Rock slides, rattlesnakes, burning embers...this year's 3D classic, Roy Ward Baker's Inferno, had everything necessary to thrill an extra-dimensional audience's heart.

Most of the 1953 movie consists of Robert Ryan trying to crawl his way out of the desert with a broken leg. See, he's been left behind by his two-timing wife (Rhonda Fleming) and her scheming boy toy (William Lundigan).

The desert landscapes proved surprisingly receptive to 3D filmmaking, what with all the solitary cactus and rocks to provide perspective. And even though the traditional 3D trick of throwing things at the audience didn't show up until the climactic fight scene, the experience was all good.

Kudos to festival major domo Jed Dietz, who pulled every available string to get 20th Century Fox to lend the festival its only extant print, and to Charles projectionist John Standiford for making sure the movie shone in all its Technicolor glory. In fact, the only complaint (and make no mistake, the print was gorgeous) is that Fleming's red hair didn't jump off the screen the way I thought it would. Still, that's a small complaint: she spent plenty of the movie smoldering in her classic 1950's way.

Now, the search begins for next year's 3D prize.

Any thoughts on what movie you'd like to see in that extra dimension at MFF 2010?