This summer, the Wexner Center for the Arts is weighing in on one of life’s big questions: Does size matter?
Perhaps we can infer from their Big Picture series that the answer may be yes, at least when it comes to presenting film. The center celebrates the 100th anniversary of Technicolor and shows off its own presentation capabilities with a slate of films that like it big: big screen, big crowd, big show.
According to the Wex’s press release, they thought it would be “fun to present films that truly require the big screen, a theatrical setting, and the flexibility of our state-of-the-art projection system to get the full experience.”
The Wex will flex those muscles with the variety of films in this series, from a 70mm print of Tron to a 4K restoration of The Bridge on the River Kwai, from a 3D version of Kiss Me Kate to the widescreen Technirama of Zulu to the 35mm Technicolor print of War of the Worlds.
David Filipi, director of the Wex’s film/video department, reflects on the origins of the Big Picture series.
“Increasingly, along with presenting vital new work from around the work in all genres and traditions, we believe one of our core missions is to be a place where a person can see a film and be confident that they are seeing it the best way possible,” he says.
“If we are going to adhere to the spirit of a cinematheque, we need to be able to screen work in all formats,” Filipi continues. “We are one of only a handful of places in the country that can easily move from the extremes of 70mm to 4K digital projection to 16mm, for example.”
Was there any formula for choosing the films for The Big Picture series?
“Not at all,” admits Filipi. “It was a mixture of new restorations, films that we wanted to show in a particular format, and films where we knew there was a gorgeous print. Not very scientific at all – we just wanted to reflect a wide array of technologies via really good films.”
Among the films Filipi’s most excited to share with an audience is the William Castle “classic” The Tingler.
“Bruce Goldstein’s ‘live’ presentation of The Tingler is a can’t-miss,” he says. “He’s presented it all over the world. It’s one of the few William Castle films we have not shown over the years because we have been waiting for Bruce to come and present it as only he can.”
The other major crowd favorite?
“Tron in 70mm is already generating a lot of buzz,” says Filipi. “Those will be a couple of popular screenings.”
The Wex will also celebrate the Technicolor anniversary with films shot in the three-strip color process, including War of the Worlds and The Tales of Hoffman.
The full line-up:
Thu, July 9, 7pm
Zulu (1964)
widescreen Technirama
Fri-Sat, July 10, 11, 7pm
It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963)
70mm print
Thu, July 16, 7pm
War of the worlds (1953), 35mm Technicolor
Thu, July 23, 7pm
Kiss Me Kate (1953)
3D presentation
Thu, July 30, 7pm
In Cold Blood (1967)
CinemaScope/4K restoration
Thu, Aug 6, 7pm
The Tingler (1959)
Introduced by Bruce Goldstein, Film Forum
Expanded Cinema presentation
Tue, Aug 11, 7pm
The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957),
Technicolor/ CinemaScope/ 4K Restoration
Thu, Aug 13, 7pm
3D Rarities
Restored and remastered from 35mm
Thu, Aug 20, 7pm
The Tales of Hoffman (1951)
Technicolor/4K restoration
Fri-Sat, Aug 28-29
Tron (1982)
70mm print
For tickets and information, visit wexarts.org.
Looking for more upcoming film events in Columbus? CLICK HERE to view our Calendar.
A full slate of movie reviews is available on MADDWOLF. You can also follow me on Twitter @maddwolf, like me on Facebook, and check out my FRIGHT CLUB podcast.