Ho hum - nothing much changes at Film 4. Last week (21 - 27 July), there was the same amount of surprises and disappointments as before. I was especially saddened to see A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM looking so cropped and cramped at 1.78:1, when it was clearly designed for the scope frame. STEPMOM was completely indifferent in terms of composition, but MOVE OVER, DARLING is always compromised whenever it's screened at less than the complete 2.35:1 image. Still, there was much else to enjoy on the channel over the last week, and not all of it screened theatrically at CinemaScope dimensions. But 'CinemaScope' is what we're here for, so here's last week's roll-call of triumph and tragedy:

The collected works of Shakespeare to those responsible for the following correctly-framed movies:

CATTLE EMPIRE
DODGEBALL: A TRUE UNDERDOG STORY
GARDEN STATE
TWO-LANE BLACKTOP
VAMPIRES

And the collected works of Jeffrey Archer to those responsible for the following cropped/altered movies:

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM
MOVE OVER, DARLING
STEPMOM

4 - 10 August



Film 4

BOY ON A DOLPHIN (CinemaScope)

ESCAPE TO ATHENA (Panavision)

THE HUNTERS [1958] (CinemaScope)

I HEART HUCKABEES (Panavision)
I STILL KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER (Panavision)

K-19: THE WIDOWMAKER (Super 35)

MOVE OVER, DARLING (CinemaScope)

THE NEWTON BOYS (Panavision)

STAR TREK: NEMESIS (Panavision)
STEPMOM (Panavision)

TAXI [2004] (Super 35)



Terrestrial / Freeview

AMITYVILLE 3-D (ArriVision 3-D) *
ANACONDAS: THE HUNT FOR THE BLOOD ORCHID (Super 35)

BAD TIMING (Technovision)

CRYING FREEMAN (Super 35)

THE FIFTH ELEMENT [Le Cinquième Élément] (Super 35)
FROM HELL (Panavision)

THE HAWAIIANS (Panavision)
HIDEAWAY (Super 35)

THE INN OF THE SIXTH HAPPINESS (CinemaScope)
INSTINCT (Panavision)
THE ISLAND [1980] (Panavision)

JAWS (Panavision)
JAWS 2 (Panavision)

LAKE PLACID (Panavision)
THE LAST BOY SCOUT (Panavision)
THE LEATHER BOYS (CinemaScope)
LIGHTNING JACK (Panavision)

McQ (Panavision)
THE MOTHMAN PROPHECIES (Super 35)
THE MUMMY RETURNS (Panavision)

RUSH HOUR 2 (Panavision)

THE SCORPION KING (Super 35)
SECRET WINDOW (Super 35)
THE SONS OF KATIE ELDER (Panavision)
THE SWEET HEREAFTER (Panavision)

UNBREAKABLE (Panavision)

THE VIKINGS (Technirama)

THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH (Panavision)



* You'll find AMITYVILLE 3-D advertised in most TV listings under its alternate title AMITYVILLE 3 - THE DEMON (used for 'flat' 2-D prints), but the BBC has taken to screening it recently under the original on-screen moniker. Sadly, the movie suffers a double-whammy on TV, being not only cropped to 1.78:1 but also deprived of some truly excellent 3-D effects (in terms of stereoscopic staging and exploitation, this was arguably the best film in the 1980's 3-D boom). Avoid the Beeb's version and try to get the DVD, which includes a flat print alongside a '3-D' version (both framed at 2.35:1), though you should avoid the latter like the plague, as the anaglyph '3-D' process used to replicate the theatrical stereoscopic effect is absolutely horrendous and not representative of true 3-D at all.

Next update: Tuesday 7 August

Many apologies for leaving it so late, but I've just noticed yet another scope movie scheduled for broadcast on Film 4 tonight (2 August):

BLACK AND WHITE (Super 35)

Consider my wrist duly slapped...

There was a spot of (melo)drama early last week (28 July - 3 August) when I stumbled across CATTLE EMPIRE being screened at a cropped 1.78:1. This, despite the fact it 'premiered' on Film 4 at 1.33:1 before being restored to 2.35:1 a short while ago, prompting lots of much-deserved praise in this thread. However, Film 4 assures me this was a mistake, and the film will be screened on the channel at its original dimensions from now on. Crisis averted! As for the rest of the widescreen movies on Film 4 last week...

