Man in the Dark
Encyclopedia
Man in the Dark is a film noir
drama
3-D film
starring Edmund O'Brien, Audrey Totter
and Ted de Corsia
released in 1953
. It is a remake of the 1936 Ralph Bellamy
vehicle The Man who Lived Twice.
It was the first Columbia Pictures
film released in 3-D.
.
in 3-D sparked a stampede from the major studios to release their own 3-D films. Columbia Pictures
rushed a current project into production and completed it in 11 days. Although Warner Brothers heavily touted House of Wax
as "the first feature produced by a major studio in 3-D," Man in the Dark actually premiered two days prior.
The roller coaster
ride in the climax was probably inspired by the opening shot of the contemporary hit This is Cinerama
, an immensely realistic effect on the huge Cinerama
screen. Process shots were used to simulate most of the roller coaster ride. Since the process shots appeared flat the 3-D effect had less than the hoped for results.
The amusement park setting was filmed at Ocean Park in Santa Monica
. A newer version of the park called Pacific Park
was built a few miles north of the original which closed in 1967. The "High Boy" roller coaster
used in the film's cliimax was renamed "The Sea Serpent" after some modifications and later moved to the new park. A Laffing Sal
from the park also played a part in the movie, triggering a character's memories.
In addition to 3-D, original prints were toned
in sepia tone which Columbia hailed as "glowing mono-color." The use of sepia tone in this case was largely technical, as Columbia felt that it increased the amount of light transmission, an aspect that was cut down by polaroid filters in projection. Similarly, they sepia-toned their first 3-D short, the Three Stooges
short, Spooks!
(1953).
Film noir
Film noir is a cinematic term used primarily to describe stylish Hollywood crime dramas, particularly those that emphasize cynical attitudes and sexual motivations. Hollywood's classic film noir period is generally regarded as extending from the early 1940s to the late 1950s...
drama
Drama film
A drama film is a film genre that depends mostly on in-depth development of realistic characters dealing with emotional themes. Dramatic themes such as alcoholism, drug addiction, infidelity, moral dilemmas, racial prejudice, religious intolerance, poverty, class divisions, violence against women...
3-D film
3-D film
A 3-D film or S3D film is a motion picture that enhances the illusion of depth perception...
starring Edmund O'Brien, Audrey Totter
Audrey Totter
Audrey Mary Totter is an American actress and former Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer contract star of Austrian-Slovene and Swedish descent...
and Ted de Corsia
Ted de Corsia
Ted de Corsia was a radio and movie actor.He is probably best remembered for his role as a gangster turned state's evidence in The Enforcer...
released in 1953
1953 in film
The year 1953 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*September 16 — The Robe debuts as the first anamorphic, widescreen CinemaScope film.-Top grossing films : After theatrical re-issue- Awards :Academy Awards:A...
. It is a remake of the 1936 Ralph Bellamy
Ralph Bellamy
Ralph Bellamy was an American actor whose career spanned sixty-two years.-Early life:He was born Ralph Rexford Bellamy in Chicago, Illinois, the son of Lilla Louise , a native of Canada, and Charles Rexford Bellamy. He ran away from home when he was fifteen and managed to get into a road show...
vehicle The Man who Lived Twice.
It was the first Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. is an American film production and distribution company. Columbia Pictures now forms part of the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment, a subsidiary of the Japanese conglomerate Sony. It is one of the leading film companies...
film released in 3-D.
The plot
A prisoner is freed from jail and killed after experimental brain surgery removes his criminal instincts and his memory so he went into a bar and drank his heart out. Will he recall where stashed the $130,000 from a previous heist before his greedy ex-partners take him out? Is the bleached blonde floozie trying to help or after the money herself? What better way to resolve the dilemma than on a high flying roller coasterRoller coaster
The roller coaster is a popular amusement ride developed for amusement parks and modern theme parks. LaMarcus Adna Thompson patented the first coasters on January 20, 1885...
.
