Windjammer: The Voyage of the Christian Radich - 2017 Authorized Restoration

 BLU-RAY EDITION

At a star-studded premiere at Grauman’s World Famous Chinese Theater in Hollywood, Windjammer: The Voyage of the Christian Radich sailed into movie history on April 8th, 1958. The brainchild of National Theatres, who hoped to compete with rival widescreen sensation Cinerama, Windjammer was the first (and eventually, the only) film to use the Cinemiracle process. Utilizing proprietary widescreen technology accompanied by seven-channel audio, Cinermiracle was the perfect format to tell the sweeping adventure of the Christian Radich, a Norwegian square-rigger, and her crew.

Now newly restored from original camera elements, the color, the music, and the true artistry of this classic are reborn in a definitive Blu-ray edition. Embarking from Oslo, Norway, the Christian Radich sets out across the Atlantic with a storm-tossed stop in Madeira, where New Year’s festivities entice the young crewmen to enjoy Portuguese musical celebrations and heart racing rides in basket sleds down steep cobblestone streets. After that, it is on to Willemstad, Curacao, where young sailors take part in Dutch festivities. They catch a courtyard performance of Pablo Casals in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, they’re greeted by native steel bands and Calypso singers. By the time they arrive in New York, the Cinemiracle cameras offer a kaleidoscopic treat of color and sound created by famed photographer Arthur “Weege” Fellig. A later encounter with the U.S. Navy Task Force makes for a grand promenade of ships, and when underwater shots of frogmen and a submarine emerge from the depths to reveal the Windjammer on the open sea, Cinemiracle becomes the true star of this breathtaking story. Presented in Smilebox® curved screen format, audiences are once again able to rediscover and re-appreciate this timeless and newly-restored cinema gem!

BONUS MATERIALS INCLUDE:

• The Windjammer Voyage: A Cinemiracle Adventure - A documentary by historian Dave Strohmaier on the film’s production
• The Reconstruction of Windjammer - A behind the scenes look at the reconstruction and restoration of Windjammer from the original Cinemiracle camera elements
• The Windjammer Breakdown Reel
• The Christian Radich Today - A modern look at the famous ship at the Aalbourg, Denmark Tall Ships Festival in 2010
• Windjammer Trailer - New re-creation from the original 1958 release trailer
• Windjammer Behind The Scenes Slideshow - Images from the production of the film
• Cinemiracle Showplaces Slideshow - A look at the unique venues that screened Windjammer