Thank you for showing Radioland Murders in its correct aspect ratio on Tuesday, and with a station ident at the start and end of ad breaks. I wish you would do this for all films - after all, this is a channel for film fans. It drives me nuts to see films treated with contempt by junior TV technicians. The directors framed scenes with all the art they possessed, and then some uncaring idiot decides they have to fit one size of screen. BBC4 is the greatest sinner, because they really ought to know better. The channel has the rights to 'The Ipcress File', a film famous for the composition of its shots, but does BBC4 care? If commercial interests in this country hadn't persuaded the Government to opt-out of the European Union laws on artistic integrity this butchery would be illegal. But don't get smug: your owner, Channel 4, showed 'How to Marry a Millionaire' recently, with Lauren Bacall speaking with her face half-out of the (16:9) frame. It's not just great films that are spoiled. This damages our pet films, too. At some point you will, presumably, show 'Carry on Doctor' in your Guilty Pleasures slot. If you show it 16:9, as was done recently on another channel, you will wreck an excellent visual joke, where Bernard Bresslaw has disguised himself as a visitor by borrowing a suit. At the bottom of the frame, in the original picture, you can see he hasn't realized the trousers are several inches too short, and that he is still wearing slippers.
