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Post #672208

Author
ETQ06213
Parent topic
Info & Discussion: Fullscreen Laserdisc / DVD Preservations
Link to post in topic
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/672208/action/topic#672208
Date created
18-Nov-2013, 8:35 PM

The first laserdisc issue of Paul Verhoeven's "Total Recall" was open matte, reportedly at the director's request. The original R1 DVD release contains a full frame version.

I've been trying to track down the standard version of "The Robe" myself for just that reason. Disney enthusiasts would already know "Lady in the Tramp" had a 1.33:1 version shot simultaneously, which came to good use for VHS and LD releases (the DVD only restored the CinemaScope version so its 4x3 version is pan-and-scan).

I do not have "Radio Days" but I did spot it last time I went Laserdisc shopping, but I do have "Crimes and Misdemeanors" (not open matte but most of Woody's 1.85:1 films have composed with a 4x3 safe area) and "Annie Hall" (available unmatted on DVD but this does have the original subtitles). Completely the opposite on the full-frame topic, I have two editions of Allen's letterbox-only "Manhattan", including the original 1984 LD which has the picture slightly squished around 2.00:1.

A particularly fascinating set of films to look at is the original "Indiana Jones" trilogy. "Raiders of the Lost Ark" is arguably unintelligible in pan-and-scan, but when you get to "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" the framing was clearly made TV-safe (Doug Pratt's Laserdisc review actually stated a preference for the full-frame version of "Last Crusade"). These are available on DVD with the title sequences letterboxed (the original VHS releases electronically recomposited them onto pan-and-scan).

I'll get a look at the 007 films, which I'm going to guess had the title sequences squeezed.