Before I review BEND OF THE RIVER, let's talk about the 1.33:1 ratio.... (1 Viewer)

[Ronald Epstein]

Was all set to review Universal's classic western
Bend Of The River.

I pop in the DVD to find the one message all of
us dread to read: This film has been modified....

Am I to presume that Universal took this gorgeous
technicolor widsecreen film and released it as a
1.33:1 release?

Before I even touch this DVD for review purposes
I need to know what the original theatrical aspect
ratio was.

I would rather not review full-frame releases.

Thanks for your help.

 

[ChrisMatson]

According to IMDB, the OAR is 1.37:1.

http://us.imdb.com/Technical?0044413

 

[Dennis Nicholls]

IMDB lists this 1952 picture as being shot in academy ratio. Sometimes that "this film has been modified" slide is put in for no good reason: the original Singin' In The Rain had one.

 

[Danny_N]

This movie is from 1952 so it should be 1.33:1. The change to wider ratios took place in 1953 and after.

Looking forward to the review of this classic western

 

[Peter Apruzzese]

As noted correctly above, this was not a widescreen movie.

 

[Robert Crawford]

Ronbo,
This film was shot in the academy ratio of 1.37:1

 

[Richard Kim]

It looks like the "modifed for your screen" label was an error. There have been several Academy ratio DVDs that are labeled modifed as well.

 

[Robert Harris]

BitR was shot 1.37:1 on three strip acetate using the Technicolor process.

 

[TonyD]

well there you have it.

 

[GerardoHP]

That is so. But what should really matter to us is the aspect ratio that was intended for theatrical exhibition, not the AR the film was shot in. Many films are shot in the academy ratio with projection intended for 1.66 through 2.55:1.

 

[Robert Crawford]

However, that wasn't the case for this film.

 

[Brandon Conway]

Reminds me of the "Widescreen" banner on the 1930 version of All's Quiet on the Western Front.

Fortunately, a recent repressing of the disc finally fixed the cover art mistake as well.

 

[Chad R]

Not in 1952. At least not to a 2.55:1 ratio because that's strictly the domain of anamorphic lenses.

 

[Marc_Sulinski]

I have seen the dreaded "modified to fit your screen" message before, specifically on the documentary Crumb. When I checked IMDB, the ratio was 1.37:1, so maybe the message is in reference to the formatting changing from 1.37:1 to 1.33:1.

 

[Greg_S_H]

I think that's the case, as I've seen other 1.37 films with the message. Another I have is Reap the Wild Wind. I don't know much about aspect ratios, but I assume it would technically have to have be windowboxed to fit the whole 1.37 image in. With overscan, it probably wouldn't make much of a difference anyway.

Probably I don't know what I'm talking about. At least I admit it.