Science: Suggestion of Roundness

When stereoscopic or three-dimensional motion pictures are shown, a missile flying in the projector’s direction makes spectators dodge in their seats. Despite this powerful illusion, Hollywood has shown no enthusiasm for three-dimensional pictures. Some time ago it occurred to an inventive cinema cameraman named Joseph Valentine that something simpler might be tried, a suggestion of roundness and solidity although not an actual third dimension —something that would make characters on the screen less flat than animated pancakes. He looked for a simple way to achieve this effect, last week announced to the press that he had succeeded.

Lensman Valentine’s invention has not been patented and he did not disclose exact technical details. But film executives who viewed his work pronounced it good. Heart of the device is a prism composed of two paper-thin sheets of glass fitted together at a 45° angle. This is inserted behind the camera’s lens, works something like the binocular vision of human eyes. The illusion of roundness goes onto the film so that no special projector equipment is necessary and spectators do not have to wear stereoscopic glasses.

“It was such a simple development—like putting an eraser on the end of a pencil,” said Inventor Valentine. Since it costs only $200 to equip a camera with the prism, the price is negligible by Hollywood standards and Mr. Valentine expects that his improvement will come into general use.