The Man with the Golden Arm - June 22, 2015

[sjt]

Correct. In the mid-1950s, the US settled for 1.85 as the norm for non-widescreen presentation: but in the UK - and indeed throughout Europe - 1.66 was the standard aspect ratio for spherical as opposed to anamorphic films. The OAR which Network mentions is "as-exhibited" all right, but only for us in Europe. Trouble is, it's an American film, presumably made with 1.85 presentation in mind (though quite possibly shot in open matte 1.33). This is exactly the same AR malarkey that underpins Criterion's pick-and-mix versions of "On the Waterfront"