Aspect Ratio Documentation (1 Viewer)

[Robert Harris]

The new BFI BD of Women in Love will have an aspect ratio of 1.75 (the MGM DVD is 1.66) - interesting in light of Bob's posts here about this aspect ratio being the standard for British films of the same general period rather than the 1.66 that is so common on disc now. I know that's not a huge difference but it bugs me when 1.85 is so casually modified to 1.78 so I, for one, will appreciate the correction.

Please keep in mind that an aspect ratio has nothing to do with content.

It is merely a shape.

RAH

 

[hanshotfirst1138]

Please keep in mind that an aspect ratio has nothing to do with content.

It is merely a shape.

RAH

Strictly speaking, no, but the shape of the screen does impact how much of the picture you see. I remember seeing The Wild Bunch restored in widescreen for the first time. After a panned-and-scanned TV print, it was almost a revelation.

 

[DVDvision]

No Robert is right. In that shape, you can put whatever you want. The shape doesn't dictate the content. Some 4/3 transfer might be zoomed in to the point you lose on all four sides, yet no one will notice because it's in the shape they think is right, ditto for widescreen films. The Leone films are so zoomed in, that when you see the full content on a print, and see how the compositions work so well and wide, it hurts.

 

[Gary Couzens]

The BFI's new Blu-ray of PSYCHOMANIA is out on 26 September and I have a checkdisc here, The aspect ratio is 1.66:1. I suspect 1.75:1 or 1.85:1 to be more likely correct for a British film made in 1973, but I haven't watched the feature through yet.

By the way, last weekend at Frightfest I saw the restoration of the 1981 documentary THE KILLING OF AMERICA, from 1981. Aspect ratio 1.37:1 as you would expect from a documentary largely made up from archive/news footage. Thanked in the credits is one Rob Furmanek. Is that you, Bob?

 

[Bob Furmanek]

No, I didn't work on that one!

 

[Patrick McCart]

Have any titles with Perspecta sound been released on Blu-ray in 3.0? The Hidden Fortress is a 5.1 of the 3.0.

The Hidden Fortress, Yojimbo, and Sanjuro all have the option of either mono or 3.0 Perspecta.

Here's the text from their transfer notes for The Hidden Fortress:
"The alternate 3.0 surround soundtrack was decoded through a Perspecta integrator to a create a simulated stereo stereo LCR soundtrack. Though only three channels of audio are present, the Perspecta soundtrack was encoded as 5.1 on the disc to maintain compatibility with legacy players."

 

[Lord Dalek]

Strangely Criterion left off the 3.0 from The Bad Sleep Well. Hopefully they'll include it on the eventual blu-ray.

 

[Bob Furmanek]

For those interested in early stereophonic sound, here's a new article from Archive Technical Director Greg Kintz on the incredible audio you'll be hearing for the first time in 63 years on our 3-D Blu-ray of IT CAME FROM OUTER SPACE.

http://www.3dfilmarchive.com/it-s-in-the-mix

 

[John Hodson]

UI had been the prime advocate of 2.1 in the widescreen derby of 1953. They first rolled film for that ratio on June 3, 1953 with production of BORDER RIVER.

However, by 1960, there was only one feature on their release schedule composed for 2.1: PORTRAIT IN BLACK. All other non-anamorphic titles were 1.85:1, including BRIDES OF DRACULA and its co-feature, THE LEECH WOMAN.

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Oh dear; early word is that Universal have continued with 2.1 for 'Brides' in their new 8-film Hammer BD set, as is Curse of The Werewolf, and, from what I can glean, perhaps two others. Depressing.

 

[Bob Furmanek]

Sigh.

John, please let the skeptics at Roobarb know they can order our restoration of IT CAME FROM OUTER SPACE from Amazon UK.

Thanks! https://www.amazon.co.uk/Came-Outer... came from outer space blu-ray&tag=shtv.uk-21

 

[John Hodson]

They're already aware Bob, but every little helps...

 

[John Hodson]

Bob; remind me - what was the last film Universal shot at 2.1 and when?

 

[Bob Furmanek]

Here you go, John: http://www.hometheaterforum.com/community/posts/3978941/

 

[John Hodson]

The post I quoted? Senile I am getting,,,

 

[Stephen_J_H]

Bob,
Given this thread is at 318 pages and counting, I didn't exhaustively search for the answer to this question, but can you tell us if you have any documentation on the Charlie Brown feature releases? CBS Video is releasing them in what appears to be an open matte format on BD.

 

[bgart13]

Too bad you weren't able to advise on the Hammers, Bob...

 

[Lord Dalek]

Bob,
Given this thread is at 318 pages and counting, I didn't exhaustively search for the answer to this question, but can you tell us if you have any documentation on the Charlie Brown feature releases? CBS Video is releasing them in what appears to be an open matte format on BD.

They should be at 1.75:1 right?

 

[Stephen_J_H]

They should be at 1.75:1 right?

If they were Disney, I would say yes, as Disney features of this period were composed for 1.75:1. Since these are Paramount/CBS titles, I'm leaning toward 1.85:1, but I'll wait and see what Bob has to say.

 

[Bob Furmanek]

Sorry, I don't have any documentation on the Snoopy titles.

 

[Tony Bensley]

Sorry, I don't have any documentation on the Snoopy titles.

That's too bad Bob, especially as there seems to be so much debate regarding both A BOY NAMED CHARLIE BROWN and SNOOPY COME HOME!

From what has been posted on the "A Boy Named Charlie Brown" Topic, both Peanuts Theatrical Features were shot with Widescreen and 4:3 TV aspect in mind.

Another source of debate is that when these Animated Features originally ran in Cinemas, the widescreen was apparently static, which was problematic, in terms of what was cut off. The early '00s DVD release, by contrast, employed frame shifting (non-static), and the AR at 1.78:1, was also slightly off from the Theatrically presented 1.85:1, but was arguably better in retaining the important action.

I would love to see actual documentation for these Features that support or refute the above, if they exist!

CHEERS!