Hell’s Angels 4K UHD (1930)

[sherlockjr]

Originally Posted by Doomhunter

Right now the 4k is listing 1.2:1 on this site’s product page

Where do you see 1.2:1?

When I look at the HELL'S ANGELS page on the Criterion site

https://www.criterion.com/films/28987-hell-s-angels

I see "1.37:1, 1.54:1"

1.2:1 (or more often shown as 1.19:1) is the Fox Movietone ratio. They chopped off the left side of the silent film frame for the optical soundtrack, but they kept the narrower silent film frame lines, thus making the screen image narrower and taller than the silent 1.33:1. It wouldn't be unusual for a 1930 sound film to use the Movietone aspect ratio, but I don't see that on the Criterion page?

In 1932 the Academy codified the Academy Ratio that kept the soundtrack on the left side but also widened the black frame lines, putting the Academy sound film ratio to 1.37:1, back close to the silent 1.33:1. Academy Ratio films are still often referred to as 1.33 among those working in projection booths, film archives, etc. Everyone knows they mean 1.37 for non-widescreen sound films after 1932. But 1.37 were both being used earlier than 1932, depending on the studio and sound systems.

The ratio shown in the short film excerpt on the Criterion site are most definitely not 1.2:1!

[Doomhunter]

Originally Posted by sherlockjr

Where do you see 1.2:1?

When I look at the HELL'S ANGELS page on the Criterion site

https://www.criterion.com/films/28987-hell-s-angels

I see "1.37:1, 1.54:1"

1.2:1 (or more often shown as 1.19:1) is the Fox Movietone ratio. They chopped off the left side of the silent film frame for the optical soundtrack, but they kept the narrower silent film frame lines, thus making the screen image narrower and taller than the silent 1.33:1. It wouldn't be unusual for a 1930 sound film to use the Movietone aspect ratio, but I don't see that on the Criterion page?

In 1932 the Academy codified the Academy Ratio that kept the soundtrack on the left side but also widened the black frame lines, putting the Academy sound film ratio to 1.37:1, back close to the silent 1.33:1. Academy Ratio films are still often referred to as 1.33 among those working in projection booths, film archives, etc. Everyone knows they mean 1.37 for non-widescreen sound films after 1932. But 1.37 were both being used earlier than 1932, depending on the studio and sound systems.

The ratio shown in the short film excerpt on the Criterion site are most definitely not 1.2:1!

So I am seeing it here, not saying it’s wrong or right, just that someone must have entered it that way for a reason

IMG_2779.jpg

[Juan de Internet]

Originally Posted by Doomhunter

So I am seeing it here, not saying it’s wrong or right, just that someone must have entered it that way for a reason

Attachment 318697

My guess is they just copied IMDb, which lists 1.2:1. My understanding is both sites get their data from user submissions, so I wouldn’t take either as definitive.

My guess is 1.2:1 comes from, like sherlockjr speculated, prints/screenings done with Movietone. Google AI states there were screenings using Movietone, but I couldn’t find any sources.

My guess is 1.54 refers to the Magnascope sequences.

And 1.37 may be from an early or later print. At least one source I found states that Hughes ordered the sound system upgraded for the Northwest premiere, which hints at the in-flux state of theatrical sound systems in the early sound era (and Great Depression). Sunrise, the first Movietone movie, was released in both Movietone and silent ratios, as evidenced by the Blu-ray I own with both aspect ratios.

Hell’s Angel’s own credits on videos I’ve watched state that it used Western Electric’s sound system, but I’m not sure that pegs it as sound-on-disk or sound-on-film - or sound-on-another-film.

At any rate, the negative would have been 1.33 (spherical 35mm) and it depends on what the source materials were and what the artistic intent was (and whether the artists involved were actually good at making movies, which is not a given just based on this movie) what aspect ratio would be the best compromise for this transfer. Given the troubled production and patchwork of technologies used, I’m not expecting 100% original camera negative.

[Nepenthe]

Originally Posted by Doomhunter

So I am seeing it here, not saying it’s wrong or right, just that someone must have entered it that way for a reason

Why on earth would you think that?