A loud clap for those responsible for the following correctly-framed movies:

BLACK AND WHITE
GARDEN STATE
GHOSTS OF MARS
THE HUNTERS *
I HEART HUCKABEES
THE MAN WHO WOULD BE KING

And a dose of the clap to those responsible for the following cropped/altered movies:

CATTLE EMPIRE
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM
STEPMOM

* See the separate thread concerning an audio problem which marred the broadcast of THE HUNTERS.

OK, I holds up me hands and confesses: I forgot to include MY FIRST MISTER (Panavision) in this week's listings, which Film 4 screened at the full 2.39:1 dimensions last night (6 August). I really must re-double my efforts to include everything in future. Apologies for that...

Film 4 has screened THE NEWTON BOYS so often over the last few months, and in the same time slot, it's beginning to feel like nothing more than late-night filler. Not that any of the other channels have cause to be smug: Let's have a warm round of applause next week for the (ahem!) 'welcome' return of old favourites AUSTIN POWERS: INTERNATIONAL MAN OF MYSTERY (with the sequels to follow the week after?), THE EIGER SANCTION, Jaws 2 and 3, and A FEW GOOD MEN. And when I say 'old' favourites, I mean, like, really old, as in "we're sick of the sight of them and can we have something new, please?" Still, it could be worse - they might have screened CLIFFHANGER and COYOTE UGLY, both of which have been on TV more times recently than The Six O'Clock News. Or perhaps schedulers are giving them a temporary break, in case the film snaps from over-use...

Here endeth the whinge. On with next week's listings:



11 - 17 August



Film 4

APT PUPIL (Super 35)

ESCAPE TO ATHENA (Panavision)

MEMOIRS OF AN INVISIBLE MAN (Panavision)
MOVE OVER, DARLING (CinemaScope)

THE NEWTON BOYS (Panavision)

OLDBOY (HD Widescreen)

PITCH BLACK (Super 35)
PRINCE VALIANT (CinemaScope) [2.55:1]

STEPMOM (Panavision)

TAXI [2004] (Super 35)

THE WEDDING PLANNER (Panavision)



Terrestrial / Freeview

AMY FOSTER (Super 35)
AUSTIN POWERS: INTERNATIONAL MAN OF MYSTERY (Super 35)

BALLISTIC: ECKS VS. SEVER (Super 35)
THE BOSTON STRANGLER (Panavision)
THE BOYS (CinemaScope)

THE FIFTH ELEMENT [Le Cinquième Élément] (Super 35)

THE CORRUPTOR (Super 35)

DANTE'S PEAK (Super 35)
DEADLY PURSUIT [Shoot to Kill] (Super 35)
DIE ANOTHER DAY (Panavision)
DISCLOSURE (Panavision)

THE EIGER SANCTION (Panavision)

A FEW GOOD MEN (Panavision)
FLAME IN THE STREETS (CinemaScope)
FLAMING STAR (CinemaScope)

GREYSTOKE: THE LEGEND OF TARZAN LORD OF THE APES (Super Techniscope)

THE HITCHER [1986] (Panavision)

JAWS III [Jaws 3-D] (ArriVision 3-D)
JAWS 2 (Panavision)

LARA CROFT TOMB RAIDER: THE CRADLE OF LIFE (Panavision)

THE MASK OF ZORRO (J-D-C Scope)
THE MEDALLION (Super 35)

THE SATAN BUG (Panavision)
SPIDER-MAN 2 (Super 35)
A STAR IS BORN [1954] (CinemaScope) [2.55:1]
STRANGE DAYS (Super 35)

THE TALL MEN (CinemaScope) [2.55:1]
THERE'S NO BUSINESS LIKE SHOW BUSINESS (CinemaScope) [2.55:1]
THE TRUTH ABOUT CHARLIE (Panavision)
TWISTER (Panavision)

VIVA LAS VEGAS! [1964] (Panavision)

WILDE (2.35 Research)



Next update: Tuesday 14 August

The broadcast of "Boy on a Dolphin" on 9 August was OAR 2.35:1 and, from the few minutes I was able to sample, looked like a nice new transfer. Unfortunately, I had not really been expecting an OAR broadcast, so I missed the chance to replace the cropped 1.78:1 version, with much poorer picture quality, that I had recorded from a previous Film4 broadcast in October 2006. No doubt there will be a repeat broadcast at some time.

