A polite reminder before reading this blog entry of mine 🙂 I will not tolerate any insults or negativity towards any of the films or people I mention in this post. Any negative comments will be deleted, so I am politely asking you all to please be kind 🙂

-Sunday, September 15, 2024 – 2 pm-

On an absolutely gorgeous sunny afternoon on that aforementioned day and time above, I was absolutely filled with joy as I got to watch my number one favorite film of all-time on a big-screen in 70 mm. The film in question was director Alfred Hitchcock’s 1958 American classic Vertigo. I saw a 2:30 pm showing at the historic Music Box Theatre in Chicago, Illinois. Before I get started with my thoughts, I would love to share a few awesome pictures that I posted below 🙂

This is my ticket for the 09/15/2024 2:30 pm showing for Vertigo in 70 mm 🙂

This is a picture of the original poster for Vertigo designed by the iconic Saul Bass 🙂 Of course it did not include that smudge on the left side 🙂

Behold – The Music Box Theatre in all of it’s glory 🙂

Below are two pictures of me standing in front of the Music Box Theatre – which picture do you all prefer? 🙂

I am full of happiness at getting to see Vertigo on a big-screen in 70 mm 🙂

Still full of happiness 🙂

Now this poster for Vertigo was from a February 15-28th 2013 showing on a big-screen in 70 mm, but I had to take a picture of it nonetheless 🙂

-My Experience Watching Vertigo (1958) on a Big-Screen in 70 mm-

First things first, Vertigo (or at least in my view) looks amazing on either a television (for me, an HDTV) or a big theater screen. Here, I will talk about my experience watching Robert A. Harris and James C. Katz’s 1996 restoration of the film that resulted in the 70 mm print that we have all watched ever since.

From iconic designer Saul Bass’s characteristically expressive title sequence to the denouement, Vertigo proved to be every bit as spectacular on a big theater screen in 70 mm as it has on my HDTV at home. Imagine the size of how the film is presented on a latter and then times it’s height and width by 10, 15, 20 or beyond and you get an experience resembling a pure spectacle (i.e. Lawrence of Arabia).

As just one of many people watching Vertigo that day in a huge theater room on a big-screen (If this was not a sold out showing, it certainly came very close), my viewing experience was not only every bit as involving there as it was at home, but in some ways, five times more so.

Each viewing of Vertigo involves me on not only an intellectual level, but a visual one as well. No surprise given that the 1996 restoration resulted in a 70 mm print of the film. When viewed on a big theater screen, the visual experience becomes even more exhilarating. Every exterior and interior makes one feel like a tourist visiting a landmark. While the same vibe can be felt when viewed at home, on a big theater screen, it comes off as more explicit. Same sentiments apply to the dolly zoom shots and the famed dream sequence.

Final word of note on this subject, like all truly great films, Vertigo offers something I did not notice on the previous viewing. In this case, it comes from the film’s use of lighting. The scene in question takes place in Big Basin Redwoods State Park. As John “Scottie” Ferguson (James Stewart) and Madeline Elster (Kim Novak) are walking, the lighting on Madeline’s white coat makes her look like a ghostly figure, which is fitting considering that her character thinks that she is possessed by a dead woman.

-On the Side-

After watching my number one favorite film of all-time, I looked at all the awesome posters on the walls in the lobby and below is a picture of one of many favorites 🙂

This poster was for a David Lynch Retrospective that was held from April 7-14 back in 2022.

-Click here to watch an incredible trailer for it.

I actually think this is one of the most beautiful homages to a fictional film and television character, which in this case is actress Sheryl Lee’s Laura Palmer from Twin Peaks. As one can see from the picture, it is a dollar donation jar. As my dear readers might have guessed, I am a huge fan of the films of director David Lynch, everything Twin Peaks related and Sheryl Lee. This picture was taken on July 21 of this year when I saw director Akira Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai in a 4K Restoration on the big-screen.

I also wanted a picture of me holding the aforementioned donation jar and I got my chance. As one can notice, I am very happy in this photo. To this day, along with Nicolas Roeg’s Don’t Look Now, David Lynch’s Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me ranks for myself as one of the most emotionally powerful horror films ever made. As the beautiful and tragic Laura Palmer in the latter, Sheryl Lee gave a performance for the ages. Palmer’s descent into madness in that film always moves me to tears. As viewers, we want to reach into the screen to rescue Laura and then console her. Any director who can incite those feelings into us (in this case, Lynch) is doing something right.

This photo was taken today, but this Film Calendar is from the Summer of 2018 as one can deduce from the picture. In October of that same year, I saw director John Carpenter’s 1982 masterpiece The Thing in 70 mm.

Once Again, this photo was today, but this CINEPOCALYPSE calendar was from the Summer of 2018. I saw director Stephen Hopkins tightly-paced Chicago set 1993 Neo-noir action thriller Judgment Night there. I took a picture with Hopkins that has unfortunately been lost to time due to the fact taken on my old IPhone 😦 I do not know If it is just me, but director Alex Cox’s 1984 Sci-fi/Neo-noir/comedy Repo Man would be perfect for that. I do not know If CINEPOCALYPSE is still annually there though.

Back in August of this year (in this case 2024), the Music Box Theatre got a spectacular renovation that included drink holders – I noticed this when I saw Vertigo in 70 mm two Sundays ago 🙂 Click here to read more about it.

-Click here to watch this clever trailer (or lack thereof) for it 🙂

I picked up one of these Film Schedules back in July when I saw Seven Samurai there. I also saw the classic 1959 spy thriller North by Northwest (also directed by Hitchcock) in 70 mm back on August 11 of this year. That last title was part of their Summer of 70 mm series.

-Click here to watch the trailer for it.

I picked up one of these Film Schedules when I saw Vertigo in 70 mm two Sundays ago.

-In Closing-

All in all, I want to thank Chicago’s Music Box Theatre for the wonderful time I had watching my number one favorite film of all-time (in this case Vertigo) on a big-screen in 70 mm. All of you keep up the great work as always 🙂

-If any of my dear readers are interested in more info, click here to watch an 11-minute video celebrating the 90th anniversary of the Music Box Theatre from the Summer of 2019.

-Further Reading-

Click here to read my 2022 blog entry regarding My Top 10 Favorite Films of All-Time

Click here to read my 2023 blog entry regarding My Top 10 Favorite Horror Films of All-Time

Click here to read my 2023 blog entry regarding My 100 Favorite Films (1-100)

Click here to read my 2024 blog entry entitled Vertigo (1958) – A Ten-Part Personal Essay Written By Me

Click here to read my 2024 blog entry wishing actress Sheryl Lee a Happy 57th Birthday

-Questions for My Dear Readers-

1.) Name one of your favorite films that you have watched on a big theater screen? (70 mm or otherwise)

2.) Describe the excitement in your own words what it was like watching it on a big theater screen. What was it like?

3.) What theater/theatre did you see it at?

4.) As a follow-up to question #3, was there anything in the theater/theatre lobby that interested you (i.e. poster or otherwise)?