Murder on the Orient Express (1974)

[jfearnside]

It looks like I'm the first one with a question about 1974's Murder on the Orient Express. The review here on this site makes it clear that Studio Canal's 2017 Blu-ray release as part of their Vintage Classics line is preferable to their 2014 release.

I'm just curious about the aspect ratio. The new release is in 1.70:1 (possibly rounded up from 1.66:1), while the old Blu-ray and almost all other previous home video releases were in 1.85:1.

The IMDB lists the OAR as being 1.66:1. yet this site and most others list it as being 1.85:1.

Does anyone know what the correct OAR really is, and/or why Studio Canal went with a different aspect ratio in their latest release of this title?

[Bates_Motel]

Originally Posted by jfearnside

It looks like I'm the first one with a question about 1974's Murder on the Orient Express. The review here on this site makes it clear that Studio Canal's 2017 Blu-ray release as part of their Vintage Classics line is preferable to their 2014 release.

I'm just curious about the aspect ratio. The new release is in 1.70:1 (possibly rounded up from 1.66:1), while the old Blu-ray and almost all other previous home video releases were in 1.85:1.

The IMDB lists the OAR as being 1.66:1. yet this site and most others list it as being 1.85:1.

Does anyone know what the correct OAR really is, and/or why Studio Canal went with a different aspect ratio in their latest release of this title?

Preferred aspect ratio is 1.66, but no theater in the US would've shown it that way, so it screened at 1.85 there. Same as some of the Kubrick films.

[jfearnside]

Originally Posted by Bates_Motel

Preferred aspect ratio is 1.66, but no theater in the US would've shown it that way, so it screened at 1.85 there. Same as some of the Kubrick films.

Thanks much for that info. So it sounds like the 1.85:1 releases of this title were matted.

It does make me wonder why the later Agatha Christie films--Death on the Nile (1978), The Mirror Crack’d (1980), and Evil Under the Sun (1982)--were all released by Studio Canal on Blu-ray in 1.85:1 (or thereabouts), but it's probably because they were intended for that ratio, as the IMDB does list it as the OAR for all three of those films.

[Bates_Motel]

Originally Posted by jfearnside

Thanks much for that info. So it sounds like the 1.85:1 releases of this title were matted.

It does make me wonder why the later Agatha Christie films--Death on the Nile (1978), The Mirror Crack’d (1980), and Evil Under the Sun (1982)--were all released by Studio Canal on Blu-ray in 1.85:1 (or thereabouts), but it's probably because they were intended for that ratio, as the IMDB does list it as the OAR for all three of those films.

Well, different directors, different times, different films. Kubrick famously composed Clockwork Orange and Barry Lyndon for that even though he knew they would play 1.85 in the US. So technically, they are composed for 1.85 so that all relevant information would fit on screen in that size, but the directors preferred the more open head and foot room.

[TheOneWithThePrize]

Originally Posted by jfearnside

The new release is in 1.70:1 (possibly rounded up from 1.66:1), while the old Blu-ray and almost all other previous home video releases were in 1.85:1.

Considering that it is Dr Svet that has provided the AR specs I highly doubt he rounded up that number.

[jfearnside]

Originally Posted by TheOneWithThePrize

Considering that it is Dr Svet that has provided the AR specs I highly doubt he rounded up that number.

I was mainly just trying to emphasize the 1.66:1 aspect ratio, as that's a standard ratio and what the IMBD lists as the OAR for this title. A 1.70:1 ratio is unusual--and other sites listing this particular 2017 release have it at 1.66:1--but if Dr. Svet measures it out that way, I don't doubt it's accurate! I actually use this site more than any other as the standard, given how film specs are often listed so variably all over the Internet.

[jfearnside]

Still, even this site isn't perfect, as it lists Murder's OAR as 1.85:1, prompting my original question... But I also knew I would get good responses. Somebody here usually has the answer to pretty much any question.

[TheOneWithThePrize]

Originally Posted by jfearnside

Still, even this site isn't perfect, as it lists Murder's OAR as 1.85:1, prompting my original question... But I also knew I would get good responses. Somebody here usually has the answer to pretty much any question.

Usually depends whoever entered in the AR in the movie's master listing and every home video release automatically adopts said AR. In many cases IMDB specs are the cause for many errors.

[jfearnside]

Originally Posted by TheOneWithThePrize

In many cases IMDB specs are the cause for many errors.