I think in future I will need to monitor repeat showings of films I've already recorded, some months earlier, in a non-OAR form. Unless anyone knows how to find out in advance whether Film4 are showing a new transfer?

Many thanks for your post - we will be showing Boy on a Dolphin again but there is no exact date at the moment - we will update this post nearer the next transmission.

The biggest disappointment of last week (4 - 10 August) was undoubtedly the screening of STAR TREK: NEMESIS at a cropped 1.78:1 ratio, probably Film 4's 'biggest' film of the week. Why this one should have been cropped while so many others were broadcast at the original dimensions will no doubt remain a mystery (Be honest: Is there any point in me asking the mods? Thought not!...).

Anyway, a slap on the back to those responsible for the following correctly-framed movies on Film 4:

BOY ON A DOLPHIN
THE HUNTERS *
I HEART HUCKABEES
I STILL KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER
K-19: THE WIDOWMAKER
THE NEWTON BOYS
TAXI

And a slap in the mouth to those responsible for the following cropped/altered movies:

ESCAPE TO ATHENA
MOVE OVER, DARLING
STAR TREK: NEMESIS
STEPMOM

* THE HUNTERS still suffered from the audio glitch which I covered in a separate thread, and which has yet to be addressed by Ye Editors.

Oh, and MY FIRST MISTER was also screened at the original dimensions last week, too!...

Out of next week's offerings on Film 4, it would be nice - finally - to see properly-framed versions of THE LADY VANISHES and THE QUILLER MEMORANDUM, given how many times the cropped versions have been screened to date on various Channel 4 stations. More importantly, as far as Film 4 is concerned, I hope their version of DEEP RED has been corrected, with the full Techniscope dimensions restored, rather than the 1.90:1 embarrassment afforded this important title in the past. There again, even if they have restored it, the damn thing will be striped across the top of the screen to accommodate subtitles, a practice I'm beginning to loathe as much as cropping...

As for terrestrial channels, ITV4 - of all stations! - is becoming the repository for the weird and wonderful. Not content with broadcasting the uncut version of HENRY: PORTRAIT OF A SERIAL KILLER (1.33:1) a few weeks ago, they've also screened a partially-reframed CRYING FREEMAN at 1.78:1, which had previously been available in this country on TV and video at 1.33:1. It isn't the complete frame, and ITV's print seemed a little muddy, though it indicates a properly-framed 2.39:1 version may be on the cards for DVD. Similarly, they're screening TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE: THE NEXT GENERATION (1.85:1) - who'da thunk?! - and FRIGHT NIGHT PART 2. If the latter is framed at 1.78:1, then it means the rights-owners may have created a properly-framed 2.39:1 version of that (from which ITV4's version has been derived), indicating a possible DVD revival - not sure if it's available in the UK, but the US disc was cropped to 1.33:1. We'll have to wait and see which version ITV4 decides to broadcast.



18 - 24 August



Film 4

ANTIBODIES [Antikörper] (Hawk Scope)

THE BATTLE OF THE RIVER PLATE (VistaVision) [1.85:1]

CABIN FEVER (Super 35)
CREEP (Super 35)

DEEP RED [Profondo Rosso] (Techniscope)

THE LADY VANISHES [1979] (Panavision)

MEMOIRS OF AN INVISIBLE MAN (Panavision)

OLDBOY (HD Widescreen)
THE ORDEAL [Calvaire] (Super 16)
OUT OF TIME [2003] (Super 35)

THE QUILLER MEMORANDUM (Panavision)

RAT RACE (Panavision)

THE WEDDING PLANNER (Panavision)



