[opendtv] Re: Popular screen aspect ratios

  • From: Cliff Benham <flyback1@xxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
  • Date: Mon, 20 Dec 2010 01:11:51 -0500



On 12/19/2010 6:32 PM, Manfredi, Albert E wrote:


I expect that the anamorphic 70mm 2.76:1 was a tour de force meant to obsolete 
Cinerama, since some people seemed to object to the frame joints in Cinerama.


Bert, Cinerama is unique. It's still being shown in theaters today. The
70mm replacement formats like Todd-AO, Vistavision, Super Panavision 70 and even IMAX don't come close to the visual impact of original 3 film Cinerama.
What makes it different from all other widescreen film processes is the fact that Fred Waller designed the whole system to complement the human visual system. The 146 degree screen is deeply curved just at the same radius as the human retina is. The three camera lenses are the size of a contact lens and have the same focal length as a human eye.
Waller realized that the secret to depth perception in film is not what you see in front of you but what you see peripherally from the sides.
It was the ability of Cinerama to replicate human peripheral vision and pull you into the picture as a participant in the action rather than as someone just sitting in a movie theater like other film processes.
Besides which, the newer superwide Cinemascope 2.55:1 had just about reached Cinerama's 2.58:1, even if the screen wasn't slightly curved in Cinemascope.
The earliest Cinemascope films, i.e. The Robe, etc. were compressed 2:1 anamorphically with a projected aspect ratio of 2.66:1. The Cinemascope screen was curved but not nearly at the depth of the Cinerama screen. Again it wasn't the extreme width of the Cinerama image but it's peripheral depth that creates its visual impact. 

 I guess something with a greater wow factor was needed.

If you have never seen Cinerama, you missed it.
But these "wider than 2.35:1 formats" aren't used anymore, Craig. And even back then, very few films we shot that way. We're talking 1950s and 1960s, Craig. 

So your broad brush "Hollywood still uses a large number of formats" is just 
not true. Get down to specifics, Craig. Hollywood uses 1.85:1 and 2.35:1 these days, for 
regular theaters.
Bert, Cinerama is unique. It's still being shown in theaters today. No other widescreen film process can touch it for the reality it produces 
in a theater.

Cliff



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