Just to warn potential viewers that there is absolutely no point in watching The Girl Can't Help It if compromised. Without the original aspect ratio, the visual impact of the 'Jayne Mansfield/twin milk bottles' shot is destroyed!

I love the opening of that film, when Tom Ewell (I believe) addresses the audience in black and white, in a tiny 'windowboxed' 1.37:1 portion of the frame. He extolls the film's virtues as a CinemaScope production (before flicking open the borders at either side of the frame, to reveal the full 2.55:1 expanse) and its "glorious, lifelike colour by DeLuxe" (cue arrival of on-screen colour). I haven't seen the complete film, because - as you say, ClientFan - it looks like it needs to be seen in widescreen to really appreciate it, and Film 4 probably has no intentions of ever screening it wider than 1.78:1.

As the movie was produced at a time when filmmakers actually knew how to use the wide screen, there's no point in watching it at any other ratio. Same goes for every other film on my weekly list, actually...

Two items of interest today:

I just realised Film 4 were screening another scope movie which I appear to have missed. I caught the beginning of LITTLE NORSE PRINCE [Taiyo no Oji: Horusu no Daiboken] (Toeiscope) this afternoon, which was cropped from 2.35:1 to something around 1.90:1 - close, but no cigar. Apologies for missing this one, and I promise to try harder not to miss relevant titles in future, even relatively obscure ones like this.

Also, Film 4 has been running a quite extraordinary print of DEATH DRUMS ALONG THE RIVER which appears to squeeze most of the original 2.35:1 image into a 1.78:1 frame! The geometry is so obviously askew, I tried switching my DVR system from 16:9 to 4:3 letterbox and - lo and behold! - the letterboxed 4:3 version played back on my widescreen TV set like a 16:9 enhanced print, framed at 2.35:1, with most of the geometry corrected (when set to 16:9, my DVR squeezes the shape, so people and objects look tall and thin).

Channel 4 and Film 4 have been screening this print for some time now, and for them not to notice the image is so obviously compromised is a bit of an eye-opener!...

Last week's widescreen movies on Film 4 (24 Feb - 2 Mar) conformed pretty much to expectation. Those screened at the correct ratio were as follows:

THE DEER HUNTER
ELECTRA GLIDE IN BLUE
A FISTFUL OF DYNAMITE
THE HARD WORD
STRANGE DAYS

Unfortunately, this paltry selection was easily outnumbered by the amount of cropped/misframed screenings:

CARMEN JONES
DEATH DRUMS ALONG THE RIVER*
FORREST GUMP
THE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN
LITTLE NORSE PRINCE**
MEMOIRS OF AN INVISIBLE MAN
PRINCE VALIANT
THERE'S NO BUSINESS LIKE SHOW BUSINESS
THUNDERBIRDS ARE GO
THE VIKINGS

* See my previous posting about the geometric squeeze applied to Film 4's print of DEATH DRUMS ALONG THE RIVER, which squeezed most of the original 2.35:1 ratio into a 1.78:1 frame. It looked ridiculous, and should not have been screened in this condition.

** LITTLE NORSE PRINCE was cropped to about 1.90:1, which isn't much use to anyone, really. At least it was the original Japanese version, with English subtitles.

A fairly mundane line-up next week, especially for those of us immune to the charms of some so-called 'classics' being screened across the various TV channels. Still, all of the movies listed here look much better when viewed at their original ratio, so if they aren't screened appropriately, AVOID LIKE THE PLAGUE:



10 - 16 March



Film 4

ALIEN (Panavision)

BIRTHDAY GIRL (Super 35)

A MAN CALLED PETER (CinemaScope) [2.55:1]
MASTER AND COMMANDER: THE FAR SIDE OF THE WORLD (Super 35)
THE MAVERICK QUEEN (Naturama)

OUT OF TIME (Super 35)

THE SPANISH GARDENER (VistaVision) [1.85:1]
SPEED (Panavision)
STORM OVER THE NILE (CinemaScope)



Terrestrial / Freeview

AMELIE FROM MONTMARTRE [Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amélie Poulain] (Super 35)

BATTLE OF MIDWAY [Midway] (Panavision)

EVELYN (Panavision)

FIGHT CLUB (Super 35)

GOSFORD PARK (Super 35)