Terrestrial / Freeview

THE AGE OF INNOCENCE (Super 35)
AT GUNPOINT (CinemaScope)
AUSTIN POWERS: THE SPY WHO SHAGGED ME (Super 35)

BECKET (Panavision)
THE BOURNE IDENTITY (Super 35)
THE BOURNE SUPREMACY (Super 35)
THE BRIDGE AT REMAGEN (Panavision)

A COCK AND BULL STORY (see: Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story)
THE COMPANY (HD Widescreen)

DEAD PRESIDENTS (Super 35)
DOCTOR DOLITTLE [1967] (Todd-AO) [2.21:1]
DRACULA: PRINCE OF DARKNESS (Techniscope)

FRIGHT NIGHT PART 2 (Panavision)
FUNNY LADY (Panavision)

GANDHI (Panavision)

HANOVER STREET (Panavision)
HISTORY OF THE WORLD PART 1 (Panavision)

JAWS III [Jaws 3-D] (ArriVision 3-D)
JUDE (Panavision)
JUDGE DREDD (Panavision)

LAST ACTION HERO (Panavision)
THE LONG DUEL (Panavision)

MAIN KHILADI TU ANARI (Kowa Scope)
METEOR (Panavision)

THE PUNISHER [2004] (Super 35)

STIGMATA (Super 35)

TERMINAL VELOCITY (Panavision)
TRISTRAM SHANDY: A COCK AND BULL STORY (HD Widescreen)



Next update: Tuesday 21 August

There was the usual plethora of surprises and disappointments on Film 4 last week (11 - 17 August). PITCH BLACK, STEPMOM and THE WEDDING PLANNER all made their 2.39:1 'debuts' on the channel, but PRINCE VALIANT (which made the best use of the CinemaScope frame of all the 'scope' movies transmitted over the last seven days) was still cropped to 1.78:1, all the way down from super-wide 2.55:1. A shame, but there you go.

So, pristine Blu-ray editions of all the entries on this week's Home Video Top 10 to those responsible for the following properly-framed movies on Film 4:

APT PUPIL
THE NEWTON BOYS
OLDBOY
PITCH BLACK
STEPMOM
TAXI
THE WEDDING PLANNER

And a set of knackered old VHS editions to those responsible for the following cropped/altered movies:

ESCAPE TO ATHENA
MEMOIRS OF AN INVISIBLE MAN
MOVE OVER, DARLING
PRINCE VALIANT

Wonder if Channel 4 has corrected the geometry issues which have afflicted all their previous screenings of DEATH DRUMS ALONG THE RIVER (scheduled for that channel next week). No doubt, we shall see...

Film 4's new slogan "Where indy meets Hollywood" is certainly apt, if the following list is anything to go by. And it will certainly be interesting to see whether they've finally (!) secured a 2.39:1 print of FORREST GUMP (one of the earliest cropped scope movies to appear on the free-to-air service, which tipped everyone off that the days of 'all-correct-aspect-ratio-all-the-time' were over, at least until recently).



25 - 31 August



Film 4

THE BATTLE OF THE RIVER PLATE (VistaVision) [1.85:1]

CONQUEST OF THE PLANET OF THE APES (Todd-AO 35)
CREEP (Super 35)

FORREST GUMP (Panavision)

JEEPERS CREEPERS II (Panavision)

K-PAX (Panavision)

THE LADY VANISHES [1979] (Panavision)
LIVE FLESH [Carne Tremula] (Panavision)

THE QUILLER MEMORANDUM (Panavision)

THE SONS OF KATIE ELDER (Panavision)
STAR TREK: NEMESIS (Panavision)
SYMPATHY FOR LADY VENGEANCE [Chinjeolhan Geumjassi] (Super 35)

THE WAY WEST (Panavision)



Terrestrial / Freeview

AMERICAN PIE: THE WEDDING [American Wedding] (Super 35)
ANGER MANAGEMENT (Panavision)
ASSAULT ON PRECINCT 13 [1976] (Panavision)

BEN-HUR (MGM Camera 65) [2.76:1]

CHINATOWN (Panavision)

THE DAMNED [1963] (Hammerscope)
DEATH DRUMS ALONG THE RIVER (Techniscope)
THE DEVIL'S OWN (Panavision)
DOWN WITH LOVE (Panavision)
DR. WHO AND THE DALEKS (Techniscope)

