, 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY, DUNKIRK, THE MASTER, parts of INTERSTELLAR, many other films from the ‘60s!
  • Shot digitally: ROMA, JOKER