Yellow Layer Failure, Vinegar Syndrome and Miscellaneous Musings by Robert A. Harris

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Yellow Layer Failure, Vinegar Syndrome and Miscellaneous Musings by Robert A. Harris

Robert A. Harris - Main Page

With my discussion in the May 20th column of the cinematographic work of Freddie Young and others, I thought that this might be the appropriate time for another one "those" lists. This time three-strip Technicolor, which is finally becoming less of a rarity on DVD as many classics are making their way to the format. To be more precise, there are now just over forty titles available on DVD photographed as three-strip, although some of those forty not at all representative of the unique characteristics of the process.

The interesting thing is that in the past month or so there have been eight new releases, one from Paramount (Copper Canyon); one from Disney (Treasure Island*); six from Universal. I'll get into those a bit later.

To avoid confusion, there is Technicolor - the laboratory; Technicolor - the printing process; and Technicolor - the photographic process, which in turn uses the Tech printing process to create its justifiably famous three-strip imbibition prints.

Three-strip as a photographic methodology began commercially as the next step up from the two strip color process in 1934, and continued into the safety film period and 1954. That's a mere two decades. Dye transfer printing continued, with Eastman color as a taking mechanism until 1974 in the U.S. and 1977 in England.

How many of these classically beautiful films have made it to DVD? Not many.

Here's the list, culled from a number of sources, most notably James Limbacher's oop Four Elements and Richard Haines' Technicolor Movies, which is still available. Titles are divided by year of release and annotated by studio. Some independent productions will not be listed. Errors will occur. Three strip features available in quality editions on DVD are found in BOLD. Titles announced for the near future on in italic.

You'll also find annotations of the directors of photography on many of the films. The interesting factoid here is how few DPs were shooting in the process, and how they tended to specialize, while still working with black & white photography.

Yellow = Available on DVD

1934

The Cat and the Fiddle - sequence (MGM) - Rennahan
La Cucaracha (RKO) - short - Rennahan
Hollywood Party - sequence (MGM)
House of Rothschld - sequence (FOX)
Kid Millions - last reel (GOLDWYN/UA) - Rennahan

1935

Becky Sharp (RKO) - Rennahan
Le Gong: The Dance of the Virgins (Paramount)
The Little Colonel - sequence (FOX) - Skall

1936

The Dancing Pirate (RKO) - Skall
The Garden of Allah (SELZNICK/UA) - Greene
Ramona (FOX) - Skall
Trail of the Lonesome Pine (PAR) - Greene

1937

Coronation Film (BRITISH, IND)
Ebb Tide (PAR) - Rennahan
God's Country and the Women (WB) - Gaudio
Nothing Sacred (SELZNICK/UA) - Greene
A Star is Born (SELZNICK/UA) - Greene
Victoria the Great - sequences (BRITISH/RKO) - Young/Skall
Vogues of 1938 (UA) - Rennahan
When's Your Birthday? (RKO)
Wing of the Morning (BRITISH, FOX) - Cardiff/Rennahan

1938

The Adventures of Robin Hood (WB) - Gaudio - COMING SOON TO DVD
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (SELZNICK/UA) - Howe
Divorce of Lady X (BRITISH) - Stradling
Drums (BRITISH, UA) - Perinal
Gold is Where You Find It (WB)
The Goldwyn Follies (UA) - Toland
Heart of the North (WB)
Her Jungle Love (PAR) - Rennahan
Kentucky (WB) - Rennahan/Palmer
Men with Wings (PAR)
Sixty Glorious Years (BRITISH, RKO) - Young
Sweethearts (MGM) - Davey/Marsh
Valley of the Giants (WB)

1939

Dodge City (WB) - Polito
Drums Along the Mohawk (FOX) - Rennahan/Glennon
Four Feathers (BRITISH, UA) - Perinal
Gone with the Wind (Selznick/MGM) - Haller/Garmes
Hollywood Cavalcade (FOX) - Davey/Palmer
Ice Follies of 1939 (MGM) - Marsh
Jessie James (FOX) - Greene/Barnes
The Little Princess (FOX) - Skall
The Mikado (BRITISH, U) - Skall
The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex (WB)
The Wizard of Oz (MGM) - Rosson
The Women - sequence (MGM) - Marsh

