Windjammer: The Voyage of the Christian Rødich (1958) Also known simply as Windjammer (1958) Director: Bill Colleran & Louis De Rochemont III Studio: Cinemiracle Productions / Distributed by National Theatres Release Date: April 8, 1958 (U.S.) Runtime: 142 minutes Format: Cinemiracle Widescreen (multi-projector curved‑screen simulation; “smilebox” presentation) | 7‑track stereophonic sound | Color Country: United States Language: English Genres: Documentary | Travel | Maritime | Adventure --- Summary: Windjammer is a stunning documentary capturing the 17,550 nautical mile voyage of the Norwegian full‑rigged tall ship Christian Rødich. From its departure out of Oslo, the film escorts the ship through the Atlantic to the Caribbean, New York City, and back to Bergen. Along the way, viewers experience dockside festivities, local music—including steel bands and classical performances—and dramatic sea scenes. Filmed using the proprietary Cinemiracle wide-screen process (a competitor to Cinerama), Windjammer immerses audiences in sweeping vistas, rhythmic rope work, and cinematic spectacle rarely seen at the time. --- Background: Produced by Louis De Rochemont and directed by his son, this film was the only feature shot using the rare Cinemiracle format. It premiered in Oslo in April 1958, with U.S. screenings following shortly after in specialty curved-screen theaters such as Grauman’s Chinese Theatre. The film holds historical interest both for its maritime subject and its technical ambition—presenting a visual and auditory experience unmatched by most films of its time. --- Trivia: Features a memorable score by Morton Gould, along with music ranging from calypso to Grieg’s Piano Concerto, and appearances by Pablo Casals and Arthur Fiedler conducting the Boston Pops. The film’s curved-screen visuals are recreated today using a “smilebox” letterboxing format, simulating the original Cinemiracle experience digitally. For years considered lost to obscurity due to its specialized format, Windjammer was beautifully restored using original 35mm elements and revived at international festivals like the European Cinerama Festival. --- Hashtags: #Windjammer1958 #Cinemiracle #ChristianRodich #TallShipDocumentary #MaritimeAdventure #MortonGould #PabloCasals #VintageDocumentary #RestoredClassics #CurvedScreenCinema #SailingVoyage #FilmRestoration #HistoricFilm #1950sCinema