The Production
The unexpected success of the previous year's Bwana DevilBwana Devil
Bwana Devil is a 1952 drama based on the true story of the Tsavo maneaters. It was written, directed, and produced by Arch Oboler, and is considered the first color, American 3-D feature. It started the 3-D boom in the U.S. film making industry from 1952 to 1954...
in 3-D sparked a stampede from the major studios to release their own 3-D films. Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. is an American film production and distribution company. Columbia Pictures now forms part of the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment, a subsidiary of the Japanese conglomerate Sony. It is one of the leading film companies...
rushed a current project into production and completed it in 11 days. Although Warner Brothers heavily touted House of Wax
House of Wax (1953 film)
House of Wax is a 1953 American horror film starring Vincent Price. It is a remake of Warners' Mystery of the Wax Museum without the comic relief featured in the earlier film, and was directed by André de Toth...
as "the first feature produced by a major studio in 3-D," Man in the Dark actually premiered two days prior.
The roller coaster
Roller coaster
The roller coaster is a popular amusement ride developed for amusement parks and modern theme parks. LaMarcus Adna Thompson patented the first coasters on January 20, 1885...
ride in the climax was probably inspired by the opening shot of the contemporary hit This is Cinerama
This is Cinerama
This is Cinerama is a 1952 full-length film designed to introduce the then-new widescreen process Cinerama, which broadens the aspect ratio so the viewer's peripheral vision is involved...
, an immensely realistic effect on the huge Cinerama
Cinerama
Cinerama is the trademarked name for a widescreen process which works by simultaneously projecting images from three synchronized 35 mm projectors onto a huge, deeply-curved screen, subtending 146° of arc. It is also the trademarked name for the corporation which was formed to market it...
screen. Process shots were used to simulate most of the roller coaster ride. Since the process shots appeared flat the 3-D effect had less than the hoped for results.
The amusement park setting was filmed at Ocean Park in Santa Monica
Santa Mônica
Santa Mônica is a town and municipality in the state of Paraná in the Southern Region of Brazil.-References:...
. A newer version of the park called Pacific Park
Pacific Park
Pacific Park is an oceanfront amusement park located in Santa Monica, California.The park looks directly out on the Pacific Ocean, in the direction of Catalina Island. There are a total of twelve rides in Pacific Park, including a Ferris wheel that provides a view of the Pacific Ocean and a roller...
was built a few miles north of the original which closed in 1967. The "High Boy" roller coaster
Roller coaster
The roller coaster is a popular amusement ride developed for amusement parks and modern theme parks. LaMarcus Adna Thompson patented the first coasters on January 20, 1885...
used in the film's cliimax was renamed "The Sea Serpent" after some modifications and later moved to the new park. A Laffing Sal
Laffing Sal
Laffing Sal is one of several automated characters that were built primarily for funhouses throughout the United States. Sometimes called "Laughing Sal",she produces a raucous laugh that sometimes frightens small children and annoys adults.-History:...
from the park also played a part in the movie, triggering a character's memories.
In addition to 3-D, original prints were toned
Film tinting
Film tinting is the process of adding color to black-and-white film, usually by means of soaking the film in dye and staining the film emulsion...
in sepia tone which Columbia hailed as "glowing mono-color." The use of sepia tone in this case was largely technical, as Columbia felt that it increased the amount of light transmission, an aspect that was cut down by polaroid filters in projection. Similarly, they sepia-toned their first 3-D short, the Three Stooges
Three Stooges
The Three Stooges were an American vaudeville and comedy act of the early to mid–20th century best known for their numerous short subject films. Their hallmark was physical farce and extreme slapstick. In films, the Stooges were commonly known by their first names: "Moe, Larry, and Curly" and "Moe,...
short, Spooks!
Spooks!
Spooks! is the 148th short subject starring American slapstick comedy team the Three Stooges. It is notable as the first Three Stooges short filmed in 3-D. The trio made a total of 190 shorts for Columbia Pictures between 1934 and 1959.-Plot:...
(1953).
The Critics Speak
- Bosley Crowther of The New York Times called it: "A conspicuously low-grade melodrama".
- Elliott Stein of "The Village Voice" This seems to be the 3-D flick that most exploits the short-lived medium. An endless array of stuff comes whiffling at your face – a lit cigar, a repulsive spider, scissors, forceps, fists, falling bodies, and a roller coaster.
Availability
- A dual projection polarized 3-D print of Man in the Dark was struck by Columbia Pictures in 2003. Among various venues, it has been shown at:
- The 3-D Thursdays film festival at The Film Forum In New York, NY in 2003.
- "The World 3-D Film Expo" at the Egyptian Theater in Hollywood, CACaliforniaCalifornia is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
in 2003. - The "3-D at the Castro" film festival at the Historic Castro Theatre in San Francisco in 2005.
- Man in the Dark has not been released on VHS or DVD.