While the City Sleeps (Aspect Ratio) (1 Viewer)

[flagbrothers]

Can someone confirm the proper aspect ratio of "While the City Sleeps"? Image Entertaiment released this film on laser disc in the early 90's with an aspect ratio of 1:78. The IMDB has it listed at 2:00. The UK dvd release has it at 1:37. I have read that 1:37 is the proper ratio however, when it was released, RKO decided to have the film matted to accomodate CinemaScope screens thus giving it a 2:35:1 ratio. Does anyone know what is the true ratio of this film?

 

[MLamarre]

You can ask Warner Archive on their Facebook page, they're apparently remastering it right now.

 

[cadavra]

[COLOR= #0000cd]Since it was made in 1956 and was shot flat, it's "1.85 safe," meaning that is the preferred AR, but it can also be shown 1.33 without worry of boom mikes or other not-to-be-seen ephemera being visible (this was done for the sake of small-town theatres that might not yet have converted their screens to accomodate CinemaScope).[/COLOR]


[COLOR= #0000cd]Mike S.[/COLOR]

 

[John Hodson]

The


Being shot flat, and 'protected', opens up a range of ratios for projection, I suppose.

 

[flagbrothers]

The Widescreen Museum list it as a SuperScope Film.

I just read the Widescreen Museum's description of the SuperScope process. They contend that the process is the same as Super 35mm. If this is the case, the image is truly 1.37 matted to 2.00:1. The Super 35mm process was used for "The Terminator 2" that shows more information on the top and bottom of the screen but was matted to give a Scope presentation. Also, I happen to notice that the Scope advertisement is only on foreign posters. No American release poster advertise this as a Scope film.

 

[John Hodson]

Jack Theakston is your man for this, and I understand he contends, generally, 1.85:1 for US showings, 2.00:1 Superscope for Europe.

 

[GregoryMesh]

Here's what Exposure Cinema sent to me Re: aspect ratio. You can also find it in the review of the disc at Fritz Lang

 

[John Hodson]

There's a world of difference in how a film is shot and how it's framed. And it's obvious, despite Lang's distaste for the process, from pretty much any of the 'grabs that this film was not framed with Academy as the principal screening mode in mind.

 

[Thomas T]

Given the choice of a crisp, sharp full frame transfer or a soft cropped transfer, I opt for the full frame. Sure, it's a compromise but at least it's not P&S.

 

[flagbrothers]

Thanks for the image GregoryMesh. I was considering to wait until WarnerArchives release this title in widescreen however, given the true nature of how this film was shot, I will go ahead and buy the UK dvd release.

 

[Robert Crawford]

By the way, those comparison shots are of Drew Barrymore's father in this film. I'll wait for the Warner Achive release.








Crawdaddy