[opendtv] Re: Popular screen aspect ratios

  • From: "Manfredi, Albert E" <albert.e.manfredi@xxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: "opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Mon, 20 Dec 2010 16:19:50 -0600

Cliff Benham wrote:

> Bert, Cinerama is unique. It's still being shown in theaters today.

But as far as I know, no one is producing Cinerama movies these days, right? Or 
even Ultra Panavision or any other 70mm format.

> Again it wasn't the extreme width of the Cinerama image but it's
> peripheral depth that creates its visual impact.

That makes sense. The curved screen was more goggle-like. As you say, it fills 
your peripheral vision better than flat or flatter screens. I certainly agree 
with that.

> If you have never seen Cinerama, you missed it.

Cliff, I did. IIRC, the movies I initially saw in the original Cinerama version 
were:

Around the World in 80 Days
It's a Mad Mad ... World
The Longest Day

... in that chronological order. I can't think of any more, or of any after The 
Longest Day. So, that would be 1962 was the most recent I saw?

Ben Hur was impressive too, but I think it was Ultra Panavision 70mm 
anamorphic. And 2001 A Space Odyssey was impressive, but it was "only" the 
unsqueezed 2.21:1 70mm Super Panavision. Very similar to today's blockbuster 
aspect ratio.

> No other widescreen film process can touch it for the reality it
> produces in a theater.

Given how rare these ultra-super-wide movies were, it seemed more sensible to 
concentrate our efforts on creating a TV display standard, or guideline at 
least, that is more in tune with the bulk of Hollywood productions. That's why, 
my personal preference back in the 1990s was for ATSC to use something close to 
2:1. It would have been right in the middle, between the two historical AND 
current Hollywood wide screen favorites, and TV shows too would have migrated 
to 2:1.

Oh well, 1.77:1 isn't half bad. What's bad is that we are still having to deal 
with the way-too-narrow 4:3 legacy, even in situations where it's not necessary.

Bert
 
 
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