HEAVENLY CREATURES (Super 35)
HOOK (Panavision)
THE HOUSE OF MIRTH (Arriscope)

JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH [1959] (CinemaScope)

K-19: THE WIDOWMAKER (Super 35)

THE LADY VANISHES [1979] (Panavision)
LIFE OR SOMETHING LIKE IT (Panavision)

MINORITY REPORT (Super 35)
MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY [1962] (Ultra Panavision 70) [2.76:1]

NO ESCAPE [1994] (Arriscope)

PILLOW TALK (CinemaScope)

THE QUILLER MEMORANDUM (Panavision)

THE RIVER'S EDGE [1956] (CinemaScope) [2.55:1]
RUNAWAY BRIDE (Super 35)

THE TESSERACT (Anamorphic)
TRUE LIES (Super 35)



Next update: Tuesday 13 March

Now that ITV has closed its interactive game services for the time being, they've gone back to scheduling late night movies on ITV1, which can only be considered good for viewers. Unfortunately, this means my list of widescreen films is incomplete and likely to remain so, since most online TV schedules are continuing to list late-night game shows until the very last minute. For instance, ITV1 screened THE EIGER SANCTION (Panavision) last night without warning, cropped to 1.78:1, as usual, and they may well continue to broadcast such films until the interactive game shows return. I'll try to keep on top of this, but in many cases, I'll only be able to note such screenings after they've happened.

ITV1 screened THE HARD WAY (Panavision) last night in place of its interactive game shows, and they've scheduled LEGAL EAGLES (also Panavision) for tonight.

Now, Five has also been forced to cancel its late night game shows, which means they'll have to reschedule, possibly with films and various other bits and pieces (now that the quizzes have gone, it's easy to see just how much of the schedule they've been hogging). The list of replacement programmes is still up in the air, however, so I'll report back as soon as I receive word about any other scope movies scheduled for broadcast in place of the game shows.

Add BAIT and BROKEDOWN PALACE (both Super 35) to the 10 - 16 March listings, as they're now scheduled for late-night screenings on ITV1 during the course of the week.

Another week of surprises and disappointments on Film 4 (3 - 9 March) as far as widescreen movies are concerned. And, once again, the amount of 'real' screenings were outnumbered by altered versions. Those that were screened correctly were as follows:

BATS
GHOSTS OF MARS
MASTER AND COMMANDER: THE FAR SIDE OF THE WORLD*
THE STRAIGHT STORY

And those which were cropped/altered:

ALONG CAME A SPIDER
DEATH DRUMS ALONG THE RIVER
FORREST GUMP
THE GIRL CAN'T HELP IT
A MAN CALLED PETER
OUT OF TIME
ROUNDERS
THE SPANISH GARDENER
SPEED

Most of the altered films have been shown many times before, though I was pleasantly surprised to see MASTER AND COMMANDER being broadcast correctly (if I'm not mistaken, it's beeen shown before on Film 4 in a cropped version). If Film 4 doesn't have access to proper widescreen prints for the other titles on this list, why can't they just say so, instead of leaving us to assume they've just flung any old print onto the air, to appease the lowest common denominator?

Here's fair warning to Film 4: They've scheduled EYE OF THE NEEDLE for 6.50pm on Friday 23 March. The film was given a 15 certificate for violence and a sex scene, and Channel 4 has screened it several times in a wholly inappropriate afternoon slot with multiple cuts. Now, they're going to do the same thing on their flagship, dedicated movie channel! Using such material as filler is intolerable at the best of times, but to slip it onto Film 4 as if some of us wouldn't notice is really beyond the pale. If they go ahead and broadcast the edited version of this film in an early evening slot (basically, treating the audience like idiots), without any indication beforehand that it is, in fact, an edited version, then it will prove beyond a shadow of doubt that Film 4 has lost all its integrity.

