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List of 35mm features released in 1.37 after 1953: Difference between revisions
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A guide to 35mm features released in the 1.37:1 [[aspect ratio]] after 1953, the year widescreen formats became the industry standard in Hollywood. | A guide to 35mm features released in the 1.37:1 [[aspect ratio]] after 1953, the year widescreen formats became the industry standard in Hollywood. This list is not comprehensive, but is intended to help familiarize projectionists with the kinds of 'exceptions to the rule' they should be looking for. | ||
===Rules of thumb=== | ===Rules of thumb=== | ||
* The big one: Soft-matted widescreen is easily mistaken for full-frame 1.37 - don't be fooled! | |||
* Films originally released for TV exhibition or on 16mm are more likely than others to be natively 1.37 | |||
* With very few exceptions, Japanese films made before the late 1970s are either 1.37 or 'scope | * With very few exceptions, Japanese films made before the late 1970s are either 1.37 or 'scope | ||
===Note on films from the 1950s=== | ===Note on films from the 1950s=== | ||
Some films made in the 1950s but after the rise of widescreen can be played in either 1.37 or widescreen without suffering. In some cases there is an obvious correct choice. However, during this transitional period many films were framed by their makers with the expectation that they would play in both widescreen cinemas and in cinemas that hadn't yet updated their equipment for widescreen. Lively debate about the "correct" aspect ratio exists around many films from this period. In situations from this period where the correct choice is unclear, we recommend considering (1) how the print looks on the bench or on the screen (perhaps looking at the film through the aperture plates for the ratios you're considering), (2) historical resources and primary sources (such as interviews with the film director), and (3) what the consensus on the internet seems to be (try searching for your film's title and the phrase "aspect ratio"), | Some films made in the 1950s but after the rise of widescreen can be played in either 1.37 or widescreen without suffering. In some cases there is an obvious correct choice. However, during this transitional period many films were framed by their makers with the expectation that they would play in both widescreen cinemas and in cinemas that hadn't yet updated their equipment for widescreen. Lively debate about the "correct" aspect ratio exists around many films from this period. In situations from this period where the correct choice is unclear, we recommend considering (1) how the print looks on the bench or on the screen (perhaps looking at the film through the aperture plates for the ratios you're considering), (2) historical resources and primary sources (such as interviews with the film director), and (3) what the consensus on the internet seems to be (try searching for your film's title and the phrase "aspect ratio"), | ||
===Filmmakers to watch out for=== | ===Filmmakers to watch out for=== | ||