PR0N

Sometimes, an "extended cut" of a movie makes things better. Sometimes, editing a movie just to make a shorter running time limits the artistic vision of the film. Sometimes, more is better.

THE STEWARDESSES is not one of those films.

The new, digitally-restored print (which will be released on 3D-DVD in January) is the "complete" 95-minute version, roughly 84 minutes of which seems to be the same boring, endless scene. Our beloved moroccomole called it Stewardesses Alexanderplatz.

Did I mention that it's the highest-grossing 3D movie of all time?

EGYPTIAN

EGYPTIAN
Originally uploaded by davecobb.

Last night's marquee

DAY THREE-D

3D
Originally uploaded by davecobb.

Today's films at the 3D Film Festival were fun.

First off was a collection of BRITISH 3D SHORTS, including a neat animated version of "The Owl & The Pussycat" and a color newsreel from Queen Elizabeth's 1953 coronation week -- she looked so young!

Second was MISS SADIE THOMPSON, based on the W. Somerset Maugham novel "Rain". I'd seen it on TV years ago, but this was a beautiful technicolor widescreen print, which really showed off some great natural-style 3D cinematography (i.e. no deliberate "eye poking" gags). It takes the terrific shenanigans of Rita Hayworth as a breezy-dame-on-an-island-with-horny-marines, and combines it with a surprisingly timely morality play. It also doesn't hurt that one of the horny marines in question is the husky-voiced and (then) hunky Aldo Ray.

The final treat today was a 1954 Pinky Lee short called HAWAIIAN NIGHTS. This was a real find for the festival -- Universal shot it in 3D, but the craze had already faded, so it was only released in 2D. Quite literally, it has *never* been shown to the public *anywhere* in 3D before we saw it this afternoon. The b/w print was gorgeous but the actual short was pretty bad -- then again, I've always thought that Pinky Lee was rather unfunny (however he does pull off a "bananna-in-my-pocket" gag here that is sort of brilliant). Did I mention it also starred Mamie Van Doren and the ladies of the 1953 Miss Universe Pageant?