Three-Dimensional Photography - Principles of Stereoscopy

286 THREE-DIMENSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY
of the stereo effect, rather the perfection of that effect would ele-
vate even a poor production.
In this film, dual films are used and projection is by the con-
ventional polarized extinction, There is nothing abnormal about
the film other than this. Normal cameras were used, two of them
in conjunction; normal techniques as far as the films reveal them;
ordinary color film. In fact the whole situation is normal until the
film starts, then the screen disappears and there before you is the
true scene which transcends the legitimate theatre in that the stage
is unlimited and the actors are taking parts in real life not in a
conventionalized drama!
The movie industry has seen innovation after innovation, all
of them introduced with fanfare and ballyhoo; each and every one
of them the most stupendous, the most incredible achievement of
man--but most of them are forgotten within a few months. I re-
call the old “wide film” with its huge screen stretching across even
the largest proscenium arches. The frenzied publicity reached new
heights in superlatives-and the spectators who saw the picture
went away talking about the realistic depth just as if they had seen
it. Of course the big picture was just as flat as any other picture,
but people are inclined to imagine they see what they are told they
will see.
On the contrary such things as sound and color were really sig-
nificant and remained with us. This is doubly significant, for as
we have pointed out color is a depth factor and no black-and-white
picture can possibly show the true depth that color does.
At last, in productions like B’wani Devil we have the last mem-
ber of the triology, sound color-and depth. It is the last remain-
ing factor which provides the perfect reproduction of real life, and
in my opinion it will inevitably take its place along with sound
and color as an essential factor of the movie of the future.
There are other types of films widely advertised as “Three Di-
mensional” but these are definitely not stereoscopic. The “third”
dimension is that obtained by a non-planar screen which adds
nothing of stereoscopic relief. Unfortunately the public has not as
yet learned the difference between “Three Dimensional” which
means anything not restricted to a single, flat plane and “Stereo”
which indicates those spatial relations which occur in real life.
Having seen this truly stereoscopic film the writer is very curi-