THE ENFORCER (Panavision)

GLADIATOR [2000] (Super 35)

HISTORY OF THE WORLD PART 1 (Panavision)

THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST [2001] (Panavision)

JAWS: THE REVENGE (Super 35)

PLANET OF THE APES [1967] (Panavision)

RED SONJA (Technovision)
THE RELIC (Panavision)

TUCK EVERLASTING (Panavision)

YOUR FRIENDS & NEIGHBORS (Super 35)



Next update: Tuesday 28 August

quote:

THE ORDEAL [Calvaire] (Super 16)

Film 4 broadcast on 20/8/07 has aspect ratio of 2.50:1 on my DVD-R copy (dubbed from HDD of my Freeview/HDD/DVD recorder). This is consistent with DVD Beaver's review of the UK Tartan DVD, although IMDB shows OAR as 2.35:1.

Unfortunately, I don't have the necessary means to properly measure the AR of CALVAIRE, but it didn't look any wider than most other 'scope' movies framed across the top of the 16:9 frame (in Film 4's inimitable - and unique! - fashion). That's not to say your measurement is incorrect, Paul, it's just that I didn't see anything particularly 'wider than usual' about the film or its compositions.

If it's the case the film was intended for 2.50:1, then I'm not sure what the director was thinking (I'm assuming Film 4's print was simply a direct port of the DVD version). It shot in Super 16 and framed within the viewfinder for the intended AR (in this case, either 2.39 or 2.50), and that area was optically extracted in post-production and transferred to the anamorphic release prints. No cinema worldwide is set up for 2.50:1 projection, because that isn't an industry standard in any country (it's nearer to the old CinemaScope ratio of 2.55:1, but few cinemas are set up for that ratio these day, either). Had the film been shot on regular 16mm with anamorphic lenses, the negative AR would have been 2.66:1, subsequently cropped to 2.35:1 for the final print (and projected at 2.39:1), but CALVAIRE was definitely shot in Super 16.

I suspect the release prints were projected at 2.39:1 but that Tartan's DVD was reframed at 2.50, either because the director wanted it that way (which, if true, seems incredibly wasteful and unnecessary) or because someone at Tartan messed up during the video transfer.

Was the French version 2.50:1 too, I wonder?

PS. When I say 'the French version', I mean the French DVD version.

Re 2.35:1/2.50:1, I agree it's often difficult to tell the difference on a TV, what with overscan, and occasional black bars on left/right (often invisible because of overscan).

However, I'm confident my measurement of Calvaire is accurate. I measured the aspect ratio of my DVD-R copy on my PC's flat panel 19 inch LCD monitor (no overscan), using CursorPos (see quote).

I also recorded MAIN KHILADI TU ANARI (Kowa Scope) last nght. It turned out to be 2.21:1.

quote:

Download CursorPos from url=http://test.qliktech.com/kji/cursorpos.zip]here[/url].

Instructions for use:
1. Move the cursor to a corner (e.g. upper left)
2. Hold down shift.
3. Move the cursor to the diagonally opposite corner (e.g. lower right)
4. The ratio in the wanted format (e.g. 1.85:1) is displayed in the field "X/Y="

I left out a bracket. I'll try again:
here.

And again...

Download CursorPos from here.

Am I going mad, or is it not possible to edit one's posts on this forum?

No, you're not going mad! This is the only forum I've ever visited where contributors are forbidden from editing their own posts. I sent an e-mail to the mods about this, and they told me something about a number of people who had written 'unsuitable' material and edited it afterwards, so the function was scrapped. Not sure what that's all about, but there ya go!!...

Thanks for confirming the AR of CALVAIRE, too. Still not sure why it would be framed that way - as I said earlier, either a mistake on Tartan's part, or a director-approved thing. My TV does have overscan issues which can't be corrected, so that's probably why I didn't see anything different about the width of the film.

Oh, and thanks for pointing me in the direction of CursorPos. I can't get 'regular' TV on my computer, but it'll come in handy with a couple of DVD's...