The Spirit Of St. Louis (1 Viewer)

[BrettB]

I caught this movie on TCM last night and I'm curious about something. During pans there was a kind of "fish bowl" effect in the center of the frame. Surely it's not supposed to look like that. I know some of you who are knowledgable about film processes can explain this.
Always curious, yearning for knowledge.

 

[Peter Apruzzese]

This was Cinemascope film from 1957. Some of the lenses - especially wide-angle ones - from that era introduced distortion that would cause the "fish bowl" effect you described. These early 'scope films were designed to be shown on a slightly curved screen, which would lessen the distortion in theaters.