What Is This Is Cinerama About?
The premise of This Is Cinerama in 300 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
The film opens in a seemingly conventional manner, presented in black and white with standard mono sound, but this format serves as a deliberate prelude to a much grander ambition. Renowned travel writer and newscaster Lowell Thomas steps forward to guide the audience through the fascinating evolution of visual entertainment. He traces a lineage from the earliest cave paintings to the advent of color and sound, effectively setting the stage for a revolutionary leap in how stories are told.
Suddenly, the presentation shifts, expanding the frame and bursting into vibrant color to unveil the true capability of the cinematic format. What follows is a breathtaking, first-person travelogue designed to immerse the viewer in a series of spectacular vignettes. The camera becomes a vessel for a visceral journey, moving from the heart-pounding velocity of a roller coaster to the serene, sweeping majesty of natural wonders and grand operatic stages.
Throughout this visual odyssey, the film oscillates between high culture and kinetic thrills, showcasing everything from the thunderous beauty of Niagara Falls to the disciplined precision of waterskiing spectacles. The experience is curated to highlight the depth and clarity of the new technology, blending documentary curiosity with a sense of global celebration. It creates a tapestry of human achievement and earthly beauty, all captured with a panoramic scope that aims to make the audience feel present in every location.
Produced by visionaries pushing the boundaries of technique, including Merian C. Cooper, the project functions as both a technical demonstration and a sweeping tribute to the cinematic experience. It invites viewers not merely to watch, but to participate in a grand event, fusing innovation with a broad, uplifting showcase of culture. The result is an ambitious milestone in widescreen storytelling that remains dedicated to astonishing its audience with sheer scale and immersive sound.
What Happens in This Is Cinerama?
The complete story of This Is Cinerama, from the first scene to the last, in 485 words (about 2 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 1 cast member page.
Spoilers ahead
The film opens in black and white, framed in the standard Academy ratio and presented with mono sound, as travel writer and newscaster Lowell Thomas guides viewers through the arc of film entertainment. He outlines a journey from the earliest cave paintings that hint at movement to the advent of color and sound, sketching how cinema has evolved into a immersive, wide-screen experience. After a concise, 12-minute lecture, the host declares the famous line, and the screen expands into the full Cinerama format, bursting into color and inviting us into a sequence of vivid vignettes that are clearly designed to showcase technology as well as spectacle.
This Is Cinerama
What follows is a whirlwind, first-person voyage across genres and geographies, all captured in panoramic, multi-panel glory. The viewer witnesses the sensation of a roller coaster ride through the Atom Smasher at Rockaways’ Playland, presented through a point-of-view perspective that makes the thrill almost tactile. The journey then shifts to a grand operatic moment, the temple dance from the La Scala production of Aïda, whose movement and staging contrast with the next, more natural vistas.
The panorama sweeps across Niagara Falls in cascading, thunderous beauty, then softens for a church choir performance rendered in sepia-toned black and white, before moving to the bright tones of the Vienna Boys’ Choir. A leisurely but cinematic drift carries the audience over the canals of Venice, followed by a martial, echoing display at a military tattoo in Edinburgh. A dramatic bullfight in Spain injects immediacy and danger, while the triumph of Aïda’s famous scene brings operatic grandeur back into focus. A technical interlude demonstrates stereo sound, showcasing the film’s ability to layer audio with the visuals. Cypress Gardens’ waterskiing spectacle introduces more dynamic movement and color, a reminder of the era’s fascination with synchronized precision.
The closing act shifts to the vast, open landscapes of the American West, photographed from the nose of a low-flying North American B-25 Mitchell. The finale crescendos with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir lending its voices to a musical tapestry that threads together “America the Beautiful,” “Come, Come Ye Saints,” and the “Battle Hymn of the Republic,” stacking grand scenery with patriotic choral power.
The project’s creators emphasize grand technical ambition as much as spectacle: producers include Lowell Thomas, Merian C. Cooper, and Robert L. Bendick, with Bendick also serving as director (alongside an uncredited Mike Todd Jr.). Cooper’s background—most notably directing the original 1933 King Kong—frames the film as part of a long tradition of pushing the boundaries of cinematic technique, looking to fuse innovation with a broad, uplifting showcase of culture, nature, and human achievement.
The result is a sweeping, boldly immersive travelogue that blends documentary curiosity with technological bravado. It invites viewers not only to watch but to experience cinema as a grand, shared event—an ambitious early milestone in widescreen, multi-panel storytelling that still aims to astonish with its variety, scale, and sound.
