well during the chat warner referred to something called "flat comedies" and referred to DIAL M FOR MURDER(flat). so what does that mean? ------------------
I don't know the details, but a movie that is shot "flat" is filmed open matte. The actual film frame is about 1.37:1, and is cropped down to 1.85:1 for theatrical exhibition. Warner is very notorious for presenting such films on DVD fullscreen, instead of in a properly-framed widescreen transfer.
FLAT = 1.85:1 SCOPE = 2.35:1/2.40:1 ------------------ My DVD Collection / AOL IM: MrMatthew / ICQ: 96444542 "I'm a firm believer in the philosophy of a ruling class. Especially since I rule."
I'm not sure what "flat comedies" means, but can help out with "flat" pertaining to "Dial M for Murder". In the industry, "flat" meant one of two things. 1) If a film was shot with an anamorphic lens it is typically known as a 'Scope' (widescreen) film. A standard film (1.37:1 or some softmatted films) were often called a 'flat' release. 2) 3-D films shown with only one view (using only the left or right view) is now in 2-D, and hence is called called a 'flat release'. This term has been widely used by the industry from the 1950's through the 1980's. Sadly only term #2 applies to Dial M, which seems to mean only a 2-D version will make it to DVD. That's a real shame, considering both a 3-D and a 2-D version could fit on one disc.
Afterthought and slight clarification: "Flat" *could* apply for Dial M, as meaning an open matte film, but to go out of the way to point out that it was an open matte shot film when so many other films mentioned were also 'flat' makes no sense using that meaning. But if only a 2-D version would be offered on the DVD, then the second term makes more sense.