1940

Bittersweet (FOX) - Davey/Marsh
The Blue Bird (FOX) Chad
Hamma (PAR) - Rennahan/Palmer
Doctor Cyclops (PAR)
Down Argentine Way (FOX) - Rennahan/Shamroy
Irene (RKO)
Maryland (FOX) - Barnes
Northwest Mounted Police (PAR) - Greene/Milner
Northwest Passage (MGM) - Skall
Over the Moon (BRITISH, UA)
Return of Frank James (FOX)
Swanee River (FOX) - Glennon
Thief of Bagdad (UA) - Perinal
Typhoon (PAR) - Mellor
Untamed (PAR)

1941

Aloma of the South Seas (PAR)
Belle Star (FOX) - Rennahan/Palmer
Billy the Kid (MGM)
Blood and Sand (FOX) - Rennahan/Palmer
Blossoms in the Dust (MGM)
Dive Bomber (WB) - Glennon/Hoch
Fiesta (UA)
Louisiana Purchase (PAR) - Rennahan
Moon Over Miami (FOX) - Davey/Shamroy
Reluctant Dragon (DISNEY/RKO) - Glennon/Hoch
Shepherd of the Hills (PAR)
Smilin' Through (PAR)
That Night in Rio (FOX) - Rennahan/Shamroy
Virginia (PAR)
Weekend in Havana (FOX) - Palmer
Western Union (FOX) - Davey/Cronjager

1942

Arabian Nights (U) - Greene
Bahama Passage (PAR)
Beyond the Blue Horizon (PAR) - Mellor/Boyle
The Black Swan (FOX)
Captains of the Clouds (WB) - Polito
The Forest Rangers (PAR)
Jungle Book (UA) - Greene/Garmes
Moon and Sixpense (UA)
My Gal Sal (FOX) - Palmer
Reap the Wild Wind(PAR) - Skall/Milner
Song of the Islands (FOX) - Palmer
Springtime in the Rockies (FOX) - Palmer
Thunder Birds (FOX) - Palmer
To the Shores of Tripoli (FOX) - Skall/Cronjager

1943

Best Foot Forward (MGM)
Cobra Woman (U) - Greene
Coney Island (FOX) - Palmer
Crash Dive (FOX) - Shamroy
The Desperados (COL) - Davey
Dixie (PAR) - Mellor
Dubarry Was a Lady (MGM)
For Whom the Bell Tolls (PAR) - Rennahan
The Gang's All Here (FOX) - Cronjager
Happy Go Lucky (PAR)
Heaven Can Wait (FOX) - Cronjager
Hello, Frisco, Hello (FOX) - Davey/Clarke
Lassie Come Home (MGM)
The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp (BRITISH, UA) - Perinal
My Friend Flicka (FOX) - Clarke
Phantom of the Opera (U) - Greene
Riding High (PAR)
Sweet Rosie O'Grady (FOX) - Palmer
This is the Army (WB) - Glennon
Thousands Cheer (MGM)
White Savage (U)

1944

Aali Baba and the forty Thieves (U) - Greene
An American Romance (MGM)
Bathing Beauty (MGM)
Broadway Rhythm (MGM)
Buffalo Bill (FOX) - Shamroy
Can't Help Singing (U)
Climax (U) - Greene
Cover Girl (COL) - Davey - COMING SOON TO DVD
The Desert Song (WB) - Glennon
Greenwich Village (FOX) - Shamroy
Gypsy Wildcat (U) - Greene
Home in Indiana (FOX) - Cronjager
Irish Eyes are Smiling (FOX)
Kisenga, Man of Africa (IND)
Kismet (MGM) - Rosher
Lady in the Dark (PAR) - Rennahan
Meet Me in St. Louis (MGM) - Folsey
Pin Up Girl (FOX) - Palmer
The Princess and the Pirate (RKO) - Milner
Rainbow Island (PAR)
Shine on Harvest Moon (WB)
Something for the Boys (FOX) - Palmer
The Story of Dr. Wassell (PAR) - Milner
Up in Arms (RKO) - Rennahan
Wilson (FOX) - Shamroy

