David3-D

The other comments will tell you more about the plot of the film. I'm writing to add for the American readers that this film premiered on Turner Classic Movies on Jan, 17, 2006, so now you can look for it there, even if an NTSC DVD does not become available for the USA market.

As an American visitor to England almost yearly since 1983, one of the most enjoyable aspects of this film is to be able to see the wonderful Technicolor photography of London, Brighton, and the countryside in-between -- as it looked 53 years ago! And all of the 1930's to 1950's cars in the background are as much fun to watch as the vintage cars in the race!

For those who asked if this Vintage car run is still being done, a web search turned up the following: The London to Brighton Veteran Car Run takes place each year on the first Sunday of November. In 2006 the date is Sunday 5 November. Seeing this film may make you want to go!

Yes, I have to agree that this is really not a great film. However, as the previous reviewer has commented, it is worth watching at least once for the 3-D sequences, which were done by the famous Slavko Vorkapitch. The premise is actually a great use of the 3-D medium. Whenever the main character puts on the haunted mask, that is the cue for the audience to put their 3-D glasses (Which were in the form of a "Mystic Mask" when I saw this in it's original theatrical release in 1961!). He then has these wild 3-D dream sequences, which are definitely the ONLY good part of the film. In order for this to work in ANY movie theater the 3-D sequences are in the anaglyph format, which uses the red and green glasses, and does not require a special projection lens or silver screen. The film is otherwise black and white, except for the 3-D sequences, which use the red and green encoding to create monochromatic 3-D. It should be noted, however, that this process does not translate very well to video. The 3-D effect may be significantly reduced or not work well at all, depending upon the monitor, color settings, etc. Probably the laserdisc version of this will have the best 3-D effects.

I recently saw a restored print of this at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, as it won an Oscar for best Cartoon Short Subject of 1954. (Part of the Facets of the Diamond series). It is apparently not currently available on VHS or DVD -- which is a shame. Apropos of the year it was made (1953 was the BIG year for 3-D movies)nearsighted Magoo goes to a movie. Misreading the one-sheet, he thinks it's a 3-D movie! Then, through a series of blunders (having some nostalgic charm, as they would be impossible in the post 9/11 travel world) he uses his theater ticket to board an airplane -- all the time thinking he is watching a new 3-D movie that even FEELS like you are flying! I'll spare you more of the plot (you get the idea) -- in the hope that it will be re-released one of these days soon! It hasn't lost the ability to keep you laughing, almost half a century after it was made!