Coming Soon in Technicolor
In celebration of the 100th-anniversary of Technicolor, we present this rare “City Beneath the Sea” trailer from 1953, courtesy of the Packard Humanities Institute Collection at the Academy Film Archive. This historically notable acquisition is the largest known collection of motion picture trailers on film and contains over 60,000 items.
Although their history extends nearly the length of cinema itself, theatrical trailers have not always been regarded as essential facets of the cinematic experience. Still, it is difficult to imagine a time when previews did not act as a vital liaison between audiences and features. Blurring the line between marketing tool and work of art, coming attractions are multifaceted in their function: at worst, blatant misrepresentations or ruinous messengers of key plot twists; at best, harbingers of excitement leaving wide-eyed anticipation in their wake. Some so well-crafted that they are themselves films-in-miniature, to be appreciated in their own right.
Learn more about the Packard Humanities Institute Collection, click the link http://www.oscars.org/film-archive/collections/packard-humanities-institute-collection