1945

Anchors Aweigh (MGM) - Boyle
Belle of the Yukon (RKO) - Rennahan
Billy Rose's Diamond Horeshoe (FOX) - Palmer
Blithe Spirit (BRITISH, UA) - Neame
Bring on the Girls (PAR)
The Dolly Sisters (FOX) - Palmer
Frenchman's Creek (PAR) - Barnes
Frontier Gal (U) - Boyle
Incendiary Blonde (PAR)
It's a Pleasure (RKO)
Leave Her to Heaven (FOX) - Shamroy
National Velvet (MGM)
Nob Hill (FOX) - Cronjager
The Picture of Dorian Gray - Sequence (MGM)
Salome, Where She Danced (U) - Greene
San Antonio (WB)
Son of Lassie (MGM)
A Song to Remember (COL) - Davey
The Spanish Main (RKO)
State Fair (FOX) - Shamroy
Sudan (U)
The Three Caballeros (DISNEY/RKO)
A Thousand and One Nights (COL)
Thrill of a Romance (MGM)
Thunderhead, Son of Flicka (FOX) - Clarke
Tonight and Every Night (COL)
Where Do We Go from Here? (FOX) - Shamroy
Wonder Man (RKO) - Milner
Yolanda and the Thief (MGM) - Rosher

1946

The Bandit of Sherwood Forest (COL) - Gaudio
Blue Skies (PAR)
Caesar and Cleopatra (BRITISH, UA) - Cardiff
Canyon Passage (U) - Cronjager
Courage of Lassie (MGM)
Do You Love Me? (FOX) - Cronjager
Easy to Wed (MGM) - Stradling
The Harvey Girls (MGM) - Folsey
Holiday in Mexico (MGM)
I've Always Loved You (REPUBLIC)
The Jolson Story (COL)
The Kid from Brooklyn (RKO) - Toland
Laughing Lady (BRITISH, IND)
Margie (FOX) - Clarke
Matter of Life and Death (BRIT/UNIV) - Cardiff
Night and Day (WB) - Skall
Night in Paradise (UA)
The Raider (BRITISH, IND)
Renegades (COL)
Smoky (FOX) - Clarke
Song of the South (DISNEY/RKO) - Toland
Three Little Girls in Blue (FOX) - Palmer
Till the Clouds Roll By (MGM) - Stradling
The Time, the Place and the Girl (WB)
The Virginian (PAR)
Wake Up and Dream (FOX)
The Yearling (MGM) - Rosher
Ziegfeld Follies (MGM) - Rosher/Folsey

1947

Black Narcissus (U) - Cardiff
California (PAR) - Rennahan
Captain from Castile (FOX) - Clarke
Carnival in Costa Rica (FOX)
Desert Fury (PAR) - Cronjager
Down to Earth (COL)
Duel in the Sun (SRO) - Garmes/Rennahan/Rosson
Fiesta (MGM) - Rosher
Forever Amber (FOX) - Shamroy
Fun and Fancy Free (DISNEY/RKO) - Boyle
Good News(MGM)
Gunfighters (COL)
The Homestretch (FOX)
I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now? (FOX) - Palmer
Life with Father (WB) - Skall
Mother Wore Tights (WB)
My Heart Goes Crazy (IND)
My Wild Irish Rose (WB) - Skall
The Perils of Pauline (PAR) - Rennahan
Pirates of Monterey (U)
Private Affairs of Bel Ami (UA)
Secret Life of Walter Mitty (RKO) - Garmes
Shocking Miss Pilgram (FOX) - Shamroy
Sinbad the Sailor (RKO) - Barnes
Slave Girl (U) - Greene
Song of Scheherazade (U) - Skall
The Swordsman (COL)
This Happy Breed (BRITISH/U) - Neame
This Time for Keeps (MGM)
Thunder in the Valley (FOX) - Clarke
Tycoon (RKO)
Unconquered (PAR) - Rennahan
The Unfinished Dance (MGM)