EYE OF THE NEEDLE was shot with spherical lenses for a 1.85:1 release print, so it doesn't appear on the following list of widescreen films, all of which are scheduled for broadcast on TV next week:



17 - 23 March



Film 4

THE BRAVADOS (CinemaScope)

COLLATERAL (HD Scope / DV Widescreen / Super 35)

DOGMA (Super 35)

GHOSTS OF MARS (Panavision)

INFERNAL AFFAIRS (Anamorphic)
THE IRON PETTICOAT (VistaVision) [1.85:1]
THE ITALIAN JOB [2003] (Super 35)

L.A. CONFIDENTIAL (Super 35)
THE LAND GIRLS (Panavision)

THE MAVERICK QUEEN (Naturama)

THE PINK PANTHER (Technirama)

SEXY BEAST (Super 35)
STORM OVER THE NILE (CinemaScope)
THE SUGARLAND EXPRESS (Panavision)



Terrestrial / Freeview

AALTRA (Super 16)
THE ADMIRABLE CRICHTON (VistaVision) [1.85:1]
APOCALYPSE NOW (Technovision)
AVALANCHE EXPRESS (Panavision)

BOYS ON THE SIDE (Super 35)
A BULLET FOR THE GENERAL [Quién Sabe?] (Techniscope)
THE BUSINESS (HD Widescreen)

CHECKING OUT (Super 35)
CONFESSIONS OF A DANGEROUS MIND (Super 35)

THE DEVIL'S BRIGADE (Panavision)
DONNIE BRASCO (Super 35)

ELECTION (Super 35)
END OF DAYS (Super 35)
THE ENEMY BELOW (CinemaScope)

FIGHT CLUB (Super 35)

GONE IN SIXTY SECONDS [2000] (Panavision)

HARRY, HE'S HERE TO HELP [Harry, un Ami Qui Vous Veut du Bien] (Super 35)
THE HITCHER [1986] (Panavision)
THE HUNTERS [1958] (CinemaScope)

THE JAYHAWKERS! (VistaVision) [1.85:1]
THE JUROR (Panavision)

PASSENGER 57 (J-D-C Scope)
PATRIOT GAMES (Panavision)

THE RECRUIT (Super 35)

SOLO [1996] (Super 35)
SPACEHUNTER: ADVENTURES IN THE FORBIDDEN ZONE (McNabb 3-D)

THE UNDEFEATED [1969] (Panavision)



Next update: Tuesday 20 March

THE ODD COUPLE II (Super 35) was screened on the TMF channel last night (15 March), though the compositions were altered from 2.39:1 to 1.33:1. The way it was photographed, you wouldn't have been able to tell if you weren't advised beforehand, which is all too typical of today's 'one-size-fits-all' cinematography mentality...

There were fewer widescreen films scheduled on Film 4 last week (10 - 16 March), so the disparity between those screened in the correct ratio and those that weren't was lower than most weeks. Still, it was a pretty pathetic showing. Those which were screened at the correct ratio:

ALIEN
MASTER AND COMMANDER: THE FAR SIDE OF THE WORLD

And those that weren't:

BIRTHDAY GIRL
A MAN CALLED PETER
THE MAVERICK QUEEN
OUT OF TIME
THE SPANISH GARDENER
SPEED
STORM OVER THE NILE

Let's hope for more positive news next week.

Aside from the usual collection of potential widescreen casualties listed below, Film 4 are scheduled to repeat the edited, filler-friendly version of EYE OF THE NEEDLE next week. It'll be interesting to see if they go ahead with the initial screening, scheduled for this Friday (23 March)...



24 - 30 March



Film 4

AMELIE FROM MONTMARTRE [Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amélie Poulain] (Super 35)

COLLATERAL (HD Scope / DV Widescreen / Super 35)

THE HARD WORD (Super 35)

THE ITALIAN JOB [2003] (Super 35)

L.A. CONFIDENTIAL (Super 35)

PRINCE VALIANT (CinemaScope) [2.55:1]

A SHOT IN THE DARK (Panavision)

THE USUAL SUSPECTS (Super 35)

ZOOLANDER (Super 35)



Terrestrial / Freeview

15 MINUTES (Super 35)
THE 300 SPARTANS (CinemaScope)

AMELIE FROM MONTMARTRE [Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amélie Poulain] (Super 35)
APOLLO 13 (Super 35)

BEAR ISLAND (Panavision)
BILOXI BLUES (Super 35)
BULLWHIP (CinemaScope)

CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG (Super Panavision 70) [2.21:1]

GIGLI (Super 35)

JAY AND SILENT BOB STRIKE BACK (Super 35)

MERCURY RISING (Panavision)
THE MUMMY [1999] (Panavision)
THE MUMMY RETURNS (Panavision)

