Scent of Mystery (1960)

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A theatrical revival of the original stinker: ‘Scent of Mystery’ (1960), a star studded Hollywood feature film written for smell. So far this scented special event presented in Glorious Smell-O-Vision! has featured at the  National Media Museum  in The UK, for the Danish Film Institute and for the Turner Classic Film Festival in Hollywood.

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World premiere 1960. Photo courtesy of Art Shay

For more information  watch this five minute trailer  (photographs by Art Shay ): https://vimeo.com/203030376   Password:  500waves

and read this article from the BBC: The Movie You Can Smell

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Scents by Saskia Wilson-Brown

The presentation features 20 smells that run concurrently with the film, such as ‘exotic scent of Spain’, ‘running of the bulls’, ‘ancient mosque’ and the sea.

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John Foley dresses Bel in Hollywood

There are live actors, audience participation and an automated scent delivery system.

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Neal Harris wrangling scents at the Cinerama Dome

Directed by legendary Jack Cardiff and set on location in Spain, Scent of Mystery, THE original Smell-O-Vision movie features an all-star cast including Leo McKern, Peter Lorre, Denholm Elliott and Diana Dors, with a special guest appearance by Elizabeth Taylor.

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The first and only film to be written for smell and to boast a sophisticated automated scent track, the plot revolves around the pursuit of a scented ‘Mystery Girl’ and her would-be assassin, finally exposed by the pipe tobacco he favours.

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Denholm Elliot and Elizabeth Taylor

Now revived and resuscitated by an international team of scent and cinema maestros, including Saskia Wilson-Brown of the Institute for Art and Olfaction , Neal Harris of ScentEvents, perfumier Antonio Gardoni in Milan, Costumier John Foley in London,  Tammy Burnstock in Sydney Australia, along with Mr Cinerama himself, Dave Strohmaier.

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Scent of Mystery Event for the Turner Classic Film Festival