1948

Apartment for Peggy (FOX)
Black Bart (U)
Blanche Fury (EL) - Green
The Boy with Green Hair (RKO) - Barnes
A Date with Judy (MGM) - Surtees
Easter Parade (MGM) - Stradling
The Emperor Waltz (PAR) - Barnes
Fighter Squadron (WB)
The Gallant Blade (COL)
Give My Regards to Broadway (FOX)
Green Grass of Wyoming (FOX) - Clarke
Hills of Home (MGM)
An Ideal Husband (FOX)
Jassy (U)
Joan of Arc (RKO) - Skall/Hoch
The Kissing Bandit (MGM) - Surtees
Loves of Carmen (COL)
Luxury Liner (MGM)
Man from Colorado (COL)
On an Island with You (MGM) - Rosher
One Sunday Afternoon (WB)
The Paleface (PAR) - Rennahan
The Pirate (MGM) - Stradling
The Red Shoes (BRITISH, EL) - Cardiff
Relentless (COL)
Return of October (COL)
River Lady (U)
Romance on the High Seas (WB) - Bredell
Rope (WB) - Skall
Scudda Hoo, Scudda Hay (FOX) - Palmer
Secret Land (MGM)
Smugglers (BRITISH, EL)
A Song is Born (RKO) - Toland
Summer Holiday (MGM)
Tale of the Navajos (MGM)
Tap Roots (U) - Hoch
Task Force (WB) - Burks
That Lady in Ermine (FOX)
Three Darling Daughters (MGM)
Three Godfathers (MGM) - Hoch
Three Musketeers (MGM) - Planck
Two Guys from Texas (WB) - Skall
The Untamed Breed (COL)
When My Baby Smiles at Me (FOX)
Words and Music (MGM) - Stradling/Rosher

1949

Adventures of Don Juan (WB) - Bredell
Bagdad (U)
Barkleys of Broadway (MGM) - Stradling
Beautiful Blonde from Bashful Bend (FOX)
Big Cat (BRITISH, EL)
Blue Lagoon (U)
Calamity Jane and Sam Bass (U)
Christopher Columbus (U)
A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court (PAR) - Rennahan
Dancing in the Dark (FOX)
Gal Who Took the West (MGM)
In the Good Old Summertime - Stradling
Inspector General (WB) - Bredell
It's a Great Feeling (WB)
Jolson Sings Again (COL)
Little Women (MGM) - Planck
Look for the Silver Lining (WB)
Mother is a Freshman (FOX)
The Mutineers (COL)
My Dream is Yours (WB)
Neptune's Daughter (MGM)
Oh, You Beautiful Doll (FOX)
On the Town (MGM) - Rosson
Red Canyon (U)
Red Pony (REPUBLIC)
Samson and Delilah (PAR) - Barnes
Sand (FOX) - Clarke
Saraband (BRITISH, EL)
Scott of the Antarctic (BRITISH, EL) - Cardiff
The Secret Garden (MGM)
She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (RKO) - Hoch
So Dear to My Heart (DISNEY/RKO) - Hoch
Some of the Best (MGM)
South of St. Louis (WB)
Story of Seabiscuit (WB)
Streets of Laredo (PAR)
Sun Comes Up (MGM)
Take Me Out to the Ball Game (MGM)
That Forsythe Woman (MGM)
That Midnight Kiss (MGM)
Tulsa (BRITISH, EL) - Hoch
Under Capricorn (WB) - Cardiff
Yes, Sir, That's My Baby (U)
The Younger Brothers (WB)
You're My Everything (FOX)

