Posted By
Mel Martin
February 7, 2012 at 7:12am
World War II in 3D, a Blu-ray disc produced by the History Channel, is a very worthwhile look through photo archives that haven’t been seen in almost 70 years.
The disc features mainly still photographs that were hidden away in archives and attics until they were recently found. The collection is comprised of color 3D photos including Allied reconnaissance photos, and dozens of images that document the rise and fall of the Third Reich. The disc also features photos that were taken secretly by a civilian while the Nazis occupied France. There is also a short film shot in 3D showing the Nazis firing one of their large antiaircraft guns. The disc was produced by Flight 33 productions.
What makes the disc so compelling is seeing familiar scenes of Hitler and his henchmen in realistic 3D. It’s actually a bit unsettling, because we’ve seen so many World War II documentaries that include flat photos and film.
The downside of this disc, is how uneven the 3D quality is. I’m not surprised that the archival photos would not be perfect. I am dismayed that the modern 3D video is often out of registration and subject to severe ghosting. Since not every shot has this problem, I have to attribute it to either the original photography or the subsequent postproduction.
Having said that, I still feel that World War II in 3D is an excellent and worthwhile Blu-ray disc. Most of the archival photos have good depth and very little damage. It is also interesting to watch historians view these scenes for the 1st time, and get so excited about what they are seeing.
As the documentary explains, Hitler was very interested in all the latest technologies, and assigned photographers to shoot rallies and state visits that he made in 3D. The other interesting thing the documentary does is it shows the locations as they appear today, and then dissolves to the archival photos so you can see how much, or how little, these places have changed. The Frenchman who shot the Nazis marching into Paris with his 3D camera is still alive and was interviewed for the documentary. Amazingly, at age 97, he is still taking 3D pictures, and specializing in photography of orchids.
I don’t think World War II in 3D is of demonstration quality, but I do think it is a very interesting dimensional look into our past in a way that I would not have thought possible. It is available from most retailers for about $20, and while the documentary is only 46 min. long, it is a chilling look into the face of evil.