This Is Cinerama Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
14 key events in the order they happen, from “Opening lecture and transition to color Cinerama” to “Mormon Tabernacle Choir finale”. 11 events name a place, across 10 locations.
- 1
Opening lecture and transition to color Cinerama
Lowell Thomas presents a black-and-white, mono lecture on the evolution of film, tracing from cave paintings to color and sound. He concludes with the words 'This Is Cinerama,' and the screen expands into the full color, wide Cinerama aspect ratio. A rapid sequence of narrated vignettes then begins, launching the panoramic travelogue.
- 2
Atom Smasher roller coaster POV
Viewers experience a point-of-view ride on the Atom Smasher roller coaster at Rockaways' Playland, delivering a dizzying sense of speed and motion. The sequence showcases Cinerama's depth and breadth as the cars twist and dip along the ride. This kinetic moment serves as an energetic gateway to the rest of the panorama.
Where:Rockaways, New York (Playland)
- 3
Temple dance from Aïda
The temple dance from a La Scala production of Aïda unfolds in lush color and expansive framing. The performance is presented as part of the film's travelogue, blending opera spectacle with panoramic photography. The imagery emphasizes both choreographic grace and the scale of the staged moment.
Where:La Scala, Milan
- 4
Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls footage showcases the natural power and majesty from multiple angles intended to convey scale and awe. The scene contrasts grand man-made spectacles with the raw force of nature, enriching the film's visual variety. It anchors the travelogue with a quintessential natural landmark.
Where:Niagara Falls
- 5
Sepia-toned church choir performance
A sepia-toned church choir performance appears as a quiet, reverent interlude. The clip adds a contrasting musical texture to the vibrant travel images, suggesting a moment of stillness amid spectacle. This tonal shift underscores the film's breadth as both documentary and artful montage.
- 6
Vienna Boys' Choir
The Vienna Boys' Choir delivers bright, airy harmonies that accompany the parade of cities and landscapes. The sequence uses choral warmth to complement sweeping visuals and architectural details. It reinforces the global cultural display at the heart of the film.
Where:Vienna, Austria
- 7
Canals of Venice
Scenes of the canals of Venice glide by with gondolas skimming through narrow waterways and historic façades reflected in the water. The camera emphasizes water, light, and atmosphere, creating a dreamlike travelogue moment. The sequence enhances the film's sense of place and aesthetic romance.
Where:Venice, Italy
- 8
Edinburgh military tattoo
A military tattoo in Edinburgh provides a bold display of marches, drums, and precision drill beneath an expansive sky. The sequence injects a sense of pageantry and European tradition into the mosaic of scenes. Its energy contrasts with the quieter moments that precede and follow.
Where:Edinburgh, Scotland
- 9
Bullfight in Spain
A bullfight in Spain introduces a dramatic cultural spectacle amid the montage of travel imagery. The footage captures ceremony, danger, and ritual framed by Cinerama's immersive optics. The sequence adds regional intensity to the panorama.
Where:Spain
- 10
Triumphal scene from Aïda
From the opera, the triumphant scene from Aïda is presented as a grand, theatrical moment in the montage. The production's scale and drama are captured in expansive color, aligning operatic spectacle with the travelogue imagery. This piece reinforces the film's celebration of cultural achievement.
Where:La Scala, Milan
Show the other 4 events of This Is Cinerama Hide the last 4 events
- 11
Sound demonstration in stereo
A dedicated sound demonstration showcases stereo capabilities, illustrating how Cinerama's multi-channel audio enhances the viewing experience. The moment is technical yet impressionistic, underscoring the film's experimental character. It serves as a mid-sequence pivot between culture, landscape, and performance.
- 12
Cypress Gardens waterskiing
Cypress Gardens waterskiing show footage features elaborate stunts and synchronized performances on the water. The sequence conveys motion, color, and playfulness within the grand mosaic. It provides a lively contrast to the more solemn or spectacular scenes.
Where:Cypress Gardens
- 13
Closing American West landscapes from a B-25 nose
Closing sequences present soaring views of the American West's natural landmarks, filmed from the nose of a low-flying B-25 Mitchell bomber. The immersive perspective creates a sweeping panorama of mountains, canyons, and skies. The imagery is paired with patriotic aviation-era music to heighten the sense of grandeur.
