First 3D stereo sound movie

This page was last revised on 2009-06-08.

NB Full references to printed sources may be found at the foot of this page.

First 3D stereo sound movie

A Solid Explanation, 1951

For London's Festival of Britain, in 1951, a futuristic cinema was constructed - the Telecinema - at which four stereoscopic films were presented in stereophonic sound. Two of these were animations, so not considered here. Of the others, one was in black and white. This was the 10 minute Pathé documentary A Solid Explanation, released by the British Film Institute in May 1951, and later included in the 1953 compilation 3-Dimension. It was a humorous illustration of the principles of stereoscopy, intercut with animal scenes shot at London Zoo.

Producer: Peter Bayliss; director: Peter Bradford; cameraman: Reginald W. Cavender; Stereo Techniques technology: Raymond and Nigel L. Spottiswood; stereo sound: Ken Cameron. [Zone (2007); Hayes (1989)]

First 3D stereo sound movie showing a person

A Solid Explanation, 1951

The only cast member listed was Desmond Walter-Ellis (instructor).

First 3D stereo sound movie showing a woman, and first 3D stereo sound feature film

House of Wax, 1953

The American horror film House of Wax was released on 25 April 1953. It was directed by André de Toth, and starred Vincent Price.

House of Wax, originally titled Waxworks, was Warner Bros. answer to the 3D hit Bwana Devil, which had been released the previous November. Seeing something big in 3D's future, WB contracted the same company, Natural Vision, run by the Gunzberg Brothers, Julian and Milton, to shoot the new feature. The film is ultimately a remake of the studio's 1933 film, The Mystery of the Wax Museum, which in itself was written and based on Charles Belden's three-act play, The Wax Works.

Among the scenes featured in the film that make the best use of 3D are a museum fire, a paddleball man, and can-can girls. [Wikipedia]

Filmed in (polarised) Natural Vision 3-Dimension (dual 35mm); presented in Widescreen (cropped 1.50:1). Hayes (1989), pp214-8, says:

There have always been two thoughts on House of Wax: one, it is a classic film of the horror genre, and two, it is claptrap exploitation of the worst kind. There seems to be no middle ground. Everyone either loves or hates this film. Even if one followed the middle ground, House of Wax has to be considered better than just good. It was expertly mounted, staged and photographed. The 3-D was wonderful, the surround sound engrossing, the story thrilling. It was old but but it wore extremely well, and today it is still an exciting film. Stepping beyond the middle ground, it certainly is a classic not only in the horror vein but also of stereoscopic cinematography. It is a must-see in 3-D.

Earliest-born person whose voice was recorded in a 3D stereo sound film

No significant information yet located. Leo Curley (1878-1960) seems to have been the oldest person to appear in House of Wax or any other 3D stereo sound film of 1953-60.

Earliest-born woman whose voice was recorded in a 3D stereo sound film

No significant information yet located. Riza Royce (1903-80) seems to have been the oldest woman to appear in House of Wax or any other 3D stereo sound film of 1953-60.

© 2009 Benjamin S. Beck

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