1950

An American Guerilla in the Phillipines (FOX)
Annie Get Your Gun (MGM) - Rosher
Barricade (WB)
Black Rose (FOX)
Blue Lamp (BRITISH/EL)
Broken Arrow (FOX) - Palmer
Buccaneer's Girl (UNIV)
Challenge to Lassie (MGM)
Cheaper by the Dozen (FOX)
Colt .45 (WB)
Commanche Territory (UNIV)
Copper Canyon (PARA)
Curtain Call at Cactus Creek (UNIV)
Daughter of Rosie O'Grady (WB)
Desert Hawk (UNIV)
Destination Moon (BRITISH/EL)
Dutchess of Idaho (MGM)
Eagle and the Hawk (PARA)
Fancy Pants (PARA)
Fighting Pimpernel (BRIT/IND) - Challis
Flame and the Arrow (WB) - Haller - COMING SOON TO DVD
Happy Years (MGM)
High Lonesome (BRIT) - Greene
I'll Get By (BRIT) - Clarke
Kid from Texas (UNIV)
Kim (MGM) - Skall
King Solomon's Mines (MGM) - Surtees
Let's Dance (PARA)
Montana (FOX)
My Blue Heaven (FOX)
Nancy Goes to Rio (MGM)
Outriders (MGM)
Pagan Love Song (MGM) - Rosher
Palomino (COL)
Peggy (UNIV)
Pretty Girl (COL)
Return of the Frontiersman (WB)
Saddle Tramp (UNIV) - Boyle
Sierra (UNIV)
Summer Stock (MGM) - Planck
Sundowners (BRIT) - Hoch
Tea for Two (WB)
Three Little Words (MGM)
A Ticket to Tomahawk (FOX)
Toast of New Orleans (MGM)
Treasure Island (DISNEY/RKO) - Young
Tripoli (RKO)
Two Weeks with Love (MGM)
Wabash Avenue (FOX)
White Tower (RKO) - Rennahan
Wyoming Mail (UNIV)

1951

Across the Wide Missouri (MGM)
African Queen (UA) - Cardiff
Al Jennings of Oklahoma (COL) - Greene
An American in Paris (MGM) - Alton
Anne of the Indies (FOX)
Apache Drums (UNIV)
Best of the Bad Men (RKO) - Cronjager
Bird of Paradise (FOX)
Branded (PARA)
Call Me Mister (FOX)
Captain Horatio Hornblower (WB) - Green
Cattle Drive (UNIV)
Cave of Outlaws (UNIV)
Cimarron Kid (UNIV)
Crosswinds (UNIV)
Dallas (WB)
David and Bathsheba (FOX) - Shamroy
Distant Drums (WB)
Double Crossbones (UNIV)
Excuse My Dust (MGM)
Flame of Araby (UNIV)
Flaming Feather (PARA) - Rennahan
Flying Leathernecks (RKO)
Fort Worth (WB)
Frenchie (UNIV)
Golden Girl (FOX) - Clarke
Golden Hoard (UNIV)
Great Caruso (MGM)
Great Missouri Raid (PARA)
Half Angel (FOX)
Halls of Montezuma (FOX) - Hoch
Happy Go Lovely (RKO)
I'd Climb the Highest Mountain (FOX) - Cronjager
I'll Never Forget You (FOX) - Perinal
Kansas Raider (UNIV)
Lady from Texas (UNIV)
Last Outpost (PARA)
Little Egypt (UNIV)
Lorna Doone (COL)
Lullaby of Broadway (WB)
Man in the Saddle (COL)
Mark of the Renegade (UNIV)
Mark of the Avenger (COL)
Meet Me After the Show (FOX)
Mr. Imperium (MGM) - Folsey
On Moonlight Bay (WB) - Haller
On the Riviera (FOX) - Shamroy
Painted Hills (MGM)
Painting the Clouds with Sunshine (WB)
Pandora and the Flying Dutchman (MGM/BRIT) - Cardiff
Passage West (PARA)
Prince Who Was a Thief (UNIV)
Quebec (PARA) - Greene
Quo Vadis? (MGM) - Skall/Surtees
Red Mountain (PARA)
Rich, Young and Pretty (MGM) - Planck
River (UA)
Royal Wedding (MGM) - Planck
Santa Fe (COL)
Show Boat (MGM) - Rosher
Silver City (PARA) - Rennahan
Smuggler's Island (UNIV)
Stage to Tucson (COL)
Sugerfoot (WB)
Take Care of My Little Girl (FOX)
Tales of Hoffman (BRIT/EL) - Challis
Ten Tall Men (COL)
Texas Carnival (MGM)
Tomahawk (UNIV) - Boyle
Two Tickets to Broadway (RKO) - Cronjager
Valentino (COL)
Vengeance Valley (MGM)
Warpath (PARA)
When Worlds Collide (PARA) - Greene

