I’ve always been curious—no, fascinated—by the 1960 movie Scent of Mystery, the first and only
picture ever released in Smell-O-Vision. I even have the original program book,
which explains the short-lived process, which piped various fragrances (roses,
perfume, tobacco) into the theater when cued by actions onscreen. But I’ve
never had a chance to see the movie, let alone smell it. It had an all-too-brief
theatrical run, even when it was reissued in Cinerama—without the aroma
gimmick—under the title Holiday in Spain.
My longtime curiosity has finally been sated by a new Blu-ray release of Holiday in Spain, in a deluxe Smile-box
edition, simulating the curved Cinerama screen. The film has been “remastered
and reconstructed” by the world’s foremost Cinerama experts, David Strohmaier
and Paul Sittig, from the best surviving 65mm elements.
The package includes a 36-page reproduction of the original
program book, a CD of Mario Nascimbene’s score, a demonstration of how the film
was painstakingly brought back to life through digital wizardry, and interviews
with leading lady Beverly Bentley and Susan Todd, daughter of the film’s
producer Mike Todd, Jr. Film buff Bruce Kimmel (who remembers seeing the original
presentation at the Ritz Theatre in Los Angeles as a 12-year-old boy) leads a lively
conversation on the commentary track with preservationist Strohmaier and actress
Sandra Shahan, who appeared in the film and was on location for the entirety of
its production in Spain back in 1959.
All of this helps compensate for the undeniable fact that Holiday in Spain is a chore to sit
through. In fact, the charming interviews and enjoyable commentary track, along
with the story of how the film was made and then salvaged in recent years, are
much more interesting than the movie itself. The travelogue aspect of the film
remains its strongest asset, with panoramic views of Granada, Andalucía,
Pamplona, and other beautiful locations in Spain. Legendary cinematographer
Jack Cardiff, here taking the director’s reins, offers some exciting
first-person shots for action scenes and gimmicky moments that must have looked
great on the giant theater screen.
But the screenplay by William Roos is arch and off-putting
from moment leading man Denholm Elliott begins his first-person narration and
explains why he is vacationing in Spain after achieving success writing mystery
novels. This is supposed to explain why he becomes involved in a real-life
mystery, as he and cab driver Peter Lorre spend the bulk of the film tracking an
elusive woman (Beverly Bentley) who
seems to be the object of a murderous conspiracy, led (it seems) by a
shifty-looking Paul Lukas. (Near the beginning of their quest they question a
bikini-clad blonde on the beach, played by Diana Dors.)
I can’t honestly recommend the movie, but oddly enough I can
recommend the Blu-ray, because it provides such an interesting
behind-the-scenes look at a famous failure. After its limited engagements in
the ill-fated Smell-O-Vision process, Scent
of Mystery was edited and retitled Holiday
in Spain, then presented in Cinerama theaters as a “Cinemiracle”
attraction.
Of Smell-O-Vision, Jack Cardiff recalled in his
autobiography, Magic Hour, “our big
night…took place in Chicago. The cinema had a thousand seats and most of the
audience were trade people. On the back of each seat a tiny pipe was fitted
with a spray to project smells to the viewer seated behind. The pipes ran under
the floor where an enormous dispensing machine had been installed acting as a
‘smell brain,’ having stored every aroma to be projected during the film. In
addition to the eight tracks on our 70mm film, there was an extra track
carrying the smell signal. As the film travelled through the projector an
electric signal triggered a mechanism which projected a small quantity of
aroma-laden air on-cue to every seat in the audience. Well, the magnificent
machinery worked wonderfully. The only trouble was, the smells that were
projected towards the eager nostrils were exactly like cheap eau-de-cologne.
The film was released in New York where the critics all had wrinkled noses and
acerbic tongues. Then came a bathetic coup de grace. In a nearby cinema, a few
days before the New York opening, an enterprising gent showed an awful ‘B’ film
and installed incense in the air conditioning, triumphantly advertising his
film as ‘the first smellie.’ ”
Actress Bentley is a delightful interview, and Susan Todd
provides a personal touch as she remembers her late father, who perhaps
reluctantly stepped the shoes of his
famous father, the legendary showman Mike Todd. (To keep it all in the family,
there is a cameo appearance at the end of the film by “the world’s most
beautiful woman,” and the title song “Scent of Mystery” is sung by none other
than Eddie Fisher.) Holiday in Spain
is available exclusively from screenarchives.com.
Incidentally, if you haven’t yet sampled the Cinerama
features now being offered in Smile-Vision, you should check out the offerings
at Flicker Alley, including their two newest releases, Cinerama’s Search for Paradise and Seven
Wonders of the World. The fact that these unique movie experiences are now
available for viewing at home is cause for celebration.
