DARRYL F. ZANUCK'S "The Egyptian," which brings to vivid cinematic life the turbulent drama of ancient Egypt, is the first important motion picture conceived along spectacular lines to reveal the breath-taking results of CinemaScope's advancing techniques.
In a little more than a year since CinemaScope was introduced with "The Robe" and revolutionized the standards of the motion picture industry added values have been brought to the anamorphic wide-screen process. The optical firm of Bausch and Lomb improved on the original lenses of Professor Henri Chretien, inventor of the anamorphic process, and developed a series of camera lenses that give CinemaScope greater flexibility, range and depth.
These newly-perfected lenses were used to photograph "The Egyptian" and they gave to the production a greater clarity of image and a new sense of intensified audience participation than had heretofore been achieved. They opened up new vistas of entertainment for the public with better relative definition over the entire surface of the large screen. With the new lenses the cinematographer has greater maneuverability for his cameras to give finer pictorial qualities and the director wider latitude in which to achieve added dramatic values. CinemaScope, which achieved instant public acceptance when it was introduced, now gives greater entertainment values. In addition to "The Egyptian," many other top attractions will come from Twentieth Century-Fox in the months ahead, all reflecting the
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advancing techniques of CinemaScope. Among them are "A Woman's World," with an all-star cast including Clifton Webb, June Alivson, Van Heflin, Lauren Bacall, Fred MacMurray, Arlene Dahl and Cornel Wilde; Oscar Hammerstein's Broadway hit, "Carmen Jones"; Marlon Brando as Napoleon and Jean Simmons in "Desiree," also starring Merle Oberon and Michael Rennie.
Also, Irving Berlin's "There's No Business Like Show Business," the most costly musical of all time, starring Ethel Merrnan, Donald O'Connor, Marilyn Monroe, Dan Dailey, Johnnie Ray and Mitzi Gaynor; "Black Widow," starring Ginger Rogers, Gene Tierney, Van Heflin and George Raft; Tyrone Power and Susan Hayward in "Untamed," filmed in South Africa; and Kirk Douglas and Bella Darvi in "The Racers."
Also, Richard Burton as Edwin Booth in "Prince of Players"; James Stewart and Jane Russell in "Jewel of Bengal"; Fred Astaire and Leslie Caron in a new musical version of "Daddy Long Legs"; Marilyn Monroe in ''The Seven Year Itch"; Sheree North in '"Pink Tights", Cole Porter's and Abe Burrows' "Can-Can"; Rodgers and Hammerstein's "The King And I"; and Fulton Oursler's "The Greatest Story Ever Told."
The policy of Twentieth Century-Fox will be to maintain and constantly improve the medium of CinemaScope, so that it will remain the undisputed leader in motion picture entertainment. Such is the credo of the film company's president, Spyros P. Skouras.
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