1952

Aaron Slick from Punkin Crick (PARA)
About Face (WB)
Against All Flags (UNIV)
All Ashore (COL)
Ambush at Tomahawk Gap (COL)
At Sword's Point (RKO)
Battle of Apache Pass (UNIV) - Boyle
Because You're Mine (MGM)
Belle of New York (MGM) - Planck
Bells on Their Toes (FOX)
Bend of the River (UNIV)
Big Trees (WB) - Glennon
Blackbeard the Pirate (RKO)
Blazing Forest (PARA)
Bloodhounds of Broadway (FOX) - Cronjager
Bonnie Prince Charlie (UA)
Brave Warrior (COL)
Brigand (COL) - Greene
Broncho Buster (UNIV)
Bugles in the Afternoon (WB)
California Conquest (COL)
Captain Pirate (COL)
Caribbean (PARA)
Crimson Pirate (WB) - COMING SOON TO DVD
Cripple Creek (COL) - Skall
Denver and the Rio Grande (PARA)
Duel at Silver Creek (UNIV)
Everything I Have is Yours (MGM)
Firebird (UA)
Girls of Pleasure Island (PARA) - Greene
Golden Hawk (COL) - Skall
Greatest Show on Earth (PARA) - Barnes
Half Breed (RKO) - Skall
Hangman's Knot (COL)
Hans Christian Anderson (RKO/GOLDWYN) - Stradling
Has Anybody Seen My Gal? (UNIV)
Hong Kong (PARA)
Horizons West (UNIV) - Boyle
Hurricaine Smith (PARA)
Importance of Being Ernest (BRIT/UNIV)
Iron Mistress (WB)
Island of Desire (UA)
Ivanhoe (MGM) - Young
Ivory Hunter (UNIV)
Just for You (PARA)
Kangaroo (FOX) - Clarke
Lovely to Look At (MGM)
Lure of the Wilderness (FOX) - Cronjager
Lydia Bailey (FOX)
Magic Box (BRIT) - Cardiff
Maytime in Mayfair (BRIT)
Merry Widow (MGM) - Surtees
Million Dollar Mermaid (MGM)
Montana Territory (COL)
Moulin Rouge (UA)
Mutiny (UA)
Naked Spur (MGM)
Plymouth Adventure (MGM)
Pony Soldier (FOX)
Power River (FOX)
Prisoner of Zenda (MGM)
Quiet Man (RKO) - Hoch
Raiders (UNIV)
Rainbow 'Round My Shoulder (COL)
Rancho Notorious (RKO)
Red Skies of Montana (FOX)
Savage (PARA)
Scaramouche (MGM) - Rosher
Scarlet Angel (UNIV)
She's Working Her Way Through College (WB)
Singin' in the Rain (MGM) - Rosson
Skirts Ahoy (MGM)
Snows of Kilimanjaro (FOX) - Shamroy
Somebody Loves Me (PARA) - Barnes
Son of Paleface (PARA)
Stars and Stripes Forever (FOX) - Clarke
Steel Town (UNIV)
Story of Robin Hood (RKO)
Thief of Damascus (COL)
Tropic Zone (PARA)
Untamed Frontier (UNIV) - Boyle
Wait 'Til the Sun Shines, Nellie (FOX) - Shamroy
Way of a Gaucho (FOX)
What Price Glory (FOX)
Where's Charley? (WB)
Wild Heart (RKO) - Challis
With a Song in My Heart (FOX) - Shamroy
World in His Arms (UNIV)
Yankee Buccaneer (UNIV)

The list ends at 1952, as by 1953 some titles were photographed in Eastman color and we can easily confuse things. Three strip continued through 1954 however, and some of the notable productions were:

The Band Wagon (MGM)
Calamity Jane (WB)
Master of Ballantreae (WB) - Cardiff - COMING SOON TO DVD
Mogambo (MGM) - Young
The Redhead from Wyoming - Hoch
Shane (PARA)
Barefoot Contessa (UA) - Cardiff
Caine Mutiny (COL)

On to Part Two

Robert A. Harris - Main Page