THE QUEST (Super 35)

RUNAWAY BRIDE (Super 35)

THE SCORPION KING (Super 35)
SHAUN OF THE DEAD (Super 35)

THE TRAIN ROBBERS (Panavision)

THE WITCHES OF EASTWICK (Panavision)



Next update: Tuesday 27 March

Sadly, I missed a number of films scheduled for broadcast on Film 4 last week (17 - 23 March), including EYE OF THE NEEDLE, which was advertised the night before. Did it go ahead as planned, I wonder? And was there some kind of indication beforehand that they were transmitting an edited print? Somehow, I doubt it, but it would be nice to be proved wrong on that point. I also missed THE IRON PETTICOAT and SEXY BEAST, both of which may - or may not - have been broadcast at the original aspect ratio (PETTICOAT should have been 1.85:1, and BEAST should have been 2.35:1 - if not, they were worthless 'TV versions', and not worth watching).

Other films that definitely were screened at the original ratio last week:

COLLATERAL
GHOSTS OF MARS
INFERNAL AFFAIRS
L.A. CONFIDENTIAL
THE SUGARLAND EXPRESS

And those that weren't:

THE BRAVADOS
DOGMA
THE ITALIAN JOB
THE LAND GIRLS
THE MAVERICK QUEEN
THE PINK PANTHER
STORM OVER THE NILE

Making these lists, I'm struck by how many of the same films are regurgitated week in and week out by unimaginative (and apparently underfunded!) broadcasters. I mean, honestly! - THE EIGER SANCTION and the two Mummy pictures, yet again!! Film 4 has some kind of excuse, given that it's following the pattern of other dedicated movie channels, but the Terrestrial/Freeview lot seem to be churning out the same old stuff we've either seen a thousand times before (only just recently!) or we've seen it on DVD. Yet they still don't seem able to move into the 21st century and screen these often-broadcast films at their correct aspect ratio! I'd like to think Film 4 will broadcast BATTLE OF BRITAIN at the full 2.35:1 AR next week, but something tells me they'll just bung on the usual 1.78:1 cropped version, leaving viewers to scramble for the DVD edition. And, as usual, not a peep out of the editors concerning widescreen films on these forums. Who knows? Maybe they'll surprise me?! Consider my breath well and truly held...



[U]31 March - 6 April[/U]



[U]Film 4[/U]

BATTLE OF BRITAIN (Panavision)
BREAKING THE WAVES (Super 35)

CHANGING LANES (Super 35)

FATHOM (Franscope)

A LIFE LESS ORDINARY (Super 35)

MASTER AND COMMANDER: THE FAR SIDE OF THE WORLD (Super 35)

NIGHTWATCH [1997] (Super 35)

O BROTHER, WHERE ART THOU? (Super 35)

REVENGE OF THE PINK PANTHER (Panavision)

THE STRAIGHT STORY (Panavision)
THE SUGARLAND EXPRESS (Panavision)



[U]Terrestrial / Freeview[/U]

AUSTIN POWERS IN GOLDMEMBER (Super 35)

BILL & TED'S EXCELLENT ADVENTURE (Panavision)
THE BOURNE IDENTITY (Super 35)
THE BOURNE SUPREMACY (Super 35)

DJANGO KILL [Se Sei Vivo, Spara] (Techniscope)
DOCTOR DOLITTLE [1967] (Todd-AO) [2.21:1]

THE EIGER SANCTION (Panavision)

GENGHIS KHAN [1964] (Panavision)
GUNFIGHT IN ABILENE (Techniscope)

HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS (Super 35)
HIGHLANDER: ENDGAME (Super 35)

KNOCK OFF (Super 35)
KUNDUN (Super 35)

THE MAN WHO NEVER WAS (CinemaScope) [2.55:1]
THE MUMMY [1999] (Panavision)
THE MUMMY RETURNS (Panavision)

PAINT YOUR WAGON (Panavision)

THE QUIET AMERICAN [2002] (Super 35)

RESIDENT EVIL: APOCALYPSE (Super 35)
RETURN TO PARADISE (Super 35)

THE SONS OF KATIE ELDER (Panavision)
STARSKY & HUTCH [2004] (Panavision)
SWEPT FROM THE SEA [Amy Foster] (Super 35)

TAI-PAN (J-D-C Scope)
THEY (Super 35)
THE THIN RED LINE [1998] (Panavision)

WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE [The Rundown] (Super 35)
WHEN EIGHT BELLS TOLL (Panavision)



Next update: Tuesday 3 April

As I reported in a separate thread, Film 4 did screen a censored version of EYE OF THE NEEDLE last week, with no indication beforehand that the print had been edited. That's integrity for ya!

