Recent content by Bill Burns

I see it's been a couple of weeks now since last we chewed this bit of fat -- are there any further thoughts on this matter? I'd enjoy and appreciate any additional input (with Chris' permission), as I don't think we really got to the bottom of the matter. As Jack Theakston and I have...

Many thanks. A quick follow-up to 2 and 3: 2. Kwai was released theatrically at 2.35:1? I think the current DVD from Columbia is 2.55:1 -- what ratio is best as an aperture for presentation on this picture? 3. No? The Robe is correct at both 2.55:1 (composite prints) and 2.66:1 (double...

Thanks, Jack. I'm still befuddled (bear with me): were there double system releases for every CinemaScope picture shot at full aperture (I misspoke in an earlier post: 1.33:1 is full aperture, of course, not Academy: I'll fix that with an edit after I post this), right up into 1957 and the full...

Chris -- While my last post probably said as much about CinemaScope as is possible without further information, trying to pull everything back to your original question, there might be a few points worth consolidating and considering (a bit more directly than in my overlong posts above, some...

Thank you, gentlemen. This is very interesting. I've bitten the bullet and looked through those Widescreen Museum listings again (a site that I greatly respect for its efforts at thoroughness -- whether or not anything is in error, I've enjoyed and valued the site in years past, and find it...

I can only imagine. I'd love to see it that way, as John says above. Perhaps Fox will revisit original negative elements for a Blu-Ray release at full (original intent?) projection aperture. I hope they consider it. Were these early CinemaScope productions historically engaged at any theatres...

We might be a little off track for Chris' initial query, which was about DVDs alone, but, from the above comments, it should be emphasized (Mark covers some of this in his post) that CinemaScope was originally designed as a true anamorphic full aperture system (full aperture is both the silent...

I never follow up my own posts (at least, I hope I never do, not without a darn good reason), but as it's the first picture Junior V mentions in this thread, I thought it was worth mentioning to all that Turner Classic Movies (TCM) is playing Norma Shearer's Lady of the Night this very night, at...

Thanks for the very kind words, Rob. I'll keep an eye on the TCM schedule for those two Kay Francis pictures, as I don't believe I've seen either, and both sound like just my cup of tea. Of the Kay pictures I've caught over the years, my favorite is One Way Passage, as mentioned earlier, and my...

After eight pages, a few new points, and old points revisited, may be in order. Allow me to try and pull together a few facts, as best my casual research and reading reveals them, and a few opinions. This is all from memory, not fresh reference, so if my facts are in any error, please correct...

Oh, we don't disagree about Ms. Harlow, Reggie. Perish the thought! Jean Harlow is captivating and delightful in Bombshell. I find her so in just about all of her pictures, certainly those made after Dinner At Eight (and including it). I didn't have his name at hand, but I've enjoyed Lee Tracy...

I'll enthusiastically second a request for a Norma Shearer Collection on DVD. As she has many films I adore, I'd prefer it be a large set, like the Garbo Collection, comprised of both silent and sound (and while we're at it, a second Garbo set would be greeted eagerly, as well), as has been...

You're much too kind, Mario. It's nice to be remembered. If folks can tolerate my verbosity, I'll pop in as time allows. Thanks so much for the welcome!

Jack, This is a problem that may deserve its own thread (perhaps it has one -- I haven't been around in quite a while): many films from this period have been released on DVD with neither matting nor the 16x9 formatting matting would permit them (by which I mean "anamorphic" mastering). Off...

Yes, Rob, I continue to insist what I've said is a fact. I'm apparently the only one of the three of us who admits fallibility. I'm right about this; others seem to be right about everything including this. My mistake. :rolleyes There's clearly no hope here -- until Robert Harris or...