I believe that the issue is as Brandon states above. There was a graphic back in the days that MGM included booklets with their DVD's that showed cropping "widescreen" on the sides to achieve pan&scan. This image was often based on a matted widescreen image, so technically it was incorrect to...
Okay, let's start a class action lawsuit over the following: 1) Botching the 5.1 track of THE PRODUCERS. 2) Releasing CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG in pan&scan. 3) Non-anamorphic treatment of 1.66x1 material. If idiots can play this game for the wrong reasons, why can't the rest of us play it...