Speaking of 'integrity', here's the list of widescreen movies that were framed correctly on Film 4 last week (24 - 30 March):

COLLATERAL
THE HARD WORD
L.A. CONFIDENTIAL
THE USUAL SUSPECTS

And those that weren't:

AMELIE FROM MONTMARTRE*
THE ITALIAN JOB
PRINCE VALIANT
A SHOT IN THE DARK
ZOOLANDER

* This, despite the last screening of AMELIE being framed correctly at 2.35:1, though squashed to the top of the screen (which I hate, though others seem to find acceptable. C'est la vie!!).

...and on Sunday, THE STRAIGHT STORY was framed in its original aspect ratio. Never fails to impress me - it's a fantastic film, especially in its 'scope.

THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST is being screened on Channel 4 and Film 4 next week, and while there's no chance of it being screened at 2.35:1 on Channel 4, it's likely to be properly letterboxed on Film 4. Or maybe not - we'll just have to wait and see...



7 - 13 April



Film 4

AUSTIN POWERS: INTERNATIONAL MAN OF MYSTERY (Super 35)

BATTLE OF BRITAIN (Panavision)
BREAKING THE WAVES (Super 35)

CHANGING LANES (Super 35)

DOGVILLE (HD Widescreen)

FATHOM (Franscope)

I'M NOT SCARED [Io Non Ho Paura] (Super 35)
INDEPENDENCE DAY (Super 35)

KING KONG [1976] (Panavision)

A LIFE LESS ORDINARY (Super 35)

THE MAVERICK QUEEN (Naturama)

THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST (Panavision)

THE UNDEFEATED (Panavision)

WE WERE SOLDIERS (Panavision)

ZOOLANDER (Super 35)



Terrestrial / Freeview

ANNA AND THE KING [1999] (Panavision)
AT GUNPOINT (CinemaScope)

BASIC INSTINCT (Panavision)
THE BLUE MAX (CinemaScope)
THE BODY (Panavision)

CAPE FEAR [1991] (Panavision)

DEATH IN VENICE [Morte à Venezia] (Panavision)

FIERCE CREATURES (Panavision)
FREEBIE AND THE BEAN (Panavision)

THE GAUNTLET (Panavision)

HIGHLANDER: ENDGAME (Super 35)
THE HOT ROCK (Panavision)

JAWS (Panavision)

KEOMA [Keoma il Vendicatore] (Techniscope)
KHARTOUM (Ultra Panavision 70) [2.76:1]
KING OF KINGS (Super Technirama 70) [2.21:1]

LAKE PLACID (Panavision)
LEGALLY BLONDE (Super 35)

MISSION TO MARS (Panavision)

PANIC ROOM (Super 35)
THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST (Panavision)
THE PUNISHER (Super 35)

RAVENOUS (Super 35)

THE SAFETY OF OBJECTS (Super 35)
SCARY MOVIE (Super 35)
THE SOUND OF MUSIC (Todd-AO) [2.21:1]
SPIDER-MAN 2 (Super 35)

WHEN EIGHT BELLS TOLL (Panavision)
WHITE FEATHER (CinemaScope) [2.55:1]
THE WILD AND THE INNOCENT (CinemaScope)



Next update: Tuesday 10 April

Interestingly, THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST was shown letterboxed in the Film4 preview before the channel starts. It was stripped across the top with subtitles at the bottom.

That's true. Previews on Channel 4 (for the screening on that particular channel) are also letterboxed at 2.35:1, stripped across the centre of the screen. C4 has a habit of showing letterboxed previews of scope films, and then showing the actual film itself in a cropped 1.78:1 version - I distinctly remember they did it for A KNIGHT'S TALE, though there have been a couple of others whose titles I don't recall at the moment. Naturally, I would have been much happier if it had been the previews cropped to 1.78 and the movies themselves opened out to 2.35, but that's just me...