CAST: VINCENT PRICE, PHYLLIS KIRK, FRANK LOVEJOY
DIRECTED BY: ANDRE DE TOTH
RUNTIME: 88 mins COLOR: color
VIEW TRAILER:  dial-up | broadband
GUEST LIST: PAUL PICERNI, MRS. ANDRE DE TOTH (Q&A TO FOLLOW THE SCREENING)
SHOWN: Friday September 12, 2003
SHOWN WITH: Motor Rhythm

Jack Warner invented the term "sensation," and set his technicians to building a 3-D camera in December, 1952, just after the opening of BWANA DEVIL. But as the Warner 3-D camera would take a few months to build, Jack contracted with Milton Gunzburg to use the Natural Vision cameras (used first on BWANA DEVIL). In a matter of days, a reworked script from 1933's MYSTERY OF THE WAX MUSEUM became THE WAX WORKS and finally HOUSE OF WAX. Advertised as the "First 3-D Film from a Major Studio," WAX was and still is the quintessential 3-D film. A wonderful blend of ageless story, good color, fun settings, and another 3-D first: stereophonic sound. Unfortunately, the stereo track no longer exists. WAX is arguably the best 3-D film largely because the camera crew (the key members worked on BWANA DEVIL) really understood the technology. Though director de Toth couldn't see 3-D, he understood perspective and framing better than many cameramen. It is a stimulating pleasure to watch the scenes unfold. Jack Warner demanded de Toth have at least some 3-D "gags" and the most obvious is the famous paddle ball scene featuring Reggie Rymal. Sadly, Andre de Toth passed away October 28, 2002 and Reggie Rymal December 25, 2002. Fifty years later, HOUSE OF WAX still thrills, entertains, and reveals stereoscopic wonder.