Where:American West
- 14
Mormon Tabernacle Choir finale
Over the closing images, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sings 'America the Beautiful,' 'Come, Come Ye Saints,' and the 'Battle Hymn of the Republic.' The musical performances unify the montage with a hopeful, aspirational cadence. The combination of grand scenery and choral anthems leaves the viewer with a sense of national wonder.
Where:Salt Lake City, Utah
Who Are the Main Characters in This Is Cinerama?
Host / Narrator (Lowell Thomas): who they are and the part they play in the story. The profile links to the actor’s page.
- H/
Host / Narrator (Lowell Thomas)
Played by Lowell Thomas
Lowell Thomas serves as the guiding voice, framing cinema’s evolution and guiding viewers through a global montage of places and performances. He presents the progression from early motion pictures to widescreen color as a coherent journey, tying together technology, travel, and culture. His narration lends authority and curiosity, inviting audiences to see film as both education and spectacle.
- 🎤 Narrator
- 🧭 Guide
- 🎬 Historian
Where and When Is This Is Cinerama Set?
This Is Cinerama is set in Rockaways' Playland (New York), La Scala (Milan, Italy), Niagara Falls (New… (Mid-20th Century). Here is why the time and place matter to the story.
When
Mid-20th Century
The film presents cinema as a mid-20th-century marvel, tracing the evolution from primitive motion to modern color, sound, and immersive widescreen technology. Its opening black-and-white, mono sequence gives way to a full-color panorama, signaling the era's experimental push for spectacle. The montage of places and performances aligns with a period when audiences flocked to new screens to experience global travel in a single viewing.
Where
Rockaways' Playland (New York), La Scala (Milan, Italy), Niagara Falls (New York/Ontario), Venice Canals (Venice, Italy), Edinburgh (Scotland), Cypress Gardens (Florida), American West landmarks
Cinema unfolds across a globe-spanning stage, starting with Rockaways' Playland and moving to grand cultural venues like La Scala and the canals of Venice. The sequence also visits Niagara Falls, Edinburgh’s military tattoo, and Cypress Gardens, weaving a collage of iconic sights. Together, these locations frame cinema as a passport to wonder and discovery.
- 🎡 Amusement
- 🗺️ Landmarks
- 🧭 Travel
- 🎭 Performing Arts
What Are the Themes of This Is Cinerama?
4 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Technology & Innovation, Global Travel and Music & Performance.
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01
Technology & Innovation
This Is Cinerama showcases cinema technology as a central subject, foregrounding the switch from monochrome to color and from mono to stereo sound. The film expands the image into the full Cinerama aspect ratio, turning the screen into an immersive travel companion. It features a dedicated sound demonstration and multi-panel projection that demonstrates the era's push for sensory immersion. The result is a blueprint for how tech advances redefine storytelling and audience experience.
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02
Global Travel
Through vignettes of Rockaways' roller coaster, Milan’s La Scala, Venice, Niagara Falls, Edinburgh, Cypress Gardens, and the American West, the film functions as a curated world tour. It stitches disparate cultures and landscapes into a cohesive rhythm, suggesting cinema's power to transport audiences beyond their seats. The montage uses real places to evoke adventure, wonder, and shared human experience.
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03
Music & Performance
Music and live performance punctuate the sequence, from church choirs to the Vienna Boys' Choir and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. The film integrates operatic excerpts, such as the Aïda sequences, with the visuals to fuse audio and image. This sonic layer binds diverse locales through a common cultural language, emphasizing spectacle and emotion. The result is a celebration of performance as cinema’s companion art.
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04
Nature & Spectacle
Grand landscapes of the American West are presented with aerial grandeur, shot from the nose of a low-flying B-25 Mitchell. These soaring visuals crown the montage with a sense of awe at natural and panoramic scale. The combination of nature shots and engineered spectacle showcases cinema’s power to elevate both earthbound wonders and man-made marvels. It reinforces the film’s overarching message: the world is a canvas for moving pictures.
What Kind of Film Is This Is Cinerama?
Neutral in tone, with variable pacing and a straightforward story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Neutral
- Pacing
- Variable
- Story
- Straightforward
- Intensity
- Medium
- Ending
- Happy
An immersive and grand travelogue designed to showcase the groundbreaking Cinerama format, shifting from thrilling roller-coaster rides to serene canals and culminating in a patriotic flight over American landmarks.
- spectacular
- patriotic
- awe-inspiring
- immersive
- educational
- grandiose
- film technology
- travelogue
- spectacle
- musical performance
Content notes: bullfighting.
Quiz
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