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Invasion of the Body Snatchers (Allied Artists, 1956) ? (1 Viewer)

Richard--W

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Who doesn't want to see this classic on Blu-ray? Invasion of the Body Snatchers is an intelligent, visceral thriller and seriously good storytelling for any genre or any film at any budget level. This is what cinema is all about. The lurid title is at odds with the story but I wouldn't want it to be called anything else. This is one of the great sci-fi / horror films. Its release marked a defining moment in 1950s cinema that still reverberates today. I hope for a Blu-ray that will give us the option of watching both versions, the version with the opening and closing that Don Siegel intended, and the version we've all come to know imposed by the studio. That's fair, isn't it. The DVD's issued by Republic / Artisan are out-of-print. Who owns the film now?
 

Douglas Monce

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Apparently the film was photographed with 1.85:1 finder markings, and Superscope was imposed on the film sometime in the middle of filming. I'd like to see both a 1.85:1 and 2.00:1 version of the film. Doug
 

Richard--W

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The aspect ratio was changed mid-shoot? How does that sort out? Was every scene shot twice? Are there two different versions with different takes? Or should the film be an edit of two different aspect ratios?
 

John Hodson

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There's not a huge difference between the ARs. 'Body Snatchers' was shot flat then converted to the dreaded Superscope format as described here. No need for multiple takes or anything like that.
 

ahollis

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Originally Posted by Richard--W

The aspect ratio was changed mid-shoot?
How does that sort out?
Was every scene shot twice?
Are there two different versions with different takes?
Or should the film be an edit of two different aspect ratios?

A technical pan-scan to cut off the top and bottom portions of the screen to make it conform to the SuperScope ratio.
 

Richard--W

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Yeah I get it. Obviously, instead of cropping one to match the other, both aspect ratios should be respected for a Blu-ray. It wouldn't be the first time. Didn't Kubrick insist on something similar for Dr. Strangelove. That's insane, changing aspect ratios in the middle of principle photography.
 

dana martin

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Lionsgate....... Held Hostage....... along with High Noon, when if ever is Lionsgate going to get to the "classic" titles that they own,


and + 1 to the list of waiting
 

Lord Dalek

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High Noon has a UCLA restoration that looked stunning even in SD. Invasion of the Body Snatchers has an almost 20-year old laserdisc transfer. DISCREPENCY?
 

JoHud

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dana martin said:
Lionsgate....... Held Hostage....... along with High Noon, when if ever is Lionsgate going to get to the "classic" titles that they own, and + 1 to the list of waiting
High Noon actually got a good DVD release (rare for a Republic title). I'd compare it more with The Quiet Man or Johnny Guitar languishing in their holdings.
 

dana martin

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i have the last three official releases Invasion, Quiet Man, and High Noon, how many years are we into this format? outside of the titles that were released under the StudioCanal collection can anyone name a pre-1970 title that Lionsgate has put out on blu ray
 

Richard V

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Would love to see a proper Bluray treatment, with inclusion of the alternate ending to the movie.
 

Stephen_J_H

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Three versions, please. Superscope, with and without the Don Siegel beginning and ending, and a less extreme widescreen, either 1.85:1 or 1.66:1. Of course, there is the rumour that the OCN is gone and all we are left with is the Superscope IP. I'd love for that to be disproven.
 

benbess

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Lord Dalek said:
High Noon has a UCLA restoration that looked stunning even in SD. Invasion of the Body Snatchers has an almost 20-year old laserdisc transfer. DISCREPENCY?
High Noon is available in HD from Netflix streaming. It looks fantastic.
 

Yorkshire

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This was shown on C4 HD a couple of months ago in the original SuperScope ratio. Here's hoping. Steve W
 

Richard--W

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Evidently, Don Siegel and Ellsworth Fredericks composed the film in 1:85 while keeping it TV safe in full-frame. Which means it will okay in 1:66. But they composed for 1:85 because they were telling the story in 1:85. So 1:85 is the correct aspect ratio a Blu-ray should be in, with a full-frame option perhaps.
 

Lord Dalek

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Originally Posted by benbess


High Noon is available in HD from Netflix streaming. It looks fantastic.


It looked fantastic when HDNet showed it last year as well.
 

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