That's my understanding as well, which is another reason I wanted to double check it here.

While researching on the Web has many obvious benefits, it also seems anything posted has the potential to get repeated instantly and widely, regardless of whether the info is factual or contains errors. So sometimes researching is harder than it used to be. Fortunately, I'm pretty stubborn about digging through it all to find the correct answer, or most correct, anyway. Again, I appreciate the help of those on this board.

[Si Parallel Universe]

I have the SC release and it looks fine to me

[jfearnside]

I received my copy yesterday and popped it in to do a quick comparison to my old DVD. There's no doubt the BD is superior across the board. That said, I will admit I expected the PQ to be a bit better, but I am pleased that it looks so much more filmic now.

One very odd thing to report, however: It shows as 1.85:1 on my screen, and in fact the slipcover and case art both state this is the ratio as well! Yet Dr. Svet's review clearly shows screencaps in the 1.70:1 ratio that he lists. Did he receive an early screening copy that Studio Canal later ditched? What is it looking like for everyone else?

[Dailyan]

Originally Posted by jfearnside

I received my copy yesterday and popped it in to do a quick comparison to my old DVD. There's no doubt the BD is superior across the board. That said, I will admit I expected the PQ to be a bit better, but I am pleased that it looks so much more filmic now.

One very odd thing to report, however: It shows as 1.85:1 on my screen, and in fact the slipcover and case art both state this is the ratio as well! Yet Dr. Svet's review clearly shows screencaps in the 1.70:1 ratio that he lists. Did he receive an early screening copy that Studio Canal later ditched? What is it looking like for everyone else?

Could you provide a picture of sorts? Svet’s review is from December and the release date of this is from October.

[jfearnside]

Originally Posted by Dailyan

Could you provide a picture of sorts? Svet’s review is from December and the release date of this is from October.

My system isn't connected to a network, so I'm not sure how I could take a picture. All I know is that my copy fills the screen, so technically it would be 1:78:1. The slipcover and case art both state the aspect ratio is 1.85:1. I can check my settings to make sure the picture is outputting correctly, but the specs on the packaging still contradict what Svet gave in his review. Odd.

[TheOneWithThePrize]

Originally Posted by jfearnside

My system isn't connected to a network, so I'm not sure how I could take a picture. All I know is that my copy fills the screen, so technically it would be 1:78:1. The slipcover and case art both state the aspect ratio is 1.85:1. I can check my settings to make sure the picture is outputting correctly, but the specs on the packaging still contradict what Svet gave in his review. Odd.

Your set-up must be wrong since Caps-a-holic clearly shows bars on the sides.

[jfearnside]

Originally Posted by TheOneWithThePrize

Your set-up must be wrong since Caps-a-holic clearly shows bars on the sides.

My wife and I watch a lot of films, and nothing else we've seen for a very long time has displayed incorrectly, but obviously there is something going on here that I'll have to investigate.

The ratio listed on the packaging must be a mistake on Studio Canal's part. Their first release of this film was in 1.85:1. Maybe they just copied the text from the old packaging.

[jfearnside]

AND... this helped solve a problem I had been having with my old Chaplin DVDs. It turns out that the Picture Size had to be set at 4:3 AND, unintuitively, the TV Type also had to be selected as 4:3.

It doesn't matter at this point except for future reference, as I already bought the Chaplin Criterion Blu-rays.

[malcy30]

Does anyone know how to delete front and back sleeves from a database listing.
Given discussion above, the wrong versions currently linked to this entry are confusing people.

[CelestialAgent]

Are copies ordered online still coming with the slipcover? I was going to pick this up from HMV, but the one copy they have has such a tattered slipcover I’m not sure whether to put up with it, check in a different HMV branch when I next travel or what, especially when other Agatha Christie/Poirot films seem in better shape.

[Si Parallel Universe]

Originally Posted by CelestialAgent

Are copies ordered online still coming with the slipcover? I was going to pick this up from HMV, but the one copy they have has such a tattered slipcover I’m not sure whether to put up with it, check in a different HMV branch when I next travel or what, especially when other Agatha Christie/Poirot films seem in better shape.

There's a couple of sellers on E-Bay that I use that tend to have slipcovered stock a while after they start disappearing message me for details (Its not me that sells them just so you know)

[Mikezilla3k]

Are any of the current releases of this region free?